The Beast of Verona: Book I of the Decimus Trilogy by Sheritta Bitikofer

Author:Sheritta Bitikofer [Bitikofer, Sheritta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-09-24T23:00:00+00:00

Ludus Gladiatorium, Verona 71 AD

Decimus paced his cell, a storm of fury and anxiety swirling just below the surface. Marcus was in the middle of his rant, berating him for that performance in the ring.

“Now half of your career is ruined,” he bellowed, waving his arms. “They all believe the wolf to be dead. Unless you can change your pelt, half of my profits just slipped through my fingers and it’s your fault! What were you thinking? You should have just killed the woman. You’ve done it a thousand times before.”

Decimus did not answer and glared at his lanista as he continued his steady course around the cell.

“If you think I’m going to let you back into the arena again, you’re madder than I originally suspected.”

“Then let me go. Release me.” Decimus remembered that long ago day when he had demanded the same thing with Marcus in a chokehold against the bars of his cell. What he would give to have him in such a position again. Decimus wouldn’t hesitate to snap the lanista’s neck this time.

Marcus let out a booming laugh. “Release you? What will you do outside of this ludus and the arena? You’re a monster. You cannot exist in normal society.”

“I’d go to Batavi, my home.”

Marcus chuckled again and shook his head. “I think not. You are of much better use to me here. A few days without food and you’ll be in the arena again the way you were before.”

Decimus charged the bars and gripped them so tight the metal squealed in his hands. Marcus jumped backwards at the sudden attack, but his face remained stern and callous.

“I demand my freedom!” Decimus shouted. “You promised me that after a few fights, I’d be free. It’s been over a hundred!” He gestured towards a corner of his cell that was riddled with tally marks. “I’ve been keeping track and still I haven’t earned my freedom!”

“The only way you will earn your freedom from me is if the sponsor frees you in the arena with the presentation of the wooden rudis. And no one will pay the fee I charge for your death either, so don’t even think about that.” Marcus added a sinister snort at the end and began to walk away.

Decimus was not finished with him. “If you don’t release me, you know I’ll find my own way out!”

Marcus slowly turned in the silence and came back to the cell.

“And you know I can do it,” Decimus continued, his words colored with unspoken threats. Marcus knew exactly what would happen if the gladiator found a way out. The lanista would be the first one to suffer. “These bars can’t hold me and neither can these stone walls.”

The glint in Marcus’s eyes was a dangerous mix of amusement, anger and fear. “You wouldn’t,” he challenged.

Decimus began to bend the bars, displaying his strength and seriousness. He watched the panic rise in his lanista’s face and smirked.

“The guards would kill you before you stepped one foot out of this cellar.

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