Grace's POV

I could feel so much heat around me and I knew that my death would happen in only a matter of time. Lifting my head though I am surprised to see the crowd in a panic. Looking to where Cassia was I saw guards trying to escort her from her seat but she kept yelling out to me. I had no idea what was going on until I did hear yelling coming from in front of the flames. There stood Milo and may other gladiators that he must have released. The tall African man makes his way over to Ali while Milo gets through the flames and comes to me.

"Hold on Grace, I'll get you out." Milo tells me as he takes his sword and with one swing I am freed.

Falling right into Milos arms we both look around to see the other gladiators had put the fire out with either the water nearby or the sand from the ground. Milo held me close to him as he jumped from the platform. Looking up to the balcony both of us could see Corvus narrowing his eyes at us but Cassia was not there.

"We have made a very large enemy." Milo tells me.

"Any human has a weakness, we just need to find his." I retort.

"Cassia is his weakness, though I know you don't want to hear this Grace as long as he has her and the power of the council then he is practically unstoppable." Ali comments as he walks up to us.

The iron gate below the balcony then opened and guards began to come out, Milo put me down as he and Ali stood before me. I knew I could trust Milo and Ali was slowly earning my trust back. The other gladiators began to fight the guards as well. Many of them much more skilled in the art of combat than the guards. Milo and Ali had to take on as many as they could and one guard singled me out. I had managed to re gain some energy since I was taken down from the stake and the heat of the flames. The guard then began to run after me, if he wanted to chase me then he was going to get one hell of a chase. Taking off I began to ran but also look for a weapon as well.

All the sudden a gleam of light caught my eyes. Looking its way I can see a sword on Ali's platform. Running that way and with the man close behind me I managed to grab the sword with my hand and jump up and pushing my feet backwards I turn myself and the using the sword I stab him right down his shoulder blade. Blood spurted out of the wound and got on me. In any other case I would have been disgusted but I knew that I had to survive. Looking back up I see a man trying to force Ali down to the ground. Removing the sword from its victim I ran to Ali's side and using it I went to strike the man only to have him block me. Damn! He then kicked me right in the gut making me fall backwards losing my sword in the process.

"Grace! Stay down!" I can hear Ali yell out to me.

Not listening to him I stand up just in time to see a sword about to connect with me bt I have just enough time to duck my head forward and dodge the sword. The man then returns his attention to me even though I am no unarmed. He lifted his sword high and was about to strike me when another sword was flung out of no where and hit him right in the chest. Turning to look behind me I see a now shirtless Milo on a horse riding his way towards me. Offering me his hand I grab onto it as I see more horses flood the arena. Ali wouldn't need my help getting out. Milo pulled me up to sit on the horse behind him as we made our escape out of the stadium and my almost death.

"Looks like I made it just in time." Milo says as he looks back at me for a moment.

"I could have sworn I was going to die...how did you know?" I question.

"Cassia snuck me out but she knew that Corvus would want to make an example of you and Ali. She told me when to come and save you and well here I am." Milo replies as the hose gallops. "You fought pretty well, I could teach you more though."

No doubts there, Milo had been fighting most of his life I am sure he could teach me quite a few things. I had no idea where we were going but I knew that Milo wanted Corvus dead just as much as I did. Still I wondered when the volcano would decide to blow it's top as well... after thinking that I see something out of the corner of my eye. Looking over I smile as I see Ali riding right beside us.

"You will need someone who knows about Corvus, that is where I come in." Ali tells Milo.

"Fine, don't be do anything stupid though. I don't want to take any chances with my life or Grace's." Milo nods after replying and we continue to rid. "We will need to camp out in some ruins pretty far from here but it's the only place Corvus won't find us."

Nodding in agreement, Ali followed us as we began our journey to the ruins. Though you would think it was a bunch of rocks it was more like a giant brothel in my eyes. The moment we arrived here I saw many women dressed in nothing but a see through sheet. It was clear what they were advertising and I didn't even want to think about it. Staying in between Ali and Milo we made our way through the city. One grand home seemed to stand out and Milo took us right to it.

"Milo, you have finally returned." A much older man said walking up to us. "This must be Grace, so you are the woman Milo risked his life for?"

Keeping my eyes on his because he wasn't dressed very much at all either I manage to nod my head as Ali clears his throat and introduces himself to the man.

"I am Octoclus, an old friend to many people but just met Milo right after he started his training to be a gladiator. He told me about Cassia and you as well Grace." Octoclus said with a chuckle as he leaned into Milo. "I think she is much better looking than her sister."

Well this just got weird. Walking into the house we saw it was in great shape and was surprisingly very clean. Many of the women who walked around wore a dark purple dress. At least they were covered up though. Octoclus lead us to one room and smiled as if he were planning something.

"You three can share a room for I have no others that you can use, Corvus kicks out so many people per day and they all seek shelter here." Octoclus says as he walks out of the room.

Ok, that made sense in a weird way since I knew it was true that Corvus has kicked many other out of Pompeii for the most ridiculous reasons I had ever heard of. Looking at the two men I didn't know what to say as they both went right to planning how to kill Corvus. Walking to the bed I lay down just to rest my body and before I have time to do anything else I fall fast asleep.