A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the inconsistent updates, been on holidays for the last week but I'd've got Internet so ill be posting now :) although ill lose in in a few days. Sorry, hope you like this chapter, I'm not good at this part, the fighting, but next chapter we see some developing feelings :)

Octavian watched as the girl in the Arena swiped at the Sphinx. It was a truly magnificent creature. Mostly lion, but a great pair of wings sprouted from it's shoulders and It's face was human. Although It's wings were clipped and the face was mangled beyond recognition, This Sphinx had fought many before this girl.

"She is an amazing fighter" Octavian commented to Reyna, who was sitting next to him.

"I have never heard you speak highly of someone in my entire life Octavian" Reyna said "Are you sure you don't care for her"

The whole time since Octavian had gotten back to camp he had been hounded by both Dakota and Reyna about the girl. He hadn't said a thing against her. Octavian really liked this girl, and he hated it. And now he was sitting watching her fight a monster.

Rachel swiped at the creature's face with her blade making a deep gash and blinding it. She ran around it's hybrid body and slashed at it's torso. The special thing about this sphinx is that it was cursed. It could only disintegrate by being stabbed in the heart.

Rachel had no way of knowing that, and it took all of Octavian's self control not to yell it out at her.

The strange thing, is that the Girl had not yet taken the potion. She had slid it into her shield.

Rachel movements were robotic. Clearly she was new to fighting, she was following a basic routine of attacking and blocking. She stabbed it's eye, leaving it blinded momentarily.

Then something unexpected happened.

Dakota, who had been sitting in the stands moments before, leaped from his seat and landed at Rachel's feet.

The girl immediately pulled him upright and dragged him to the far end of the arena. Away from the distracted creature.

"Dakota, get out of..." Octavian yelled at him, but was interrupted.

"No let him stay, this could be interesting" Reyna argued. And Octavian had to agree, this could be very interesting indeed.

In the arena Rachel was speaking to Dakota who was nodding vigorously. Then the sphinx regained it's composure and turned to look right at the two demigods.

Rachel raced away from Dakota, leaving her shield behind. It clattered to the ground and she followed the curve of the arena to the gate the creature had come from.

Octavian watched her with ever-increasing curiosity. What was this girl doing? Leaving her amour to a stranger?

Dakota reached down for the shield, but instead of taking it, he took the potion from inside it.

The sphinx had it's eyes set on Rachel, turning with her movement. She had reached the lock on the cage and was examining the padlock.

The sphinx was getting ready to attack her from behind, she would be dead soon if she didn't save herself.

Dakota took his time uncorking the potion. Octavian hated how the girl had put her life in the hands of a drunk, 17 year old. Finally Dakota opened the vial and drank it all at once.

Immediately he took the shield in his left hand and charged at the sphinx yelling " Die Stupid Cat"

Dakota hit the sphinx's back side hard with the shield. Knocking it off it's feet. It stood and turned, slashing it's talons at Dakota, who used the shield edge to blind the sphinx's other eye.

Octavian watched as Dakota faught the monster, but he only injured it, he didn't try to kill it.

"Look Octavian, Rachel, look at her" Reyna pointed at the read-headed girl in the arena.
Rachel was using her blade to pick the lock. With one last swift movement the lock broke open and she pulled the gate open. She dashed inside and came back a few seconds later. She had a sward in her other hand and a shield tied around her chest.

Dakota rammed the shield into the creatures face and used the force to jump over the sphinx. Landing on it's back with grace only granted to him by the potion, Dakota reached down and took the sward from Rachel's outstretched hand. He raised the sward and, very dramatically, plunged it into the sphinx, piercing it's heart. The sphinx disintegrated into a pile of dust that Dakota landed on.

Reyna stood and announced the end of the battle, declaring Rachel and Dakota to have won against the Sphinx. Two legionnaires collected an unconscious Dakota from the arena, presumably taking him to the infirmary.

Octavian couldn't stop himself from running into the arena.

"Are you alright Rachel Elizabeth Dare?" he asked the girl. Why had he done that? she was a Greek, she was the ememy. But, then again, she was only a mortal, neither Greek or roman, maybe she could join the Romans. Maybe she could join the leigon. Perhaps she could work with Octavian. But Octavian was getting ahead of himself.

"I'm fine" she said, but she wasn't, because she too lost consciousnesses and collapsed into Octavian's arms.

He picked her up behind her knees and her neck, and cursing himself all the way, took her to his room. He really hated it, but he didn't want to leave her side.

A/N: hope you liked it. the next chapter should be good, it'll involve some romance and a very funny Dakota. (isn't my bro just that awesome?) ;) Greek half bloods will also return to the story, i hope to post as soon as i can, but i have a percabeth fanfic almost ready to post so hold tight :)

Also please review, i need your reviews to give me energy to do these. i need them like an incubus needs dreams (beautiful creatures reference, sorry, but you should read that series its really great).

-Athena Ari Hawthorne 3