Gladiators

Chapter One

A/N: I would like to share this wonderful life-long philosophy of mine with all of you. Here it is- DON'T FREAKING LIKE IT? DON'T READ IT! I get the whole critiquing the author thing, I even encourage readers to correct a grammatical mistake or if something didn't make sense. But remember, this is FICTION! I won't always be 100% time-period accurate, and I won't always write what you want; but, you know what? I don't honestly want to deal with whiny readers that won't let me write my book how I want to write it. So please, spare me. I don't mean to come off as bitchy, but it's the truth.

*3rd Person's POV*

Perseus knows fear. He felt it when he was attacked by Romans. He felt fear when he was dragged to Rome and put into a little prison that is used to house the gladiators. He is now feeling fear as he waits to go into the Colosseum to have his first gladiator match- with the prince of Rome no less!

It's rumored that the prince is the son of Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods, and the god of lightning and thunder. Perseus, or Percy as his friends called him, didn't believe that because he didn't believe in the Roman gods. He's Greek, therefore he believes in Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and all of them. It's rumored among the Greeks that Percy himself is the son of the sea god, Poseidon. Percy himself didn't know who his father was. Just that his mother, Sally, had loved his father, whoever he might be, dearly.

Perseus stood in the little cage-like place that lead into the Colosseum when the gates opened, shaking like a leaf in his armor, his Celestial Bronze sword Anaklusmos- also known as Riptide- in his hand, a shield in his other hand, and a helmet on his head.

He heard of the brutality of the Romans- especially the prince- and of the gladiator fights. There's a slim-to-none chance that Percy will make it out of this place alive, and slim just left town. Percy began praying to Poseidon, his patron god, and he hoped that the sea god was listening. He was only seventeen, and he was probably about to die.

The gate opened, and the cheering was almost deafening. He walked into the ring cautiously, as if something was going to jump out and attack him. Which was entirely possible with the Romans. About in the middle of the stands was a box, obviously for the important people.

It was decorated with gold and glistened in the sun. A young woman sat in one of the thrones, her dark hair in a braid to the side, wrapped in a white and purple silk stola. She was a seasoned warrior and a best friend of the prince. She could see that the boy in the arena was the prince's type.

She was curious as to what was going to happen today. A blonde, young augur stood next to her throne that the prince insisted she have, glaring at the Greek. He, more so than anyone else, hated the Greeks. He would like to kill them all. But the prince doesn't want to kill them off- he wants them to submit to him.

Reyna, the prince's best friend, stood up from her little throne and stepped up to the edge of the box. The crowd hushed, waiting to hear what the woman said. "Warriors! Citizens! Women, children! We're gathered here to watch our esteemed Prince Jason, a seasoned warrior of the empire, battle this Greek warrior! State your name, Greek!" Shouted Reyna, her toga blowing slightly in the wind. "I am Perseus!" The Greek shouted, not showing his fear. He would be brave in the face of death.

"Bring out the prince!" Reyna yelled, and the crowd roared their approval. The gate on the other side of the arena from Percy opened, revealing the figure of the prince clad in armor, his Imperial Gold sword, Ivlivs, in his hand and a shield in the other. He had a helmet on, and he stepped confidently into the arena as the crowd cheered his name.

Percy was terrified. The guy was a bit taller than him, and obviously had more training in fighting. Percy had no training actual fighting, but this guy obviously knew how to fight. Percy noticed a scar above his lip, probably from a fight. The cheering that was obviously against him intimidated him beyond belief. Well, I'm going to die, Percy thought.