Free The Immortal Scrolls by Kristin Secorsky Page B

as she handed him a cup of water. It was not customary for the guards to be offered their master’s water. “You may go,” she said to her slaves. When they were gone, she turned to Androcles.
    “I have been working on this at night while I wait for you,” she said. Araceli began to play a hauntingly romantic melody. Her fingers moved elegantly over the strings. Her eyes were closed in concentration. He moved closer to her bench, hypnotized by the song. When she finished, she looked up over at him.
    “That was beautiful,” he said.
    She blushed. “Thank you.”
    Androcles reached out his hand to tuck a curly strand of hair behind her ear.
    “The legatus, domina,” said a slave.
    The legatus strode into the courtyard in the exact moment Androcles was touching Araceli’s hair. He paused momentarily and gave them a suspicious look. Androcles backed away to a nearby column where the slaves waited. He was sick with worry that he might have cast suspicion on the two of them. The legatus smiled widely at Araceli.
    “Araceli, my flower, you are looking radiant today,” he said as he took a seat beside her on the bench. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. His eyes met Androcles’s with a dark look. “Play something for me, my dear.”
    “As you wish, Antonius,” she said obligingly with a strained smile on her face.
    Antonius watched with a smile, throwing glances back and forth between Araceli and Androcles. Androcles was sure that the legatus was wary of them.
    “Antonius!” exclaimed Araceli’s mother as she walked out into the courtyard. “No one informed me of your arrival.”
    Araceli stopped playing, and the legatus stood up. He walked over to Araceli’s mother and kissed her on both cheeks.
    “Claudia, how are you?” Antonius asked happily.
    “I am well. You must stay for dinner,” said Claudia.
    “I would love to,” he replied.
    “Come, come. Let us go in,” she said, waving her hand at Antonius and Araceli.
    Araceli handed her treasured lyre to her slave and followed them inside. She shot a quick glance at Androcles as she passed by. He gave her a quick smile and followed behind her. After they finished their meal, they sat around drinking wine and talking. Araceli sat silent, laughing when appropriate. Her mother did most of the talking. Antonius was pleasant enough company, but all she could think about was Androcles. He was only feet away, but it seemed like worlds.
    “I think I’d better retire,” said Claudia. She was drunk, and her slaves had to help her up off the cushioned bench she was lying on. “You must come back soon, Antonius.”
    “You can count on it,” said Antonius as he gave Araceli a sidelong glance. “Good night.”
    “Good night, you two!” Claudia said with a drunken laugh.
    “Good night, mother,” said Araceli. She didn’t even want to look at Androcles. She knew he must be dying to throw Antonius out on his ass.
    “Alone at last,” said Antonius. He got up and moved over to the bench Araceli was lying on. Araceli’s body went stiff. She heard Androcles shifting his feet. She prayed he wouldn’t give them away.
    “Uh-huh,” she agreed, avoiding eye contact. She was propped up on the arm of the bench. Antonius moved over closer.
    “You know, there has been something I have been dying to do all night,” he said huskily.
    “Oh? What’s that?” she said innocently.
    Antonius’s face grew closer to her own until it was inches away. He cupped her chin in his hand. She knew he meant to kiss her. Her eyes glanced over at Androcles, pleading for help that he could not give. Antonius noticed and looked at Androcles, who remained emotionless, and then back at Araceli. “Shy, my darling?”
    “Um, yes,” she said, chiding herself silently for almost exposing them.
    “You weren’t always so shy,” he said as he ran a finger along the length of her arm. “Guard,” said Antonius, “you may leave.”
    Araceli closed her eyes and tried not to cry.