Amaya packed up the few things she had. A few tears still rolled slowly down her cheeks. The room was gray and dark and the house that had just been filled with laughter from the evening was now silent and sad. Amaya jumped when she heard a noise behind her. Her breathing didn't calm down as she turned and saw the young Roman standing in the doorway.
"Excuse me. I didn't want to scare you." She quickly turned her head to the side so he wouldn't see her crying - but that was already too late anyway. "May I help you carry it?" He asked without entering the room. ,,No thank you. The bag isn't heavy." She packed her brush and closed the bag. She let her gaze wander around the room one last time and then stopped by his side. "Ready?" he asked and smiled slightly. Amaya only nodded briefly and fought back her tears again. "Come on then." He gently but firmly pushed her out of the room and closed the door behind her. His touch left her tingling even after he'd removed his hand from her waist. They slowly walked down the stairs into the hallway where the rest of his family and Nila were waiting for them. Nila held a handkerchief in her hand and smiled at her encouragingly. Amaya forced herself to be strong for love and stopped in front of her. "I'll come visit you. And Terra said you're welcome to come to me. is that nice I'm already looking forward to seeing you again.", Nila tried to console herself with these words, but her cracked voice immediately showed how difficult it was for her to say goodbye. "I'll come as often as I can," Amaya replied, hugging her former mistress back. "I wish this celebration had never happened."
Blame gnawed at Nila, and she hated herself for her recklessness. She knew her niece well and should have known that she would want Amaya back when she realized how much attention she was getting. Terra had never been interested in other feelings when it came to her own desires and how could Nila have thought that it would be different with her? How was she supposed to live on now without Amaya? There was no one who loved her like her slave had.
Or is it? The song that Amaya used to sing to her she remembered and suddenly she was overcome by fear. One last time before Amaya could climb into the carriage, Nila grabbed her and hugged her. Softly, she whispered the few little words in her ear that made Amaya shudder. "Remember my words: other Romans would throw you into the Coliseum without batting an eyelash if they found out that you are a Christian!"
The carriage pulled away and Amaya looked out the window until she couldn't see her former mistress' house anymore. Luca watched his sister's new slave. Actually, he had gone to her to see how she was doing, but when he stood opposite her, he could no longer think clearly and had only talked to her like a master would talk to his slave. Amaya caught his gaze and returned it. Apparently she didn't know that slaves in Rome weren't allowed to look at their masters, but he couldn't blame her and was even grateful that he could now clearly see her blue eyes. Those blue eyes that had seen so much but were able to shine again for a short time and now looked up at him sad, lifeless and hopeless. He smiled at her encouragingly and she even briefly returned his smile, which made his heart beat faster. Terra began briefing them on their new duties, drawing Amaya's attention.
"But actually you only have to be with me. Also at events and you will never put me down and obey me. Do you hear?
You cost us a fortune and I hope you were worth it!..." Amaya decided it was better for her not to listen to her and looked out the window. The carriage passed trees and the sun was already going down on the horizon. Birds flew across the blue and red sky and Amaya wished she could be so free. Suddenly something smacked loudly next to her and her cheek began to burn like fire. Amaya looked startled at Terra, who raised her hand again to punch. However, Luca quickly grabbed her arm and glared at his sister. "Hit her again and you'll regret it. I swear to you!". Terra folded her arms stubbornly in front of her body.
"She is my slave and I will raise her as I want! Please don't interfere, Luca!". Finally her father intervened, who looked at his daughter in shock: "Don't you dare hit her again, Terra. Amaya was in a higher position than you. If you had beaten her two years ago, you might have breathed your last now!"
"Exactly! She was in a higher position! Now she's my slave and she has to listen to me! ". Amaya touched her aching cheek. She had never been hit. Luca leaned towards her. "Terra will never hit you again. I promise you." Amaya wanted so badly to believe him. But his sister's look said otherwise. She had never seen so much hatred and hurt in the eyes of another. And that made her new mistress unpredictable...