I feel like it's been forever since I updated this, partly because it has been. The last time you guys got an update when my computer was broken. Let's see, what do I need to cover. Well, this chapter actually took me an entire week to finish, but that was mainly due to a death in my family. I was literally finishing up the first scene when the call came in. So, I didn't really want to touch the thing for several days. Like a curse, I guess? Anyways, in other news, I have a new fic that will be on the way soon. If you like this story, you'll enjoy it. I have a fascination with fantasy. I have the first chapter finished for it, but I'm going to wait until chapter 3 is done before I publish it. Anyways, as I mentioned in Children, I'm changing my posting schedule.

So, I'm going to cycle my stories. I'll update Tale every week, simply because I'm ready to end it and move on with something else. But Shadows is going to be published on Fridays now. What I'm going to do is cycle it and Children. One Friday I'll post Children, and the next I'll publish Shadows. And if I decide to post both one week, I'll post them both on Friday. It's just something to ease the stress of balancing so many stories. And my new fic will take a Sunday spot, but I'll talk about it's schedule when I publish it. So, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, it has some important info in it, as well as an interesting ending.

Warning: Talk of sex. Language. Religious bigotry on several accounts. Abuse. Alcohol, though it was common for people around the late teen years to drink in this time period.

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters.

Chapter 10

Percy groaned as he felt someone poke his head. He rolled over and swatted the hand away. Barely a second later, he felt an electric shock run through his body. He sat up with a jolt, eyes wide as he stared at his tormenter.

Nico stared down at him with a bored expression. Grover stood behind Nico, as well as a few other servants and slaves. Apparently, they had all come over to see the Magister's ward wake up the new addition. Percy groaned and covered his eyes. A week had passed since he had arrived and had become the servant to the boy standing over him. A week of so much work that he was actually thankful for all those years of Arbiter training.

Nico huffed down at him. "I've been calling you for fifteen minutes," he said with narrowed eyes. "And when I finally come down here, what do I find?"

"He was sleeping," Tyson provided.

Nico smiled at the young man. Though, Percy noticed the Mage purse his lips when he inspected Tyson's cheek. "Yes, he was sleeping."

Percy groaned as he climbed out of bed. Nico averted his eyes from Percy's naked chest, clearing his throat to hide a blush. "Well, I'm awake now. So, what do you want, master?" Percy asked with a dramatic bow.

Kinzie, a servant girl that Percy had met a few days ago, chuckled at Percy's antics. Percy smiled at her. She was a pretty girl; Percy had to give her that. She had long curly blonde hair that hung down to the middle of her back. She had light green eyes that reminded Percy of grass in the spring. She was a little shorter than Nico, able to fit beneath Percy's chin. She was a nice girl, and Percy felt a little bad that she had to live in servitude.

Nico narrowed his eyes at the girl, silencing her laughter. She smiled at Percy before walking off. Nico rolled his eyes. "I wanted you to walk with me into Soothehold," the Imperium Mage told him.

Percy blinked at him a few times. Maybe it was just that he had phrased it wrong, but it sounded like a request instead of a demand. But it probably was the latter. "Um, sure. Just let me get some fresh clothing on and I'll meet you at the entrance to the Black Palace," Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Nico nodded his head a single time before turning around and walking out of the room. Percy smiled when he heard Kinzie laugh again. "I thought he was about to burn me alive," the blonde joked.

"And that was only with his eyes," Grover added, throwing a shirt on over his torso.

Percy kept smiling as he changed into some clean clothing. "He's just a brat," Percy mumbled.

Kinzie shrugged. "He's usually relatively civil to the servants and slaves around here," she informed Percy.

Percy frowned as he slipped his tunic over his head. "That's odd."

Kinzie and Grover shared a look. "Sure it is," Grover mumbled.

"Well, regardless, I better go see what he needs help with before he throws a fit. He might try setting me on fire next time."

Percy reached under his pillow and grabbed his relic. He discreetly slipped the golden object into his pocket before spinning around and walking out the door. He rubbed his eye and let out a long yawn. He groaned as his ears picked up on the sound of raised voices. The worst part was that he immediately recognized both of them.

He slowed his steps as he neared the two bickering figures. They had been arguing the entire week, and Percy was starting to get a headache. He couldn't figure out why they didn't just either end their odd relationship, or just let it go and move on. He figured if they made up, he would hopefully not have to be Nico's sex slave any longer.

And that was just becoming a regular occurrence. Something he could say about Nico was that the Mage definitely had a sex drive to match his own. He had been called up to Nico's quarters on a nightly basis to sate the raven haired Albian's needs. However, Nico had yet to actually be concerned with Percy's.

"I'm just trying to fix this!" Jason shouted. "But you're more interested in that new servant of yours."

Nico's jaw tightened and his eyes darkened. "That is none of your concern. You had sex with Alabaster, and then lied to me about it! If you had just told me, I would have been more upset at Alabaster than I would have been at you."

Jason scoffed. "Yes, because the boy in question didn't have his robes set on fire during lessons the other day."

Nico shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jason rubbed his face before sighing at Nico. "Can't we just talk about this like the friends we are supposed to be?"

"Friends? I thought you wanted to be more than that?" Nico inquired innocently.

Jason narrowed his eyes at the dark haired Mage. "I'm starting to wonder if that is ever going to be a possibility. I just wish you'd let me closer."

Nico clicked his tongue. He crossed his arms over his chest. "For your information, I was actually considering taking things to the next level." He jabbed a finger into Jason's chest. "But I'm starting to wonder if that would be such a good idea."

A spark flew out from Jason's clenched fist and struck a suit of armor, and the windows nearby shook from a sudden burst of wind outside. "It wasn't my fault that he hexed my ring. You can go ask any of the senior Mages to see the ring for yourself," the blond growled.

"You still lied to me, Jason," Nico mumbled.

"You just want to use this as an excuse to fuck around with that new servant of yours!"

"Don't bring him into this!" Nico snapped back.

"Why do you even want to defend him? I thought we were supposed to be friends?" Jason's eyes snapped over to where Percy stood, his eyes narrowing. Nico turned his head to spot Percy listening in on their conversation. Jason arched his hand behind his head, where a ball of fire appeared in his palm.

Nico stepped in front of Jason. "Enough!" He barked. "We're done talking about this." He let out a sigh and brushed his hair out of his eyes before continuing in a quiet voice. "I just need some time to think, ok? We're always going to be friends, but I need to figure out where we are headed from here."

Jason glared at Percy for a few more seconds before deflating. He dropped his hand, the ball of fire dispersing, and let out a sigh. His eyes softened as he looked back at Nico. He silently reached out and brushed some of Nico's hair behind his ear before walking off down the opposite hall from the one Percy had come from.

Nico rubbed his forehead, letting his eyes fall shut. He spun around to face Percy again. Percy rubbed the back of his head. "So, what are we doing today?" Percy decided to ask.

Nico's eyes drifted open to give Percy an annoyed look. "Be thankful you're good in bed, or else I would probably have turned you in already to rid myself of your annoying presence."

Percy chuckled as the two of them began walking towards the exit. "Is that your way of saying you actually enjoy my company?"

Nico glared at him. "Don't push your luck, Empire scum."

Percy grinned back at him. "That's not what you were saying last night."

Nico's cheeks heated up. "Shut up," he hissed. Percy only continued to laugh at him. "If you don't, I'm going to make you clean my room again, but this time in lace."

Percy's mouth instantly shut. Nico's head faced forward again, a smirk forming on his lips. Percy narrowed his eyes at the back of Nico's head as he fell in line behind the smaller Mage. When this was all over, he was going to chain Nico up and drag him back to the Empire and make the boy miserable for the rest of his life.

"Now then, I just need to run a few errands, and, of course, I will need some help carrying it all. So, congratulations, you have become my pack mule," Nico said with an evil grin.

Percy let his shoulders slump as he mumbled under his breath. He had thought the Imperium Mage had actually just wanted to spend some time with him. Not that he wanted to spend time with Nico, it just meant he would hopefully get out of the endless list of chores that Nico kept coming up with.

Percy glanced around as they entered market. Nico waved off a few merchants trying to sell him some merchandise. It still felt a little odd seeing minor magical artifacts being sold like common goods, but he had to remind himself that people lived differently over here.

"So, what are your thoughts on the Imperium since you've arrived?" Nico asked as he poked around at a fruit stand.

Percy shrugged. "It's...different, I guess. It's not really home, though. I'm not really sure what else to say. I just feel uneasy with magic being flung around so casually," Percy replied.

"You don't like it here?"

Percy scrunched his lips and took a sack that Nico handed him. He held it open while Nico dropped in several fruits. "I'm a little homesick. Not to mention that I'm a little out of my comfort zone."

"Now you know how I felt in the Empire," Nico mumbled.

Percy smirked at him. "It wasn't so bad, was it? I like my home."

"Wet dogs don't mind the smell of other wet dogs, either," Nico retorted.

Percy chuckled lightly. He placed the sack over his shoulder as the two continued their way through the market. Nico eventually pulled Percy into an alchemy shop, where a woman stood behind the counter.

"Hello, Demeter," Nico greeted the woman.

"Hello there, Nico. Have you eaten anything yet today?" The woman asked.

Nico forced a smile onto his face. "Yes, ma'am."

Demeter's eyes traveled behind Nico to where Percy stood. "And who is this?"

"Oh, this is my new servant. His name is Percy."

"Such a handsome young man," Demeter said, looking Percy over.

"Thank you," Percy replied, earning him a raised eyebrow from the shopkeeper.

Nico elbowed Percy in the ribs. "You're not supposed to respond to that," he whispered so that only Percy could hear him.

Percy clamped his mouth shut. Nico smiled at Demeter before moving to poke around the shop. Percy frowned as he followed after the young Mage. "So, I'm not allowed to even respond to a nice comment?" Percy asked.

"Not really," Nico mumbled, setting down a dried blue flower that he had picked up. "Just be thankful I decided not to make you a slave. At least, as a servant, you don't have to obey every single Mage in the Black Palace."

"You're so compassionate," Percy mumbled sarcastically.

Nico raised an eyebrow as he picked up a bowl of what looked like bone dust. "I'm not sure why you are complaining. I mean, sure you have to slave away," a smirk slid across Nico's lips, "but you get sex out of it."

Percy rolled his eyes. "You seem awfully confident that I enjoy it."

Nico chuckled. "I was just going off the sounds you made," Nico said, turning to face Percy. He trailed a finger down Percy's torso. "Or am I mistaken in thinking this?"

Percy narrowed his eyes at a nearby shelf, refusing to meet Nico's eyes. "It's sex. Who doesn't enjoy sex?" Percy mumbled.

Nico tilted his head to the side. "And here I was considering letting you actually finish next time."

Percy's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, what?" Percy followed after Nico as he walked over to a different shelf. "I didn't say that I didn't enjoy it."

Nico shrugged, refusing to look at Percy. "No, but you said you would enjoy sex with anyone."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "What, are you upset that I didn't say that I loved it?" Percy asked.

"No!" The Mage exclaimed, though his cheeks heated up.

Percy blinked in confusion as the Mage began picking out a few alchemy supplies. He felt like he was missing something. Though, it reminded him of some of his past conversations with Kronos. Nico had even blushed like Kronos would sometimes.

Nico placed the supplies he wanted on the counter, where Demeter placed them in a sack for him. Nico slipped her a few coins, earning him a smile from the shopkeeper. The Imperium Mage nodded his head towards the door, and once again, they were back on the market streets.

"So, are we really so bad here?" Nico asked, glancing up at Percy.

Percy shrugged back at him. "I mean, you aren't what I was taught at the Academy, but I don't really think you are the better choice of countries. You don't seem concerned for the dangers that come with wielding magic."

Nico frowned at him before returning his eyes to the street ahead. "We teach our Mages how to wield their magic responsibly. Your country fears magic, when they owe their 'freedom' to magic in the first place," the Mage reminded him.

"We don't fear it. We just know that it shouldn't rule over man. Everyone that leads your country is a Mage. How is that fair to the common people?"

Nico scowled up at Percy. "You sound like that noble friend of yours," he mumbled.

"Well, maybe we are right."

"And you think your ways are so much better? Do you like being collared? Do you like being your religious order's lapdog?" Nico scoffed. He rolled his eyes. "And does it even bother you that you hunt down your fellow Mages?"

Percy frowned, but refused to meet Nico's eyes. "They choose their fate."

Nico shook his head in disbelief. "You're just as horrible as the rest of them. And here I was thinking that there might be some hope for you." Nico roughly shoved the sack of alchemy supplies into Percy's chest. The Arbiter blinked at him as he began walking ahead of Percy. "How can you not care that you just kill off any Mage that doesn't want to join your order? They probably just want to practice in peace. And you probably don't see the problem with them wanting to invade us so that they can force us into their ways."

"I never said I completely agreed with it!" Percy snapped, earning him a few looks from the surrounding citizens. "I'm just following orders! My parents were Mages, and do you really think I approve of them being murdered?" Percy's facial expressions darkened. "But they chose their fates."

Nico shook his head, a look of sadness in his eyes. "You can't really believe that," he whispered.

Percy rubbed at his face. "Sometimes, the Covenant's methods are necessary. Perhaps not to the degree that they are enforced now, but order is maintained because of the Arbiters and Justicars."

"But you push the Mages into choosing the dark arts."

"Not always," Percy disagreed. "True, sometimes Mages do turn to it because they are scared and feel cornered, but other times they turn to it of their own free will. If that weren't true, you wouldn't have witches and warlocks over here."

"And we deal with them without Arbiters and Justicars swinging their swords around."

"Are your Arcane Warriors any different?" Percy asked, glancing at Nico from the corner of his eyes.

The Imperium Mage frowned, but didn't look at Percy. "Their primary purpose isn't to hunt down evil Mages. They are there to strengthen our defenses against Gragh."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "I thought the Imperium and Gragh were allies."

Nico let out a sigh, his eyes drifting shut. "We tolerate each other. We leave each other alone because we don't want to find out who actually has the stronger force. It would be a devastating battle, and neither of us wants to see so many people die. Even if they are savages, they don't want to see us fall, because then the Empire could just come in and devour them. That is the main reason that Haval and Gragh will defend us until the end."

Percy cleared his throat and looked back ahead of them. "So, it's not that you like each other, it's because they see us as the bigger threat?" Percy asked.

Nico shrugged. "Or the bigger evil." He glanced at Percy, a smirk spreading across his lips. However, the smirk soon slid off his face as Nico let out a sigh. "We just wish they would be tolerant of their Mages. We're not sure who we disapprove more of. On one hand, there is the Empire, with the Covenant's methods. And then on the other hand, there is Gragh, who collars Mages and uses them as tools and weapons. They have no say, and they are treated as less than an actual person."

Percy's expression softened. "That's horrible," he whispered.

Nico nodded. "I visited Gragh once, and I told Chiron I never wanted to go back."

Percy frowned as Nico's brown eyes darken until they were almost black. "Why? What happened?"

Nico clenched his fists at his side. "When I said they collar their Mages, I really meant that. They-they have chains around their necks, chains bind their bodies, and their...lips are sewn shut so that the Mage can't cast powerful spells," Nico snarled, his breathing becoming ragged. "And the collars are enchanted so that they can control their Mages. If the Mage disobeys, they receive a crippling electric shock. And when the Mage severely disobeys, the spikes that are on the collar retract into their neck."

Percy stood frozen in place as he listened to Nico talk. If the Covenant knew about how severe Gragh treated their Mages, they had never really let on to it. He knew they treated their Mages like slaves, but he had no idea how bad they were actually treated.

"I had no idea," he whispered.

Nico nodded, his lips set into a thin line. He cleared his throat and looked up at Percy. "That will be all for now. I need to get all of the things to Chiron," Nico mumbled, holding his hand out.

Percy blinked and turned his head. He hadn't even realized they had made it back to the Black Palace. He pursed his lips and handed the sacks to Nico. Without saying another word, Nico hurried up the steps and vanished into the giant structure. Percy stared at the open doors for a few moments, still trying to take in everything that he had heard, before walking up the steps himself.

Thalia silently stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth, cutting her eyes around the table to look at all of the Mages. She sat on Chiron's left side, while the chair across from her remained empty. Chiron seemed to notice this too, as he kept glancing over at it. He finally let out a sigh and glanced next to Thalia at the blond boy she had come to learn was named Jason.

"Jason, have you seen Nico today?" The Magister asked.

Jason shrugged. "I saw him earlier. He's probably off with that servant of his," he mumbled.

Another Mage that she had learned was named Medea sat a few chairs away from Jason. She smirked and sat her chalice down. "It must grate your nerves to be replaced so easily," she sneered at him.

A brunet Mage next to Jason locked his jaw. He looked to be around the same height as Jason, but was lanky, where Jason was muscular. He had striking green eyes, with bags underneath them. His curly brown hair and the freckles on his face made him look a little childish and cute.

Jason's eyes sparked as he glared at Medea. "Enough out of both of you," Hecate said.

Jason turned his head to whisper to the brunet Mage that sat beside him, but he didn't look happy with whatever he was saying. The brunet hissed something back to Jason. A dark haired girl next to the brunet smacked him on the back of his head. "Ow, Lou," the boy hissed.

"You're both being ridiculous," she whispered just loud enough for Thalia to hear.

"This is all your brother's fault," Jason snapped back.

"You're all still acting like children. We've known each other our whole lives, and you're going to let something like this tear it all apart?"

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at his food. "Sorry, Alabaster," he mumbled, though he didn't look that sorry. "But it's your fault Nico doesn't want to talk to me."

Lou smacked Alabaster's arm. "Would you like me to talk to him?" Alabaster ground out between his teeth.

"He would be happy to," Lou said with a smile, her red eyes flashed dangerously at her brother.

Alabaster's shoulders slumped and the trio finally fell quiet. Thalia's lips tilted downward as she began poking at her food again. She glanced over at Chiron again, who seemed to have drifted off. She cleared her throat. "Have you ever met the Oracle Hestia?" She decided to ask.

Chiron turned his gaze upon her and smiled. "I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure of meeting," he replied.

"She's a nice woman," Thalia continued.

Chiron continued to smile. "I'm sure she is. Perhaps one day we will have the chance to speak."

"You don't want her dead?"

Chiron raised an eyebrow at her. "Has she offended me in some way?" He asked, raising his chalice to his lips.

Thalia frowned again. "I thought you wouldn't like her, seeing as you want to destroy everything I believe in."

Chiron chuckled as he sat his glass down. "I merely wish to see the world change. I have more problems with your Emperor than I do with Hestia herself."

Thalia frowned down at her food. So he didn't like Minos either. She couldn't blame him for that one. The man did nothing but give her the creeps. "But you don't like the Covenant," she pointed out.

The Magister laced his fingers in front of his face. "My child, there will be problems with any religion you look at, even the Pantheon. But that is not to be blamed on the religion, but on the people who do it injustice."

Thanatos cleared his throat, which brought Chiron's attention to him. "Sir, I would like to discuss our border issues," he stated.

"So, the Empire does give you trouble?" Thalia asked.

"Not really," Jupiter grumbled while taking a bite of a turkey leg.

"No, we have issues with Gragh," Thanatos corrected.

Chiron sighed. "What is it now?" He asked.

"Ares's nephew was seen on the border. We're just a little anxious after the incident with his father."

"Mercury brought it on himself." Chiron waved it off. "Ares has made it clear that he does not fault us for his brother's recklessness. He broke the Code of Gragh, not to mention our peace agreement."

"Ares is more civil than you give him credit for," Hecate piped up. "Neither one of us wish to see a meaningless bloody war."

"Tell that to his nephew," mumbled Jupiter.

Chiron rubbed his forehead. "Has he actually done anything?" The Magister asked.

Thanatos shook his head. "Not yet," the Council member replied.

"Then let us not worry about it right now. Just send a few extra guards down that way to keep an eye on things."

"Perhaps you would like to go down there after the ceremony, Jason?" Jupiter asked, looking at his son.

Jason fidgeted in his chair. "I, uh, don't know. I'll consider it, father," the blond replied.

"Shouldn't we be more concerned with this problem?" Circe asked with a frown.

Chiron shrugged. "I see no reason to make it worse than it is. We are barely allies at all, so I would rather not jeopardize the agreement we have," he said.

"You forget, if we fall, they fall," Hecate added. "We are all that stands between them and being absorbed by the Empire."

"They know we would come to their aid should they risk invasion," Thanatos finished.

"Why do we help them anyways?" Jupiter growled.

"Because we need them," Chiron sighed.

"They are inhuman barbarians that treat their Mages as bad as the Empire treats theirs."

"They choose their fate," Thalia mumbled.

"Silence, girl," Jupiter growled. "Just because you get to dine with us, you shouldn't forget that you are our prisoner."

"Oh, leave the girl alone," Hecate chided him.

Jupiter's nostrils flared. "She needs to learn her place. She thinks we are the monster just because Mages hold power here, but she has no qualms with the methods of her precious Empire."

"I never said I liked the Empire," Thalia hissed. "I'm a devout follower of the Covenant, not the Empire."

Chiron smirked before raising his chalice up to his lips. He swallowed and cleared his throat when Nico entered the dining room. "There you are, Nico. Where have you been?" He asked.

Nico sat down across from Thalia without meeting anyone's gaze. "I was busy," he mumbled.

Chiron sighed and sat back in his chair as a few servants placed food on Nico's plate. It looked like Nico was in a foul mood, and considering most of the important people Nico probably spent his time with was sitting at the table, Thalia was going to assume that Percy had been the cause of the Mage's current mood.

She hadn't seen the Arbiter since he had arrived, and if not for the mention of his name, from time to time, she would have been worried. But he could take care of himself, she supposed. Much better than she could, in her current situation. She just wished she could have her bow, but it was all the way back at her home in the Clotho.

"Having fun with that servant boy," Jason mumbled quietly.

Jason's drink exploded, covering the boy in wine. Jason sputtered and turned his wide blue eyes on Nico, who glared venomously at him. Medea burst out laughing at Jason, who, in turn, fried her entire plate of food. Medea raised a hand, and a ball of ice formed in it.

Chiron waved a hand, shaking the entire table. "That's enough!" He bellowed. All of the young Mages pursed their lips and placed their hands in their laps. "If you're all about to become full-fledged Mages, then I expect you act less like the children you are currently imitating."

"Yes, sir," they all mumbled.

Thalia's eyebrows rose as she returned to her food. Well, this was certainly an entertaining supper, she thought.

Nico covered his ears to muffle the dying screams of the Justicars. His eyes were tightly shut as he crouched in the corner. They just wouldn't die already, nor would they stop screaming. Their fearful eyes were burned into the back of his eyelids. Nico jerked his head up when he heard the sound of metal boots hitting the ground.

Kronos walked out of the smoke, his sword already in hand. He sneered at Nico as he approached the Mage. Nico held out a hand to defend himself, but nothing happened. Nico's eyes grew wide as he scrambled backwards.

Kronos grabbed him by the throat and pinned him against the wall. Nico thrashed around, but to no avail. Kronos drew his sword back before plunging it into Nico's stomach.

Nico shot up in bed. He looked around when he heard screaming, but soon became aware that it was his owns screams he was hearing. He tried to calm his breathing as he sat up in his bed. He supported his head up with his hands as he stared down at his sheets.

He silently glanced down at his chest, just wanting to make sure that there really wasn't a wound there. He jumped when there was a knock at his door. He swallowed and released a calm breath before standing up.

Nico opened his door to find a frowning Alabaster. "I heard screaming," the brunet said. The dark bags under his eyes were more prominent than they were earlier, which told Nico that Alabaster was just going to his room.

"Why do you stay in the library so late?" Nico mumbled as Alabaster pushed his way inside. He sighed and shut the door behind them.

The brunet shrugged. "I want to make my mother proud."

"She is proud."

Alabaster frowned at Nico. "She spends a lot of time working with you," he pointed out.

"That's because I ask for it." Nico sat down on his bed, sliding his feet under the covers, but keeping his knees up near his chest.

Alabaster rubbed his eyes and sat down on the edge of Nico's bed. "So, I actually wanted to talk to you."

"Must we?" Nico asked.

The brunet Mage let out a sigh. "Nico, I messed up, I'm admitting that."

"You hexed Jason."

Alabaster gave a nod. "I did. I, uh, wasn't being a very good friend. I just...didn't think you would make it back."

Nico narrowed his eyes at his friend. "Gee, thanks," he mumbled.

Alabaster sighed. "Like I said, I messed up. But hear me out. You and Jason have always just sort of danced around each other. I thought you two would end up like we did."

"We never had sex," Nico said, raising a brow.

A faint smile appeared on Alabaster's lips. "That's true. But you...aren't really..." Alabaster trailed off, scratching his head. "You're not really the warmest person, Nico."

Nico's lips tilted down. "You're one to talk," he mumbled.

"Ok, that came out wrong. But it's true. You've never tried to get close to many people. And the people you are close to, you only let them be your friend or, in Chiron's case, family. I didn't think you were ever going to go any further with Jason than just being friends that sometimes had sex."

Nico shrugged. "I was thinking about it." He shook his head. "I don't know."

Alabaster finally looked at Nico, giving the boy a sad look. "Is it really so hard to let yourself love someone?"

"Do you love Jason?" Nico asked.

Alabaster sighed. He repositioned himself so he sat cross-legged facing Nico. "I'm willing to try. We've all been raised together, even Medea. I mean, sure she didn't really become part of our group, and you and I don't always see eye to eye, but we're friends. Jason's attractive," he answered, letting a smile grace his face. He tugged on one of his curls, glancing at Nico from time to time. "I do like him, I know that much. And I was hoping that, with time, we might end up loving each other."

Nico frowned. He felt a little torn. While he was mad at Jason, he still felt a little possessive of the blond. "So, you hexed him?" Nico asked.

The brunet shrugged, while giving Nico a nervous smile. "I suppose that wasn't my best decision. Look, I know you two have your thing going on, but I thought that if you weren't going to take a chance with him, then I would."

Nico sighed and dropped his cheek into his palm. "But it was while I was away. You didn't even talk to me about it," he mumbled.

Alabaster frowned at him. "I didn't really make a decision on it until you had left. But you seem to have been more focused on that servant of yours ever since you got back. I didn't think it would matter."

Nico's cheeks heated up, and he was suddenly thankful for the darkness of his room. "I have not."

Alabaster smirked at him. "Well, it sure sounds like you have been happy with his services, if you catch my meaning."

Nico's entire face turned red. "Shut up," he mumbled.

The brunet in front of him chuckled. "I don't know what you're getting so worked up about. It's not like I didn't know you and Jason had sex. I heard that on occasion, too."

Nico averted his eyes and began chewing on his lip. Why was he getting flustered like this? This wasn't normal for him. But it was probably just that he didn't like people assuming that there was something actually going on with him and Percy. And if they ever found out he knew what Percy really was...

"I'm not interested in him either," Nico mumbled.

Alabaster scrunched his lips up. "Really? He's very handsome. I thought he would be your type. He seems like a nice guy, too."

Nico narrowed his eyes. "I hadn't noticed."

His friend shook his curly brown head. "Why are you so resistant to letting someone be romantic with you?"

Nico pursed his lips and drew his legs closer to his chest. "Love is just another weakness. I don't need something else that people could exploit with me. And it would just make it harder if something were to happen to them." He shook his head gently. "I don't want that. I don't want love."

Alabaster sighed and just stared at Nico for a few seconds. "Well, I suppose I need to be getting some sleep. I just wanted to make sure you're alright. What were you screaming about anyways?"

Nico shook his head again. "It was nothing," he replied. "Just a bad dream."

The brunet frowned as he stood up. "Must have been pretty bad. I don't think I've heard you scream like that since we were kids."

Nico let out a sigh. He forced a smile onto his face to try and reassure the brunet that everything was fine. "You should get some sleep," he whispered.

Alabaster eyed him for a moment before nodding. "Are we...alright?"

Nico pursed his lips. "I'm not as mad as you as I am at Jason."

Alabaster nodded. "Well, I don't really want to back off of him. But are you going to try pursing him?"

Nico shrugged. "I don't really know right now. But like you said, I don't really like getting close to people like that."

Alabaster sighed and nodded again. He forced a smile onto his lips before turning and walking over to the door. He tossed Nico one final glance, nodded and shut the door.

Percy waited until the room fell silent before muffling his feet with magic and creeping out of bed. He grabbed his relic from underneath his pillow and clutched it tightly in his hand. He silently exited the room, closing the door as quietly as possible behind him. He cast his chameleon spell and crept down the hall.

He searched until he finally found an empty room. He sat down behind some barrels and broke the spell that hid him from the naked eye. He opened his palm and stared at his relic. He glanced over the barrel just to make sure no one was in the room.

He finally let out a sigh and relaxed. "Hestia," he whispered. The coin began to glow, warming his hand. Hestia soon appeared within the coin's surface. The Oracle was, once again, seated in the Architect's Rest, and he was also seeing through the floor again.

"I want you to remind the Emperor that he does not command the Arbiters and Justicars," she said gently.

"Yes, Your Grace," came Kronos's voice, much to Percy's delight.

"Hestia," Percy whispered.

Hestia blinked and looked down at him. "Percy, I was wondering when you were going to report in," she said with a smile.

The Judges soon appeared at her side, and Kronos leaned forward. "Percy!" The Justicar exclaimed.

"Hey," Percy replied with a smile.

"They told me you got captured by those Imperium thugs. How do you get captured by people that wear skirts?" A smirk spread across Kronos's lips.

Percy rolled his eyes playfully. "I was just doing as I was told."

Ouranos rolled his own eyes. "Yes, yes, enough of the happy reunion. What do you have to report?" The Justicar Judge growled.

"Well, I got into the Black Palace."

Hyperion smiled. "That's good. And how did you manage to do that?" Hyperion asked.

"I'm sure he used all of his Arbiter training," Prometheus added.

"Did you fight any of them to get in?" Kronos asked.

"Did you at least kill some?" Ouranos questioned him.

Percy rubbed the back of his head. "Um, actually, one of them just let me in," he chuckled.

They all just blinked at him. "What?" Kronos finally asked.

"Well, it was actually that Mage that we had captured."

Kronos's eyes darkened. "You're with that Mage?" He growled.

Percy blinked and tilted his head to the side. "Well, he offered me a way in."

Ouranos sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Did you ever think that it could have been a trap?" The Judge asked.

"For once, I would have to agree," Hyperion added.

"I think he would rather see me get caught on my own," Percy answered. "He's the one that offered. And he even said he wasn't going to rat me out, that he would just enjoy me getting myself caught."

"At least you got inside," Hestia said, smiling at Percy. Percy smiled back at her.

"Just be careful, Percy," Hyperion sighed.

"You're with that Mage?" Kronos repeated, glaring at Percy.

Percy shrugged with a chuckle. "It's not that big of a deal. Besides, I need to get both of them, don't I?" He pointed out.

"That's true," Prometheus agreed.

"Just make sure to keep your eye on both of them as much as possible," Hestia ordered.

"Yes, Your Grace," Percy said.

"What else do you have to report?" Hyperion asked.

Percy's smile dropped. "I found something."

"Well, what is it?" Ouranos asked impatiently.

"It's a Fae Mirror."

Everyone in the coin's surface was silent. The Judges and Kronos's faces all paled. Hestia's lips tilted down into a frown. Percy noticed Ouranos's lips twitch. Hyperion rubbed his chin. "Are you certain?" He asked.

Percy nodded. "I'm very sure. It's in a vault beneath the Black Palace."

"I thought they were all destroyed during the recession of the Imperium?" Prometheus said, glancing at his fellow Judges.

"And you say that it is actually in the Black Palace, within the city?" Hestia asked.

Percy nodded again. "Yes. I don't think it's active, but it still radiates power. It also seems to draw you towards it. It's almost like it wants to be activated again," Percy said.

"Be careful, Percy," Hestia advised.

"He should destroy the thing," Kronos growled.

Hestia shook her head. "He has not the power to do so."

"Then let us march on the Imperium. We'll destroy it, whatever it takes," Ouranos suggested.

Again, Hestia shook her head. "No, it would do us no good. Taking the country is still a problem. We must wait and see what happens."

Prometheus nodded. "I agree, Your Holiness," the Judge said.

"Just be careful, Percy. We don't want that thing becoming active in the middle of a city, even if it is the Imperium's capital," Hyperion warned. "Keep an eye on the two prophecy children as well. Just warn us if anything else happens with that thing."

Percy nodded. "I will. I just don't like being near it. It's so powerful. I thought they had learned their lesson with the Fae from the last time they opened it," he whispered.

Hestia pursed her lips and waved her hand. The image in the relic's surface faded and Percy sat back with a sigh. He slid the relic into his pocket and stood up. He muffled his feet and camouflaged himself again before exiting the empty room.

As he neared the servants' quarters, Percy ran a hand through his messy black locks. Living in the conditions he was, he didn't get to spend as much time on hygiene as he normally did. He just had enough time to freshen himself up in the mornings.

He slowed down when he heard a sobbing noise. He peered around the corner to see a large figure curled up on the ground. Percy crept closer and brushed strands of messy brown hair out of the young man's face. "Tyson?" Percy whispered. "What happened?"

Tyson didn't answer. Percy sighed and helped sit him up. He frowned as he looked Tyson over. There were several bruises lining Tyson's face, a few cuts running down his forearms, a burn on his shoulder, and the back of his tunic was torn, revealing a large bruise.

"It hurt," Tyson finally said.

Percy gave him a weak smile. "I'm sure it does, but it's going to be ok now," he whispered. He let out a sigh. "Tyson, we need to take you to get this treated."

Tyson quickly shook his head. "No, then Tyson will be punished again."

"Then tell me who did this. I can help."

"No one can help," Tyson said sadly, letting his head fall.

Percy pursed his lips. He swallowed and let out a breath. "Tyson, if I do something, I want you to promise me you won't tell anyone."

Tyson looked at Percy in confusion. "Tyson promises."

Percy smiled warmly and nodded. He held out his hands and they began to glow blue. Tyson's one good eye widened in wonder. The blue aura traveled across Tyson's body, and, slowly, the injuries began to vanish. Percy barely noticed the icy tingling in his fingers from the spell, being too focused on Tyson. Tyson would still need help, and Percy needed to figure out a way to find out who was doing this.

Percy finally sat back when the wounds were gone. Tyson smiled at Percy. "Percy help Tyson," he said.

Percy smiled back at the giant young man. "I did. Just make sure not to tell anyone what I can do."

"Tyson won't."

Percy nodded. He stood up and helped Tyson up. He patted the taller young man on the back.

"You have magic!"

Percy spun around to find Grover and Kinzie standing a few feet away in the corridor. Kinzie had raised eyebrows and had a hand covering her mouth, while Grover was smirking at Percy. Percy's eyes grew wide as he muttered under his breath, "Shit."

Cliffhanger! I hadn't had one in a story in a while, so I figured I'd go with a big one. Also, since I had a reviewer express love for Alabaster, I figured I'd go ahead and include him. Though, in my defense, I've never read Son of Magic, so I have very little knowledge on his personality. If I mess him up, I apologize. Also, I'm excited for the next chapter or two. The next chapter will revolve around the Black Palace's graduation tests and ceremony, which should be interesting. Also, one of my favorite gods and characters to write with is going to appearing. Other than that, I'll see you guys next time.