Chapter Twenty-Nine

The crowd murmured at Caesar's decision. In a matter of minutes, every space in the Colosseum was taken. No one was going to miss a duel between the Emperor and the rebellious gladiator.

Meanwhile on the sand of the arena, Percy's friends stared at him in awe. Though wounded, the green eyed boy was determined to avenge all that he cared about and no one was going to stand in his way. Guards rushed out onto the arena floor and carried away Thalia and Nico to the medics. Luke and Jason turned to follow them but Annabeth stared at Percy.

The gladiator felt her eyes on his back and turned to face the calculating grey orbs. Her blonde hair was messy from fighting but Percy still thought she was beautiful. She didn't say anything, she just stared so Percy decided to take the initiative and engulfed her in a hug which she gladly accepted, wrapping her arms around his waist. Percy silently stroked her hair, comforting her.

This is for her, I'm avenging her and all the ones that I love, he thought to himself.

He knew Triton would come soon. He was most likely putting on his armor. They didn't have much time. He gently pushed Annabeth away and looked in her eye, trying to convey all the love and loyalty he had for her. Then he kissed her, deeply and affectionately, not caring that all of Rome was watching. At that moment, it was only them, their lips molded together. For need of air, they finally broke away.

"I hate good bye kisses," Annabeth said.

"Who said it's goodbye? Trust me, I'll be with you again in no time," Percy said with a lopsided grin.

Annabeth hugged him again. "Don't get killed Seaweed Brain," she whispered.

"Only because you told me to, Wise Girl," he whispered back.

She rolled her eyes with a smile and turned, walking off to follow her friends out of the arena. And then it was Percy, alone, with the eyes of the Capitol on his back. Then he realized it was pretty hot out.

Why the heck am I standing in the heat? he asked himself. Then he did the simple thing. He plopped onto the ground and folded his legs Indian style, drawing patterns in the sand with his sword as he waited for the Emperor. The crowd was confused. Their hero was sitting like a leisurely child as he awaited a duel with the ruler of the Empire. A bizarre phenomenon if there ever was.

A cloud passed over the sun, creating a natural shade for the roasting people as the Emperor readied himself. Finally, a trumpet sounded and the ground began rumbling. The crowd oohed and ahhed as a circle opened up in the middle of the arena as rose petals rained down. Out of the circle rose a platform and the Praetorian guard filed out, forming a circle around the seated Percy and the proudly smirking Triton. Meanwhile Percy sat at the edge of the circle, calmly regarding the Praetorians.

"Nice of you to join me brother," Percy said casually.

Triton snarled. "You're no brother of mine, scum."

The royal was bedecked in white armor with a purple cape flying out behind him. At his waist was a golden scabbard with a sheathed gladius.

Percy resisted the urge to roll his eyes and smiled a cheeky grin. "Care to cut the insults and talk to me civilly? I mean, who's the emperor and who's the slave?"

Triton's face turned red in anger. "Insolent child, you will regard me with respect as you die!" the Emperor shouted, charging at Percy.

The gladiator shrugged and said in mock wistfulness, "I guess it doesn't matter that I'm two years older than you. I'll always be a child," while easily deflecting Triton's blow.

Triton continued hacking and slashing at Percy, only to be deflected each time by a thoroughly bored gladiator. The royal saw that he wasn't going to beat Percy with skill, so he decided to distract him. A cruel smirk crept across his face. "It was quite interesting you know."

Percy raised an eyebrow as he ducked under a slash to his neck. "What?"

A cold gleam shown in the Emperor's eyes. "The death of your family. I was there. Your stepfather, screamed like a girl as he was burned and nailed to the cross."

Percy knit his eyebrows and Triton knew he was having some effect. "And your mother, she moaned like a slut as my men ravaged her, again," he struck at Percy, advancing on him as Percy's eyes widened in horror. "and again," another blow, "and again." Percy staggered back by the power of the strike. His energy was waning, his strikes becoming slower. The crowd was in awe. Their champion was being defeated easily. They could not hear what the Emperor said but they knew something was off about the green eyed Spaniard.

"And then your sister," Triton mused, twirling his sword leisurely advancing on Percy. "Quite a feisty one she was. My captain said that she was 'fun.'" Percy's eyes squinted in horror and pain as he thought about his family and Triton simply laughed. Distracted, Percy was slow to block a blow to his legs and Triton's sword managed to knock him off his feet, though not slice him. Percy lay on the ground panting, his face covered in sweat.

Triton stood over him. "You are weak. You're weak like Father, that old man who fell for a farm slut. Your brother will die too, as well as your other friends. But not Annabeth. No, I think she will be a very amusing toy," he said grinning maliciously as he raised his sword for the final blow.

Then something snapped. A spark had exploded into a flame and Percy leapt up and at the Emperor, uttering an animal-like cry as he swung Riptide at Caesar. His strikes were swift and powerful and Triton barely had enough time to block them.

"You may insult me," Percy whispered as he struck at the startled emperor. "You may throw me to ground," a slash at the Triton's torso as Percy angrily advanced. "But NO ONE INSULTS MY FAMILY!" and with that, Triton's sword went flying into the air.

The whole of the Colosseum was frozen. Triton stood with widened eyes as Percy panted, a savage look in his eyes. From his place among the Praetorians, Alabaster regarded Percy with fear and awe at his sudden burst of energy. The crowd was silent, the only sound was the beating of a heartbeat. The Percy broke the silence.

"And you can go to Hades for all I care," he said quietly.

Triton's eyes widened and he snapped his neck to look at Alabaster. "Give me a sword! Someone give me a sword!" he cried.

Alabaster's eyes hardened. "Sheathe your swords!" he ordered. Not this time you bastard, he thought.

Triton sent a shocked look at Alabaster and his green eyes held a primal fear in them. He flicked his head towards the angry gladiator. Then fear overtook him and he reached into his boot and brought a knife, charging at Percy. The crowd roared in protest at the foul play but Percy was ready.

The green eyed Spaniard quickly ducked, dropping his sword and came up under Triton's guard. But he was too slow. A sharp pain in his side alerted him to the stab and Percy seized the knife, pulling it out of Triton's grasp and throwing it away. He held Triton's head in his hands, and with a resounding snap, he twisted the Emperor's head. The body dropped to the sand of the arena, dead.

A deathly silence encompassed the arena and a weary Percy stared off into space. His head was clouded and his vision was fuzzy. Blood trickled down his side. He had done it. The fate of Rome was in his hands. He turned his head to Alabaster, his black hair matted against his forehead. "Alabaster, free the gladiators and notify the Senate immediately. Rome is to be a republic. These are the wishes of Marcus Poseidon." And with that, Percy fell to the ground, as still as a corpse.

Author's Note: Please do not kill me yet. Stick with me here guys. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Please review.