I'm very proud of this chapter so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's also the longest chapter so far. Also, I didn't edit it because I'm very, very busy with school stuff and I took my time to write this because I didn't want to do my homework and study... heh :P

Chapter 8

Three months later the two demigods found each other near San Francisco and one jump away from Roman borderline. There was an agreement, an agreement both sides Roman and Greek had made after the Giant war to preserve piece between them. This agreement was witnessed and led by the Olympians, which meant that breaking it was suicidal, especially if you entered Roman territory without permission.

Nico would never say this in front of the Romans but Greeks were more relaxed and forgiving. He knew that if they crossed the Romans land without permission and they were caught while doing it, Percy and he would probably be locked into a dungeon. But this thought didn't stop him from suggesting Percy to cross the territory.

The son of Poseidon shook his head. "No. You know it's forbidden", he said, putting his backpack on the ground and stretching his back.
"It's a shortcut. ", Nico reasoned. "Besides, we'll be through before they even notice we're here!"
He still wasn't convinced. "You know the agreement. And you know the Romans take rules very seriously. Everyone who crosses their land without notice will be punished."
"They know us!", the son of Hades replied, waving aside his friend's comment. "They're not going to punish us"
"They will. If they start making exceptions they'll have to make them for everybody. That's not how it's supposed to work"
The younger one crossed his arms. "Since when do you care about rules?"
Percy crossed his arms as well. "Since today"
Nico glared at him. "It's a short cut."

Percy stared back at his friend and frowned. It was true what he was saying and he agreed to go through Roman territory even though his gut was telling him to go the other way. He let out a breath and swung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Fine", he said. "Let's go"

Nico clenched his jaw. He was beyond furious now. Adding frustration and annoyance for failing to escape from this and you got a fuming, dangerous son of Hades, who was about to go off like a bomb.

Fuck! Dammit!, Nico thought bitterly. He would've banged his head against the table if he hadn't been tied up to the chair.

The Romans had improved their questioning methods since the giant war. Nico remembered this room to be old fashioned, the paint had been peeling off, and the room had been lit by candles. It was probably the only thing the Romans didn't like to show to barbarians (aka Greeks). But that belonged to the past now.

The room was painted white and a small light bulb hanged from the roof that was also white. The white door could only be opened by entering a password and cameras were everywhere. Nico wouldn't have been surprised if there if was a camera under his chair.

The only thing that wasn't white was the metallic table and the chair. Nico remembered something a ghost had told him a while ago about interrogation methods he'd used before he'd died. He'd mentioned with a gruesome grin that the only reason for using metallic tables and chairs was because it was easier to clean them. He'd left it at that, but Nico wondered how many people had lost blood in this room. And if any of them had gotten out alive.

He pulled at the handcuffs, wincing as the cool piece cut his skin. He tried to take deep breaths to calm his nerves and think faster. After a few minutes still nothing. Nico groaned at the situation. It was clear now (as if it hadn't been clear before) that the only way out was through that door.

He wondered where Percy was and if he was okay. He also wondered if the Romans recognized him. It had been a while since they've last seen their former praetor and Percy had aged a lot since that last meeting.
He began to imagine all sorts of scenarios. He imagined how they took Percy to an isolated room, one like Nico's, and that they had him also waiting in uncertainty of Nico's "wellbeing". Then he imagined how the Romans opened the white door and began to ask him questions and showing off the new instruments of torture they had.

As if on cue, the door opened and a girl – woman – Roman stepped in. Her hair was brown and she was very well trained. She walked like true Roman – tall, proud and unbeatable. Also she wasn't wearing a toga or any old-fashioned clothes of the old empire, thinking rightly that Nico wouldn't take her serious if she wore that. She also carried her knife that was attached to her belt.

Nico didn't flinch, blinked or even remotely acknowledged her as he sat down in front of him and for a while neither of them spoke, staring at each other in the eye. And then the interrogator broke the silence.

"I'm Julia, daughter of Bellona". She looked at him and continued as she noticed Nico didn't have any intention to talk to her. "We know who you are and therefore we are quiet surprised to see that a Greek demigod-" ,she emphasized the word as if 'Greek' and 'demigod' didn't match, "- would be so stupid to invade our camp"

Again, no answer came from Nico.

"You know of the agreement Greeks and Romans made after the war, right? The agreement to keep peace between the two sides?"

Nico eyed at her with his piercing black eyes, but he didn't know her enough to be able to read her intentions from hers. It was also a threat, a warning for that girl to be careful.

Julia smiled condescendingly as she caught his attention. She could proceed with the interrogation.

"This man you're with -", she eyed him carefully, analyzing his reaction. "Isn't he too old to be around you?"

Nico closed his eyes for a second before opening them again and staring at this woman coldly. She noticed this and knew immediately that she'd stepped into a soft topic. She also knew how to use this against him and for her advantage.

"Maybe you're trying to replace your father with him", she mused. "Did you find him on the streets begging for money?". She raised her eyebrows. "I bet he has no idea what kind of hero you are"

Nico leaned back as far as it was possible in his tied-up-state and smiled an almost invisible smile. Julia saw that and realized that she had made a mistake. It was true. By saying this Julia had indirectly told him that the Romans had no idea that the "old" man was actually the famous Percy Jackson.

The two of them, the interrogator and the one being interrogated, felt uncomfortable and fell in silence. But Julia collected herself after a few short moments and she continued as if nothing happened.

"We are questioning your friend right now, you know? And you know that the older you get the easier you lose your nerves". She grimaced as if the thought made her uncomfortable. Nico would have laughed at this if the situation had allowed it, but right now it would have been foolish. Percy was too loyal to say anything.

"It would be sad if we'd be forced to use violence to get to the information we're looking for, Nico.". She laid a hand on to the table and begged him with her eyes. But the act couldn't fool Nico, who had seen much and talked to the dead many times. And who could give better council than the dead?

"You're not going to fool me.", he said. "I don't know what you want from me but I guess you're trying to distract yourself from something."

Julia leaned back and raised an eyebrow. "So you did enter our territory-"
Nico bit back a groan; he was growing impatient. "We were just passing by, dammit"
"Even though you're aware of the agreement."
"A I said, we were just passing by-"
"Well, diAngelo, the rules say that every demigod, who want to cross through our territory has to ask for permission.", she said loudly and hit the table with her fist. "These are the rules- our rules and as long as you're in our territory we expect you to follow them!"
"Life's not about rules!", Nico retorted, also raising his voice.
"I'm sorry but you'll have to stay here until further notice. These are our rules and as long as you're in our territory we expect you to"
" It was my idea, dammit!", shouted Nico furiously. "I talked him into it!"

The room grew quiet and Nico leaned back, breathing hard. His fingers tingled as he gripped the handcuffs. He had to get out of here.

Julia looked at him closely. Her face showed no emotion and after a while she decided to risk it and ask directly.

"Nico…"
Nico looked up, his eyes showing every emotion inside him. They seemed to be telling Julia to stop asking. His face was pale as the walls and stiff as a rock. The tingling in his finger became stronger.
"Please let us go."
"Now Nico, why should I do that?". She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but the way you tried to escape before, makes me believe that you're intentions are not simply to 'cross our land'". She stared at him coldly.
"If you're asking me to tell you why we stepped into your land, my answer is…". He looked at her mockingly. "It was a short-cut". He smiled inwardly as her eyes narrowed in anger.
"You're not in the position to make jokes, diAngelo. Your Greek brothers won't be able to help you. You broke the agreement", she said with disdain. "What would your sisters think?"
Nico froze and looked up, his gaze hard and hateful. It was telling her to stop before it was too late. But the daughter of Bellona leaned in closer.
"How lonely it must be to wake up every morning to realize that everyone has left you. Tell me, is that you want to repay Bianca? After all she's done for you?"
Hazel had told someone about Bianca. That was the only way this woman could know about his dead sister.
"And what about you little sister Hazel, huh?". Her voice was like a hiss of a snake. "You're putting her in a dangerous position, Nico. She will be forced to choose between you… and her people. Is that what you want?"
Nico didn't answer. He was breathing heavily, failing to calm down and repress his fury.
Julia chuckled. "I bet that's the reason why Bianca left you for the hunt. It was not selfishness. It was tiredness. She didn't want to put up with you anymore. She found something-"

And the bomb went off. Within a second Nico broke off from the handcuffs and hit the table with his hands and shouted: "Don't talk about Bianca!".

Julia stared at him in shock and stood up as well. The son of Hades was furious he aimed to punch her in the face, but she blocked his fist and then the other, before Nico skillfully grabbed the dagger hanging on the side and moved behind her, the deadly knife at her throat.

"You shouldn't have said that", he hissed into her ear. "You forced me to hurt you. You- it's all your fault… you- you deserved it". Julia wriggled, her hands grabbing his arms and pulling at them. But Nico's grip was strong. "A wrong move, girl, and you're dead!" . The Roman whimpered and continued to struggle. The alarm went off, shrilling loudly and making Nico more nervous than he already was.

"You are making me do this. I didn't want to hurt you- or anybody. Oh why oh why didn't you let us go? But- but you… you just had to talk, huh?" Nico saw through the corner of his eyes how a camera moved and then it hit him. The cameras had arrows installed in them. "Tell them to not shoot.", he whispered into her ear and pressed the knife harder against her throat. Julia yelped.
"DON'T SHOOT!", she yelled. The cameras stopped moving and the door opened.

Nico didn't hesitate. He shoved Julia against the wall, knocking her out and ran through the door. By now the alarm had gone off in the hallways and the noise was choking his senses. He had to get to Percy and get the hell out of there.

He would have never found Percy if he hadn't heard loud noise coming from one of the rooms. The door opened and Percy walked out, his face serious. Even without powers Percy was one of the most dangerous demigods alive.

They exchanged a glance and stormed down the hall. They were confronted with Romans and they fought them all, Percy always stopping to see if the defeated were still breathing. And among all this they entered a room where their things were being held. But eventually they managed to get out of the building.

Outside they were met by turmoil. Everyone was running around, gathering to form ranks and find the intruders. This was their chance to escape and they took it. Percy and Nico ran through the crowd, fighting off Romans after Romans and, as they approached the border and the river Tigris, the more Romans were after them. And before the two Greeks knew it, they were encircled by roman soldiers. Nico and Percy looked around desperately, but there was no way out. The Romans, growling with thirst for vengeance, were getting closer to them. Percy put a hand on his friend's shoulder and nodded towards the river. Nico looked at him with wide eyes, as if saying 'are you sure?'. The son of Poseidon nodded determinately.

"I just need a little more time!", he yelled over the noise of marching Romans.
Nico grinned, the first time since they were caught. It was a mischievous grin. "No problem"

He made a few steps and grabbed something from an inside pocket of his jacket and held it into the air. It worked because a Roman pointed at the round, black thing the son of Hades was holding and screamed: "GRANADE!"
The marching soldiers stopped into their tracks. Nico grinned, but as he saw his sister stepping forward with her hands in the air, the grin vanished.

What was Hazel doing here?

Hazel had grown since he'd last seen her. She was more beautiful and her eyes sparkled like gold.

"Nico", she said slowly. "Put the grenade down, please. You- you're going to kill us all"
Nico glanced at Percy, who had his eyes closed in concentration. He couldn't fail him now. "I-I… I'm doing it Hazel!", he yelled. "I'm setting this bomb off if you don't let us go now!"
Hazel made another step. "Please, Nico", she said. "Put it down. We-we can talk about this. We.. we can help you find whatever you are trying to find"
"Ha! We tried talking to you!", he yelled, his hands shaking. "But instead we were locked up and interrogated like terrorists!"
"I-I know, Nico. I'm sorry, but-"

Percy groaned and tumbled back. Nico knew that this happened every time he conjured his power, but now was really not the time! Percy's knees buckled and would have crumbled to the floor if Nico hadn't caught him with his arm.

"Dammit, not now Percy!", he said quietly and glanced at the Romans. Hazel was watching the older man, whom she didn't recognize, closely and suddenly it dawned on her. Her eyes widened and her hand went up to her mouth.
"Oh my- Percy?", she whispered shocked.

Nico knew it was time to go and so did Percy. The Romans had just gotten the order to attack when the river exploded and the two outlaws sprang into the storming water.

The water was cold and brutal. Nico was swirled around by the merciless waves. He had no idea where up and down, where left or right was. He was only concentrating to breathe every time he got to the surface. He assumed that the only reason the water hadn't killed him was because Percy was more or less keeping it under control.

He heard a roar and Nico knew it came from the river. Percy's strength had left him and now they were at the mercy of the brutal river. Nico yelped, swallowing water, as the river pulled him down. He was lost, moving his arms and legs desperately to get back to the surface. Everything was blurry. He was drowning. The water kept swirling him around like a cowboy does with a rope, and Nico knew it was hopeless. The river obeyed no one.

And then something gripped him by the collar and pulled him up. Nico gasped for air, moving his arms to keep himself up, but a voice – a familiar voice – shouted: "Hold still!" and he stopped fighting against the water.

"Raise your arms!", Percy shouted again.

Nico raised his arms, spitting out water and grasping for something to hold on to, coughing and feeling more exhausted as seconds passed. And then he crashed against something hard. The hit was so hard that it took Nico's breath away. He lowered his arms and put them around this large… tree. His arms were shaking and a voice in his head told him to lift himself up and lay on the trunk to escape the water. He did so and he crawled along the trunk until he fell. He opened his heavy eyes and he almost cried as he saw that he was lying on the earth. He crawled slowly, very slowly, away from the untamable river until his arms buckled and he fell again.

Nico was exhausted. His body felt numb, so did his brain. He thought about Percy and that he had to stand up to look for him, but his eyes closed and he lost consciousness.

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