The returning soldiers bid Luciano goodbye and left at twilight after conveying their thanks to the family that sheltered them for the night. Since the event of yesterday night was not of their doing neither was it of their concern, they left thinking that all is well. They cannot explain where the beast came from, and to pursue it would be futile endeavour when they only wished to go spend time with their families for a few days, after which they will return to their garrison.
But little did they know that Haddon was not to be seen by mortal men. The eyes that behold the beast do not live to tell the tale. Haddon was no ordinary creature. The dragon was an enchanted creature controlled by sorcery through the one who possesses the staff of Odion. No one has seen a dragon for centuries now or so they believe. And stories of it are looked upon as old wives fables. With civilization now spreading across the empire, many are beginning to forget about enchanted beings and fallen creatures. People of their time believes that men are master of their own lives, and architect of their own paths. The choices they made determines their fate. So, who will believe that a dragon stood before their sight a night before this day? They have witnessed with their eyes the gore. They gathered fragments of torn flesh by their hands. Still, the incidence seems like a hazy dream now that the new day is upon them.
In the guest cubiculum where Persis lay, the female servant sat by a low stool at the corner of the bedchamber and watched her sleep. She does not know the relationship of the lady to the second master of the household or what happened to her, but she was made to swear to secrecy that whatever she sees or hears in this bedchamber should not pass the walls of the bedchamber. Except for the immediate household members, no other servant or slaves were to know.
The lady who lay on the ¹Culcita is very beautiful with fair smooth skin like that of a baby. Her long dark eyelashes fan her slender cheeks that spots a bruise on the left side. The long tresses of her golden hair spread across the ²pulvinus. She looks like a fallen angel especially with the thin lines of scratch marks on her bare arms. Not quite long, she began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered and flew open in awareness. She roamed her eyes round the room in confusion and fear until it rested on the maiden servant who stood up and approached her.
"Milady, you're awake."
"Who- who are you!" She asked fearfully, sitting up and scooting towards the edge of the bed near the wall making the servant stop in mid-step. "Where am I?"
"I am a servant of this household. This is the ³demus of my Master, Master Flavius Servius. I am assigned to attend you, milady." the servant replied, bowing a little in respect. Persis stared at her with a glazed look. Then the servant took another step to approach her.
"Stay away from me!" she whimpered.
The servant stopped, perplexed. "Milady, are you not feeling well?" she inquired, wondering perhaps the lady may be feeling sick or something.
"Stay away from me! Don't come any closer!" Persis continues to whimper, rocking herself to and fro in a backward and forward motion with her head tucked between her knees.
The servant stood where she was, helpless, as she watched the beautiful lady guest rock herself on the Culcita. This lady has been entrusted to her care. She thought of what to do next for a while and her eyes fell on the pitcher of water on the carved table nearby. The servant went to pour a cup and approach the lady, who still had her head down, with cautious steps.
Bending a little and stretching her hands with the cup, she offered, "Milady, here. Have some water."
Alarmed to hear the servant voice so close to her ears, Persis jolted back with flailing arms and screamed, "Get away from me! Get away from me!" The cup clattered to the ground, spilling the water over the mosaic floors. The sound reverberated through the bedchamber, and Persis burst into tears.
"Milady, please do not weep. I mean you no harm," the servant tried to console. But the lady continued to weep, her hands covering her face.
Luciano, who has come to check if the lady is awake, heard the slight noise from behind the door. His father had built the cubicula in such a way that noises from the bedchambers could not be heard from further than the door. There were times when one even have to strain the ear to pick any sound from the inner rooms. He gave an urgent knock to which the servant opened the door to let him in. He came in to see the young lady, head bent between her knees, weeping. He frowned.
"What happened to the lady?" he asked the servant, going closer to Persis.
"I don't know, my lord. She woke up looking like she was fearful of something. I tried to come closer and offered her a drink of water but she began to scream," The young servant nervously explained all at once, afraid she will get punished for not taking good care of the lady and making her weep.
"Do not fret, Lydia. I will handle it. Go bring the cleaning pail and wipe the floor." Leaving the servant to do his bidding, he turned to the lady on the bed and called out gently, "Milady, do not weep. Wipe your tears."
Hearing a man's voice, Persis raised her head to see the stranger she ran to for help on the trail at night standing in the chamber. She scampered from the bed, and without shame, threw herself into the arms of the man. At least, this is the only face closer to familiar she knows of now.
*******
Meanwhile, in Liviana's bedchamber at the inner courts of the temple, Aria also opened her eyes. Disoriented, she lay still on a soft mattress, carefully looking around the unfamiliar environment to finally rest on the awning of the bedchamber. There were pictures drawn on it - pictures of reptiles that wound round the bodies of men and women, picture of gods in compromising position with humans and babies sucking the breast of a three-headed woman with the legs of a goat. What is this place? Aria wondered, getting up from the sleeping couch. The frescos on the walls bear similar images - men and women tangled in erotica. As Aria kept looking around, the door to the bedchamber opened and the high priestess walked in. Terror filled Aria's heart and she stiffened. Liviana approached her one step after another till she stopped right before Aria who stood quaking in silent fear.
"My little maiden. You are awake?" Liviana said, gliding her fingers from Aria's forehead to her chin. Extending her Middle finger, she lifted Aria's face so their eyes could meet. Dark as night pupils meeting brown orbs filled with fear. Liviana loved to see her subjects cower in fear. She feeds on their fear, making her feel powerful and untouchable. But somehow, this lowly being has captured her sight. There's something about this young one that calls out to her. She looks innocent and untainted. But she will taint her. Liviana's lips curved with an evil smile as she circled Aria. That's what she knows to do best - taint and destroy things that are pure. There's nothing more she'd love than to take pleasure from this young body.
"Come, my lovely pet. You have found favour with your mistress" Liviana cooed. "I will not harm you..." Unless you make me, Liviana added in her head. Aria seems to understand the unspoken words and shuddered more in dread.
"Let Mistress teach you the dark pleasures of the universe. You will let Mistress teach and guide you, won't you? Liviana asked, tracing her neck and leaving scratch marks with her sharp nails.
Aria gulped as her body shuddered in revulsion. But she nodded frantically. Was she supposed to say no to this Demon witch, and end up like Fausta? Looking at it, either way, she may end up dead anyway. Memories of Fausta's lifeless eyes staring emptily in the bath chamber flooded her mind, making her heart beat erratically. The Priestess led her back to the Culcita to lay with her.
Footnotes:
1. Culcita: Mattress
2. Pulvinus: Pillow