ROMULUS

He would later admit that leaping into battle against an entire legion of Rome with nothing but a gladius and his pajamas on his back was probably a bad idea. But Romulus couldn't help himself. When he got angry he just saw red, and all reason was expelled from his head.

Romulus charged at Brennus with his weapon in hand. Part of him was betting on Brennus being caught off guard from his surprise attack, but he was wrong. When Romulus swung his weapon at him Brennus immediately reacted, knocking Romulus' gladius out of his hand like it was tin can. The sword flew up into the air then landed hilt up into the ground ten feet away.

Romulus turned back to Brennus who was looking at his like he was his next meal. His eyes were pitched black, but not in way that was calming or sincere like his mother's. There was a sense of chaos underneath those pupils, an aura of madness that was only made worse by the large grin upon his face.

"Look boys, we got ourselves a fighter."

Heat rose from Romulus' face as the soldiers around him began to laugh at him. He tried to focus energy into planning his next move but the fury building up inside him was too great. He wanted them all dead, especially Brennus.

"What's your name, boy?"

"None of your business," growled Romulus.

Brennus released a deep chuckle. "Look boy, you attacked me and I disarmed you. I have an army, you don't. When I ask you a question, you answer. Do you understand me?"

Romulus refused to drop his stare. He needed to answer but he didn't trust his mouth to not say something that would get him deeper into trouble.

Brennus accepted his silence for an answer. "What is your name?"

"Boy," Romulus quickly stated. His mother always told him that knowledge was power, and Romulus wasn't going to give Brennus another millimeter of advantage.

"Fine, Boy," Brennus spat. "How did you get out of the city? Because you are from the city unless PJs are standard armor for the Roman legion."

The soldiers surrounded started laughing again. Brennus turned to face them.

"You think that is funny?" Brennus shouted. The crowd immediately became silent. "A child was able to outwit all of you! Go reinforce the borders! I don't want anyone else to get out."

Romulus remained quiet. He had caused enough damage as it is. He wished that Lucy would do something instead of hiding behind some box watching his humiliation.

Brennus turned back to him. "And throw this one in jail with the other one."

Two soldiers came up behind up and picked him up so that his feet dragged on the floor. He tried to shake them off but their combined strength was much more powerful than his own. They dragged him away from dispersing crowd. He knew where they were taking him. There was small jail underneath the principa. Romulus had always wanted to visit place where the praetors did their work, he just didn't want to see it like this.

The soldiers threw him onto the floor of the jail. They then slammed the door shut and left without ever speaking a word to him.

Romulus jumped back and immediately started to scan him new surroundings. It was a simple jail of a reasonable size. The light came from the three torches lining the wall on the other side of the bars. He turned around and spotted someone sitting on the floor in the far corner of the jail. He had his head resting on his kneecaps so Romulus couldn't quite make out who it was.

"Who are you?" He demanded, but the prisoner didn't move.

The door of the prison opened again, and a soldier walked through. Half way down the stairs, the soldier took off his helmet revealing bright copper hair.

"Lucy?" There was a small part of him that was happy to see her, that is until she grabbed the top of his shirt and yanked him forwards so that his head crashed into the bars. The impact of the blow made the bars vibrate, and made Romulus' forehead was numb with pain.

"What was that for?" He exclaimed.

"For being the stupidest person I have ever met." Lucy's eyes focused on something over his shoulder. "Quintus?"

The prisoner looked up at the sound of his name. Lucy fumbled with the keys in her hand until it was able to unlock the cell door. She then pushed the door open and ran pass Romulus to Quintus' corner.

"Praetor Quintus, are you alright?" She asked with a surprisingly amount of concern. She knelt down beside him and waited for his response.

Quintus studied her face for a moment. "Lacy, isn't it?"

Romulus snorted loud enough for Lucy to him. The fool didn't even know the name of his own soldiers.

"Lucy," she corrected. "Lucy Burns, second year, from the First Cohort, sir." If she was unoffended, she was pretending not to be.

"Oh yes, that's right," he mumbled.

"What happen, Quintus?" Lucy asked.

He looked at her with hollow eyes. "It all happened, Lacy. It's all happening again."

Romulus rolled his eyes. They weren't going to get anything from this bumbling idiot. He turned his attention towards Lucy. "How were you able to get the keys and get down here so fast?"

"I was able to snatch the keys when you were distracting everyone by being an idiot. And," she paused. "The soldiers don't move very fast and they're not very observant, not in the way a Roman soldier should be. It's like they forgot who to work their bodies."

"It because it not their bodies," Quintus grumbled, looking back down at his hands.

"But how did you know they were going to put me down here?" Romulus asked.

"I didn't know," she spat back at him. "I wasn't looking for you, I was looking for Quintus."

"Why?" Quintus looked up at her.

Lucy stared back at him surprised. "Because you're the praetor, you're going to led us to victory and take back the camp."

Quintus shook his head. "There's no victory to be won here."

"What?" Romulus and Lucy exclaimed together.

"We have already lost."

"But−but−You can't give up now!" Lucy stammered.

"It's already done."

"Will you stop your muttering and answered us?" Romulus shouted.

Quintus looked at him and studied his face. "You're too young to be a soldier. Who are you?"

"He's no one," splat Lucy.

Romulus glared back at them. "I'm Romulus Grace, son of Jason and Reyna Grace, two of the greatest praetors that have ever had the honor of serving Camp Jupiter, and you, sir, are a disgrace to your title and to Rome."

Quintus looked guilty at him as began to recognize who he was. "Did they attack your house?"

"Yeah, they did. How−" Romulus started, but stopped when he read Quintus' face. "Did you send the soldiers to attack my family?"

"No, I didn't send them. But I did tell them where to find you," he quietly admitted. "They were looking for someone named Romulus, and you were the only I heard of in recent history."

Romulus clenched his fist. "My father might be dead because of you."

"I'm sorry. They were going to start killing people."

Romulus charged at him, but Lucy stopped him. "Romulus, don't. He's the praetor."

"I don't care if he's King of France. He hurt my family."

Quintus looked at Lucy. "This one sure has some bite."

"It's a shame he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut," growled Lucy.

Romulus yanked his arm out of Lucy's hand. "You're going to everything you know right now. What did you mean when you said that it wasn't their bodies?"

It seemed that Romulus' outburst finally caught Quintus' attention because he finally gave a clear answer. "They're being possessed."

"Possessed by what?"

"I don't know, some dark old focus. Something from the past," murmured Quintus. "Cornelia would know."

"Why are they here?"

"That Brennus character said that they want gold."

"Gold? What do they want with gold?" Romulus demanded.

"They want to build a city of their own. He said that he wouldn't burn down New Rome if I paid him off. Once I give them the gold, he said they would just leave."

"And what about the soldiers they are possessing?" Lucy asked.

Quintus shrugged. "I guess they will take them with them."

"And you're ok with that?" Romulus exclaimed.

"I don't know what else to do. They were going to destroy New Rome. My whole family lives there." Quintus replied quietly. "I don't want to be remembered as the Praetor who let New Rome fall."

"No, you're just going to be remembered as the Praetor who let Camp Jupiter fall," retorted Romulus.

"They weren't able to possess everyone. There are few soldiers tied in the Mess Hall. It didn't work on them for some reason." He glanced at Lucy.

"So, you're just going to let them walk over camp with half Legion and all of our gold?" Romulus snapped.

"Roman soldier took an oath to give their bodies and souls to honor and protection of Rome. It's unfortunate that in this case that oath is going to be taken so literally." Quintus sighed. "They'll be back any minute now to receive the payment."

Romulus growled and headed towards the cell door. "Well, if you're not going to do anything about it, I will."

"What are you doing? You can't leave," stated Quintus.

"Yes I am," he growled angrily, pushing pass Lucy.

She grabbed his arm again and pulled him back into the cell.

Quintus finally stood up. "If you come back and find that you have escape, they're going to freak out. The deal must go occurring to plan."

Romulus tried to wrestle Lucy off him, but she wouldn't budge. Then she pushed him onto the floor, ran out of the cell, and slammed the door shut.

"Sorry Romulus," she smirked. She didn't look sorry at all.

"Lucy, you open this door right now," yelled Romulus, shaking the bars.

"Lacy, take the keys back where you found them, then find a quiet place and stay out of sight," Quintus ordered.

Lucy nodded, ignoring the fact he once again mispronounced her name. "Be careful, Quintus."

Romulus watched in disbelief as she walked up the stairs and left. "Lucy! Lucy! Come back!" How could she take orders from clueless Quintus? She was the stupidest, most insane girl he had ever met. He laid his head against the bars. He didn't think this day could get much worse, but he was, of course, wrong.

Hey guys. I am really struggling with finishing this story. I really want to, and I have everything planned out, but I am lacking in motivation. Also I had a lot say that they want me to continue with this story, but I only had two people review last chapter. If was boring, didn't make sense please tell me because I really suck at writing non-fluff scenes. I appreciate any feedback.