Conner led me down the hallway at sword point. He made a show of it too. Every few feet he would jab at me with the point of his sword while ordering me to "speed up or I'll treat you like all Graecus dogs should be!"

The female Centurion Alex gave him a surprised look when we rounded the corner to see the cells. "Took it easy on him?" She asked. "Quite a bit o' self control you've got then."

"Yeah, changed my mind." Conner grabbed the keys out of her grip and opened one of the cells. "In you go" he ordered with a swift wave of his blade.

He slammed the cell door shut once I was inside and motioned Alex to follow him out of the room. Saying he would return with the food he had been ordered to give us.

I jumped as I felt two arms wrap around me. I pushed back then lunged forward to avoid the unexpected grip.

"Easy, it's me" promised Ellie as I turned around. I let her hug me again and wrapped my arms around her. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Same, I didn't know what Octavian did to you."

"So that's what his name is!" She slowly let go of me and sat down on a metal bunk. "Good, I wanted to know his name when I kicked his rear end into the penalty box." She punched her open palm angrily.

I looked to the other side of the cell and noticed two people standing over Lexie on one of the other bunks.

"Austin's seeing to your sister. Now let me check that burn." She pointed to my arm.

"I'm alright" I lied. It actually stung worse than I thought was possible but I didn't want her to worry.

I moved past Ellie and towards my sister. A blond boy with short hair and a calming but slender face looked up from my sister at me. I knew he had to be Austin. "Are you her brother?" I nodded. "Good, she asked if you were alright."

"Is she?" I asked with a nod.

"She's got a concussion" answered Austin. "As for these cuts, I'll do what I can. My healing magic isn't very strong here." He turned away from me and returned to my sister.

"How long have you two been locked up in here?" I asked.

"Since Austin called camp" explained the girl to Austin's left. Her hair was long, curly and fiery red. She couldn't have been older than twelve and wore a torn, yellow "Avengers" shirt along with ripped blue jeans. "A week, I think."

"That's quite a long time to be locked in a cell" Ellie responded. "Wait, I don't recognise you, what's your name?"

"Aasha" she answered quickly.

"I found her in San Luis running from a flock of Stygian birds" answered Austin solemnly. "I wish Charlie and Ryan were here, healing is more their thing..."

Austin's Other quest-mates mustn't have made it through the week. Ellie rubbed Austin's back apologetically. "I'm sorry bud, they..." She didn't have the words to say. Instead, Austin shook her off and returned to focusing on Lexie again.

Conner returned alone a few minutes later with a stack of rock hard bread rolls on a tray and slid it under the cell door. He apologised for the poor quality food and mentioned that Reyna was convening the their senate for "our trial."

"I'll be back in an hour to bring you to the forum." He promised before leaving the room again.

"Hey Conner, can do me a favor?" I asked.

"We left our gear near the highway, can you get it for us?"

"It'll be waiting for you when you come home."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."