The Golden Amulet (PJO, Sequel to The Silver Ring)

Chapter 18

One by one, as he passed their rows, soldiers glanced at him with smirks on their faces.

"Nice plan," he praised Leon.

"What?"

"You're getting us closer to the stage, so we can ambush the Generals and catch them off guard along with Eon."

There was a pause, as though Leon didn't know how to respond. "Um . . . no. You're getting captured for real."

"Nobody can hear us. You don't have to act as if you're the bad guy."

"But . . . I am the bad guy. I have a sword to your neck"—as if to demonstrate, he applied more pressure to the weapon, almost drawing blood—"and I'm not holding back. It's fairly straightforward. A person on your team doesn't try to harm you, while a person not on your team tries to harm you. Ergo, I'm not on your team."

"Oh," Percy said, finally understanding what situation he was in. "So you double-crossed us."

"There is much more than a good side and a bad side," Leon said with a sigh. "And you are much more important than you ever realized."

Meanwhile, on the stage, Eon had her arm around Tania's shoulders like they were friends. "Do you, Tania, a former soldier of Chaos, pledge allegiance to Lady Void?"

What does she expect to happen? Percy wondered with a mental scoff. Of course, she'll say no.

"Yes."

A small smile broke out on Eon's face.

And with that, his whole world screeched to a halt.

Okay, Percy said, trying to calm his emotions. It's only one person.

But when Theon also accepted the title of serving Lady Void, he couldn't help but release a small growl of anger.

By now, Percy and Leon were close enough to the stage that Eon noticed them. "Oh, hello!" she said cheerfully to Percy. "Didn't expect you to stop by. But alas, you can watch your final member defect from the side of Chaos."

She motioned for Psi to walk up. She asked the same question to him as she asked Theon and Tania: "Do you, Psi, a former soldier of Chaos pledge allegiance—"

"Of course not!" Psi interrupted. "I am with Lord Chaos all the way!"

The crowd gasped in shock at his dictation. Evidently, supporting Chaos in a base that hated him with all their heart was a big no-no.

You have got to be kidding me, Percy groaned. Out of all the people who defected, HE had to be the only loyal one?

Eon's eyes flashed dangerously, but Percy had a sense it wasn't because Psi had said; it was because he had interrupted her.

At the same time, Rosaline seemed to take advantage of the distraction and sprint up onto the stage with Adriana. They had their swords out and started fighting with the surprised guards on the stage.

"I'm not on your team, right?" Percy asked Leon.

"Of course not!"

"Then I suppose I'm not sorry about this."

In a move that was skillful and quick, Percy deftly disarmed Leon and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his sword. Before anyone could react, he was already up on the stage.

"No!" Eon howled when he uncapped Riptide and started fighting with her. "Let me kill some people!"

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," he told her.