Chapter 2: Chapter 1: The Search

Chapter 1: The Search

Follow tracks and setting traps

Thalia shivered from the cold and shifted her body into a position that she hoped was more comfortable. Again though, a sharp rock prevented her from falling asleep. She felt rain dripping on her face and grunted. Thalia had hoped to be dry for the night in this cave she had discovered earlier this day, but apparently she had been wrong.

It had been a week since she had been banished from Rome and her titles had been removed from her. A week since she had had to survive in the woods with only a limited amount of food and clothes.

Figuring she wouldn't be able to sleep, Thalia stood up and sat against one of the walls. She pulled her sack toward her and grabbed an apple, the last piece of food from her former home that she had been able to take with her. After looking at it for a while, she took a bite out of it.

Since she hadn't had that much food with her in the first place, she was surprised that she'd lasted so long with the food. She was sure that her body-weight had decreased a lot, though. But with the food she got from the hunting, she couldn't complain much. Water, though, had been a problem at first. Now, she even knew a lake with sweet water.

All by all, she had grown accustomed to living in the woods. The only things that bothered her now, were her lack of sleep and the fact that she was alone all the time. Thalia took a last bite from her able, before throwing it away. There went her food-supply. May it rest in peace... She knew that she would have to hunt tomorrow, but now all she could think about was sleeping.

She leaned back on the rock and when she finally was in a comfortable position, she felt her eyelids dropping. Before she fell asleep, though, she heard a voice. "Is anyone here?"

Shocked by the sudden sound, Thalia opened her eyes. When she didn't feel her bow near her, she cursed behind her breath. Then, she looked at the intruder and frowned. It was too dark to see who was there, but somehow she had the feeling she knew that voice. "Who's there?", she asked warily.

Thalia heard the person gasp. "Thalia, is that you?"

"Who are you?", Thalia asked again, "how do you know me?"

"It is you!", the person ran toward her and hugged Thalia.

She frowned, but suddenly her eyes widened. She knew this person. "Zoë?" Thalia could feel Zoë nodding on her shoulder and she returned the hug. "How are you here?", she asked confused.

"I thought I could take shelter in this cave when I saw it. I didn't think I would actually find you here... Oh, Thals, you have no idea how glad I am now that I know that you're save", Zoë explained, before breaking the hug. Then, she frowned. "What happened to you?"

Thalia frowned too. "What do you mean?", she followed Zoë's gaze to her shoulder. Now, she realized what Zoë meant. "Oh, you mean this cut?"

The girl before her nodded and gritted her teeth. "If one of those boys did this... Oh, I swear...", she threatened, but Thalia held both of her hand up and chuckled.

"There's no need for that Zoë. It's just from when I was running too fast yesterday. I tripped and my shoulder was cut by a bough as I fell. No need to worry", Thalia laughed as she saw Zoë relaxing her shoulders at that, "Now, let's talk about what happened..." Oh, how glad she was that she wasn't alone anymore.

Zeus clenched his hands in frustration as he thought about the last couple of days. His men had been searching for Poseidon's spawn and his little group for days now, but still they came back with nothing. This morning though, he'd heard that they were heading east. Now, Zeus already had an idea about where they were heading: Greece.

Perseus Jackson. He had known of his existence since his birth and had been surprised once he'd heard the young Greek had survived the attack in Athene. The king had been searching for young Perseus for years now, not knowing his appearance. Why would he show up years later in Rome? And as a slave...

But he already knew the answer. Zeus knew the boy wanted his throne. After all, that would be the perfect payback for Zeus taking over Greece. The boy was a dangerous threat of this kingdom because of heritage, so he needed to be annihilated. If only his men would be able to find him and his group. "I don't want your excuses, Mars, I want you to find themnow", Zeus demanded.

Mars gritted his teeth. "As I told you, my lord, we are unable to. The area is too big; they could be anywhere."

"They are heading to Greece", Zeus told him, "take as many men as you like and search the area. They can't be far with so many people. Burn villages to the ground, for all I care, just find them and kill them."

Mars clenched his fists, but nodded. He turned to leave, but stopped in his tracks as Zeus called for him. "Don't hold information back, Mars. I know that your son is with them, but you can't help him. You know what happens to traitors", the king warned him.

The man nodded and walked out of the throne room, leaving Zeus behind. The king of Rome was just about to leave, when a voice stopped him. "Well, well... I didn't think you would be so desperate to find them, my lord."

Zeus turned to the blonde and scowled at him. "What are you doing here, Octavian?"

The man in question ignored him and walked toward the king. "Now, I wonder why you're so desperate", he continued, "sure, they'd destroyed some buildings, killed some soldiers and rescued some slaves, but that wouldn't make the great king so anxious to find him... You don't want to lose your power and someone in that group can make you lose it, am I wrong?"

Zeus narrowed his eyes at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Now, don't play dumb with me. My resources are extremely reliable, so I know that what I just said was true. But what keeps me thinking, though, is how everyone react will react when I tell them of your failures..."

"You're playing dangerous games here, Octavian. Do not test me..." Octavian just smirked and walked out of the throne room.

Zeus scolded himself for being so careless after he'd calmed down. He knew that Octavian was bluffing about the failure-part, trying to test him, and Zeus had gone straight into his trap.

[A/N]:Wow two chapters in one day!? Surprising huh? Thankfully I didn't haveto spend hours wrting today as I'm only re-posting Just Anny's work for the first 6-7 chapters.

Anyway my e-mail is loaded with like 10 e-mails in one hour from all the Reviews/Favourites/follows!

To Guest: I'm glad you like the speed in this adoption. I hope I continue The Hidden Prince just as Just Anny would.

Anyway Thank you for reading!

Review Favourite and Follow!

Next Chapter soon :)

Hagan Son of Nike