AN: I'm glad some people thought it was pretty good. For those people, I bring another chapter.
~EOA
"Wake up!"
"Gah!"
Nero Devin jolted awake, startled by the hiss.
"We're going to be late for the factory! Come on, Nic-- I mean, Nero!" hissed Gavin, his roomate. Nero scrambled out of bed, pushing his boxer-clad legs into his dark jeans, and pulled an old t-shirt over his head. They sprinted out the door, relieved to see that they weren't the only ones late for work.
Cais Hemlen, the broad shouldered, red uniformed, Cais that watched over the pipe factory, looked at them sternly.
"Late again? Do I have to tell Lord Protornis do cut your food amount for a week?" he asked, a sneer lit on his face. Nero and Gavin clenched their jaws and replied through clenched teeth. "No, sir."
Hemlen crossed his arms. "Very well then. Make sure it doesn't happen again within your next two week working period," he said. The two nodded and rushed to their stations. Simon and Leo, the other two guys that worked at the same station, looked at Nero.
"Better dye your hair again, Nero," said Leo, looking at Nero's now darkening hair.
"I know. We're going to run out soon, though. There's not going to be enough dye to keep the secret going while I'm alive," replied Nero, fumbling with the materials in his hand. Simon elbowed Leo. "Don't talk about it here, Leo. Remember the satyr the Cais took out earlier for talking about-- them."
Gavin looked up. "Satyr? Which one?"
Ever since the Mist was broken by the Titans, the Cais mortals now could see the satyrs, swords, and everything else the Mist was hiding from them.
"Rory. The satyr that works in the--" a hand clamped over Leo's mouth. Gavin and Nero paled as they looked up into the dark, bloodthirsty eyes of Cais Hemlen. Hemlen's hand wrapped around Leo's throat, and he held Leo in the air. "Looks like Mr. Gerard is going to be joining the satyr at death row," he said.
Leo's eyes turned into pure fear. "P-p-please, no! M-m-m-y family!" he gasped, turning blue.
Hemlen waved two guards forward. They both had stony faces, but their eyes said, "I don't really want to do this!"
"Take him to the prison. I'll see to him later," he said. The guards nodded and took a pleading Leo away.
Nero felt as though he was going to throw up, but he clenched his jaw, and didn't watch Leo. Hemlen looked at them, and said, "I'll be watching you."
"Nero!" yelled Gavin, running after him.
Nero sprinted back home, to their "apartment", tears threatening to escape from his eyes.
He collapsed on his bed, trembling.
Gavin shut and locked the door behind them, and looked at Nero. "I don't know what to do, man. I don't know what I'm gonna do! They're gonna squeeze somethin' outta Leo, and know it's me!" Nero spluttered. Gavin sat down next to him.
"Gav, my dad's gone, talking to my sister is hard, and I can't find the others!" he yelled. Gavin held a finger to his lips, using the universal "Shut-the-hell-up" sign. The whole living quarters building was probably bugged with recording systems. The Titans couldn't care less about privacy. But Gavin didn't need to ask what he was talking about. Gavin was one of the few Nero trusted. Gavin was one of the few that new that Nero wasn't Nero Devin, but Nico DiAngelo, one of the demigods that went face-to-face with Kronos.
Ever since the Titan's purge, Nico DiAngelo went into hiding, and changed his appearance, to become Nero Devin. Ever since news had reached the Factory Sector, where they lived, that a rebellion was being started by the famous Perseus Jackson, Nico had been searching on and off to find the other four. Thalia Grace, Annabeth Chase, Grover Underwood, and Percy Jackson.
He had no luck, though. He wasn't informed of where the other four had gone, and wasn't even sure if they'd survived the purge.
Then he found Gavin, who was a mortal, but disliked the Titans to the bone. They had killed his parents, and Gavin wanted revenge. Nico began confiding in him who he truly was, and Gavin turned out to be a loyal friend.
And now the Cais had Leo, who knew who Nero was.
Nero's body trembled, and he bit his lip.
"Listen, just pretend you have no idea about-- y'know. Don't try fighting it. You'll just end up in a worse position," said Gavin, his eyes hard. He put his hands on Nero's shoulders, holding them with a tight grip.
"We'll get out of this dump one day, but now is not the time. Especially with what happened today."
"This dump" was referring to the nasty living quarters, and poor working conditions.
Their place was lined with algae-stained walls, spider webs, and dust piles. It was a wonder how they'd survived so long.
Suddenly, a piece of paper slid under the door. Gavin reached to pick it up, and frowned, as he read the paper. He thrust it at Nero, and he took it.
His eyes flew across the paper, reading every urgently-written word.
The Cais are surely going to get you both. Get out now! Go hide, or something! Leo cares about his family too much. He's bound to tell the Cais something that will get his family out of trouble, whether its you guys or not.
-S
It was from Simon.
Nero looked at Gavin, who was pale.
"Running won't help. We just have to find a way to keep them from knowing it's you." Gavin paced the room. "We'll have to dye your hair again. Just keep it from darkening. I know you hate the color, but you'll have to deal with it," he said, and tossed the box of dye at Nero.
"We have to stretch it. This amount of dye won't last long enough. They'll be on our case until we die," said Nero.
Gavin didn't have time to consider it, because suddenly, five red uniformed Cais blasted down the door. "Come with us," said a gruff voice.
Gavin's eyes narrowed, and he punched one of the Cais's jaw, sounding a sharp crack.
Three pounced on him, and held his arms.
"You're not going to cause a problem, now are you, Mr. DiAngelo?" one asked. Nero gulped, and looked up into the eyes of Cais Hemlen.
He grabbed the box of dye and held a strong grip on Nero's arm. "Let's go, men," he said, leading them out of the door.
