So, I did manage to find my inner noble, which was just being bossy and snobbish, how hard could that be? In the carriage on the way back I could hear Cassia and her friend comparing their experience with their gladiators thought to be honest it sickened me. Apparently being with a gladiator was a traditional way to prepare a young woman for the marriage bed. No wonder std's spread through here like the plague. No one knew what was safe and god forbid how many partners someone had had before them.

Once we were back at the place I was supposed to call home now I was surprised to see not only our "mother and father" come out but a roman general if I didn't know any better. He stood their patiently beside our parents and parts of the movie "Pompeii" which I swear I hardly remembered started to come to my mind however I am thinking their information wasn't correct. Instead of Cassia running away from the general she ran right up into his arms and smiled at him.

"Young love." Her best friend said as we exited the carriage.

"Young for her." I mumble making sure no one could hear me.

"Cassia, I have brought one of my finest majors to meet your sister." The man I remember being Corvus said with a big smile on his face. "Althos, come and meet my future sister in law."

Ok, sorry right there, even I had to hold a gag in because I really wanted to be sick after what he just said. A man walked through the crowd of guards that Corvus kept with him and to say the man was full of pride was a tragic understatement. He was as tall as Corvus with short light brown hair and lots of armor on him, his sword at his side he made his way up to me and for just a moment his emerald green eyes caught me in their gaze.

"Major Althos, this is Grace, Cassia's older sister." Corvus said with a grin.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Grace." Althos said taking my right and gently kissing the top of it.

"And you Major Althos." I reply as I bow my head to him just a little.

"General Corvus has come to speak of the games tomorrow." Our father, Severus spoke up and led us inside.

However I was stopped by the young Major as he gently brushed my hair away from my neck and gasped as he saw my neck. Carefully putting his hand in the same spot that Claudius had gripped my neck I flinched again.

"Corvus, come and look." Althos called out to his commander.

Corvus came as well as my parents and Cassia who al gasped as well even though Cassia had already seen what had happened to me before. Corvus then turned and looked at my sister and I didn't know what expression he was using.

"The gladiators hurt you? Which one was it?" Althos asked as his gentle gaze returned.

"Claudius." I reply timidly knowing either of these men could kill me with one punch.

"Corvus, who is Claudius against tomorrow?" Althos spoke up again.

"The Celt, I highly doubt he will survive." My father answers already knowing who was against who.

Nodding Althos seemed to be satisfied with his answer. I really didn't know what to say so I just followed the crowd as we all sat down to dinner. After eating things I didn't dare try to figure out we heard a loud bang on the door. Confused I watched as my mother and father went to the door and opened it. All at once many gladiators were walked inside with chains on their hands and feet.

"We thought that General Corvus would prefer to see the warriors who will fight tomorrow in person to inspect them." My father boasted.

My eyes widen as I saw Milo and Claudius stand side by side with the African American standing to the left of Milo. Well this was going to be weird. Not wanting to be seen at all really I stayed sat in my seat but of course Althos comes over and requests that I point out which one is Claudius. I can't catch a break here can I? Taking his hand I nod and stand beside him as we walk to the group of warriors and with no hesitation at all I point of Claudius. Althos looks over at Corvus who just nods at him. With the snap of Althos fingers two guards un chain Claudius and take him outside. In-between two trees they tie up his hands and feet as Corvus takes out a whip. Oh no, I knew where this was going and it wasn't going to end well. I didn't go outside as the others did because I didn't want to see what would happen so I was inside with only a few other guards as well as the other gladiators.

"I'll kill him, you knew that so why did you tell?" a voice calls out to me and I know it's Milo

"I had no choice, that other man saw the mark upon my neck and demanded to know who did it." I reply in a whisper as I slowly make my way to Milo. "If I had not given them his name what do you suppose would have happened to me?"

Milo kept silent as we both heard the whipping that was going on outside with Claudius being the one who was taking the punishment. A part of me felt bad while another part felt like justice had been done. Being torn between myself was something I wasn't use to.

The next day was the day of the games and I was not looking forward to it. Just knowing from my research what these games were like made my stomach very unsettled. It was also a time for the nobles to dress up and show their power. That of course meant my so called family as well. Cassia spent a good portion of the morning not only deciding what she was going to wear but what I was going to wear as well. Turns out we both have to wear white to prove we are still pure, in my eyes it was an advertisement that we were both still pure. Still I didn't say anything as the women from before dressed me in the long white dress which had some gold trim on it, Cassia and I were nearly wearing matching dresses so it didn't make me feel too uncomfortable.

Walking into the stadium gave me more cold chill than anything though. Looking around I could see hundreds of people gathering to see the gladiators fight to the death, Corvus met us down in one of the tunnels and began to lead us to somewhere on a balcony that we would be sitting. Cassia held onto him like a love sick puppy but something told me it was all an act for her.

Once we arrived at the balcony and everyone took their seats, Corvus had to stand up and make a long and weird speech about the arena and honor and life as well as death. Really it just sounded like he really knew nothing at all of life or death. Rolling my eyes I watched as the first gladiators entered the stadium as they began to fight though my stomach won over my body and I quickly fled the balcony.

Keeping my hand over my mouth and praying that I wouldn't throw up after the sight I had just seen I feel a strong masculine hand on my shoulder. Shocked I turn around to see a man I had not seen before with anyone. He didn't look Roman either, if anything he looked like he came from the east. Egypt perhaps?

"Are you well miss?" he spoke in an eastern accent though it seemed like he tried to hide his accent.

"I can't bare to watch the games, it would appear that I have a weaker stomach than my family members." I reply honestly to the man.

"The games are not for everyone, sometimes it seems the toughest stomachs can not even stand up to this sight." He nods as he gently takes my hand and pulls me to the side.

Though you could tell her was not roman he did wear a roman uniform, one that appeared to be close to Major Althos. Knowing this somehow made me trust him a little more than I would a stranger.

"My name is Ali, I am one of the guards now ordered to protect your family." He introduces himself probably knowing that I wanted to know who he was.

"I am Grace, Cassia's sister. Though I suppose you already know that don't you?" I say hesitantly as I pull my shawl closer to my body since I had just gotten a cold chill.

"I do know, though now it is very helpful to put a name to a face." He smiles back at me.

Just then Corvus walks out to where we are and doesn't even pay attention to us as he walks by as if he were called somewhere important. I didn't know what was going on but something told me that he was the bad guy in this story. He didn't say a word to anyone but he and a small group of other soldiers left the games.

"That seems rather odd that he would just get up and leave in the middle of the games?" I question Ali who shrugs at me.

"He does what he wants, it's rare that there is an order he does obey but when he does then you know it is a serious order." Ali answers as we hear another person coming.

Without thinking I pull Ali to me and hold him close as a person comes down the stairs. Their footsteps are light as if they were going somewhere no one wanted them to go. Peeking I was able to see who the person was and I was truly shocked. The cheering of the crowd must have given her time to escape mother and father but I wanted to know where she was going. Moving forward I noticed I am stopped by Ali.

"Where are you going?" he questions me.

"To follow my sister, I have a feeling something fishy is going on with her." I answer and brush past him only to have him follow me.

Following Cassia's path I remember the place where we are heading, towards the cells that held the Gladiators. I had no idea why we were down here but I wanted to know no matter what I had to do. Sneaking around was something Ali and I were apparently good at, or so I thought. We heard a group of guards coming our way and froze looking at one another.

"Any ideas?" I said a bit frantic.

Before I say anything else I feel him hold my body back against a wall and his lips quickly attach to mine. He grabs my leg and wraps it around one of his own then took my arms and wrapped them around his neck. Shock was still written on my face when he spoke through our kiss.

"Close your eyes and pretend you are enjoying this the guards will pass then." He whispers to me.

Closing my eyes I do exactly as Ali tells me to do. What in the world was I thinking?! I had just met this guy and now it looks like we have been together much longer than just a few minutes however it seemed he was right. Hearing a few guards laugh I did notice they were just walking past us as well. Taking my head into his hands Ali deepens the kiss just as the last guard passes us. Pulling away I look up at Ali grateful and surprised.

"We'd better find your sister." Ali says as he takes my hand and we start walking again.

(Ali Pictured Above)