Chapter 13: Following Orders

Rules are to be broken, just like orders

It didn't take long before the crowd went crazy. A slave killing the king's champion was absolutely unheard of. Zeus could see his daughter smiling from the outcome. He wanted to make her happy, but a traitor? He wanted to protect her from people like that. That was why he had sent people to follow her that day. To see where she was going. And when he realized that boy was Hades' son... He was too dangerous to keep living.

And now, that puny little slave had intervened. Those who protected a traitor, is a traitor. And he wouldn't let that boy go. The king smirked. With those wounds, they wouldn't be able to fight properly. He wouldn't let anyone give them any treatment. A smile covered his face when the slaves were returned to their cell.

Thalia excused herself and went back to her chambers. Jason frowned when he turned to his father. "Why are you smiling, father?"

Zeus ignored him and stood as well. When they walked back, leaving Jason alone, he turned to one of the soldiers. "Make sure no one visits the slaves. Anyone who does, shall be marked as traitors." The soldier nodded and went away.

Percy was disarmed and sent back to the cell, together with the other slaves. Nico was still unconscious and carried by one of the guards. He was close to collapsing himself too. Which he did once he was inside the cell.

When he woke and tried to get up, he was immediately turned back down again. "Stay down", the kid muttered, before ripping off a piece of Percy's clothing.

"Hey!"

The kid didn't answer and wrapped the piece around Percy's shoulder wound. "This way it won't get infected, I hope."

The 'I hope' wasn't that reassuring, but Percy still muttered a small thanks. "What's your name again?"

"Hagan, you?"

"Livius", Percy said with a smile, before he remembered something. "Nico?"

"Here", Nico said in the corner of his eye. Percy looked to his left and saw Nico sitting against the wall. He was even paler then normal, but looked better than at first. A - kind of - bandage was wrapped around his thigh. "Thanks for back there."

Percy smiled at him. "Don't mention it", he said before trying to sit up again. This time the kid didn't make any move to keep him down. A sharp pain went through his stomach. He looked down at the wound and saw it leaking through the - kind of - bandage. He bit his lip, but still managed to sit up. "So, what did I miss?"

The kid frowned. "The guards said no one is permitted to visit us again. So no treatments what so ever. King's orders."

"Foolish king", Percy looked back to see Luke tending his own wound, with a frown on his face. For once, Percy had to agree with Luke. The king was indeed foolish. But even so, Percy guessed that if he would have to fight tomorrow... He remembered that Chris had said no slaves survived a week of fighting. Percy sighed.

Percy saw Nico straighten his back and looking behind him. Percy turned and saw something he didn't suspect. Out of the royal carriage stood two girls. One wasn't that hard to recognize: Thalia. Percy didn't know the other girl. She had black hair and eyes, and her dress was black with brown-green stripes and Percy could see the small tiara in her hair. They looked like nobody should mess with them.

The guards didn't sense that though, when they blocked their path. "Nobody is to enter."

Zoë could feel her anger boiling up, when her path was blocked. "Move, boys", she sneered, "Or you shall regret it." The guards seemed to hesitate, but made no move to go out of their way. She bit her lip to contain her anger and Thalia put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at her and she could see that Thalia was equally angry.

"Do you have any idea who we are?", a few of the guards nodded and Zoë could see fear in some of their eyes. Good. "Please, say it for me", Thalia continued. They didn't say anything. "Say. It.", she sneered. They gulped at Thalia's tone. A smile formed on Zoë's lips. This was exactly why they were best friends.

"Princess Thalia Grace of Rome, daughter of king Zeus, and Lady Zoë Nightshade, daughter of general Atlas", one of them eventually said. Thalia nodded appreciatively.

"Now, who are you?", she asked the guard.

"Larry Dane, my lady", the guard said reluctantly. A smile appeared on Thalia's face.

"Now, dear Larry, would you please tell me how you can possibly give us orders?"

Larry bit his lip. "Orders from the king, my lady."

"Do you see my father here?", the guard shook his head, "Since he isn't here, he couldn't give you any orders then. And since I'm the highest ranked person here, I should give you orders. Do you know what happens with those who defy orders?", the guard shook his head again.

A sadistic grin formed on her face now. "They get locked up in the dungeons and tortured. And I do hope for you that you get Thanatos. He kills you quickly. Now, Tartarus is the one you should really fear. He kills you slowly and painfully. Starting with you tentacles of course", she added with a sweet smile on her face. The color on Larry's face escaped and he gulped. "Now let us through." He nodded and let them through.

Zoë sighed. So much for the guards here in Rome. But what should I expect? They are all boys anyway.

She looked at the cage before her. The five slaves were just sitting there, tending their own wounds or looking at them. One boy stood up and she saw Thalia running up to him. Now, she already knew all about her crush/friend, but that didn't mean she approved of it. She scowled when they hugged awkwardly through the bars and smiled when Thalia punched him in the shoulder, making him flinch.

He then sighed. "I guess I deserved that..." Thalia nodded eagerly, but Zoë could see a tear forming in the corner of her eye. She sighed and let them have their conversation, while just standing there awkwardly.

"I guess you don't like men that much, do you?", she heard someone in the cage say. She looked at the boy, who made an attempt to stand up. He failed miserably though, but was supported by a smaller boy. They walked toward her, until the boy could support himself on the bars. "Thanks, Hagan", the smaller boy just smiled and sat back.

He hold his hand in front of her, as if he wanted her to shake it. "Livius." She glared at him, but didn't say anything. She had a feeling she knew the boy before him. Then realization struck her. "You're that slave that killed Hercules?" Livius nodded, but didn't seem happy with how he was called.

She looked at him warily. He had black hair with sea-green eyes. On his face and the rest of his body were countless scars and a few open wounds. On his shoulder and stomach were bandages, probably from the fight before. He was muscular and Zoë had the feeling that he indeed would have be able to win from Hercules.

Livius lowered his hand when he realized Zoë had no intention to shake it. "Who are you and why are you here?"

"Who I am is not of your business and I'm here because of you actually."

Livius raised an eyebrow on that. "What do you mean?"

"Hercules was my fiance."

[A/N]: And I guess that should be a good place to stop :). How is everything going out there? Here is everything going perfect ;D No school, mother away for the day and I kept enjoying the lovely weather (which will end soon since it's already autumn) while writing this chapter for you people ;D

Btw, there's a story that I just can't help but recommend: "Wolf's Law" It's an AMAZING story, which found by checking the favorite stories of one of this story's followers (thank you for that :D)... Believe me when I say that it's extraordinary well written :))

Thank you for everybody who reviewed last chapter! Though I haven't had lot of new followers lately :'( I hope this time I will :)

To awesomeness: You've got the fiancé-thing right ;P And sorry for not putting Hagan in the last chapter, but he is in here ;P Again, Dylan will have his appearance later in the story when everything had progressed a lot more ;). And about that sequel... I was already planning that (sort of) :D

To Lmb111514: Hahaha ;P I really, REALLY, wanted to kill him :D *yes, I am that evil* MHUAHAHHAHAAAA *sorry*

To Di Blythe: Haha thank you :) I'm blushing here XD Here is chapter 13 (chapter 13 already... Man, time passes fast xD).. No Jasper though, I hope you don't mind ;) There will be Jasper in chapter 14 though :P

To Guest: Yes, Annabeth will be in the story. This story contains Percabeth after all, since it's my favorite couple ;P She just won't make an appearance at least in the next 5 chapters, since she simply doesn't fit in the plot yet. It's too soon for Percy to be in a relationship and otherwise there would be too many things going on at the same time ;). I hope that cleared some things up ;).

Sorry for the long Author Note ;P

'Till next time ^^

Xx Anny