Chapter Seventeen
Triton was annoyed. He wanted so much to be with Annabeth yet after his attempt a few weeks ago, she would barely look at him. He couldn't take her by force either, knowing she had knife. What he could do however is forbid her from seeing other men. No man was to court the royal, not when Caesar had his eye on her.
He turned his attention back to the arena. He grinned. In but a few minutes a fight would ensue that would have the crowd on their feet. The four masked gladiators versus four of his most elite gladiators. Oh, what a good show they have today.
Percy rolled his eyes at the guard. He was having very pleasant dreams of a certain blonde before he was rudely awakened by the barking of the guard. He walked to the armory and picked up the helmet he had wore before and laced on the blue armor the guard had told them to wear. Apparently the Emperor wanted a matching team. He was about to pick out a sword before he was stopped by the voice of boy.
Percy turned to see a teenage boy carrying a package wrapped in cloth. "It's from Chiron," the boy said before hurriedly handing the package to Percy and running off down the hall.
Percy eyed the package curiously and began unwrapping it to reveal the sword Chiron had shown him in his room a few weeks ago. Riptide.
"What ya got there Perce?" Luke asked, walking up behind him.
Percy grinned and turned to show his friends the sword. "Ah you're lucky. Say, why does he get the awesome sword?" Nico complained.
Percy chuckled and turned to his masked friends. "I guess I'm just that kind of guy," he said, walking past them towards the gate.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nico exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
Luke laughed and wrapped his arm around Thalia's shoulders, following Percy to the gate. Nico rolled his eyes and followed.
From behind the gate, the four could hear the crowd roar as the announcer introduced them. Finally, the gate swung open and the four walked out, Percy confidently leading them, sword swinging at his side.
"People of Rome," the announcer paused dramatically. "Caesar is proud to present you with these fine gladiators and now would like to introduce their opponents. Chosen from his personal gladiator barracks, these four are the most elite gladiators in the Empire. Welcome, the elites!"
The cheered as four masked gladiators in golden armor walk out.
The four lined up with the elites and faced the Emperor. "We who are about to die salute you!"
Percy reluctantly saluted, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself.
"Gladiators, take your positions!" the announcer boomed.
The teams returned to their sides of the arena and turned and faced each other.
A horn sounded and the elites charged.
The four let out a roar and charged to meet them. Gladiator met elite and soon, there was four one on one battles. But that was a mistake. Nico struggled to fight against his much larger and much more experienced opponent. To his right, Percy could see Thalia swiftly dodging her opponents hacks and getting in her own attacks every now and then, but it wasn't enough. To his left, Percy saw Luke hacking speedily at his elite, the two very evenly matched. Meanwhile, Percy sliced and stabbed at his own opponent.
He stabbed at their knee, then parried a blow to his head before making a hack at their leg. He cut a deep gash in the elite's thigh and they fell to the ground where Percy finished him off. Percy quickly looked around to see his friends locked in battle, but knowing that they wouldn't be able to kill them by themselves. His resolve was solidified when he saw Nico crumple to the ground, clutching his leg.
He sprinted over to Nico and just barely blocked the strike that would have impaled his brother. He pushed off the ground and threw the gladiator off balance. "Come together!" he shouted.
His friends quickly came to his side and the three stood over Nico, protecting him. The three elites closed in on them. Then Percy's instincts kicked in. He threw his sword at the nearest gladiator, impaling him through the chest and followed his throw, ripping the weapon out of the elite and charging towards another elite. Luke and Thalia quickly tag teamed a bigger gladiator as Percy swiftly sliced at his opponent who just as quickly blocked his strikes.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Thalia cut a wound into her elite's side, but not before being hit in the thigh by the elite. Thalia fell and Luke leaped at the gladiator. Percy couldn't see what happened next as he blocked a stab to his side.
He moved to block a strike to the leg but was caught off guard by the feint and was knocked to the ground by smack in the head from the elite's hilt.
He quickly dodged the strike to his head and kicked at the elite's legs, knocking them back and giving Percy enough time to stand up. From his peripheral vision, he could see that Luke had finished off his gladiator and was tending to Thalia and Nico. He narrowed his eyes. He needed to finish this fight. He sliced at the elite with renewed vigor.
He feinted a stab to their side and came up for a slice to the shoulder and they barely blocked it. He kicked at their knee and they crumpled to the ground where Percy took his chance to swing at him. They blocked it and rolled away. Finally, Percy managed to knock the sword out of their hands, his own sword pointed at the elite's throat.
The arena was silent. The battle was won and all eyes were turned toward the Emperor. Percy stared up at royal box. The Emperor bore a cruel smile as he held out his hand, turning his thumb down.
Percy looked down at his opponent. He stared into the eyes of his opponent. He froze when he saw them. He threw away his sword. Tthe crowd sucked in a breath.
Triton's nostrils flared and his eyes widened in anger. "What is this?" he shouted.
Percy looked towards the Emperor, then dismissively looked back down at his opponent and surprised them all. He helped him up.
"Gladiator," the Emperor shouted. "What is the meaning of this."
Percy smiled and removed the helmet of the elite, revealing the shocked face of the youngest son of Emperor Marcus Poseidon.
The crowd gasped and erupted into chaos at the face of the young prince.
"SILENCE!" the announcer boomed and the crowd quieted. The Emperor disappeared from his place at the royal box and a gate opened in the arena. Out of it came the Praetorian Guard, forming a square around Percy and the gate as caesar walked out onto the sand.
The crowd was silent and watched as their emperor went to meet the mysterious gladiator.
"Drop your weapons," a guard said, and Riptide was taken from Percy.
The Emperor stopped in front of Percy. "Why did you not obey my command?" he asked, glaring at the gladiator.
"I would never kill one who is innocent," Percy responded.
"I am your Emperor. You will obey ME!" Triton shouted.
"You are not my Emperor," Percy said.
Triton froze. "What?" he dangerously whispered.
"You are not my Emperor," Percy repeated.
Triton's eyes widened in rage. "Who are you?" he demanded loudly.
Percy smirked and took off his helmet.
"My name is Perseus Romulus Jackson. Bastard son and faithful servant of the true emperor of Rome, Marcus Poseidon."
Author's Note: Ta-Da! The big reveal! Please don't kill me! Thanks for reading and all your reviews. You guys are great. Please review!