The Immortal Scrolls by Kristin Secorsky Page B

could come over and talk to you,” Elek explained.
    “Oh, that was you!” she exclaimed.
    “Yes. You must be careful. What you are doing is dangerous,” he warned.
    “Elek, I go to market all the time,” she argued.
    “That’s not what I meant,” he said as he looked over at Androcles, who was listening to the whole conversation.
    “I’m not sure what you mean, Elek,” said Araceli. She picked up her lyre and began to play again.
    “Yes, domina,” said Elek in a defeated voice. “Good night.” He took one last look at Androcles, who was staring him down, and walked away.

    The next morning, Araceli’s slaves came with food. He assumed they came to bathe and dress her as well. Before noon a servant came to her door with a note from her father. He knocked on her door, but there was no answer. He decided it would be within his duties to enter unanswered. Androcles walked in to find Araceli in her private bathing pool. It was long and shallow, maybe two feet deep. The bath was surrounded by statues. There were a lot of fauns, he noticed. They smiled at him devilishly. Some were playing pipes and some holding a thyrsus. Araceli was swimming slowly through the water, not startled at all by his unexpected arrival. He stared momentarily at the back of her naked body and then averted his eyes.
    “Yes, Androcles? What is it?” she asked, not the least bit worried he had seen her.
    “Um, I have a message from your father,” he said. Androcles could hear water dripping and turned to look as she was stepping out of the shallow pool. Her slaves were waiting with a robe, but he caught another glimpse of her before they covered her. They slowly rubbed her dry and then removed the robe. They poured scented olive oil from a jar into their hands and began to rub it into her skin. Araceli stood with her back to him. He watched as they massaged the oil into her skin and felt desire stirring inside.
    “Well, what does it say?” she asked, turning her head slightly to look at him. She noticed him watching. Her lips parted into a mischievous smile.
    Androcles blushed and looked away, focusing on one of the statues of a faun nearby. Is she teasing me on purpose? he wondered. “He requests your presence in twenty minutes,” he said as he read over the note. “And you are to make yourself presentable.”
    “That’s not much time, is it?” she said, standing right next to him now.
    Araceli was covered in her robe again. It clung to the curves of her oiled body. She might as well have been naked for all the good it did her. Araceli smiled at him. Androcles stared at her mouth and wondered if her lips were as soft as they looked. She took the note from his hands. Her fingers brushed his hands as she grabbed it. Androcles felt warm throughout his entire body with her touch. Araceli turned and went to sit down. Her ladies followed her and began to brush her wet hair.
    “I’ll wait for you outside,” he said quietly and turned around on his heels. He left the room and shut the door behind him. His heart was pounding in his chest. No woman had ever had this effect on him before.
    Araceli opened the door more than twenty minutes later. He wondered if she wanted to make her father angry on purpose.
    “I am ready,” she said, walking out of the room.
    Her dress was not colorful today, just plain white, but a cut similar to the one the night before. Oil still glistened on her bosom. She smelled like sweet flowers. She wore gold jewelry on her arms, neck, and ears. Her slightly damp hair was pulled back and had gold strands braided throughout. It was a struggle to look away from her, but he managed to turn around and lead her through the corridor.
    Araceli found herself admiring Androcles’s strong body from behind as he led her to her father. She noticed when he limped. Androcles turned another corner and then another until they were at the room where Androcles had first seen Araceli. The guards opened the door for them, and