Chapter Nineteen

"Presenting the Green-Eyed Spaniard, Perseus!" the announcer boomed.

The crowd cheered as the daring gladiator strode into the arena out of the shadows that fell on the gate. Percy didn't care though. To him, this was just another battle. After his big reveal a week ago, he had been scheduled to fight in many battles. Suffice to say, the crowd loved him.

Percy smirked. This was what Chiron had wanted. Win the crowd, he had said.

"The Emperor has provided an impressive battle today. Opposing the Spaniard we have a seasoned veteran who has come out of retirement to do the Emperor's bidding. A gladiator who has never been defeated in his whole career. Presenting, Invictus!"

A tall man in a helmet that hid his face walked out into the arena. His broad shoulder were bare and covered in battle scars. He stopped in front of the royal box and saluted, Percy standing motionless as his opponent bowed to caesar.

Invictus turned to face the green eyed boy. "Let us begin," he said before charging at Percy.

Percy quickly sidestepped and whirled around to stab the gladiator in the back but was surprised to see that Invictus had blocked his strike. Invictus went on the offensive, slashing and hacking with such power that Percy's hands vibrated every time he would block a strike. Finally, Percy attempted to step inside the gladiator's guard, twisting his sword under Invictus' sword to disarm him. Unluckily for him, Invictus recognized the move punched Percy with his other hand before the raven haired boy had managed to disarm him.

Percy stumbled back, clutching his mouth with one hand as blood leaked out of his lips. With one hand, he struck at the older man who quickly parried and kicked Percy away. A few yards away, up in his box, Triton was smiling as he saw his enemy get beaten. He knew he had chosen well with Invictus.

Percy was knocked to the ground, his head pounding as he stared up at the older gladiator. Invictus raised his sword and was about to plunge it through Percy's stomach when Percy quickly rolled away and kicked his legs out from under him. Percy stood up, ready to lunge but immediately had a head rush from standing up too quickly. Unfortunately this gave Invictus enough time to recover and knock him in the head with the hilt of his sword.

Percy's head swirled and dots danced in front of his vision. He was dizzy from all the hits he was getting but quickly tried to balance himself. One moment of unawareness meant death. His vision cleared quickly enough to see a sword coming at his face. His eyes widened and he ducked, taking it as a chance to stab at Invictus' stomach. Invictus turned just enough however to take the blow at his side. He moved away from Percy holding a hand to his wound. Percy breathed heavily, advancing slowly on the gladiator. Then he charged and made a move to chop at his side before knocking Invictus in the head with the hilt of his sword.

The gladiator crumpled to the ground from the power put in the blow. The crowd cheered, put in a frenzy by the defeat of their veteran and the victory of their rebel. Percy held his sword at Invictus' throat and lifted his head to the emperor's box.

Annabeth stared down at the green eyed boy. His face was red from fighting and his black hair plastered to his face in sweat. He stood confidently, watching Triton point his thumb down, until she saw him look back down on the gladiator. Like the battle with Jason, Percy lifted the gladiator's helmet mask, believing he deserved that much respect to let his face be known.

Invictus' face was bloody, most of the blood coming from his mouth, but his eyes were resolved. If the Emperor wanted him dead so be it. But Percy would have none of that. This man had fought with skill and honor. Like before, he threw away his sword. The crowd again cheered and a voice cried out above the others. "Perseus, Perseus the merciful!"

Percy smiled and laughed at Triton's reddening face. He was about to leave when he caught sight of a bundle of blonde curls. He focused his vision on the smiling blonde and grinned a lopsided grin, and winked before leaving the arena.

He winked. He frickin' winked. Maybe she was overthinking this. Maybe Percy was being friendly or goofy or something. Was it flirting?

Annabeth was pacing in her room. There was no doubt that she like the guy and now she practically wanted to kill him for making this so hard. How the heck was she supposed to figure out whether he liked her or not? But what if he didn't? Her grey eyes swirled in confusion, her head hurting from thinking about her predicament so much. But it wasn't like she could just waltz up to him and ask 'Hey, Percy, long time no see. I was wondering if you liked me since you winked at me today and I kinda like you back so how about we make out in the back'?

Annabeth gagged at the thought. Piper was better at love than she was. Maybe she could ask her, but how sad would that be? A 23 year old royal on the right hand of caesar asking her little 15 year old sister for romantic advice. And say she did decide to go. How would she get there? It was 10 at night. Her walking through the palace to the gates would arouse suspicion and she needed everything but that.

Annabeth moaned and collapsed on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She seemed to be doing that a lot these days, especially after meeting Percy. Finally she had had enough. She was Annabeth Chase, daughter of Minerva for crying out loud! She wasn't going to mope over a boy. If anything she was going to plan. Problem? She wants to see Percy and see if he likes her. Plan? Annabeth contemplated a way to see Percy. Then it hit her. She nearly smacked herself in the head. She could take the secret passages, the corridors in the palace that led from each bedroom through the palace or to the outside. She would simply take a passage to a door that led to the gladiator confines.

She shook her head and smiled at her ignorance. She quickly pulled on her dark cloak and began feeling the bricks of her wall. No need to be identified if seen. As she felt along the wall, she looked for a depression or vertical crack and finally found one next to her bookcase. She smiled and pushed, the bricks swinging open to reveal a dark passage with torches along the walls. She smirked and plunged into the dark corridor.

Author's Note: Yeah, I didn't know the gladiator's name or if he had one so I named him Invictus which translates from Latin to English as Invincible. The passages thing is a referance to the palace of Versailles which has a bunch of hidden passages that helped the French royals escape during the French Revolution. (don't know which one). Thanks for reading and reviewing! Please review guys!