Gladiator (Part VII)

GLADIATOR (PART VII)

Many hours since the battle have passed
Still my Latista has remained unseen
After all my previous displays he has always paid his respects
Expressed his gratitude
Shared his wisdom
Still the last fight was no normal fight

As the hours have passed
I realise that tonight I will not be granted his presence
More importantly
I will not be granted the prize of which I have been accustomed
Serena

I fear that the prying eyes of the Emperor’s guard
Seek to punish me for the latest embarrassment I have bestowed
My Latista has probably already paid the price
No doubt they are aware of Serena’s visits
That she is the one I request
After each brutal engagement
Perhaps for this
Tonight she suffers too

I have clearly become an enemy of the Emperor
I am desired dead
He could have me killed easily enough
Though after my latest grand victory
How could that be explained to the bloodthirsty crowd
To his subjects he must keep appeased

My death must come in the Coliseum
Until then the Emperor’s anger can only be taken out on those closest to me
I think then maybe I should grant the Emperor’s wish
Still I know this would accomplish little

If I die Serena will still be a vessel for abuse by the Gladiator hoard
She will live out her days a battered slave
A tool for cruel sexual gratification
No solace will she find
No loving embrace

Still while I survive
She becomes even more vulnerable
A target to cut through to me
Extreme torture
Humiliation
Endless abuse
All this and more could she face

This appears a battle I can not win
No matter what I do she is now destined to suffer
My only hope to remain victorious in the arena
To somehow win over the Emperor
To have my freedom granted by the wooden sword
And buy her freedom in return
But how can this now be done

Maybe my panic is unjust
Maybe the Emperor’s knowledge of Serena is of nothing but a whore
Maybe not seeing Serena is for the best tonight
My Latista’ missed visit a plan to protect us both
Do I trust him enough for that to be the case?

Tonight hours from the end of my latest battle
A thousand questions haunt my soul
Has my love condemned her?
Can she still be saved?
These are the thoughts I ponder
Paranoia rife
In this darkened cell alone