Chapter Twelve

Percy needed a bath. A nice Roman bath with multiple pools. Unfortunately, in a small village in the hot sun, the likelihood of getting his wish was no need to say, low.

After sparring with Luke for 2 hours, the green eyed boy was sweaty and tired. He envied his friends and the other slaves who got to go to bed while he was ordered to enter Chiron's office.

He climbed the stone steps to the slave holder's room and was greeted with sunlight from the setting western sun. The room was red as the day ended and the whole of the village was covered in a red glow.

"Ah, you're here."

Percy's head snapped over to the corner where Chiron sat, his head turned towards the sun. Percy raised a hand over his eyes as the sun sunk, making the light even brighter when it hit the horizon.

"You wanted me?"

Chiron turned his head towards Percy. "They call you the Spaniard don't they?"

Percy shrugged. "Well, it's the name they yell out at me from the crowd."

Chiron nodded and walked over to a wooden cabinet. "You have potential young man." He ran his hand across the smooth wooden surface. "You have talent, skill, intelligence."

Percy didn't really know how to react. Was he supposed to say thank you? Maybe this was one of those lectures old people give. He decided to go with the latter.

"Your friends, they also have talent. The girl, as fiesty as a tiger that young woman," Chiron mused.

"Sir, I didn't come here to be told the obvious," Percy said.

Chiron raised an eyebrow, surprised by his spunk. Then he laughed. "You've got indignance. That's good. You'll need that later on. You and your three friends."

"What do you mean?" Percy asked, confused.

"Rome loves feisty gladiators," Chiron said, smiling knowingly.

Percy stared at him. "So, we're going to Rome?"

Chiron raised an eyebrow, giving him an 'are you serious' look. "No, we're going to Slovakia."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Now what do you want me to do?"

Chiron leaned on the cabinet, staring out at the red sky. "25 years ago, I stood before the Emperor and was granted my freedom. After 5 years of fighting in the arena I had proven my worth. How did I do this you ask?"

The old man opened the cabinet, revealing a sword. He took out the sword and held it flat in the palms of his hands. "This, is Anaklusmos, it means Riptide. It is a Greek sword, made of celestial bronze, a metal used by the heroes of legend. I was presented this sword by the Emperor when he released me from slavery. I earned this sword by appealing to Rome."

Chiron stared into the green eyes of the Spaniard. "Rome is not the Emperor nor the Senate, it is the mob." He placed the sword in Percy's hands. "Win the crowd, win your freedom."

Jason was furious. Piper had told him what had happened to Annabeth. Piper had found her older sister sobbing on her bed and had demanded to be told what had happened. Piper immediately went to Jason, and now, he was going to have a little talk with his brother.

He threw open the doors of Triton's bedchamber. "Triton!"

The Emperor was lounging on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a faint sadistic smile on his lips. He sat up and smiled at the blonde. "Brother, what brings you here?"

Jason closed the doors behind him. "I know what you did to Annabeth and it disgust me."

The grin quickly fell from the Emperor's face. "You have no authority to talk to me that way."

"I'm your brother!"

"Yes, and I am Emperor."

Jason stalked toward the bed. "Father treated her like a daughter. She is like our sister. If not a sister then a friend and a woman. You will respect her."

Triton shook his head sadly at the younger boy. "Brother, you do not understand. Annabeth is more than a friend to me. I love her."

Jason grabbed the front of the Emperor's shirt. "Love, is not rape."

Triton frowned at Jason. "Unhand me brother," he said calmly.

"Not unless you promise not to touch her again," Jason replied determinedly.

Triton scowled. His eyes flickered to the closed doors. "And if I don't?"

"You don't want to know." Jason's eyes were full of fury, making the electric blue so vibrant it was like they glowed.

"Is that a threat?"

"Possibly."

Triton smiled, "You wouldn't hurt your brother would you?"

"Annabeth is practically my sister. I'm not losing another to you. I know what you did to Thalia. You banished her," Jason growled, tightening his grip on Triton's shirt.

"For the good of Rome," Triton said before throwing a punch at Jason.

The blonde stumbled back in surprise from the blow. He shouted and threw a punch, instantly breaking the Emperor's nose. Triton's nose immediately began bleeding and he cried out in pain, his eyes full of anger.

Jason charged again at the Emperor, prepared to throw another punch until Triton whipped out a knife from under his pillow. "Not a step closer brother dear!" he threatened.

Jason froze, eyeing the blade. Triton smiled sadistically, advancing slowly towards his brother.

"You thought you could command me? You could never command me. I was always your elder, your superior," Triton said. "You know why Father sent you to Greece? To keep you away from us, the heirs. Anyone could see Octavian would talk his way into trouble. Everyone knew I would be emperor. Who needed the useless child?" he taunted.

"You can't tell me what to do brother. If I want Annabeth then she will be mine," Triton continued, licking his lips at the thought of Annabeth. Jason eyed his brother with hatred and disgust at his words. "If I want her in my bed then she will be in my bed. I am ruler, I AM EMPEROR!" he shouted, lunging at Jason.

Jason quickly sidestepped and picked up a chair, ready to defend himself. Triton charged at him again, knife raised but missed Jason and ended up smashing into the doors. The Emperor found himself on the ground in the corridor. He smiled, glancing at Jason who still held a chair in the corner of his eye. "Guards!"

Guards quickly ran from around the corners and helped the Emperor up while others bound Jason's hands. Triton pointed his finger at the struggling blonde. "He is to be punished for treason against the crown. Take him to the dungeons."

Jason glared at Triton as he was led away.

Author's Note: I'm starting to notice a pattern in how Triton gets rid of people. Oh well. Thanks for reading and to those who have reviewed. Please review, I need feedback! I am a lowly author and bow before my readers' opinions!