The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

The Show Must Go On

     Calypso sat beside her husband as they watched Luke's show unfurl. He had married a patrician lady named Chiara yesterday and he now sat in the royal box beside her. The Colosseum was packed full of people eager to see the execution of the rebel leaders. Luke had promised his people a show they wouldn't forget.

     "Let the games begin!" Luke said, his voice carrying through the Colosseum.

      The Colosseum was filled with the rebel leaders. Some of them were women and Calypso was shocked to see three babies among the prisoners to be executed. She saw Leo tense beside her and she suspected that, like her, he was thinking of Sammy who Calypso was cradling.

    Calypso rose, but Leo grasped her hand and forced her to sit back down. He pointed to where two of Luke's guards were bearing down on two plebeians who were trying to leave the Colosseum. She swallowed, but was left with a bitter taste in her mouth. She stroked Sammy's hair to calm herself down.

    "Kill them!" a spectator shouted.

    "Let them suffer!" another shouted.

    "Let their blood soak the ground!" another yelled.

    Calypso shuddered and continued to stroke her son's hair. Why did this have to be so public? In Rome, death had always been a sport, but most gladiators survived for several years. Some of them became famous, beloved by the public, and a few were even freed. It was true that most gladiators were condemned criminals and traitors were the worst of the bunch, but these rebels wouldn't see another dawn. They had no chance whatsoever.

   The fight began. Luke had filled the Colosseum with exotic animals. There were bears, an armored elephant, lions, snakes, and leopards. Calypso watched as one of the rebels swung their sword and lopped the head off of a snake. The man was tall and burly with dark hair and a serious expression on his face. He was the tallest and most intimidating man in the arena and Calypso watched as he surveyed the arena. His eyes often fell upon a woman with cinnamon-colored hair who was holding one of the babies. A brunette girl beside her was carrying another. The former empress, Annabeth, clutched Lucius to her chest; she was standing beside a dark-haired man who was slighter than the first.

      The elephant stood off and watched as the other animals battled the rebels. The rebels were holding up well. A tall blonde man ended up with nasty scratches on his arm after fighting a leopard and Hera twisted her leg, but none of the rebels were dead after an hour. The animals became more vicious after this point and as more rebels were injured, the burly, dark-haired one that Calypso had seen before shouted something and approached the elephant.

     He gently caressed the elephant's trunk and spoke with it. The elephant picked him up by the trunk and the man rode on his back as the elephant charged at the other animals. The leopards and lions jumped out of the way and the rebels seized the chance. Within half an hour, all of the animals but the elephant were dead. The elephant raised its trunk and trumpeted in triumph.

     "Flood the Colosseum!" Luke shouted once the elephant quieted down. "A navy battle will commence."