Alrighty! Here is the first chapter! This took me a really long time to write, so you better appreciate this! I want to say thank you for giving this story a try! I will try to live up to your expectations. I spent two solid hours writing this, and just finished. I hope you enjoy it, and now, ON WITH THE STORY!:
247 AD...
The Roman Empire has slowly been forced to begin reducing their many campaigns. In 246 AD, they sent the Ninth Legion, their best legion, into present day Scotland, to battle the Picts, the ancestors of the Scottish, and the Ninth vanished. There was no sign of battle, nothing. Over 50,000 men just disappeared, and still haven't been found to this day. The Governor of Britannia, Hadrian Gallis, built the legendary Hadrian's Wall, which still stands, albeit only ruins.
Annabeth has proven to be an incredibly intelligent advisor, constantly advising her father, and helping him make desicions for the good of the empire. Carvilius was forced into a political marriage, where he had twins with his new wife. Annabeth, though the eldest, wouldn't get the throne, as it would pass to one of her younger brothers.
Perseus grew strong, and quickly proved to be an excellent Quarry worker. His father, Turrinus, arranged a marriage between his son, and the another girl in the community, Rachelle. They would be married a week after Perseus turned sixteen, while Rachelle was still only fifteen. However, fate had other plans for them...
Percy was swinging his pick-ax, cracking a rock the size of a boulder. His wedding was in an hour, so he had to hurry. Just a few more swings, and he will be free to go. The village was maybe a mile away, so he could get there soon, and bathe quickly before the ceremony.
He heard a resounding -CRACK- The rock split. He quickly gathered the pieces and stuffed them into his basket. He hefted the basket onto the his back, and hurried to the collection point. The counter, he counts the bundles the slaves bring in, which is a minimum of fourteen per slave. He looked at Percy, and nodded slowly, "Yep, sixteen bundles, you're all set slave. You can go." Percy smiled and bowed, as custom. He got up and began sprinting.
The Quarry was just outside of a large small forest, with a little creek running through it. He got good memories, back when he was a child, of playing here with his friends, Grover, Charlus and his younger brother Leos, and Michael. The forest trees smelled amazing this time of the year, not yet harvest, but past summer time. The creek felt cool as his bare-feet splashed through it, the same splashes as when he was a child.
He quickly crossed the creek, the smell of water still lingering. He always felt better after being in water, like it rejuvenated him. He hurried, no idea how much time passed. The brief sprint through the water made him feel stronger. He used this strength to speed himself up. Percy broke through the line of trees, the outskirts of the village in front of him.
No guards parolled this area, slaves aren't even worth the time of Legionarries. The community liked it that way, they could mind their own business. The less interaction between the Legion and the community was preffered.
Percy reached his hovel, his mother was waiting. She looked appalled when she saw him. "Why are you still filthy!?" She exclaimed.
"I had to finish my bundles at the Quarry!" Percy explained between gasps for sweet air, "I need to bathe quickly!?"
"No, really?" His mother asked sarcasticly, "Here's the towel and your fresh clothes, go to the pond quickly." Percy took the items, and gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
He raced to the pond, already throwing off his old clothes as he ran. He quickly leapt into the pond, diving into the cool, fresh water. He began dousing the water into his hair, officially flattening it against his head. He moved his raven black hair out of his eyes, and began swimming around, feeling the muck of the day wash off. Percy felt relaxed, better, stronger in the water.
Percy got out of the pond, grabbing a cloth, and started drying himself off. He quickly dressed into his tunic, his mother sewed it herself. It was Serptine Green, with blue thread in intricte patterns. She had spent four years making this, buying as much material as she could when the gypsies came through. The gypsies allowed slaves to trade products instead of coins, since slaves don't get money.
He hurried home, feeling the air begin to dry his still wet hair. It was hopeless trying to gussy-up his hair, so he let it stay a mop. His hair felt plastered to his face while it was still wet. Percy got to his house, and ran in, nearly bowling over his father. "Father!" Percy said, stumbling back and rubbing his forehead where they had connected.
"Slow down, there's still half an hour till the ceremony." His father replied, rubbing his forehead too. "I know the girl's cute, but you can be patient!" Percy was about to reply, when Uncle Apustius burst in.
"Turrinus!" Apustius shouted. Apustius had curly brown hair, and dirt brown eyes, Grover was the spitting image of him. "We've got trouble!"
"What is it?" Turrinus asked, Percy could hear worry entering his voice.
"Glaucus is back!" Turrinus paled considerably, Percy had heard the name a few times. Glaucus was the local Legate, and he rarely came to, quote-unquote: play with his pets. He apparently made yearly trips to lay with some village women, since slaves can't deny him. Percy felt sick, the Legate some pretty twisted appetites. Often times, the women he laid with had bruises, and rope markings all over them.
"Distract him for awhile, I'll be right there!" Percy's father grabbed his pitch-fork. Percy went and grabbed his pick-ax, quickly following his father. They stopped at several areas, grabbing numerous people: Hostilius and his sons, Charlus and Leos, Sextus and his son, Michael, along with many other people. Charlus and Leos were holding their forging hammers, Sextus and Michael had their hunting bows, Apustius had a hoe and Grover an ax.
They got to the front of the village. There, was Glaucus. Glaucus was at least fifty years old, with thinning gray hair and maniac, and mutton chop beard with a braided goatee going down at least nine inches. He also had maniac eyes, like you could immediately tell that he has some pretty twisted experiences in war, and they had broken him. You could tell that he had once been a man who was respected, strong-willed, proud. Now, he was just psychopath now.
The scariest part about him, the thirty to forty Praetorians flanking him. Percy noticed a little red behind Glaucus... It was Rachelle. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE GODS ARE YOU DOING!" Percy screamed.
Glaucus looked at him, a maniac glint entering his eyes, "I am simply doing my duty! I have been given the authority, by the Senatus Romanus mind you, not that you animals would know what they are," Glaucus sneered, the maniac glint growing. His Praetorians laughed along with him, mockery clear in their voices. "The senate gave me the right of Dextera Domini, which, I am to bless a matrimony, by having the first night of the union, bedding the wife."
Percy felt horror and hatred fill himself, apparently, Glaucus noticed. "Yes, that's right," Glaucus sneered, "I am allowed to fuck your lovely redhead senseless! And there is nothing you can do about it! And she will love it, and beg for my cock to fill her completely, and she'll moan like the animal whore she is!" His sneer absolutely filled with mockery.
"YOU BASTARD!" Apustius yelled, "IT'S NOT ENOUGH THAT YOU USE OUR WOMEN! NOW YOU USE OUR YOUNG!" Many more outbursts followed his.
"No, no, no!" Glaucus said, his voice over-flowing with sarcasm, "I am blessing their union by pumping my seed into her!" Percy felt his anger pounding in his ears. "Don't worry boy, I'll bring her back in the morning, in one piece, or two!" He shouted back, spinning his horses around and galloping out, his Praetorians following behind him.
Percy rushed forth, but a strong hand held him back. He turned and saw his father. "There's nothing you can do son." Turrinus said, sorrow filling his voice.
"We can't let him get away with this!" Percy yelled.
"We can't do anything about it." Apustius said, coming over.
"I can't believe this!" A voice said, they turned and saw Sextus glaring angrily away in the direction where Glaucus sped off in, "He's gone too far this time!" Sextus knew better than anyone how depraved Glaucus' appetites were, his wife was left without her left hand and tongue last year when Glaucus came.
The crowd dispersed, angrily growling curses at Glaucus. Percy, Michael, Charlus, and Leos were left alone at the entrance. "We can't let Rachelle endure those horrible, fetishes!" Michael growled, his eyes filled with hate.
"We're not, follow me!" Percy said, charging out of the entrance.
Judging from the tracks, Glaucus and his men were taking the Lutateious Road, which lead right next to a low creek, perfect for an ambush. Percy, Leos, Charlus, and Michael charged down the small game path, Michael in the lead. Michael's blonde hair was going to be a problem, the sun could bounce off it. Micahel said the problem would be solved by him climbing up into a tree.
Charlus and Leos would be with Percy, trying to hit the Praetorians. Charlus and Leos' black skin would be better in the shadows of the trees that flanked the creek. Percy would be standing right in the open, the bait. Charlus would be on the right flank, Leos on the left. When Percy made the first move, they would count to fifty, and then charge in, while Michael was in the tree, slowly sniping off the fifteen Praetorian archers.
They reached the creek, in the distance, they could hear the horses. Percy nodded at Michael, he quickly raced to find a tree. He nodded at the two brothers, Charlus ran into the dark underbrush off to the right, and Leos found coverage in the left. Percy walked right into the dead center of the path.
He slowly made a prayer off to Olympus, praying they will allow him to correct this wronging. Percy took a deep breath, felling the cold creek run between his toes. The air smellt crisp, and he could feel the cool breeze gently kissing his neck. He could hear the clatter of pebbles as he moved his feet. He took another breath, keeping his eyes on where Glaucus would appear.
One minute passed, and then another. Time felt excruciatingly slow. Percy looked to where Charlus was hiding, and saw Charlus looking across the creek, where Leos disappeared. Percy turned and saw Leos nodding, though it was hard to see him in the darkness. Percy wondered if this was his last time to hang with his friends, if they would die. Now that he thought of it, this was probably it. They were about to face forty Praetorians.
He heard a horse whinnie. This was it. This was his moment. Glaucus rounded the turn, and he had a look of surprise on his face. It quickly shifted to a twisted form of glee. He pulled out his Gladius, a lustful grin on his face. He spurred his horse, into a sprint. The Praetorians quickly followed suit, turning the corner. Percy heard a -THWACK- and saw a Praetorian tumble out of his saddle, and gray-feather arrow sticking out just below his chin.
Glaucus didn't even look back. Percy felt a tug in his gut, and a huge wave erupted, it sent three Praetorians on horses flying through the air. Glaucus' eyes widened, but he kept on galloping closer. A Praetorian passed him, coming straight at Percy. When he was just seconds away, Percy knelt, spinning around, while swinging out his pick-ax, catching the horse in the leg, right at the joint.
The horse screamed, quite the horrible sound. Percy winced hearing it, the crack of bone breaking. He rushed to the downed Praetorian, and drove the pick-ax just beneath the eye. The Praetorian let out of brief gurgle, and then slumped. Percy tried to yank the pick-ax free, but it was stuck. He kept jerking, hearing the sickening squelch. The Praetorian twitched whenever he did this. Glaucus was now maybe ten meters away, so Percy reached over and grabbed the Praetorians Spatha.
The heavy blade felt awkward in his hands, heavy and uncomfortable. But Percy couldn't afford to be picky at the moment. He looked over and saw that Charlus and Leos had charged at the other Praetorians, smashing into their surprised flanks. Michael had already picked off four more Praetorian archers. Charlus slammed his hammer into a Praetor's horses leg, smashing the knee. The Praetors timbled off, and Charlus hit him where the neck and shoulder join. There were now only twenty-nine of the original forty Praetorians, very impressive for slaves.
Glaucus reached Percy, and Percy swung his sword upwards, going back into a kneeling position. Glaucus deflected the blow, leaping off his horse. Glaucus landed on his feet, and then charged. He swung left, then right, then an upper-cut. Percy blocked all the blows, and managed to get in a few of his own. Glaucus was swinging all over the place, also a series of complicated maneuvers.
Percy finally saw a break, and stabbed. The blade struck the shoulder, right after the joint, and sank in, going all the way through. Glaucus shouted in pain, dropping his sword. He looked at Percy, disbelief right on his face, "I am Glaucus Meridius Syllevia, son of Mars himself! I cannot be defeated by a mere slave!"
Percy withdrew the blade, and swung the blade, taking off his head. Blood immediately began spurting, gushing up like a geyser. It was a black geyser. Percy was sprayed in the face briefly, feeling the warm, dark liquid paint his face. He looked over at Glaucus' horse, it was standing a few yards away, with Rachelle still on it's back. Percy rushed over, forgetting about the battle going on behind him. He reached Rachelle, and untied her from the saddle.
She slumped into Percy's arms, and he felt relief, he did it. He quickly kissed her. She was ice cold. Horror and nausea filled his gut, this couldn't be right. He brushed her hair out of her face, and he saw it. A slit right across her throat. The bastard had killed her!
Percy felt all the anger he held inside come boiling out, he couldn't control it. He screamed, full of rage. Behind him, he could hear explosions going off, and horses and men screaming. He didn't care. Percy just screamed, his frustration and sorrow overcoming him. Tears began streaming down his face.
Rachelle and his marriage may have been made for them, but he still grew close to her. Memories of their time together rushed back: Their first date, their first kiss, when he first laid with her(secretly), and so many other painful memories. The way her ahir smelled, her smile, everything. They were all crashing down on him, suffocating him.
He felt a hand touch his shoulder, and arm wrap around his shoulder, another mourner. It was Michael. Rachelle was his cousin, so this was emotional for him. Charlus and Leos joined them, though with fewer tears, just a little less. Percy felt his fury reside, and now the tug went away, the explosions stopped. He just cried now, cried with his friends, who were like brothers.
Finally, Percy stopped his mourning, and got up. What he saw behind himslef shocked him to the core. All the Praetorians were dead, along with their mounts. They all loked like they had been thrown into the air and crashed to the ground, breaking their neck, or spines, etc. Their corpses were all mangled, twisted into sickening positions.
"What happened?" Percy asked.
"You." Leos replied, "First we heard your scream, then huge fists of water began rising up from the earth at incredible speed-"
"-Yeah," Michael cut in, "It sent the Praetorians and their horse flying up in the air."
Percy touched his cheek, feeling woozy. He looked at his hand, their was blood. Glaucus had gotten him. He fell backwards, head hitting the ground, and everything turned black...
Okay, so, I decided to leave it off here. So, this was really long! I did make this a demigod story, as you can clearly see. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it, and Have A Great Day!