Page 4 of Deliverance
Simeon nodded. “Perhaps, yet even still, I do not fear mortality. I only want to help these people as we had first intended. Besides, it is not me that you should worry about. Neither Odessa nor Kijani want to give up their immortality. And the real question is, do you?”
Eloy touched his finger to his bottom lip as he pondered the question. Was he ready to be human, to live just one mortal life and when it was all over, to return to heaven to take his place as a celestial god once again? Was Mateo worth it? Yes.
“I think I am all right with being mortal,” Eloy said.
Simeon whistled. “You really care for this human, then?”
Eloy nodded. “More than any other and that is saying something. You know what I felt for Loren.”
“I do, but I do not think Loren made you feel what Mateo does.”
Again, Eloy was silent as he contemplated his feelings. He had cared a great deal for Loren, which was true. The human had touched him in ways others hadn’t at that point, but Mateo was a force of nature. His passion was fierce, and he was fearless. To Eloy, Mateo was fire incarnate, the mate he had never thought he was looking for.
“I will take your silence as confirmation.”
Eloy looked at Simeon and smiled. “I will free Mateo.”
“Perhaps you should do so before this final Game.”
“I cannot. We have Odessa on our side, but if she sees that I have taken Mateo for myself, it will alarm her. She will join Kijani and then we will be at a stalemate. We have to make the changes first, have them fully implemented with her support. Then, I can take him for myself,” Eloy said.
Simeon nodded. “That is wise.”
“And on that day, when I free him, I will tell him how much he means to me.”
“The forbidden words never to be spoken to a human.”
Eloy nodded. “That is why timing is everything.”
“Well then, let us hope your human does not die in this upcoming Games.”
“This will be a Game he will not attend.”
Simeon smiled and picked up his wine glass, holding it up for a toast. Eloy grabbed his glass and tapped it against Simeon’s. “To the future.”
“To the future,” Eloy said, then took a sip of his wine. Yes, to the future indeed.
CHAPTER TWO
Rama sat at his desk, holding the brown parchment with the official seal of the god, Kijani, in his shaking hand. Never before had the gods made a formal request of him, of his gladiators, outside of demanding the company of them for sexual pleasure. Never to seek to arrange a match between his gladiators, and never a request from Kijani himself. This was a request that Rama knew he must grant, but at what cost? To pit his greatest gladiator, Titus, against one that held so much promise, Mateo, would surely weaken his standing among other ludus owners.
His other gladiators were powerful and well skilled, but none were on Titus’ level. And yet, Mateo was a favorite of the god, Eloy. To risk the life of either was a nightmare for Rama. But he knew he had no choice, because in his hand was a direct message from the god, Kijani, that it must be done. He didn’t know why Kijani wanted to see these two men fight to the death, but there was speculation. There were rumors that Kijani was a jealous god and that he desired Eloy’s affections and resented any who may have had them.
Perhaps that was why he wanted Mateo dead, and pitting him against Titus all but guaranteed it. However, could Rama risk everything for the whim of a jealous god? What had Kijani ever given him to help him gain in status? Nothing. Not even with the goddess, Odessa, fucking Titus was Rama ever invited to dine with the Elite. No, all of that came when Eloy took interest and his pleasure in Mateo. Did that mean that Mateo’s value was more than that of Titus’?
Rama read the letter again for the third time as thoughts ran through his mind. There was a chance he could lose both in battle, then where would he be? What would Kijani give him for such a sacrifice? The god was not known for his generosity. Never had he spared a gladiator in the arena and seemed to frown upon anyone who did. Kijani was cruel and bloodthirsty. That was what Rama knew about him. He would not care if Rama lost status by losing his most valuable gladiators, he would not put Rama with the Elite, but maybe… just maybe that could be something Rama asked for in return. But even in asking, one could be risking everything. The gods didn’t grant wishes. They gave favor to those they felt had earned it.
Rama sighed and placed the letter on his desk. He grumbled as he looked at the fire flickering on the candles that illuminated his office. For so long, he had wanted to be able to use a real lamp, one that ran on electricity. The money he made from Titus’ victories was getting him one step closer to a better life. Still, there was that dinner he’d had with the Elites. He had to think long and hard about which gladiator was the most expendable.
He stood up and left his office to view his gladiators as they trained under the brutal, hot sun. He watched Mateo and Titus practice with their partners. Every day, Mateo’s skill increased to the point where he could very well be a champion under his roof. He was fast, agile, and thought quickly on his feet when going against an opponent. He was adaptable to any and all situations; that was one thing Rama had noticed about the young man.
Once a barbarian living in the badlands, taken to a ludus where he would be trained to become a god among men in the arena, Mateo had gone with the flow. He wanted to survive and did whatever was necessary to make it happen. Rama knew he’d taken Titus as a lover for more than just pleasure. Fucking the Champion no doubt gave him perks as well. To Rama, Mateo was smart and opportunistic… shrewd even.
Rama’s gray eyes studied Mateo harder as he watched him dodge and parry the attacks from his training partner. He saw the determination in Mateo’s eyes to be better than his opponent. If he lost Titus, he could make a champion out of him and hopefully the god, Eloy, would be pleased that the object of his affection was still alive for him to fuck. Of course, there was concern about that, as the god had not requested the company of Mateo in nearly three weeks.
Had something happened the last time they were together that spoiled something between them, or was Rama simply being paranoid to worry? Rama placed his hands on the wood railing and turned his focus to Titus. The man was amazing on the sands and the crowd loved to cheer him on. He was entertaining and most importantly, undefeated. How many more victories would Titus have to have to put the other Ludi out of business, thus propelling Rama to the Elite? Ten, Twenty, Thirty? Would Titus survive that long?
The hardest part of reading the letter Kijani had sent was the fact that he would be sworn to secrecy about the match pairing. Kijani didn’t want either Mateo or Titus to know they would be facing each other in the next Games, which were only a week away. Rama actually felt that might be best. What would knowing that do to their mental states, he wondered? Then again, what would it do to them to learn seconds before entering the arena that they would be facing each other? There was no good way this could turn out, Rama thought.
