Chapter Four

Perseus awoke in an officer's chambers. Whose? Most likely Centurion Nakamura's. How did he know this? Because he was standing right in front him with what was that in his face? Oh yes, a sword, how could he not notice.

"I would appreciate if you would get your blade out of my face," Perseus said.

Nakamura scoffed. "And why would I do that?"

"That's enough Centurion," a voice said. The voice sounded familiar but Perseus couldn't identify it. Out of the corner of his eye Perseus could see a person decked in Roman armor but he couldn't see who it was without moving his head. Thanks to the blade that was about 2 centimeters from his nose, he quickly deemed that impractical.

"General Perseus," the man walked in front of his field of vision. Triton.

"I bring terrible news. My father has passed," the prince said.

Wonder how that happened, Perseus thought bitterly.

"Without a leader, Rome is vulnerable," Triton said. "As soon as I am crowned, I will unite Rome and carry on my father's legacy. My question for you Perseus is, will you join me?"

Perseus was confused. Why? Three ways actually. One, his head hurt like heck thanks to that smack with a sword earlier. Two, if his brother hated him so much then why was he asking him to join him? Three, if his brother wanted him to join him, then why was sitting tied to a chair with a sword in his face?

Perseus answered Triton with something intelligent. "Er, what?"

Triton smiled what Perseus guessed was supposed to be a "brotherly" smile but in his opinion was leaning more towards sadistic. "Perseus, I'm asking you to swear your loyalty to me."

Perseus knit his eyebrows. "I'm sorry Your Highness, but my loyalty is to Rome. The Emperor's last conversation with me clearly stated that Rome is to be a republic. Besides I have a family to return to. I am sorry. I cannot join you."

Triton's face morphed into a rage. "Then you shall die!" The prince turned to the centurion. "Nakamura, order your most loyal men to lead him into the woods, miles away from here, and have him executed for one is to know of this conversation or the events that will take place. Understood?"

Nakamura nodded obediently.

Triton made to walk out the door but stopped. "Oh and Perseus? Don't worry about being your return to your family. They will join you in the Underworld." He snapped his fingers and two guards who were standing by the door took hold of Perseus as the general screamed in outrage. A bag was thrown over his head and he felt the hilt of a sword hit him again.

His last thoughts before he drifted into unconsciousness were, I'm going to have a hell of a headache when I wake up.

Perseus was jolted awake by the movements of a horse. He lifted his head up and saw guards mounted on horses on either side of him. His hands were bound and he was right when he thought his head hurt like hell.

He laid his head on the neck of the horse and waited for the escort to reach its destination. That left him some time to think. What happened to the rest of the royal family? Could Triton have killed them? His eyes widened as he thought about the grey eyed girl who had told him about his father's death in the first place. Surely Triton hadn't found out what she had known? She was a smart girl, she wouldn't let herself be caught. Perseus smiled. Triton wouldn't kill his sister and Annabeth and Piper would have no reason to be killed.

But what about his family? Perseus' eyes widened in horror at the thought of his parents' and siblings' death. He knew he had to return home.

He looked up from his head rest on the horse at the slowing of the escort. They were in a small clearing in the woods. A guard helped him off his horse and forced him to kneel in front of the clearing. He felt the cold blade touch his skin and he saw the executioner ready himself. He had to think fast. He glanced around quickly and analyzed his surroundings. 5 guards, including the executioner and one Praetorian on horseback about 20 feet from the clearing. 3 of the guards beside the executioner had their swords sheathed. Idiots.

"At least give me a proper death, a soldier's death," Perseus said. He could feel the executioner glance at the guard in charge and he smiled inwardly when he felt the blade prickt the back of his neck. Wait for the right moment.

He felt the blade lift up and he threw his head back, hitting the guard in the face with a headbutt. The guard dropped his sword on contact and Perseus quickly snatched it up, holding it with two hands, his hands still bound. The guard who had had his sword unsheathed charge at him but Perseus quickly deflected it and parried, stabbing him in the side. He quickly advanced on the other three, two of which had gotten their blades free after much pulling.

Perseus ducked under a headshot and stabbed one guard in the gut and whirled around cutting the other's head off. He turned to the other guard who was frantically trying to pull out his sword.

"The frost, sometimes it makes the blade stick," Perseus said before slamming his sword down on the guard's head, leaving a dent. He sawed off the ropes that bound him and turned to see his first victim.

He walked over to the executioner who was still unconscious and stabbed him in the stomach before calling "Praetorian!"

The Praetorian whirled around on his horse. Perseus readied himself as the Praetorian charged at him full speed. He let out a cry as he stabbed at the man but was rewarded with a wounded arm. He clutched his arm as he watched the Praetorian slow to a stop, and fall.

What he didn't notice was that there had been another man on horseback. His eyes widened in shock as the man charged at him, only to be met by a spear in the head.

Perseus whirled around to see his lieutenant on horse, leading Blackjack.

"Luke?" Perseus asked in bewilderment.

"Geez Perce, can you at least try not to be killed when I'm not here?" Luke said with a snarky grin.

Percy narrowed his eyes and gestured to the 6 bodies that lay in the clearing.

Luke laughed. "Sometimes I forget how crazy you are General. 6 kills and you're only 23? Bravo!"

"I'm not a general anymore. Call my Percy," the former general said.

"Okay Per-cy," Luke said, dragging out the the last syllable.

Perseus shook his head and smiled. He quickly lost it when he remembered Triton's threat. "Luke, we have to go."

Luke raised an eyebrow, confused by the urgency in Perseus' voice. "Where to General?"

Perseus mounted his horse. "Home."