Disclaimer: For all you cavemen and cavewomen out there, OOGEY UGH UGH WALLEY DA! (which roughly translates to 'I don't own PJO or HoO) (I think).

Ch 9

NICO

After those scumbags threw us in cages, they loaded the cages in carriages, and drove the carriages away from the ocean. As Percy watched the ocean recede in the distance, I could see the sorrow in his eyes. I knew that the same sorrow was in my eyes, in Hazel's eyes, in everyone's eyes. The sea is home. And now we aren't in it.

The carriage pulled up to a large building. Luke's crew picked up the cages and carried us inside.

Luke spread his arms widely. "Welcome to my estate. Take them to the tank in my office."

The brutes carrying our cages nodded, then headed down a hallway, then another, and another. They finally opened a door to reveal a room with a desk and a large tank installed in the back wall, filled with water. In the water, there was a post with chains connected to it. One of the chains was taunt, connected to something in the back of the tank.

The brutes opened the tank's top. One of them yanked me out of the cage, and pressed a knife to my neck. The other brutes undid my friends' chains and gags, then locked a single manacle on their wrists, and dumped them in the tank. Then it was my turn

The minute the chains around my arms were free, I started punching.

One of the guys cursed. "We should've kept one of them hostage up here," he muttered.

Someone got a hold of my tail, and managed to pin it down. I flopped, still hitting. I felt fingers brush my scalp, a hand yank on my hair, and my head hit the floor. I lay there, dazed, for a moment, and was unceremoniously thrown into the tank.

"Nico!" was the first thing I heard. Hazel picked me up, cradling my head. "Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

I rubbed the bump on my head. "I'm fine, Hazel."

I looked around. The tank was filled with water, enchanted by the look on Percy's face, with a metal floor and three metal walls. The other wall was glass, facing into Luke's office. The only exit was the top of the tank: a door of iron bars that was padlocked shut. The manacles locked around our wrists were connected to the wooden post bolted into the floor.

"Hello?" A figure in the shadows moved slightly.

"Hey," Percy said softly. The chain clinked.

A mermaid with black hair came into view. Her purple tail shimmered as she approached us.

"Who are you?"

Percy held out his hand. "I'm Percy."

She accepted it. "Silena."

Piper gasped. "Silena?"

Silena turned. "Piper!"

The two embraced. "I thought I'd never see you again!"

Piper untangled herself. "What happened to you?"

"Wait," Percy said. "You two know each other?"

"Percy, this is Silena. My half-sister."

Percy's mouth formed an o.

"Hold on," I said. "How come we never met you?"

Silena sighed. "I only found out my mother was Aphrodite a year ago. Actually, my boyfriend, Charlie, found that out."

"Charlie?" Leo said, looking up. "Beckendorf?"

Silena nodded. "He was trying to find his dad, but he ended up finding my mom. I met Piper when I was trying to get a meeting with her, and I explained it all to her. She promised to meet me the next day and get me into see her mom."

"What happened?" Piper asked. "How did you get here?"

"That was the night after I talked to you. I was swimming home, and a ship picked me up. It delivered me to Luke, and he's kept me here ever since. Said I looked nice on his wall."

Percy thought about this. "How many merfolk have been here before us?"

Silena's eyes filled with tears. "Too many."

"What happened to them?" Hazel asked softly.

Silena shook her head. "Sold. To other humans. I've never seen them again."

I glanced at my sister, worry written on my face. "We have to get out of here."

Silena laughed a hollow laugh. "There isn't a way out. If you're lucky, you'll be sold to a sympathizer who will let you go. If not, you're stuck onshore for the rest of your life.

We fell silent at that grim observation.

Luke burst into his office, with Annabeth being dragged in behind him. "Set her down," he said, gesturing to the chair on one side of his desk. He sat on the other side of the desk.

Percy swam up to the tank's glass wall and started banging his tail against it, trying to get Annabeth's attention.

Annabeth glanced over at the noise. Her eyes conveyed a thousand messages in an instant, including Percy!, Stop, don't draw attention to yourself!, and I'll get you out, I promise.

"Annabeth, Annabeth, Annabeth," Luke mused. "What am I going to do with you."

"Luke, it was one time!" Annabeth said. "I brought you them, didn't I?"

Luke whirled around. "But you fought me!"

Annabeth sighed. "I know. And that was a mistake."

Their conversation/argument continued on, sounding a little odd through the glass. Percy was staring out of the aquarium helplessly. He growled as Luke reached over and caressed Annabeth's face.

"You're right, you know," he said, "you've never failed."

"Except this time, Luke. You've known me since forever. Luke, you raised me!"

Luke nodded. "That's true. And I have to say, I did an excellent job." He straightened up. "I've decided to give you a second chance. You know I don't give those out a lot. Use it wisely."

Annabeth stood. "Yes, Luke."

"I'll have men stock your ship as soon as possible. You are to be sailing by sun down."

Annabeth faltered. "S-sun down? Luke, that's too soon. My crew, they're tired! They need rest!"

Luke glared at her. "Then this is their punishment! Now go!"

Annabeth nodded, then left, without looking at us.

Luke sighed. "That girl better not sway her loyalties again."

Annabeth was a good liar. I just didn't know who she was lying to.

Wow! I couldn't resist working a little bit of Silena in there. Hope you liked it! Review! Please! But seriously guys, over a thousand (no exaggeration) views and like three reviews. REVIEW!

Question for you! Who should Percy, Nico, Piper, and Hazel be sold to? I'm having Leo go to Khione, but I don't know for the rest. They should be split up. Just suggest a PJO villain in a review please! I CAN'T WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER WITHOUT KNOWING THIS!