Chapter Ten

2 Weeks Later

Light leaked through the metal bars at the end of the tunnel. Percy was handcuffed to a small man who wouldn't stop shaking. It was getting to be quite annoying actually. At least he didn't have Luke's partner. He had to drag around the fat, smelly man. Percy made a note to watch out for Luke, it can't be easy trying to stay alive while dragging a man the size of a walrus.

Percy was about three rows from the gate, he smiled, glad that he wasn't the first pair, they're bound to die in the first second. He could hear the roar of the crowd as gladiators were introduced. He had heard the 12 of them were facing 8 heavily armored and experienced gladiators. Joy.

Finally the gate lifted and the slaves charged out. Blood was instantly everywhere. The first man had had his face smashed in by a club. As the slaves ran into the arena, Percy could see Nico moving towards Thalia. Good job little bro, he thought. He couldn't protect both Luke and Thalia. Although, Thalia seemed to be doing good by herself. She had already severed the chain that connected her to another slave and was single-handedly going against a retiarius, a gladiator with a trident and net.

Nico however was trying to fight as a team with his partner. They cornered one gladiator and soon the armored warrior was on the ground, clutching his leg.

Percy turned his head and dragged his partner over to where Luke was, struggling trying to fight two gladiators at once. The fat man was quickly killed and Luke was pinned to one spot as the man was too heavy to carry. Percy ducked under a headshot from a gladiator and sprinted towards Luke. One of the gladiators must have heard him and whirled around to block a swing Percy had aimed at his neck. At the last moment however, when the gladiator turn to deflect, Percy did a baseball slide in between his legs and ended upright next to Luke.

"Beautiful day isn't it?" Percy conversed.

"Definitely," Luke agreed, stabbing at his gladiator.

"How are you fellows?" Percy asked, flashing a lopsided grin at their opponents.

Percy's gladiator growled and stabbed at him but Percy sidestepped, which unfortunately brought his partner into the crossfire. Percy felt a little guilty but hey, he had to survive. He quickly severed the chain that connected them. He looked at the gladiator. "Now that wasn't very nice."

The gladiator shouted and swung his sword at Percy's neck. Percy dove under the strike in between the gladiator's legs and stabbed him in the back. Luke had just finished his gladiator with stab in the gut.

The boys surveyed the arena, seeing that the rest of the slaves had died, leaving only the Nico, Thalia, and themselves to face the remaining five gladiators.

Luke severed the chain attaching him to the dead fat man and the two ran to join Thalia and Nico. The pair were back to back when Luke and Percy arrived, fighting three different gladiators. Thalia stabbed with her trident that she had taken from the retiarius but the gladiator dodged. Percy snuck up behind her opponent and stabbed him in the back, quickly whirling around to dodge a blow to his side from another gladiator.

"He was my kill!" he heard Thalia shout.

"Sorry!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Thalia moved her hand farther to the back of the staff and used the rest of the weapon to sweep the legs off two gladiators, who Luke and Nico quickly killed. Nico and Thalia turned to attack one of the last two gladiators while Luke and Percy advanced on the remaining one.

The gladiator was large, and wielded a club. Percy and Luke glanced at each other and nodded simultaneously and charged at the giant. The two had battled together long enough to read each other's moves. Luke and Percy charged straight at the man but at the last moment Percy sidestepped and ended up behind the gladiator. Luke swung at the gladiator but one blow from the club sent the blonde sprawling.

"Luke!" Percy called and the gladiator turned to the distracted slave.

He glared at the gladiator and charged, uttering a war cry. The gladiator swung his club at Percy but the green eyed slave did something unexpected. He leaped into the air, pushing off the club and burying his sword in the gladiator's brain.

The arena was silent. Thalia and Nico had long since finished their gladiator and had gone to help Luke who was thankfully, still alive. Meanwhile the crowd stared in awe at the skill and daring of the raven haired boy. Then the silence was broken by the cheers and clapping of the crowd.

Percy had pleased the crowd.

Annabeth wandered the palace absent-mindedly. The halls were calm, occasional rays of sunshine resting on the walls. The air was pleasant, it had rained early in the morning and the smell of fresh air wafted through the palace.

It was days like this that Annabeth remembered her father, her biological one. She couldn't remember his name it was so long ago, but she could remember the warm late spring days where her father would take her by the hand and point out all the architectural beauties throughout Rome. Annabeth had been amazed back then, at the small age of 5, realizing that she lived in the heart of architecture, her life's passion.

Then when she was 9, her parents split up, only a year after Piper's birth. Annabeth had for a time lived with her father, Piper living with her mother, Minerva. Annabeth was at first very happy with the arrangement, living with her loving father. However, almost 6 months after the divorce, her father remarried. Her semi-perfect life turned to hell. Her stepmother was disliked her, or in the then 10 year old's eyes, hated her. She had expected the obvious resentment, especially when her twin half-brothers were born, Matthew and Bobby. Soon it began too hard for her to cope with. The 11 year old ran away and went to live with her mother. Her life was relatively peaceful, growing close to her baby sister.

At the age of 14, Annabeth had caught the heir to Empire's eye, Octavian. A great honor her mother had told her. The two were betrothed 8 months later and Annabeth lived with the Emperor, once in a while being able to visit her mother and 8-year old sister. With the absence of her parents, Annabeth became close to the Emperor, eventually being accepted as practically a daughter. There were other benefits to staying at the palace. She met Jason and Thalia, some of her closest friends. A year after the betrothal, Annabeth and Octavian were married, but she never loved him. 2 years after the marriage, Octavian attended a council meeting and was assassinated. Annabeth went back to stay with her mother and grew closer to her 11-year old sister.

At the age of 19, Lady Minerva died and Annabeth refused to stay with her father and her stepmother. The Emperor welcomed Annabeth and Piper with open arms. Piper had also become like a daughter the Emperor after her many visits to Annabeth while the older girl was betrothed. During the visits Piper had become closely acquainted with the youngest son, Jason.

Annabeth smiled as she reminisced her life. Suddenly she tensed. She could feel someone's eyes upon her. She turned and saw Triton.

"Strolling through the palace my lady?" he asked.

"Yes, I thought it would do me more good than just sitting in my room all day," she replied.

He stepped closer to her, turning his head as he viewed the room. When he was about 2 feet from her he turned his attention back to her.

"You look beautiful today, my lady," he complimented.

"Thank you," Annabeth said, her expression still blank.

Triton circled her, admiring her beauty. He stopped behind her and began fingering one of her blonde princess curls. Annabeth struggled to remain still as he rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips close to her neck.

She closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself.

Triton walked back in front of her cupped her chin surprisingly gently. Annabeth felt dirty as she felt his eyes roam about her body. Triton rubbed her cheek with his thumb. She had had enough.

"I have to go," she said curtly, walking away determinedly from the Emperor.

Author's Note: Yes, the first gladiator battle with a little insight into Annabeth's past. Throw in a little creepy Triton and boom! You got Chapter 10. Thanks for reading! Please Review!