Disclaimer: This is a
work of fan fiction. The characters in this
story: Xena, Gabrielle, Eve or Livia (and any mention to characters from the television
show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) are the property of Renaissance Pictures and
Universal MCA. This story is not meant to infringe upon their rights or the rights of the
actors who portray them. Also, no part of the story entitled Growing up "Livia"
is to be copied, whole or in part, without the author's permission. It is not to be copied
for public use or for profit by any person or organization.
************************************************************************************************************
Growing Up
Livia
Chapter Two
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Livia entered
the temple that had been dedicated to Athena and collapsed at the idol of the goddess of
Wisdom. Livia could still remember the day
Octavious had come into her life and allowed a child to die in her place, and she was
still aware that it was this same goddess whos temple she was in now that had
ordered her death.
Her heart was
aching with the worst fear and pain shed ever faced before in her life, and she just
didnt want to live another moment. Perhaps
Athena would come and strike her down so she may join Ann on the other side. She was a
little girl, so her place in Elysia was all but secure.
All she needed now was Celesta to come and rescue her from her misery.
Livia
didnt know how long shed been at the foot of the idol of Athena before she
felt a presence in the room with her. She
picked her head up from the floor to find the room empty, but something told her she was
not alone. She could feel the hairs on the
back of her neck standing up, and her skin felt cold.
Chill-bumps rose on the surface of her flesh and Livia found the experience both
frightening and mysterious.
Hello? Is someone here?
The one being
that would become familiar above all others for the rest of her life appeared before her,
an unsympathetic expression on his face. Ares
had not met anyone sense Xena who could feel his presence, and that this child could sense
his presence intrigued him. She was a rare
mortal, and given a little time and effort, he could mold her into a warrior deserving of
Xenas place in his heart.
I
am, Ares said, walking toward her. He
could see the pain loosing her sister had cost Livia, and that was just what he wanted. It was this pain that was the most important
ingredient in the recipe of how to make a monster. He would use this hurt in her heart to make her
angry. Mix that with a little affection and
toss in a pinch of blood-shed for flavor and in a few years of tactical training he will
have created a monster like the world hadnt known sense the legendary Warrior
Princess herself.
My
lord, Livia said through ragged breaths that echoed her weeping, will you
bring my sister back?
Absolutely
not, he thought. The last thing he needed was that sniveling brat
around to keep Livia soft. No, it was the
loss of her adopted mother and sister that was going to make her more vulnerable to
accepting the rage he intended to instill in her heart.
He couldnt let her know that though. He
had to convince her he was on her side, and that since he was a god he knew best. She was gullible enough to believe anything he
told her.
Bring
her back? Im sorry Livia but shes
gone and its for the best.
Livia felt as
if hed driven a dagger into her heart. How
could he say such a thing about her sister? But shes all alone out there! Shell be made a slave and she could die! Dont you care?
Not in the
least, Ares thought,
but his words were completely different. Its
not that I dont care Livia, its just that theres nothing to be done about it. The gods dont interfere in the lives of
mortals unless they find one they think is special.
Like you.
This was new,
Livia thought. She stood from the cold, hard
floor and eased toward him, responding to what she believed were kind words. Special?
Oh
yes, Ares said, sitting down on one of the benches that faced the idol. You see, we are so busy taking care of
larger matters that we dont have time to go chasing after every child who gets sold
into slavery. The best thing that I can do as the god of War is to take children like you
and love you, and train you to be strong so you dont end up like Ann or
Brigid.
He had the
innocent child hanging on to every word to the point shed taken up a place on her
knees at his feet. She was so afraid of being
alone that she was practically throwing herself at his feet in the hopes he would take
care of her. It wasnt surprising
considering she was only eight years old and had been forced to take human life barely a
day ago. On top of that, shed lost the
only people shed ever trusted and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt had loved her for
her and not because of her guardians money. This
child would believe anything he told her and do anything he wanted to please him in the
hopes he would love her as Ann and Brigid had.
Perfect.
******************************
The air in the
library was so cold that even with two bearskins on Livia was still chilled, especially
when the wind blew outside. A year had passed
since Ares had taken her under his wing and began teaching her the lessons of the real
world and real people. He had created a
double of Livia to interact with the other children at the Academy while she all but lived
with him at his temple in Corinth.
Day after day
she studied scrolls from Ares library. They
were an extensive collection of the tactics of his favorite warrior. Her name was Xena, and every day Ares drilled in
her old philosophies of War until Livia hated the name.
It was always Xena did this, and Xena would have done this way. Her personal
favorite was: How would Xena do this?
before she even entered a situation.
In addition to
learning how to draw up tactical scenarios and tracking her prey, Ares had been teaching
her the art of the sword. She was a fast
learner, even faster than Xena had been, and she wondered if perhaps if she didnt
have that feeling of familiarity with weapons to thank. Every time she touched a weapon she got that same
feeling shed gotten in the temple the day Alec had robbed her of her mother. Shed handled a blade before but when that
was she had no idea.
Ares appeared
before her in the library and she handled him her latest battle plans. As always hed
given her the situation, the terrain the armies were fighting in and status on weapons and
general health of each army. From there she would pick an army to be the victor and then
come up with a battle plan opposing one created by Ares. So far she hadnt won, and
she doubted she ever would.
He reviewed
the scroll and as always, his face remained a hard mask that she couldnt read. Was
he pleased with what shed devised or did he hate it?
For that matter, had he come to hate her? That was Livias biggest fear. She dreaded the day she did something wrong one
too many times and the only one she had left to love her would suddenly turn on her like a
wild dog and tell her he never wanted to see her again.
Arent
you going to show me your plans? Livia asked. They always exchanged scrolls, but
today he hadnt brought one.
No. Today were going to do something different
Livia.
Despite
intentions to remain cool, as she knew Xena would have, Livia found herself becoming
excited. Something new? What could it be?
He held out
his hand to her and she ran to him. She loved
it when they traveled together. It was like being in a cloud for a split second, yet if
she chose to, she could make the experience last as long as she wanted. It was amazing, but mostly it was just fun
to her.
Where
are we going my god?
Ares rewarded
her with a grin. Were going to
War.
******************************
Livia had seen
many an army in her time with Ares over the past year
on papyrus that was. Shed never seen a camp in real life, but now
thats exactly where she found herself now. She
and Ares had materialized on a ridge overlooking a camp of about a thousand men.
On the
other side of this mountain is another camp. Its
just like this one except its my men.
Why are
we here? Livia had an idea of what Ares
was getting at, but the idea that she was going to see two armies fight was frightening.
Hed told her over and over nothing in life was as exhilarating than War, but she now
had her doubts if that were true. She didnt want to see people kill each other.
Ares sensed
her reservations and squeezed her hand. Think
of it as a game. This is your team and my
team is on the other side of the ridge. Im
going to give your plans to your commander, and hell think they came from me.
Hell follow them to the letter. Understand?
Livia
panicked. But, if I got something
wrong
those men will die and it will all be my fault.
Yes it
will, Ares said in agreement. He moved
to leave but she pulled him back.
No!
Dont. I dont want them to die because of me.
Livia!
He screamed at
her for the first time since theyd met and it almost made her heart stop in fear. Thunder rolled across the sky in reaction to his
wrath, and she wondered if perhaps shed over stepped her bounds.
I will
not tolerate this kind of weakness from you, do you hear me?
Livia nodded
her head and looked to the ground. She was
more concerned with her own life than she was about the lives of the men in the camp below
her. Yes my god. I wont be weak any more.
Youd
better not. If youre going to take
Xenas place youre going to have to be as hard as she was. Now wait here. The game will begin shortly.
Game, Livia
thought. He considered the lives of those men as nothing but a game. Would she ever become that cold? Hed promised her she would never feel pain
again if she did, but did she really want to?
Livia pushed
those thoughts from her mind and took up a seat on a flat rock that would afford her a
view of the camp as she waited for Ares to return. After
an eternity of waiting he finally returned and stood next to her to watch her battle plans
unfold in a live battle. Her mind went over
her plan of attack repeatedly and each time the outcome looked favorable. But then again,
she was only nine years old.
By the time
noon came around and Livia was eating a lunch provided by Ares her army was prepared to
meet their enemies
or at least she hoped they were.
The men had carried her plans out to the letter and Livia found herself relaxing as
she watched them move about, preparing the traps shed ordered set up.
I just
have one question Ares, Livia said.
Whats
that?
How can
I expect to win this battle when you know my battle plans.
I gave
my army my own plans before I read yours.
Livia found
herself smiling. He was actually going to
give her a fair shot at this. Thanks. So
you know whos going to win though?
He kneeled
down next to her. I have no idea who
will win. There are always variables
that cannot be calculated. For instance, one of my men might sneeze while coming up on one
of your men, thereby giving away his location and starting the battle prematurely. This could cause your army to win where they would
have lost before. Anything could happen. Thats what makes war so exhilarating Livia. Remember that.
Not only does it
Ares
voice trailed off as he noticed one of the men on Livias team riding off. Livia also noticed this and spoke up. I didnt order any men to ride for
Corinth.
I know. Never mind that.
The battle is about to begin.
******************************
As
Livias plan of attack called for it the commander of her team, a warrior by the name
of Argeddon, deployed five-foot soldiers to scout out the ridge ahead. Apparently news was good for when they returned,
the men fell into formation: Archers left, Cavalry right, Foot soldiers bringing up the
rear. It was her own design, one Ares had
never seen before and one he wasnt certain would be effective against his classic
three line formation of Cavalry front, Foot Soldier rear and Archers flanking the
two. If her new formation worked in a few
battles he would implement it immediately.
Argeddon led
his men toward the pass that would lead to the clearing they would use as a battleground. Ares and Livia followed, floating in mid air high
above. Livia found the experience of
floating in mid air both scary and exciting as she clung to his waist for dear life. She had a birds eye view of the
battleground on the other side of the ridge and both armies moving toward it.
As Ares
men continued to advance to the battlefield, Livias army took another turn. Her artillery had been moved up into the ridge and
now her archers were moving up the ridge as well. Argeddon
then moved the Cavalry and the foot soldiers through the pass.
When
Ares men, led by Commander Gaelan, entered the battleground to face off, Livia fully
expected Ares men to form some kind of counter attack or defense against her men on
the ridge. However, they only lined up to
await Gaelans orders to attack.
What
made you decide to put men and artillery on the ridge? Ares asked. With
a wave of his hand everything below them froze in place.
Every bird over the battlefield, every fallen leaf blowing through the air stopped
in place, suspended in time until Ares was ready for the battle to continue.
Isnt
it obvious? Livia asked. She wasnt intending to be sarcastic and her tone
reflected no disrespect. She just
couldnt imagine why he would ask such a question.
Its a tactical advantage. The
ridge is on my side of the battlefield, and since its easy to traverse I thought
Id put the catapults up there. With
that kind of height I can fire further out and destroy their means of escape to the
sea.
Ares nodded,
liking her reasons. He had known her reasons
of course, but he wanted to listen to her thought patterns in order to help him manipulate
her in the future. If he could understand how
she thought he would be able to use that against her in the future.
I see. And your archers? Wouldnt they serve you
better on the battlefield? Your men might
need them in a crunch. With your archers
that high in the air this gusty wind might affect their aim.
I
hadnt thought of that. I thought
Id have them up there to defend against any of your men who might come up from
behind them. Archers are a good defense when
theyre hidden in the trees.
So you
were only looking to protect your artillery from an attack that may not even happen? Youre willing to leave the rest of your men
open to a full frontal assault without your archers?
Livia looked
away, embarrassed. Ares had told her on numerous occasions she was careful to the point of
cowardice and hed urged her to break the habit and be more daring. Livia knew that in order for her to do this, she
would have to be willing to sacrifice men, and that was the part that bothered her most of
all.
It bothered
Ares as well. Hed been with this child
a year and she still had a reverence for life that was interfering with his plans to stomp
out the rest of her good nature. He could see now that he had his work cut out with Livia
in that department.
I also
thought that from the ridge their aim would be improved with the better view. I wanted to
use the height to my advantage.
Lets
see how you do then. Ares waved a hand
over the field and everything below resumed just where it had left off. None of the men were the least bit aware time had
stopped for them.
When the last
of Gaelans troops fell into position, the battle was on. Livias Cavalry, the best of her soldiers,
charged Gaelan. Likewise his men moved in as
well. However, Livias Cavalry skidded
to a halt, per her orders while her artillery rained down fire from above. Before Gaelan and his men could recover from his
shock, half of his Cavalry went down.
When the rest
of Gaelans Cavalry moved into position, Livias archers assaulted from the
ridge. Indeed the height advantage far outweighed the drawbacks of the wind and they took
out the rest of the Cavalry. Gaelen was now short two hundred and fifty men.
Livias
Cavalry was still completely intact, and on horseback they posed a serious threat to
Gaelens foot soldiers. They rode straight for Gaelans men, shields
overhead instead of on side. When
Gaelans archers fired, their arrows rained down on cold hard steel, causing almost
no damage at all.
Livia watched
the battle from her place in the air, and despite the fact that she was watching real,
living people die, she was winning the battle and this filled her with excitement to the
point she found herself almost jumping up and down. She
never saw Ares grin as he watched his protégés men destroy his army with a plan of
attack hed never seen Xena implement before.
Livia was only
a child, but she was brilliant. She was eating up the knowledge of warfare he had to teach
her, and she believed every lie that came from his lips.
She was still a softhearted child, but with each passing day she became harder and
harder of heart.
Livia was
cruel to other children, and she was frustrated that her body was too small and weak to
keep up with her ever-expanding mind. She
knew the intricacies of sword fighting but her sword arm was too weak to be effective. She
understood the mechanics behind the perfect drop kick and the perfect punch, but her body
was too weak to pose a threat to any opponent she was facing down that wasnt bigger
than herself. She also still felt guilt. Sure, when she was shoving around a boy her age
she enjoyed it, but as soon as they started to cry or bleed she would almost burst into
tears with regret.
Its only
a matter of time, Ares
thought, before I have that conscious worked right out of her. Soon her soul will be just as dead as my own.
The god of War
stood in the heavens with his young disciple and he watched her get her first taste of the
drug victory really was. Over the next few
years they would plan many such battles as these, much to Livias delight after this
success, and she would win more and more of them. As each day passed under Ares watchful
gaze, Livias goodness died a little more until the day finally came when she could
no longer feel love in her heart. No matter
how hard she tried.
******************************
Seventeen-year-old
Livia walked slowly around the pond that had been the site of the last bit of happiness
she had ever known. This was the nine year
anniversary of the day Ares had entered her life and changed it forever in the form of a
raid led by Alec, one of the god of War's favored warriors. This was the nine-year
anniversary of the day she'd lost Ann to the cold hand of death and Brigid to the evil
intentions of the god of War.
Ares
had a new favorite now in Livia. She'd studied hard over the past nine years to learn the
art of War, and under Ares merciless heart and expert hand he'd succeeded in molding her
into a cold-blooded, heartless killer. She hated everyone and everything. Ares owned her now. He'd taken everything a man
could from a woman. Her heart, her soul, her happiness and her virginity. Some small part
of her had feeling's for him, but only because he was all she knew anymore. He had
promised her absolute power, and she was going to conquer the world in his name. Livia had
every intention of exacting her revenge on mankind for every wrong they ever visited upon
her.
Once
she completed her circuit of the lake, she turned to give it one final look. It would be
the last time, she was certain, that she would see this place. Octavious, now known to the
world forever as Augustus Caesar, had granted her a commission in the Alpha legion. They
were the very best unit Rome had to offer, and even a position as the least in the Alpha
legion was coveted by the best of any other legion under Augustus command.
Usually
this kind of posting was unheard of, but in Livia's case she did not excel in the social
graces taught to the women of her day. War
and the blood-soaked death it brought with it were more to her taste. Her passion in life was destruction in every form
and the accumulation of power. Livia
couldnt begin to care less about how to be the perfect Roman wife. She viewed these
women as weak and this girl was anything but.
Though
he had made no sound Livia could feel Ares presence. It was like an electric charge moving
up her spine, and she loved the way her body responding to him. He had only bedded her for
the first time less than a month ago, but she couldn't begin to count the number of hours
they'd spent lovemaking. She hungered for his touch every moment they were separated. Not
necessarily out of love, but out of pure, hot lust. He was the perfect lover, and she
would see to it she kept him interested long enough to get what she wanted. After that...
"Livia. You sensed my presence."
Ares
took her in his arms and melted into him. They kissed passionately before she pulled away
to catch her breath. She wanted him to take her, right where they were, but she knew Ares
hated sexual spontaneity only slightly less than laziness. It would be a mistake to ask
him to do something as careless as to share passion right out in the open where anyone
could catch them. Besides, he wanted no one to know of their affair just yet. Perhaps he
was ashamed of her age, or perhaps he had deeper reasons. She didn't care, just as long as
he made her feel so alive.
"Xena
was the only one I've ever known who could do that," Ares whispered in her ear. His baritone voice made her blood race like
lightning through her veins. Everything about
him was perfect in her eyes. The way he
smelled, the way he tasted and especially the way he felt when he slid his massive manhood
into her and rode her to Elysia
Despite
her mounting passion Livia rolled her eyes at the mention of Xenas name. There was only one thing she couldn't stand about
Ares, and that was the fact that he was still hung up on the legendary Warrior Princess. He matched her passion for lovemaking and battle
and that was the only thing that kept her coming back to the bed night after night. She just wondered if he would ever realize that
she was not Xena, could not be Xena, and did not want to be Xena.
Now
Ares laughed at Livia's displeasure over Xena's name. "You feel as if you have to
compete with her every day don't you?"
"Yes
I do," Livia said. She tried to keep her
voice neutral but in affairs relating to the Warrior Princess she always failed.
"Good,
because you'd better believe you are." He pulled away from her and leaned against a
tree. She almost followed him like a stray puppy, longing for the feel of his arms around
her, deeply kissing her until she was swept away on waves of unimaginable pleasure as only
this god could make her feel.
Ares
lips curved up into a smile. He knew exactly what his new favorite had on her mind, just
as he knew how to use her youthful lusts to control her. All young warriors were the same
in their simple desires, but he excelled with female warriors because he could bed them. Once he had them addicted to the physical
pleasures he could inspire and he took them on intoxicating killing spree's in battle,
they would do anything he asked to keep that feeling of euphoria that only he could
produce in them.
"Eli,"
he whispered, changing Livia's sexual lust into blood lust in less than the blink of an
eye. He had taught her to hate Eli and all his followers had stood for as long as he'd
known Livia, and today was the day Livia would begin her climb to the top. He planned to
make her Empress of Rome, and along the way he would use her to kill anyone he even
remotely suspected of following Eli.
Why
mortals insisted on following his pathetic crusade to rid the world of the Olympian gods
was beyond his ability to reason, but hundreds of mortals each day took up his cause and
his name. They were like a diseased limb to the gods of Olympus, slowly but surely
poisoning their divine body. Ares was
determined to see to it that limb was cut off before it killed the Olympian order.
"Your
family rid the world of Xena, Gabrielle and Eve," Livia said. There was a distinctly
taunting quality to her voice. "Surely you can rid Greece and Rome of a few pesky
religious zealots. Why don't you use your powers to just wipe them out?"
"Because,"
he answered, his voice ice cold, "followers of Eli that dies by my blade only make
their cause grow stronger. They see themselves as soldiers in a battle against us. If a
god kills them, they grow closer. If a mortal kills them, they begin to doubt what they
are fighting for and they become weaker. That's
where you come in."
"And
that scares the hell out of you doesnt it?" Livia was unprepared for the anger
her words caused the god of War, and one of his massive hands reached out, grabbing her by
the throat.
"I
am Ares. I am never afraid."
Livia
had become arrogant enough that this treatment angered her, and she wasn't about to back
down. He wasn't the only one who knew how to push other people's buttons. Ares had two
weaknesses. Xena and the followers of Eli.
"Oh
really?" Livia said calmly. She knew he had invested too much time and energy into
her, and that he would do nothing to seriously harm her. "Then why do you panic at
the mere mention of Eli's name? You've taught me too well Ares. I know you as intimately
as I know myself, and you are scared to death of anything relating to Eli. Now, get your
hand off my throat so I report for duty. You don't want me late on my first day now do
you?"
Ares
reluctantly let go of Livia's neck and she sauntered away, swinging her voluptuous hips
seductively and he was once again struck with a sense of deja vu. Every day she behaved
more and more like another warrior he'd once known, but he just couldn't put his finger on
which it was.
He
shook his head in frustration and faded away. Livia was losing fear for him, which could
be a good thing in a warrior. Just as long as she obeyed him he didn't really care if she
was afraid of him or not. He had what she needed, and he knew as long as she felt
dependent upon him she would do whatever she was told to destroy the followers of Eli.
Damen,
who was the commander of the Alpha Legion, watched as the only female warrior in the
history of the Roman Empire went about her duties of passing out the water to the men.
What on earth had possessed Augustus to put a seventeen-year-old girl of all things in his
army was beyond him. No woman belonged on the battlefield, except for nursing
and
other duties for the men. To have her here was a disgrace to the honor of his
legion, and he was determined to do everything he could to make her resign her commission.
He
did have to give Livia credit for one thing, and that was the fact she never complained.
Never. Not to anyone for any reason. She had been left behind on the last two battles
against Britannia, and as they headed back to squash an uprising of Gaul supporters in
Greece, Livia went about her menial labors, quietly enduring the leering and the insults
of his men.
Damen
pulled off his armor and lay down on his bed, which was really just a table with a few
blankets spread over it for padding. No sooner had he relaxed, did he hear a soft ripping
noise from the foot of his bed. He looked up to find someone had cut a slit into the
fabric, no doubt planning to enter the tent and kill him. Damen, renowned for his stealth,
eased off the bed and grabbed his sword as he exited the tent. He whispered what was
happening to a guard near by, ordering him to watch the front of the tent, as he circled
around back.
Damen
came to the rear of his tent to find it deserted. Whoever was attempting to kill him was
inside his tent, trapped. Another couple of men, sensing something was wrong, came around
back. Again, he told them what was going on, and they stood back to watch as he prepared
to enter the tent.
"Ready?"
Damen whispered. When he got no response from his men, he turned looked back to find them
spread out on the ground, unconscious. A woman stood there, scantily clad in an Amazon
uniform, her face covered by a veil of all things. He grinned as she raised her sword and
pointed it at him.
"So,
this was a trick to get me outside? Clever. I
love clever women.
She
swung at him and the fight was on. They clashed swords until every man within earshot
began to wake up and gather around to watch Damen fight their Amazon intruder. Others
formed a search party to look for any more of their formidable feminine enemies that might
be surrounding the camp.
Try
as he might, Damen was unable to disarm the woman merely with his sword. It would take a
more hands-on approach to defeat this veiled enemy. The older soldier attempted a drop
kick but her lithe, young body dodged it easily and as his leg was still in mid-air she
landed a well-placed, solid punch to his groin. He
crumbled to his knees in agony, and she put her sword to his throat. The fight was over before it really had a chance
to begin, and Damen was horribly embarrassed.
His
loyal men drew their swords and prepared to attack, though hesitantly. She could take his
head off before they could touch her, and they all knew it. For now it was a draw.
"Well!"
Damen barked, shamed that a woman had defeated him in front of his men despite the fact
she was a member of the mighty Amazon nation. "Get on with it woman!"
The
'woman' pulled back her veil, and there was a collective gasp of shock at the familiar
face beneath. It was Livia. Damen was
enraged when she shoved him almost face first into the ground and walked around to stand
before him.
"Livia!
What the hell do you think you're doing?" Damens voice was shaking with his
rage. This girl, whom he despised for even
being put in his precious legion, had embarrassed him in front of his men.
"Proving
myself worth more than a winch to empty the piss pots of these men. There's a reason
Augustus gave me a commission in his elite legion sir. Regardless of what the men say,
it's not because I'm sleeping with him. I haven't seen him since I was a child. It's
because I am a warrior, and I am worthy to fight along side you."
"You
think so huh?" Damen said, rubbing the small cut on his throat.
"I
just kicked your ass didn't I?"
The
men began to laugh but quickly shut up when their commander moved to get to his feet.
Livia pressed the sword to his throat, however, keeping him on his knees. They shared a
long glance in which Livia made it clear to him and the men that he wouldn't get up off
his knees until she was good and ready to let him up. The two stared at one
another long enough for Livia to realize she'd pushed him as far as it was wise, possibly
further, and she stepped back. She'd proved her point. At least for now.
"So,
you want to ride with the big boys now?"
"I
deserve to ride with the big boys. I've already proved-"
"You've
proved nothing!" Damen roared, his anger frightening everyone around except Livia.
She shared a bed with a god and nothing short of the wrath of the mighty Zeus would be
enough to make Livia faint of heart. Even then, she wasn't so sure. Since she'd lost the
two most important people of her life all those years ago, she cared about nothing but the
pure, raw power that Ares was going to give her as he shaped her into the Warrior that
would one day rule the Roman Empire.
Damen
dismissed the men, but not before he made it perfectly clear there was a good reason he'd
lost to this...girl. "I underestimated you. It won't happen again. If we are to ever
clash swords again you worthless little whore, I'd kill you in seconds! Dismissed, all of
you!"
Livia
watched him walk away, her rage boiling within her blood, threatening to explode with the
force of a gallon of Greek Fire. This mere mortal man had called her a whore, shaming her
in front of all these men! She was the favorite of not only a god but also the most
powerful ruler in Rome, and he would dare call her a whore?
Livia
couldn't have cared less about the chain of command at that moment. One ounce of her flesh
and blood held more worth than the entire Alpha Legion combined and he would insult her
honor so casually? No.
"Any
ruler worth his salt would never underestimate an opponent. You, Damen, are salt that's
good for nothing but to be trampled under my feet. I am Livia! The favored charge of
Augustus Caesar himself and I will not be spoken to in such a degrading manner!"
The
soldiers that had been moving back to their bedrolls looked back with wide-eyed shock.
Never had anyone even considered speaking out of line with Damen, but now a
seventeen-year-old girl had the nerve to dress him down in front of his men? They had no
idea what would happen next, but they weren't about to leave now. Their curiosity overrode
their sense of duty to obey orders and they held their place to watch Damen put this brash
young woman either in her place or in her grave. Which
would it be?
Damen answered the silent questions of his men by drawing his sword and advancing slowly on Livia. His lips pulled apart in a feral grin and his breath came in short, ragged gasps that misted the cool night air before his face. He almost acted as if he were sexually excited by the conflict happening between himself and Livia, and she knew the feeling he was experiencing right now very, very well. It was the feeling of anticipated revenge on someone perceived to have wronged you. It was almost as intoxicating as good foreplay to know that you were about to kill