Kala awoke to the sun on her body barely covered up and the dress she was wearing the other night half off. She sat up and yawned softly before getting up. she had not really explored the room so she looked around for something she could use later, she opened the chest ... empty then a few drawers... "empty" she sighed. She fixed herself up a bit her hair was uncurled now and her makeup smeared, just as she reached for the door a woman opened it "you must be the new girl" the woman said "yes but who are you"
"My name is Ametha head Mistress of the slaves and hand maids and your name girl" she said as she poured some hot water into a bowl for her to wash and a plain white short dress for her to wear she laid it on the bed.
"my name is Kala"
"well kala your not well mannered so here is the long and short gown you speak to me or some other of lower rank you say yes miss or yes sir i will never hear you say no if i do you will be punished when speaking to higher rank its yes My Lady or Yes My Lord but when speaking to the Master you must always say yes Dominus"
"yes.. miss"
"good now get dressed and ill be in the hall waiting we need to cook breakfast for His Lord and Dominus Quintus"
The door closed behinde her and she quickly washed and dressed before walking out and following Ametha to the kitchen.

Quintus felt groggy. Incredibly groggy. He wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, but the sun was shining bright and Quintus knew he had a long, stressful day ahead of him. He willed himself out of bed and threw on a fresh tunic. He put on some sandals and tried to flatten his hair out, trying not to look like someone who just woke up. And failing at that. Quintus mentioned to himself. He smelt something cooking in the kitchens and the young Roman's stomach growled. He realized that he hadn't eaten since yesterday morning before heading out with Brennus.

Speaking of Brennus, the old slave came into the hallway leading into the kitchen and gave a slight bow before his master. "How is he?" asked Quintus, skipping the formalities. "No better then last night, but he still lives." replied Brennus. Relieved, Quintus followed Brennus to the kitchen. and they were both surprised to see Kala hard at work with Ametha. Brennus spoke first.

"Gods, Ame. You're putting her to work right away?" Brennus and Ametha were the two oldest slaves at the estate, and they always teased one another. While the two of them were giving each other a hard time, Quintus went to Kala. He tried his best to hide the fact that he was nervous.

"Hey." he said. "How are you holding up? I hope Ametha wasn't too mean to you. I still remember when she broke a wooden spoon against my hand for stealing a meat pie."

Kala was chopping onions and other vegetable for a stew when Quintus and Brennus walked in she herd him speak to her and thought she might knock him over the head. "Well how else would she earn her keep and if she needs a lesson in ass kissing ill send her to you" Kala was so confused but smiled and continued her work that was until Quintus walked up to her. "im just fine Dominus" she said softly looking down.
Ametha looked at Quintus "you look thin boy don't that army feed you none sit down and ill make you a proper meal or should i have kala cook something"
"oh no i cant cook roman food ive never..." but before she could finish what she was saying she was smacked on the bottom with a hard hand
"what did i tell you about saying no girl"
"sorry miss Ametha "
"i dont need your sorry i need you not be saying those things"

"Ametha, it's allright." Quintus said. "Kala is doing just fine." Before he could say more, another slave walked into the kitchen. "Dominus, your cousin Marcus is here."

"Gods, no..." groaned Quintus. Marcus Livius Sejanus. A distant relative, but a pompous moocher nonetheless. Quintus had no idea why he was here all the way from Capua, but as the master of the househould, he was responsible for the well being of his guests. Even if Quintus' knee-jerk reaction was to have Brennus fold his cousin in half and throw him off the balcony.

"I'll be there shortly." Quintus said before getting up to go put on a decent toga.

Kala saw the uneasy looks on everyones faces and was confused. Ametha looked to Kala then smiled to Quintus, "Boy didnt your brother flash around that ditsy little blonde the last time he came a begging" Kala looked at the two and saw a slight smile coming from all three of them and they were looking at her. "Ill get her all dressed up and she will be down with you shortly" She took kalas had and went off to a storage room. "whats all this about Ametha"
"Well when Quintus and his brother parted ways his brother went on to make alot of money but then lost it all every penny not known to The Master at the time he loaned his brother money time and time again there was even a time when he brought by a ravishing young lady and pretty much threw her in his face to show how well off he was but when Master Quintus found out he was broke oh you can imagine now come by to borrow now"
"so what do i have to do with this"
"well dear your going to just stand there and look pretty"
Ametha found a deep red dress in the container with a small box with matching jewels and sent her and a few other maids to get her dressed up.

While Quintus was still struggling with a decent toga, cousin Marcus came into the villa's main room. He instantly made himself at home, admiring the fine furnishings and motioning a slave to get him a drink while reclining on one of the houses' nicer couches. Ametha motioned for Kala to take him a cup of wine on a platter, and when Marcus saw her, he looked her up and down, admiring her.

"Well, arn't you the lovely one?" said Marcus. He reached for her arm and felt it. "And your skin is soft too." His breath already smelled like wine, and he had a slight slur to his words.

She looked uneasy at the man he looked of royalty yet acted of lower class and his hand coarse even working her hands were still soft.
"All rare and lovely things will be attracted to those who deserve them" Kala walked over to Quintus and smiled softly pouring him more wine. Her hair shined like the sun her skin glowing against the deep redness of the dress the jewels around her neck adorned her making her eyes stand out.

she listened closely as the two went back and fourth she couldn't tell if they were insulting each other or just being brothers but after the story she was told they couldn't possible be being civil.

As the two parted ways in a very uneasy and thick atmosphere she said her goodbyes and went to go get changed and help Ametha with some chores she was garbed on the arm she turned thinking to see Quintus but no it was Marcus.

The man is insufferable Quintus told himself after Marcus left to find a bathroom. After going through the usual pleasantries, Marcus got to business. They talked about Quintus' dad, his illness, his vast fortune, where it would go, etc. Marcus was only partially intelligible, but when he asked to use the restroom, Quintus paid him no mind. He took another sip from his wine when a though occured to him. "Where is Kala?" he said outloud.

---

Marcus grasped Kala's wrist and laughed."You are far to pretty to be here with Quintus." He wrapped his free arm around the slave girl's waist. "Why don't you come home with me?" He leaned forward, trying to steal a kiss, but before he got close enough, his head jerked backwards. Quintus had a hand full of Marcus' hair and pulled him off of Kala. When Marcus let go, Quintus shoved him against a wall. Marcus reached into his toga for his knife, but was surprised to see Quintus' sword, unsheathed and in his fist.

"I'd apologize if I were you." Quintus said in a quiet but grim voice.

It all happened so fast but when weapons were drawn. Against family she could not stay here not another minute she saw looked at Quintus and took hold of the same hand holding his sword. "where i come from family does not speak in such ways and men like you Marcus would not be aloud to live as much as i would like to see you bleed i have no need for violence in the place i am to call home" Kala smiled softly before kicking Marcus in the shin and watching him fall to one knee. "punish me if you must Dominus but just remeber i do have better aim" she looked at Marcus before walking away and back to her room to undress.

Oh, I'm going to like her thought Quintus as she left the room. She was fiery, untamed, maybe even out of control, but something about that made her very endearing. Quintus found her even more beautiful than before. That almost didn't seem possible. I wonder if she hates me, the Roman thought as he sheathed his sword. Marcus groaned and rubbed his shin, reminding Quintus that his cousin still needed to be dealt with.

"Any further buisness can wait, cousin." said Quintus. "Get out of my house." The defeated Marcus nodded and rose to his feet and Brennus nearly picked him up by the scruff of his neck, but before anyone could leave, another slave ran into the room.

"Dominus!" the slave shouted. Quintus almost rebuked the slave for bursting into the room and yelling, but once Quintus saw the look on the slave's face, he knew what was going on. Pushing past Brennus and Marcus, he ran as fast as he could to his father's room.

kala saw Quintus run past her she looked at him she had never seen him run so fast. Kala turned to see a horrified face on another slave girl and on Brennus. "oh no" she knew something was wrong crap she thought she couldn't leave tonight she couldn't do that to him instead of taking advantage of the moment she only returned to her room awaiting news of what was going on

Music to read to.

Quintus nearly barreled over the priest of Dis Pater when he entered his father's room. "Father!" he said, almost yelled. His father simply gazed up at the tiled roof above him. His eyes were vacuous and empty, but he seemed to acknowledge the presence of his son. The elder Roman raised his arm, trying to reach for his son, or so Quintus thought. Still, Quintus grasped his father's hand, noting how weak his fathers once strong grip felt.

"I'm here, father." said the young Roman. The older man said nothing, but only turned his head. His eyes were sunken in, and his face reminded Quintus of a skull. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start. Before he could find any words, Gaius Lutatius Catullus smiled at his son. When he did so, his hand went lax. His eyes glared through his son, into empty space. But his smile remained

Quintus let go of Gaius' hand, and as he did so, the priest held his hand out to Quintus, and handed him three gold coins. The young Roman closed his father's eyes and placed two coins there, and placed the last in his mouth, under his tongue. Without a word, Quintus walked out of the room, he thought he saw Kala walk by, but he did not notice.