A/N: Hehe...Percy's words last chapter kind of sum things up. BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE! Really. For those of you who liked it, great! Everyone else...

sorry?

Anyway, enough of the past. Here is chapter 13, with our lovely sarcastic hero River. There is a little swearing in this chapter...probably should mention it for once.

Also..my friend Reyna died a little while ago from complications from cancer...so again, I'm really sorry for the long wait. I just didn't really feel like writing...and as excited for this chapter as I was...I think it kind of showed. I may go back and rewrite this later, but I figured I might as well just get it out...it's been long enough, I think. On a happy note, my broken foot is healed and I am out of the boot! Yay!

Onward...!

Read and review, please!

Last Time on Stolen:

A silent scream ripped from my throat

River was Percy.

...sorry?

Chapter 13

RIVER

I woke with a splitting headache and a craving for chocolate. I raised a hand to rub my eyes and slowly began to push myself up. I kept my eyes closed and tried to push past the throbbing ache in my skull.

Then, I noticed something strange. The scent of the sea.

My eyes flew open and I gasped.

I was in Cabin Three.

As I realized this, the memories came surging in. I gripped my screaming skull and groaned, struggling to sort the wild memories. As they came to a trickle, my eyes widened.

"Fuck."

Percy had taken over my body. For a week.

A week.

Memories of the suspicious Piper and Leo with 'my' sudden mood-change, Annabeth's attempts to talk to me alone, and Reyna's illness 'helpfully' rose to the surface.

"Goddammit, Percy." I muttered, rubbing hand over my face. "Are the Romans seriously still here?"

You're talking to me now? Percy said snarkly.

I sighed. Along with the weeks memories, most of my-our life before Tartarus had returned to me. Don't have a choice, do I? You were out this week...

Ha. Now, when can we merge?

No.

River...

Answer. The. Question.

Fine. But you are the one that came and took over my body.

PERCY!

Fine, fine. Big storm happened. Recent changes to wards made that part of the woods unsafe. Reyna got sick from some unknown thing. She's still in the infirmary. Capture the Flag's tonight. You have to play.

Dude!

Hey! You might as well try it.

I snarled and withdrew, eyes sagging in exhaustion. I looked lazily around the cabin and collapsed back on the bed, my stomach rumbling lightly.

"Well, somebody's grumpy today." said the Latino boy cheerfully. I glanced at him, sticking my hands in my shorts pockets. The sky was clear and there was a buzz of excitement in the atmosphere.

"I have to participate in a stupid game of trying to steal a flag." I grumbled, kicking a rock.

"Hey! Cheer up! It's a pretty fun game. And..." Leo sniffed the air. "Looks like we're having hamburgers tonight!"

I perked up.

"Leo!" called a girl. We turned to see a young woman that had grease in her hair, on her overalls, and on her masculine face.

"Nina!" replied Leo, running forward to give her a high five. "How's the project going?"

Nina ran a hand through her greased hair. "More or less okay. We got that tricky gear to finally work."

"Really?" Leo exclaimed, his eyes lit up. "Awesome!"

I watched as Leo launched into a short conversation with Nina, his eyes lit up with excitement and curiosity. A loud roar suddenly rose from the dining area, and Nina looked worried.

"Go." said Leo with a grin. Nina smirked and ran off. Leo turned back to me. "Sorry."

I snorted and stuck my fingers in my pockets. "No problem." We began walking towards the dining area and the scent of hamburgers and food-scented smoke grew stronger.

We entered the crowded pavilion and separated. I sat alone at Poseidon's table. Chiron spoke for a little while and the usual dinner ceremony commenced.

Annabeth tried to speak to me, but I quickly avoided her, studiously piling multiple burgers and fruits onto my plate.

I stared into the plumes of deliciously scented smoke and closed my eyes. Scraping a chunk of hamburger and a strawberry into the flames, I whispered, "Hermes. Father."

I walked back to my table.

My plate made a scraping noise as I set it down. I picked up the first burger and bit into it, enjoying the juicy flavor.

Dinner went on.

I wiped my mouth and dropped my fork onto my plate. I made to stand up and escape before Annabeth could corner me again when light flashed in the pavilion. My throat tightened as campers screamed and I winced as the light burned against my eyes. When the light had faded, I glanced at the source, my second sword, the black one I had been given by Hephaestus a few months prior, already in hand. As I realized just who was standing there, I held out a hand to steady myself.

Hera and Ares were standing in front of me.

"River." Hera said, her voice tight. I looked up and knew.

Fear had escaped. I pushed myself off the table, letting my plate fall down with a clatter. Hera turned and began to walk away and I followed her, shoulders stiff.

I tried to ignore the gawking eyes and my thumping heart. Once we were out of ear shot, Hera spun to face me.

"Perseus Jackson," she said, her voice not shaking in the slightest. "Ophion is about to escape."

I nodded, licking my suddenly dry lips. "Should I leave?"

"One more week." Hera replied. "Though Fear could escape at any moment-"

"He is on the other side of the country." Ares interrupted his mother. "He'll probably head to Camp Jupiter," he said with a sneer. "first. We'll insure that the Romans do not leave," at this Ares's sneer deepened, "for their own safety."

"What if he reaches Camp Halfblood before the week-"

"Then you go and lead him away." Hera said coldly. "You are to meet with Courage at the end of your sentence in any case. If Fear arrives before then," she shrugged, "then you will merge with him. Apollo will send for him."

I could hear whispers behind us. "Why can't I leave now?" I asked, staring up at the bitchy queen with frustration.

Hera didn't deem to answer.

"River!" a third voice exclaimed.

I turned to see Hermes running towards us, a vial in his hand. Close behind was Apollo.

"What are you two doing here?" Hera asked, her eyes flashing.

"Apollo realized-" Hermes started.

"that River's scar is connected to Ophion's rising." Apollo finished, snatching the vial from Hermes. "And the moment Ophion rises-"

The ground shook beneath our feet. From behind us, the Demeter cabin began to scream.

Pain shot up my back like electricity and I fell to one knee. I felt something trickle down my side, and then it hit me.

Agony.

I never felt the ground hit me, but just as the darkness took me, I heard a single whisper:

"I...am...here..."