Finally they reached the villa and Amaya was relieved to get out of the cramped carriage. She clutched her bag and walked unsteadily behind her new owners. Painful memories flooded her mind, but she quickly pushed them aside. _God please give me strength to serve her with as much love as I did Nila._ Terra went ahead and showed Amaya the way to her room. Luca didn't follow them, but stayed in front of the house and disappeared into the stables. Amaya watched him cautiously out of the corner of her eye and was disappointed when he didn't follow. When he was around, she wasn't so afraid of Terra and didn't feel so at her mercy. Bravely she followed her new mistress and put her bag down in her new room. It was smaller than Nila's, still cozy and it had a large window which allowed Amaya to see the entire railing behind the house. "My room is right next to yours. So you can always come quickly when I call you." Terra pointed to the small wardrobe. "Put your clothes away and then come over." Amaya obeyed. Her cheek still burned, and she tried very hard to carry out Terra's instructions quickly and carefully so as not to anger her further.
Over time, she learned to understand Terra and deal with her moods, which could change from minute to minute. Her mistress always appeared confident on the outside, but on the inside she was fragile. Whenever Amaya was alone with Terra and Terra was in a good mood, they would have long conversations and Terra revealed to her more of her difficult personality every day. Luca hadn't seen her for a long time.
He had been on a business trip for half a year now and Amaya's longing for him grew every day, although she had hoped to be able to forget him if she hadn't seen him for so long. Whenever Terra's girlfriends came, Amaya had to be there too and thus heard the girlfriends' crushes on Terra's brother. He seemed to be very popular among the young Roman women and Lana in particular showed great interest in him. "When is he coming back again, Terra?", she asked and went to the window.
"I've told you many times that I don't know. When he's done all the business. That can take a while." "Maybe he met a woman there. He's in Greece for the second time in a very short time...". Lana looked sadly at Terra and Amaya's stomach suddenly tightened painfully and her heart began to race. She knew that she would never have a right to him and wondered "Nonsense. He would have told me that. He said he's vacationing there too. Wants to clear his head or something...".
" Clear your head from what?" Lana raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh, what do I know. Work. Family. I have no idea! It doesn't matter, does it?". Amaya knew her mistress well by now. She wasn't the focus of the conversation, it was about her brother. And that slowly but surely seemed to displease her and her good mood changed. "Would you like the cake now, mistress? It's warmer outside now and I can prepare a picnic in the garden there." Amaya said quickly to distract and calm her mistress. but it was about her brother. And that slowly but surely seemed to displease her and her good mood changed. "Would you like the cake now, mistress? It's warmer outside now and I can prepare a picnic in the garden there." Amaya said quickly to distract and calm her mistress. but it was about her brother. And that slowly but surely seemed to displease her and her good mood changed. "Would you like the cake now, mistress? It's warmer outside now and I can prepare a picnic in the garden there." Amaya said quickly to distract and calm her mistress.
"Amaya is so thoughtful. I wish my slave was like that too...", Lana looked over at her dreamily and Amaya smiled gratefully. Terra's tense mouth relaxed and twisted into a smile. "Yes, she is. Thanks Amaya. You can prepare the picnic walk." Amaya nodded and left the room. How could she forget Luca when everyone was always talking about him and everything in the house reminded her of him? She walked past his room and was startled when the door was open and she heard someone in his room. _Has he been back?_ She looked into the room and breathed out a sigh of relief. It was just another slave cleaning the room. Relief spread through her, because she didn't know how to behave normally towards him when he kept her thoughts, every time he was near her. messed up. And at the same time she missed him so much that she sometimes thought she couldn't go a day longer without him...
****
Luca went onto the deck and stared at the horizon and the seemingly endless sea. He could have been home two months ago. The deals were settled quickly and he was again able to make a fortune for his father's company. Still, something held him back. He just needed some time to himself. Away from the crowded city. Away from his everyday life - and away from his sister's new slave. He needed to sort his thoughts and stop his budding feelings for her. Getting into a relationship with the slave would be a scandal to his entire family and would bring bankruptcy to her family. Of course, he could have an affair with her, as so many men in Rome did with their slaves. She would have to obey him when he called her but what would it bring him? His feelings for her would probably only get stronger and she would feel exploited by him... "We'll reach the port in 2 hours, sir.", said the slave who came closer. Luca nodded and he left. The cool one Wind picked up and Luca watched the darkening sky, hoping they would be in safe harbor before the storm hit.
Amaya called her mistress and friends to the picnic when she had everything ready. The mood between them seemed more relaxed again and they chatted exuberantly among themselves while sitting on a blanket in the garden and enjoying the little delicacies. Terra told them about the last games. She was the only one of her friends who had already been to the Colosseum and watched the games. Laughing, she told them how a group of Christians were thrown in front of the lions and ran away from them with no chance. A shiver ran down Amaya's spine. How could she find something so cruel amusing? ,,... that part quickly got boring and the real games continued. You should have seen Tristan! He's a prisoner from Gaul and fights like he's the god Jupiter!" Terra giggled and continued: "He looked at me and winked at me when he had just killed another prisoner. You should have seen him. Yet I've never seen such a handsome man!" - "He's a barbarian and probably not civilized at all. Better forget him Terra. He's not something a well-bred Roman woman would bother with." Lana also wanted to go to the games. Unfortunately, her father didn't allow it. Amaya choked down her fear and forced a smile. "May I get you something else ?" she asked politely, reminding Terra that she hadn't had a break or eaten yet today. "No thanks Amaya. You have the rest of the day free. She finally went slowly to her room. She lost her appetite... She finally went slowly to her room. She lost her appetite...