"Take him back to the dungeons," Aaron's voice is heavy with disgust and disappointment, "He's cell nineteen. Make sure to lock it."
Eric bows then seizes my wrists roughly, "Come here you," he grunts, shoving me along by the cuffs.
"And Eric," Aaron says, and Eric turns around expectantly, "I will have you promoted to colonel this afternoon."
Eric's eyes widen in delight, then he clicks his heels smartly and bows his head, "Thank you, thank you my lord. How can I ever thank you? I—I—"
"No need Colonel Pinky," Aaron says in a drawling voice, "My last colonel was slaughtered in the raid."
"Pinky," I cough in an attempt to stifle a laugh, "Eric Pinky?"
Eric's eyes grow sharper than knives, and his clenched fists shake, "Take that back!" he roars furiously. He pulls his sword out of his scabbard and thrusts the flat side against my throat, "My family name is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" I blink in shock at his sudden loss of control
"Calm yourself," Aaron says sharply, "Is that any way to treat our guests?"
Eric takes a few deep breaths, his face still flushing red in anger, "I'm sorry… you shouldn't have brought it up." His teeth are clenched and I can tell his dearest ambition would to slice my throat out, but Aaron's presence restrains him.
I mentally punch myself. You need to control yourself! He'll kill you as soon as he gets the chance you fool!
"I'm sorry," I say quietly, hoping I sound sincere.
"You'd better be," Eric mutters under his breath.
"Eric," Aaron says tightly, "Escort him to the cells of you please."
"Oh," Eric blinks, the color fading from his cheeks, "Of course," he says huskily, "My apologies."
He grabs my arms with his sweaty hands and practically drags me out of the hallway, with Aaron trailing behind, a bemused expression drawn across his face.
"Athene!" Diana exclaims in surprise and delight as soon as Eric tosses me into the cell. She seems surprised to see me alive, then I see the slight tear lines that have cut down her cheeks. She thought I was going to die…
"Who's this?" Eric says coldly, nodding at Diana.
"Princess Diana of the Amazons," Aaron explains, "I'm surprised you don't recongnize her on sight." His voice is tinged with amusement.
"Ah," Eric says, inclining his head towards Diana stiffly, "Your Majesty," he coughs into his hand mockingly, and Aaron chuckles.
"We'll take our leave now, my princess," Eric bows grandly, sweeping his ragged cloak behind him as he bent forwards, "Call the servants if you want some tea."
Then the two demigods went off together, cackling at the top of their lungs.
"What did he want with you?" Diana asks, glaring at the retreating forms of Aaron and Eric.
"Persuade me to join with him," I say, then I tell her everything. About overhearing the centaurs on the aircraft, Aaron's ranting, everything.
"If you're really the only thing in his way," Diana says thoughtfully, "Why didn't he just kill you?"
"Sympathy," I say with a disgusted groan, "He thinks we're alike."
"You're nothing like him!" Diana says sharply.
"Well personality, no, but background, kind of," I say, "He's a son of Zeus too. Second off, his mom was murdered by Hades, along with his younger sister."
"Poor thing," Diana muses, and for the first time, sadness creeps into her voice, "He wasn't born bad, no one is, he went bad."
I simply nod. I do not tell Diana of the small voice inside my head that had goaded me into joining Aaron in his conquest for retaliation and power. He's right in many ways…
There is a long awkward silence, and I force a conversation, "Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually a son of Zeus. I'm worthless, and I've done nothing a son of Zeus should do. I can't even summon lightning anymore. I wonder if I was even claimed correctly…"
"Of course you were!" Diana exclaims in exasperation, "Gods don't make mistakes in claiming their children! I bet you can only summon lightning in serious situations."
"Yeah," I say skeptically, "So I summon lightning when I am being bullied by some stupid kid, but I can't when monsters are attacking me? Which one's the serious situation again?"
Diana purses her lips, "It was a clear sign," she says firmly, "It must have been you! It couldn't have been anyone else, unless sons of Ares have suddenly developed the skill to strike themselves with lightning!"
"I suppose," I say.
"Lighten up," Diana says sharply, "Stop sulking and make yourself useful."
I scowl, "Lighten up?" I echo scathingly, "Lighten up? How can I lighten up in a situation like this?"
"Stop being so negative for one thing!" Diana snaps.
"How can you not?" I demand, "He's going to kill us!"
"He said he wasn't going to!" Diana shoots back.
"And you believe what he says?" I snarl.
"He was telling the truth," Diana says rather severely, "I know a liar when I see one Athene!"
"What's this?" I sneer, "Have you been to lie-detecting school or something?"
"What is your problem?" Diana shouts furiously, then her eyes narrow suspiciously, "Are you really Athene? Or are you some clone that Aaron placed here to replace you?"
"I'm real!" I hiss, "My mother was struck by lightning while I was in her stomach, I lived with the Amazons, then I moved to Camp Half-blood, and I was claimed by Zeus!"
"Okay," Diana says sharply, then her tone softens, "I know you're hurt Athene, but everyone is! We've got to work together to get out of this situation!"
"Okay! Okay!" I say hastily, my anger subsiding, "I'm sorry, I just… got a little carried away with my emotions… sorry."
Diana sighs, "It's fine Athene, let's try to figure out a way to get out of these," she indicates towards her chains, "Obviously brute force isn't going to work."
"Aaron has a watch that allowed him to unlock pretty much everything, but getting the watch…" I trail off, "Is going to be hard."
"Hmm…" Diana considers this for a moment.
"You know…" I say with sudden inspiration, "I could tell Aaron that I changed my mind, and he would unlock me, then I could knock him out or something," I nod towards my chain necklace, it has not been removed, "take his watch, then unlock you and everyone else."
"That's risky Athene," Diana says slowly after a moment's hesitation, "Aaron will obviously be ready for something. What if he brings guards?"
"I'll cut them in half," I tell her confidently.
Diana looks skeptical, "I don't know, but if it's the best plan we've got…"
"Don't underestimate me," I tell her firmly, "I can do this… I think…"
Diana rolls her eyes, "That's reassuring, and what if they kill you?"
"Hey!" I say innocently, "You told me you believed Aaron wouldn't kill me!"
"He will if you try to attack him!"
"I got this… okay? Trust me," I say.
Diana sighs, "Fine, but if you die—"
"I won't," I assure her.
"Okay, okay," Diana says in exasperation, "How do you call him now?"
"Hmm… hadn't thought of that," I say, then I bellow, "Hey Aaron! I want to talk to you! I've changed my mind!"
My voice echoes eerily, bouncing around the walls.
An instant later, a surly looking cyclops enters, brandishing a spear, "Master Aaron does not see prisoners without good reason," he says gruffly.
"Tell him I've changed my mind, and I'll join him," I tell the cyclops, and his one eye clouds in confusion.
"Fine," he grumbles at last, "I will see to Master Aaron."
The cyclops ambles off, grunting and snorting loudly.
I wait in hushed silence as the cyclops' footsteps fade away.
A few minutes later, the footstep clicks return, only doubled, and Aaron, accompanied by the cyclops enter the dungeon.
"You requested me?" Aaron says silkily.
"Yeah," I gulp, "I thought about what you said to me earlier, and you're right. The gods aren't good enough, I see that now. They're worthless arrogant scumbags," I say, hoping that my father wouldn't blast me into bits. It's for a good cause!
Aaron's eyes gleam, "You understand me!" he says excitedly, "I knew you would understand brother!" He clicks a button on his watch, and the handcuffs crumble away. I gasp and massage my wrists, my fingers slowly sliding to the chain.
Aaron doesn't seem to notice, "Follow me," he says briskly, turning his back.
My muscles fly into action, and I release my sword and slash the cyclops into dust. Then I turn on Aaron and slam the hilt of my blade at his head.
Aaron whirls around with a speed I didn't think was possible and catches the blade in his hand, his gaze sparks in anger, "Treachery," he spits, "I knew you would never join me!" He punches me in the chest, "Did you think I was stupid?"
He kicks my ribs, and I back away, wheezing.
"Athene!" Diana cries.
I thrust my blade at his chest, and he jumps aside. Then he comes at me in a flurry of fists, and through the chaos, I swing my blade back and forth wildly.
With a nasty clang, the flat of my blade smacks Aaron in the head, and he crumples immediately.
I take in a shuddering breath, then I rush to Aaron's side and wrench the watch off his wrist. The watch is blank, and I let out a cry of rage, "There's nothing on it!" I say furiously, tapping the watch, "It must be a fake!"
"What?" Diana says in shock, "But he just made your cuffs—"
"I know!" I snarl, "He must have had it planned out! He knew I was going to do that!"
"This whole place is bugged!" Diana realizes it the moment I do, "Any minute now there's going to be a—"
She breaks off with a gasp of horror as a low snarling erupts from the dungeon entrance, and a squadron of snarling hellhounds springs in.
One drags the limp body of Aaron aside, and to my horror, he is beginning to stir already. He sits up groggily, his gaze flaring, "Kill them!" he rasps.
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