Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

Truth

"Sorry miss Sphinx! She'll calm down in a second!" Gwen pleaded in a sweet voice.

"HIJA DEL LA PUTA MADRE! I'll KILL YOU! PUT HIM DOWN NOW!"I shouted at the top of my lungs. The entire group had to hold me back, including Tyson. Nico swung helplessly on his shoulder.

Gwen smiled pleasantly while my elbow pushed against her cheek. "Just a moment, Miss Sphinx."

"Calm down!" Gwen hissed at me. "If you piss her off even more, she'll hurt him. Please!"

I gritted my teeth and tried to control my breathing. Despite my comments, the Sphinx seemed to enjoy my outburst. The crowed heckled and booed me.

Jason groaned and tried to raise his head. His hair had grown since the last time I seen him, reminding me of the first time we met. He had bruises and cuts all over his face.

He opened his eyes.

"Jason!" I cried out. "Jason it's me! Your going to be okay!"

Jason tried to focus on me, but he had a hard time just holding his head up. "Reyna? Is that you?"

Sphinx laughed. "OH HOW ADORABLE. WILL OUR FOUL MOUTH HEROES BE ABLE TO SAVE THEIR BELOVED FRIEND? OR WILL THEY FAIL MISERABLY?"

"Ask your stupid riddles!" I shouted. "Let's get this over with!"

The Sphinx smiled gleefully. "OH, YOU ROMANS CAN BE SO BRASH."

"A baby!" Gwen shouted. "That's the answer to your riddle , right?"

"No I think your miss remembering the riddle. It's a old man." Grover corrected.

"It's man!" I shouted. "He walks on four legs in the morning, like a baby, two legs in the afternoon, like an adult and three legs in the evening, like an old man with a cane. That's the riddle! And there's your answer. Now put him down, NOW!"

The crowd and Sphinx laughed hysterically. "OH, HONEY. YES THAT WAS A RIDDLE I USED TO ASK, BUT DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD USE IT AGAIN? ESPECIALLY ON A PRIME STREAMING SERVICE LIKE APOLLO+. NO, NO, NO. AUDIENCE CRAVE ACTION AND DRAMA!"

Bronk pulled his finger out of his ear. "She really needs to turn that intercom down."

Sphinx pulled another lever and Jason lurched backwards towards her direct. A loud clinking noise echoed above us as Jason was guided back to Sphinx. Jason's feet hung behind her while she fiddled with her controls.

"NOW! PER THE RULES OF THE GAME, WE NEED TO SPLIT YOUR GROUP INTO TEAMS OF TWO." Sphinx pressed some buttons and suddenly the gates to our right opened dramatically. "AND IF YOU DON'T BREAK INTO THE APPROPRIATE TEAMS BEFORE STARTING THE GAME. MY DEAR COUSINS WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU."

Two prides of lions exited the gates led by two large male lions. Each pride had eight lions, sixteen in total.

"Uh, what are our teams?" Bronk whimpered.

"THATS A PART OF THE RIDDLE!" Sphinx answered. "AND......WAIT. THAT BOY HELD BY THAT CYCLOPS. HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WITH YOU."

Nico groaned in Tyson's arms. Grover looked up at Sphinx. "Uh, he's incapacitated. Can he just stay with us? Please."

Percy raised his sword, eyeing the lions that stalked us. "Nico stays with us."

Sphinx considered this. The monsters in the crowd cheered, no doubt excited that another demigod would be tortured for their entertainment.

"I'll ALLOW IT. NOW ARE OUR CONTESTANTS READY?" Sphinx asked us.

"Bronk! Give Tyson a rope. Tyson strap Nico to your back. We need you!" I ordered.