Chapter Eighteen

Percy stood, his heart pounding as he waited for the Emperor's verdict. What he didn't expect was the crowd's reaction. It started quiet, a whisper, but slowly it grew, his name chanted upon the lips of the crowd. Soon, it was clear as the sun that provided a natural spotlight on him. "Perseus! Perseus! Perseus!"

He stared into the eyes of Triton, daring him to challenge the crowd. Caesar's eye twitched, and finally, he gave in. He walked away, the Praetorian Guard following him. Percy grinned. He turned and what he saw made him laugh. Jason, Thalia, Luke, and Nico gaped at him. Thalia was the first to react. "BASTARD SON OF EMPEROR MARCUS POSEIDON?!"

The spiky haired girl attempted to get up, but Luke made her lay back down. She wouldn't relax so he was forced to scoop her up bridal style and carry her to Percy where she promptly slapped the green eyed boy. "You've been my brother this whole time and you didn't think to tell me?!"

Percy smiled and rubbed his cheek where she had slapped him. "Didn't think it was important at the time."

Thalia's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "DIDN'T THINK IT WAS IMPOR-" Luke clamped a hand over the screaming girls mouth and she attempted to punch him. Luckily, Percy intercepted her punch and ended up get a nice hit to the arm. Only when Thalia calmed down did Luke remove his hand from her mouth. Still breathing heavily, Thalia glared at Percy. "Seriously Perce? You've been my brother this whole time and you didn't tell me?"

Jason was still standing in shock, clutching his leg wound. Nico had managed to limp over to them and was chuckling lightly at his friend's, er, half-sister's outburst.

"How about we talk about this after we've got you three fixed up," Percy suggested.

The four agreed and followed Percy through the gate to the gladiator confines. Nico, Thalia, and Jason were stitched up and were now exhausted, as was Percy and Luke. Since Jason didn't have a cell in the regular gladiator confines, the five convinced the guards to let him bunk with Percy.

"So Percy, how you been?" Jason asked once they were seated on their cots in their cell.

Percy raised an eyebrow. Then again, what do you say to your long lost half-brother who could have killed you that day?

"Fine, how's the knee holding up?" Percy replied.

"Uh, okay I guess. You know, it's kind of weird having a brother who's not a lunatic or a jerk, or jerk of a lunatic," Jason rambled.

Percy chuckled. "Yeah, well, you got two of us now. Nico's our brother too, gods help us," he said, muttering the end. The two laughed.

Jason layed down on his cot and yawned. "Ah well, good night Perce."

"Sweet dreams Jace."

"Don't let the bedbugs bite."

"Too late."

The brothers chuckled before drifting off to a deep, peaceful sleep.

Annabeth stared up at her bedroom ceiling. The masked gladiator was Percy, the green eyed general that had comforted her that night so many weeks ago. It made sense, the gallantry and daring he had displayed during his first fight, the skill and vigor as well as justice he presented today. Annabeth had to accept the facts. She was attracted to the former general.

Perhaps not at first but she couldn't ignore all the thoughts of him that had filled her head for the past few months. Maybe it truly began when he had held her in his arms that night. Strange, she hadn't been one to believe in love at first sight. She was a very logical person, like her mother. There was always a plan to everything, including love. Apparently, not this time.

She was most likely not the first to fall for the raven haired boy. His eyes could make any maiden melt on the inside. His muscles were perfectly toned. His hair was windswept, his lips were-

Annabeth shook her head. She shouldn't think of such things.

But is it really so bad to be in love?

This is not love. It's hormones.

Looovee.

Think about it logically, would you ever be able to be with him? He's a gladiator hated by the Emperor most likely, especially after his public humiliation of the emperor. You are the girl the Emperor wants to have in bed. He would never allow you to visit him.

Maybe if you did so in secret?

Now there's a thought. What if she visited Percy in secret? But what if he didn't like her?

Annabeth rubbed her forehead, her mind taxed. She drifted off to sleep, thoughts of a certain raven haired boy with sea green eyes soon invading her dreams.

Triton paced the floor of his bedchambers. Perseus is alive. Perseus is alive. It became a mantra, repeating over and over in his head.

How can he be alive? Nakamura failed me.

He screamed in frustration, kicking a chair across the room. He stood in the middle of the room, panting.

What was he to do? He couldn't just kill him or he would be a martyr. Perseus, a man who defied an empire. He was angry. Had Perseus killed Jason he could have "killed two birds with one stone" as they say.

Perseus had already proven himself in the arena. He needed to find an opponent Perseus couldn't beat. Perseus was to be Hector, and the gladiator selected, Achilles.

Author's Note: Soo...Good, bad, what? Thanks to those who have reviewed and thanks to all of you for reading. Please review, I appreciate all of your opinions! Thanks again!