666Hey guys! You don't know how happy I was with the results of this story. 55 reviews, 25 favorites, & 28 story alerts just for the first chapter is amazing:) Although, I know for a fact that 15 of those reviews were from the same anonymous reviewer. As much as I appreciate reviews, please just send one:) 15 was overdoing it. And to whoever said I sent those 15 reviews to myself, I would never do that. I don't need to review my own story.
Anywho, if we can reach 100 reviews, then I will try my very best to update before May 30. :) I'm terrible at updating (as most of you know.)
This chapter isn't as good as I would have liked it to be & I'm not very happy with it. I know for a fact the next chapter will be way better. We have a special guest in this chapter that I hope you guys will like :) & sorry for any oocness, Piper is kind of hard to write.
Disclaimer-I don't own any of the characters, but I will say I own the plot. I haven't seen a story like this on this website yet:)
P.S. This chapter is unedited since I wanted to get this out as fast as possible. Sorry for any mistakes.
Update as of 7/12/14: Chapter has basically been rewritten. Enjoy
Unmathced
Chapter Two
The harem was a long hall, with ten doors on each side. The guards led her to a door on the left side marked with the number six and gave her to a pretty woman who had warm, comforting brown eyes. Piper instantly liked her. The lady bowed to the guards and then gave Piper a tour. Inside the door, there was another hall with two doors on each side. The two doors on the left led to the sleeping quarters. The first door to the right opened up to the bathroom, while the second door led to the makeup and hair styling room. After showing Piper around the harem chambers., the woman, who Piper learned was named Mellie, guided her into the sleeping quarters and pointed to a bed besides the only window in the room.
"That's where you'll be sleeping," Mellie told her. "No one usually sleeps there, since it's by the window and everyone wants it, but it seems like you'll need it. Just remember to look out at the stars at night and remember that the gods are watching and protecting you."
Piper nodded and contemplated asking Mellie about concubinage. Her father had played a prince in a play that fell in love with his concubine, but she didn't pay much attention to what anything was. She regretted it now.
"What's a concubine?" Piper asked. Mellie gave her a pitying look which would've brought a glare onto Piper's face if it was anyone but the nice woman. .
"Well, the basic definition of a concubine is a woman who 'pleases' a man for the man's pleasure," Mellie told her.
"Mellie, I'm not a kid. Tell me everything." Piper said.
Mellie sighed as if she'd had this talk many times before. "There are different forms of concubinage. I assume they don't use concubines in Greece?"
Piper shook her head. "None that I know of."
Mellie nodded. "I assumed so. Here, a concubine is a woman who is forced into a sexual relationship with a man of high rankings. Sometimes a concubine carries a baby for a man whose wife is unable to. In your case, you'll be given to Emperor Jason as a sex toy. It happens often around here. It's awful at first but you'll eventually become numb."
Piper could feel the tears prick at her eyes and she willed herself not to cry. "And when will I start this…thing?" she breathed.
"The Emperor's birthday is in three days. You will be given to him as a gift," Mellie answered. .
Piper couldn't speak but she managed to give a small nod. Mellie seemed to notice she needed some time alone because she got up and left Piper as she collapsed onto her bed. She let a few tears slide down her cheek before falling into a fitful sleep.
XXX
"I'm so sorry, my daughter," Piper heard a voice say. "I did not wish this fate for you."
Piper whipped around but saw nothing but white. The owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen.
"The fates are behind this, I'm sure. I'm sorry there's nothing I can do to help you." The voice sounded regretful and Piper wished desperately to see who it belonged to.
"It's not your fault," Piper found herself saying. "The Romans did this."
"I should've been there for you. I should've protected you. This is my fault," the voice sounded close to crying.
"It's not your fault," Piper said. "It's the Romans who did this. All they do is destroy."
"No, they build and they create just like the Greeks. Rome was just built on a different set of morals. But times are changing, my dear daughter. And you will be at the heart of it all. This is your destiny. And I will be here for you now."
XXX
Piper awoke to a violent shaking and someone calling her name. She reluctantly opened her eyes and blinked. Where was she?
"Are you okay? You were thrashing around in your sleep," someone said.. Piper glanced to her left and saw a girl a little older than her with curly blonde hair and intense grey eyes. She looked familiar to Piper.
Piper glanced around and sat up with a start as everything that had happened earlier came back to her. She bit back a sob and looked over at the girl.
The girl looked at her curiously and sat down on the bed beside Piper. Piper stared at her. She knew her from somewhere.
"Do I know you?" Piper heard herself asking.
The girl looked startled. "What makes you ask that?"
Piper shrugged. "You just look familiar. I had a friend back in Greece who looked just like you. Only she disappeared two years ago when she was visiting family in Athens…" Piper trailed off. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Annabeth?"
The girl who Piper assumed was Annabeth glanced around widely. Piper glanced around the room too. It was empty except for them.
"Annabeth?" Piper asked, trying to get the girl's attention.
"Stop saying my name!" Annabeth shouted.
Piper felt taken aback. The Annabeth she knew didn't yell. Annabeth's shoulders relaxed and her eyes reddened slightly.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I heard your name being mentioned while I was working earlier today and I wanted to see if it was really. Oh Piper, I'm so sorry you're here." Annabeth pulled Piper into a tight hug and Piper wrapped her arms around Annabeth, glad to have someone from home with her.
"What happened to you?" Piper asked.
"I was taken as a prisoner by the Romans on my way to Athens. I was passing by a nearby town that was being raided. They captured me and brought me here. I was supposed to become a concubine for a man whose wife couldn't have kids."
Piper nodded her head for her to keep going. Annabeth took a deep breath and glanced out the window.
"The day I was brought into the trial room, Emperor Jason decided to come and visit to see how things were run. He took one look at me and said that I was a Roman citizen and to let me go. He then took me to one of the guest rooms and told me my new name would be Annie and to not tell anyone of my past. He said I'd be working at the palace from then on out."
"That's all?" Piper asked.
Annabeth nodded. "I haven't spoken to him since that day. Mellie came and got me the next day and I've been working in the harem since. I don't know why he saved me and no one else."
Piper shook her head but decided to let the subject drop. She had a feeling Annabeth wasn't telling her something.
"Tell me about home," Annabeth said.
Piper bit her lip and shifted slightly. "The Romans invaded our town. They burned everything. Gods, Annabeth, it was awful. I don't even know where my dad is."
Annabeth nodded and gave Piper a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "I'm sure they wouldn't kill him. He is Tristan McLean."
Piper looked down at her lap. "I just need to know he's okay."
Annabeth nodded like she understood. She bit her lip and Piper got a feeling that she was debating to ask a question or not.
"He's doing okay, you know," Piper said. "He hasn't dated anyone and he was depressed for a bit. But he gets better every day. Ruling a country keeps him busy."
"I miss him. So, so much," Annabeth said in way that broke Piper's heart.
"He's waiting for you. He's never once believed that you're dead."
Annabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes Piper saw a fire blazing in them that hadn't been there earlier. "You can't know me. Everything from the past you have to forget. If they find out who I am, they'll kill you and me. Don't mention me to Emperor Jason. Just keep quiet and try to stay alive."
Piper balled her hands into fists. " Have you ever once thought of escaping?"
"I've tried. Many times. But I have to act like I belong here," Annabeth said.
"I'm going to escape," Piper said. "Someway, somehow, I will return home."
"I can't afford to think like that," Annabeth said. "And you should stop, too. They will capture you, Piper. And they'll hurt you."
"Have they hurt you?" Piper asked.
Annabeth stared at the ground. "Yes," she breathed out. "I don't want you getting hurt Piper. Just do as you're told and stay out of trouble. Please."
Piper wanted to keep arguing but something about Annabeth's voice made her close her mouth. Studying her friend, she noticed the physical differences of the girl she once knew. She looked skinnier and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her skin was paler and she could see a few bruises lining her arms and legs. This wasn't the stubborn girl Piper once knew. This was the shell of a girl who was beaten and broken, of someone who had accepted defeat a long time ago. The biggest change though, was Annabeth's eyes. Gray eyes that were once so full of life and always held a sparkle were now dull and lifeless.
Tears came to Piper's eyes. "Annabeth-"
"Don't let them hurt you, okay?" Annabeth said, cutting Piper off. "This is where our paths part. My name is Annie, and I'm a servant in the palace to the Roman Emperor."
Annabeth started to get up but Piper quickly grabbed her wrist. "What do you mean this is where our paths part? Annabeth, I can't lose you when I just found out you're here."
Annabeth shook her head. "I'm sorry. This is just the way things have to be. You have to forget your path and I have to forget mine." Annabeth paused for a second before saying, "Don't let them change you, okay Piper?"
Piper could barely make out Annabeth's retreating form as tears clouded her vision.
XXX
The three days before the Emperor's birthday passed much too quickly for Piper's liking. Annabeth was keeping her distance from Piper which was understandable. Piper felt like she was on display. The other girls would stare at her with cold expressions and she knew they were talking about her when she wasn't around. She was exhausted by the morning of the Emperor's birthday. She had spent the past three days being groomed and pampered and trained to be the perfect young lady for the Emperor.
"You look stunning," Mellie told her as one of the makeup ladies added some last minute touch ups.
Piper grimaced. She was wearing a strapless white dress that went down to a little past her knees. The dress cut low and Piper instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. A gold sash was wrapped around the dress right under her chest. Two gold bands were wrapped around her upper arms and she was wearing gold sandals that wrapped around her legs and up to her knees like ivy.
"This isn't me," Piper whispered. Mellie smiled at her softly and patted her shoulder.
"Emperor Jason isn't as cruel as he seems. I promise you he won't hurt you," Mellie said.
"You don't know that," Piper said.
Mellie shook her head. "I do. I used to be his chamber maid when he was younger until I was sent to run this place.. Don't be quick to judge him. He's had a hard past."
Piper just narrowed her eyes and remained silent.
XXX
Jason sat lazily upon his throne while people shuffled into the throne room and bowed to him. Reyna sat to his right, her head held high and brown eyes narrowed and calculating, watching for any danger. Jason frowned slightly at her. His father wanted him to marry her, saying it would be best for his country. Jason wanted to disagree, but his father was Jupiter, king of the gods. Jupiter had given him the option of finding a suitable wife before his sixteenth birthday, when he would come of age as a man and be allowed to fuller take over the Roman Empire without the guidance of his minister, or he would marry Reyna. His father claimed that with Jason being the only living person in his family, with no relatives or anyone else to take the throne if he died, it was important for Jason to find a bride and produce an heir. Even though today was his sixteenth birthday, Jason had managed to convince his father to give him four more months to find his wife. Reyna was a friend, and an excellent warrior and had done a lot for Rome, but he couldn't marry her. One of the things Jason secretly wished for in marriage was love, and he couldn't bring himself to love Reyna no matter how much his father persisted. And it wouldn't be fair to Reyna if Jason were to marry her because he wouldn't be able to love her the way she deserved to be.
Jason's head snapped back to the crowd as everyone let out a collective grasp. A beautiful woman was making her way down the aisle towards Jason, her head held high. She was wearing an elegant white toga with a gold laurel crown resting on her head. Her curly long hair changed colors every few seconds, along with her eyes and features until her image settled with dark brown hair, startling hazel eyes, and perfectly tanned skin. Her face looked soft and innocent yet demanding at the same time.
The woman stopped right in front of Jason and waved her hand around the room. Everything instantly froze except for Jason and the goddess.
"Lady Venus," Jason said as he stood and bowed to her.
The goddess smiled down at the young emperor. "I am Aphrodite my boy."
Jason straightened up from his bow and frowned slightly. "Aphrodite," he tried. The name sounded foreign on his lips. "Aren't you a Greek goddess? Please don't take this the wrong way my lady, but what is a Greek Goddess doing in the Roman Palace?"
Aphrodite smiled again at Jason. "Can't a goddess just come to celebrate a birthday?"
Jason raised his eyebrows at the goddess. Aphrodite sighed. "Fine, I have a reason for coming here. My daughter is here and I thought I'd come and say hi."
Jason's eyebrows furrowed together. "Your daughter. There hasn't been a child of Aphrodite since the Trojan War…but if you're a Greek goddess, then she's a Greek demigod. What's a Greek demigod doing here?"
Aphrodite's eyes turned cold. "Your people destroyed her town and have forced her to become a slave." She took a deep breath. Jason opened his mouth to speak but Aphrodite quickly cut him off. "I didn't come here to ask you to let her go. The fates have other plans for her. I only ask for you to not hurt her."
Jason tried to reply to what the goddess just said, but he was too confused to talk. "Why would I help a slave?" he finally managed to say.
"You've helped one before. Annabeth, was it?" Aphrodite said.
Jason swallowed hard. "She was the prince of Greece's girlfriend. I had to make sure she stayed hidden so there wouldn't be a war," Jason lied.
"Really? Are you sure it wasn't because of Tha-" Aphrodite began but Jason quickly cut her off.
"Don't say her name! I promise you I won't injure your daughter if our paths ever cross," Jason said. Aphrodite smiled knowingly at him.
"The time for that is closer than it seems," Aphrodite said before dissolving into a dove and flying off. The room instantly buzzed back to life and everyone was looking around confusedly.
"Jason? What just happened?" Reyna asked. Jason glanced at her before sitting back down on his throne.
"I honestly don't know."
XXX
Piper's stomach was in a knot and her hands were clenched by her side as she stood outside the doors that led into the throne room where she would be given to Emperor Jason. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and tried to relax herself. The guards beside her kept eyeing her chest and she swore she saw a slight bulge in one of the guard's pants. Her heart quickened and she couldn't stay still.
Inside the room, she could hear slightly what the people were speaking. When the guards turned their heads away from her for a second, she pressed her head against the door.
"-a special day, as it is the sixteenth birthday of Emperor Jason, marking the day that he becomes the official Emperor of Rome. And as a special gift to Emperor Jason, we present to him the daughter of Aphrodite and Tri-" Piper was harshly pulled away from the door and was pressed against the chest of one of the guards.
"No funny business," he hissed at her. "You are going to walk in there, bow to the Emperor, and then you are going to be a good slave and perform his every order. Got that?"
Piper bit the guards hand which resulted in him tossing her forward at the exact moment the doors opened. She stumbled forward before regaining her footing. Piper stood up straight and looked into the room which held an endless sea of people, all of which were staring at her like hungry wolves. A red carpet was split down the middle of the room and stopped right in front of a small staircase that led to the large throne which sat the Emperor. Piper refused to look at him and instead started walking down the aisle with her head held high. She narrowed her eyes at anyone who glared at her or showed her an expression of disgust. She stopped walking when she reached the throne and stood there, not looking at the Emperor.
"Bow down to your ruler," Reyna told her. Piper refused to acknowledge her.
"I said bow down to your ruler," Reyna told her again. Piper turned her attention to the brown-haired girl.
"That boy," Piper said, "is not my ruler. My ruler is King Perseus of Greece. This person right here is simply a stranger."
Reyna glared at her and stood from her seat. "You're in Rome now. The Emperor owns you. You do what he says."
Piper kept her face blank. "He never told me to bow down to him."
Reyna just shook her head and turned to the Emperor. Piper couldn't help herself. She looked at the Emperor also. He was very handsome, with short cropped blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes. He had a muscular build and reminded Piper of King Percy, as if they were cousins. He wore elegant white robes trimmed with purple and gold along with a purple cloak that added a shade of violet to his blue eyes.
"Emperor Jason," the name left Piper's lips involuntarily. The Emperor looked confused for a second before his face hardened.
"Take her to the prison cells," Emperor Jason said. The two guards from earlier rushed towards her and grabbed her arms. The one who pushed her was looking at her hungrily and a wave of fear washed through Piper.
"And if any of you touch her," Emperor Jason said, "you will be thrown in there with her."
Like I said before, I don't exactly like how this chapter turned out. Review & tell me your thoughts:) & who's your favorite character so far? And is there a special character you want me to include?
If we can reach 100 reviews then I will update before May 30 :) & please don't send in more then one review. Like I said above, sending in 15 reviews is unnecessary. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the story, but I'm sure you can fit all your thoughts into one review.
~Lulunoel