And So It Was Written by Ellen Brazer

Author:Ellen Brazer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, israel, love story, war, evil, rome, jewish, loyalty, ten commandments, ark of the covenant, jewish history, conquest, second century, brother against brother
Publisher: Ellen Brazer

Chapter 24

The stress of living two separate lives was beginning to take a toll on Arria. Circles shaded her eyes from lack of sleep, and she had grown thin and waif-like. Yet regardless of her exhaustion, she ventured out each night to meet Domitius, with her hair coiffed, tunic perfectly draped and body perfumed.

They spent their evenings at boisterous parties where Domitius often drank too much, becoming moody, rude and dismissive towards servants and even friends. He remained respectful to Arria, so she forced herself to disregard his behavior, even though she found his arrogant streak unsettling.

After the parties, they found creative places in the Gracchus villa to be alone: in an empty room in the guest quarters, the library, any unoccupied space they could find. He was a passionate lover and in that regard, Arria remained content.

* * *

In the attic above the library of the Gracchus villa, a feathered couch was washed in lamplight. An inebriated Domitius poised above Arria, his hands grasping her arms. Nearing climax, he disregarded the force in which he was moving or the strength by which he held her. Arria cried out and tried to squirm away, but she was pinned. Domitius was lost in lust, riding her violently. When he was spent, Arria shoved Domitius off her and grabbed for her tunic. Once dressed, she stood nursing the bruises on her arms, so furious her entire body shook.

“How dare you treat me as if I were some common whore? I’m leaving!” she raged.

Domitius jumped from the couch. “Please, you must forgive me,” he begged, reaching for her. Arria stepped back, swatting his hands away.

“It will never happen again. I swear to all the gods!”

“You mean it will never happen again until the next time you have too much to drink?” she hissed, so upset the words burned like fire as she spoke them.

“Arria, I love you. You must know, I would rather die than harm you.”

“Well you did!” She offered forth her bruised arms for him to see.

Domitius hung his head, hiding the rage that burned in his belly. He felt no remorse for hurting Arria; only regret that she was in a position to threaten him with leaving. Once they were married, he would never have to deal with this behavior again. In the meantime, he had to do whatever was necessary to soothe her. “I am infinitely sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”

An inner voice warned Arria that evil lurked here. She was in danger. Domitius could harm her one day. She was frantic, half of her wanting to flee from this place, never setting eyes on him again and the other half being in love with him and daydreaming of a beautiful life together. In the end, there was no decision to make–Arria would never quit, not ever. When she wanted something, she got it. When things were broken, she fixed them. Without her father, Domitius was her future.

I will change him once we are married.

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