Page 22 of Deliverance
“Why have you waited so long to tell me, Odessa?” Eloy asked her.
“This one feared Kijani’s wrath and was unsure of her own feelings. For so long, this one had been indifferent. This one cared not of human pain, suffering, or death and she was forced by both you and Simeon to self-reflect. This one did not want Kijani to kill Titus if he knew she was going to betray him before she could save Titus,” Odessa explained.
Eloy spun around now. “I must get Mateo now.”
He rushed past Odessa, making sure not to look her directly in her eyes.
“I will join you,” Simeon said. “If only to drive, as you cannot.”
Inside the car, Eloy sat in the passenger seat, staring out of the window. Simeon tossed him a few glances between keeping his own eyes on the road. It was true that Eloy didn’t know how to drive as he had never needed to learn. Simeon, on the other hand, enjoyed the mundane things life had to offer and felt learning how to drive exhilarating.
“What will you do to Kijani?”
“I do not even want to think about him now and his petty jealousies. To know that he and Odessa killed Loren and then tried to kill Mateo… I have never known such treachery,” Eloy said through gritted teeth.
“Odessa is trying to make amends, you must forgive her. We are merciful beings, Eloy,” Simeon stated. “That is why you feel better now than you ever did before.”
“Let me save Mateo first, then worry about them, please, Simeon. Just drive, it is a long way to him,” Eloy said.
“Fine, but you will have to face them eventually, my friend. Kijani will be fierce to have been replaced by a human,” Simeon said.
“I do not care,” Eloy snapped.
With that, Simeon turned on the radio, which all automobiles had, to drown out the silence and kill the time it was going to take to get to Rama’s home and to Mateo. Good thing was, he could speed and not be stopped and that would help them significantly.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mateo lay on the bed he’d once shared with Titus and stared at the clay ceiling. Many a night he’d done this, thinking about his fate. If the next time he would enter the arena would be his last. He sighed, then smiled as he thought about how those days were behind him now. This new world where everyone was equal was something amazing. He finally understood why Eloy had begged him for his patience. Two months had passed and Rama had never been so nice to him. He had been free to roam the main house and eat the same food that Rama had eaten. The other gladiators were now gone, off to pursue lives of their own. Some still fought in the arena and the crowd still came for the spectacle. And those who had made up the former Elite hosted the participants at a great feast. One that even tempted Mateo, but he no longer wanted to fight. Not for survival, glory, or bragging rights.
Mateo thought about his mother and sister and wondered if they were still alive. He had wanted to go back to the badlands to find out, but Rama had forbidden it. He had done so on behalf of Eloy, which was the only reason why Mateo had stayed. But soon, if Eloy didn’t come for him, he would go to them and no one would be able to stop him. He looked out through the open door, the breeze cool and refreshing, which was why he’d kept it open. The stars were so bright in the sky, offering a promise of many more nights to come. At least that was what he’d hoped. It wasn’t too long before the heaviness of his eyelids won over and he drifted off to sleep.
“Mateo… Mateo, wake up,” he heard a voice calling his name over and over as he was being gently rocked back and forth. “Mateo, wake up,” the voice urged, and it was a familiar voice too.
Mateo slowly opened his eyes as he pulled himself from his deep sleep to see Eloy standing over him. His eyes widened and he sat up to get a better look. “Are you really here?”
Eloy smiled and nodded. “I am, and I will take you home with me.”
“It is finally time?” Mateo asked, his voice peaking in his excitement.
“It is. Come.”
Quickly, Mateo climbed out of bed and hugged Eloy, kissing him as passionately and freely as he had in the privacy of Eloy’s bedroom. “I have waited so long for you,” he said.
“I know.” Eloy smiled as he caressed Mateo’s face, noting all the youth and beauty in the eyes that stared back at him with so much emotion. “Is there anything you want to take with you?”
Mateo shook his head. “Nothing.”
Eloy nodded. “Then let us go.”
He led Mateo through Rama’s home back to the front door. Rama was waiting there, head bowed in respect. Eloy stopped before him.
“Thank you for taking care of him.”
“Of course, god Eloy.”
“I will inform you that you have a rat in your house… the last servant who stayed. He is in the service of the god, Kijani, to monitor Mateo. I will have you keep this between us as the guards are on their way to retrieve him. You are to keep him here until they arrive, is this clear?” Eloy said.
Rama nodded. “Yes, god Eloy. I will obey.”
