Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: No Stopping Fate: Reading Divided Soul
Chapter 21: A Curse No More?
Third Person POV
Mount Olympus – Throne Room – One year prior to the Lightning Thief
"That's the end of the chapter," Thalia said. She smiled at Annabeth, but the daughter of Athena ignored her. She was too lost in thought about the events at the end of the last chapter.
"Who wants to read next?" Thalia asked.
"I'll read Thalia," Hera said. Thalia looked at her step-mother; she was in shock that she actually said her name. Hera smiled at her husband's daughter. Thalia handed the book to the Queen of the gods before she walked back to her seat with a surprised look on her face.
"We're still at Castra Semideus, the chapter is called Warning Signs," Hera read.
Annabeth opened her eyes. She was in a large white tent. She sat up on the cot with her feet touching the ground and looked across the tent to see the sleeping forms of her friends, Thalia, Clarisse and Piper.
"Last one to sleep and first one up, I guess you had a lot on your mind," Thalia said.
Annabeth forced a smile before nodding.
Suddenly, the memories of yesterday filled her mind. She was at the Roman camp and Percy— no, Scipio was their leader.
"Good morning Annabeth," Piper said.
Annabeth looked at her friend. Even with bed hair, Piper looked beautiful, her eyes changed colors as she stretched her arms over her head.
Piper blushed at the compliment. "I like this third person narrator," she said.
Jason smiled at her.
Thalia gave her brother an evil smirk.
"How did you sleep?" Annabeth asked.
"Okay, the cot is not a bed, but it's better than the ground," Piper said. Piper smiled at her friend mischievously. "So, how was your chat with Scipio?"
"So asks the great daughter of the love goddess,"Thalia quipped.
Aphrodite smiled, but Piper grinned mischievously toward the daughter of Athena.
Annabeth fidgeted uncomfortably on her cot. She bit her bottom lip for a second before looking at her friend. "Not bad… but he's so different than Percy," Annabeth answered.
Athena smiled at her daughter in reassurance.
"Tell me about it," Thalia said irritably as she sat up on her cot. The daughter of Zeus's hair stuck up in the air even more than normal as she yawned.
"Hey, I don't like this narrator," Thalia protested.
"He remembers that he was the child of prophecy," Annabeth said. She looked at Thalia expectantly. "And he remembers Luke."
A surprised expression crossed Thalia's face as she stared at the daughter of Athena. "He does?"
Hermes frowned sadly as he thought of his lost son.
"He thinks of Luke like a big brother. He knew that he betrayed everyone for Kronos, or Saturn as Scipio calls him," Annabeth said.
"Does he hate Luke?" Piper asked.
Piper never met Luke, but she heard a lot about him at camp.
Annabeth shook her head. "That's just it, he considers him the real hero, the one that gave his life to stop the Titan lord," Annabeth said.
Thalia sighed. "Well, that is different than Percy," she exclaimed.
"Percy doesn't like Luke, does he?" Hermes asked. He knew Percy had problems with Luke, but he thought those were in past.
"He doesn't hate Luke anymore, but he doesn't forgive him for betraying us," Annabeth replied.
"It's like Hera and Ares took my feelings toward Luke and gave them to Percy," Annabeth said. She looked at Thalia and Piper sadly. "I feel bad for him, he blames himself for all the deaths during the war."
"Percy was always guilty about that," Thalia observed.
Annabeth sighed. "His fatal flaw affects him greatly," she said sadly. Athena frowned at the thought.
"He remembers everyone that died?" Thalia asked curiously.
"Yes, he believes they were all Romans. He was their leader during the war," Annabeth explained.
Thalia's mouth hung open for a moment before she said, "Damn, you were right, Hera really did screw him up."
Hera frowned. She still felt the guilt, but it was slowly being replaced with determination to do what she could to change herself and her actions.
Annabeth gave her a 'no duh' look before sighing sadly. "Something happened last night," Annabeth admitted.
Piper straightened and sat up on the edge of her cot. "You kissed him," Piper said. Thalia rolled her eyes.
Annabeth and Thalia shot Piper a disturbed look. "What?" Piper asked.
"You know I wouldn't have kissed him," Annabeth said annoyed.
"I'm sorry; you know I'm not so romantic all the time. I'm not the full on Aphrodite girl," Piper defended.
Aphrodite looked hurt. "What does that mean?" she asked.
Piper looked at her mom sheepishly. "Nothing against my siblings, but I'm not all girly and love sick, like they can be," she explained.
Aphrodite huffed. "There's nothing wrong with that," Aphrodite said.
Piper nodded. Thalia and Annabeth smiled; they held in their laughter because it was never good to tick off the goddess of love.
Annabeth just stared at the daughter of Aphrodite in shock. "No, I did not kiss him," Annabeth declared. "Sometimes you really do act like a daughter of the love goddess."
Piper huffed, which made Thalia laugh amusedly. "Sorry that I want one of my friends to be happy with the boy she loves," Piper said with a hint of anger in her voice.
Aphrodite grumbled under her breath, but Hephaestus held her hand and it made her smile in contentment.
"Thanks Piper, but kissing Scipio wouldn't be… right," Annabeth admitted.
Thalia looked at her friend skeptically. "Yeah, but you so want to, I can tell," Thalia said. Annabeth became very quiet. "Oh my gods, you're falling for him."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "I am not," Annabeth said, but she wouldn't look at her two friends when she said it.
"You are! Damn, I bet my mom just loves this," Piper said. Thalia nodded.
"I would love it, if my daughter didn't make fun of her brothers and sisters," Aphrodite said.
Piper sighed. "I'm sorry mom," she said.
"I can't fall for him. I would feel like I'm cheating on Percy," Annabeth declared.
"Wow. You two are really screwed up," Thalia said. Annabeth gave her the death glare.
Annabeth and Athena both glared at the daughter of Zeus; she shivered under their angry stares.
"I have to agree with Thalia," Piper said. Thalia and Annabeth both stared at her with shocked expressions on their faces. "You're worried about cheating on your boyfriend, with your boyfriend. That really sounds like a daughter of Athena, always over thinking things."
"There's nothing wrong with thinking things through," Athena defended.
"However, you can't let indecision get the best of you. Sometimes, you have to think of the possibilities, but act quickly in order to succeed," Poseidon said.
Everyone in the room stared at the god of the seas. Athena was speechless. She never knew he could be so profound.
"I'm not over thinking things. How can I be in love with two people that are the same person?" Annabeth said. She placed her hand over her mouth and screamed in frustration.
Athena frowned at her daughter's frustration.
Aphrodite smiled. This was the strangest love triangle of all.
"What if your Percy never resurfaces? What if he's Scipio for good?" Piper asked. Annabeth stared at Piper thoughtfully before biting her bottom lip in frustration.
"That won't happen. Percy will come back," Poseidon declared.
"I agree, I think you should get as close to Scipio as you can. If he makes you happy, what's the problem?" Thalia asked.
"What if Percy does come back? He'll hate me for falling for his alter ego, or whatever," Annabeth declared.
Thalia laughed at the idea. "He would never do that," she said.
"Percy could never hate you," Thalia said.
Piper stood up; clearly she was tired of the direction this conversation had been going. "Does he make you happy?" Piper asked.
Annabeth looked up at her friend. "Last night was the happiest and most confused I have been since Percy disappeared," Annabeth answered. Thalia rolled her eyes.
"Then go for it, get closer to Scipio. Percy is inside there. You said it yourself, you felt like you did with Percy, but differently. You all admit that Percy is pretty dependent on his friends; maybe Scipio is who Percy was meant to be as an adult. Scipio could be the independent Percy trying to get out," Piper hypothesized.
No one said anything, but all eyes drifted to Piper. "What?" she asked annoyed at the attention.
"That was pretty deep Pipes," Jason said.
Piper smiled at the son of Zeus. "I can be deep," she said in a voice that made Jason's heart jump into his throat.
Thalia and Annabeth just stared at their friend in awe. "That's some pretty deep stuff there Pipes," Thalia said.
"Where did you learn that psychobabble from?" Annabeth asked.
"Wow, big word there," Leo said. Apollo nodded.
"My dad is a celebrity, they all have shrinks and personal therapists," Piper explained.
A horn blew loudly signaling breakfast time. Clarisse jumped up and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She looked up at her three friends and frowned.
"Now she gets up," Thalia said with a smirk.
"What's going on and why didn't you wake me?" Clarisse asked.
"We were just talking to Annabeth about a certain dark haired son of the sea god," Thalia said.
Annabeth glared at Thalia. "Oh gods, she's not falling for the son of Neptune is she?" Clarisse asked jokingly. Everyone was quiet. Clarisse's eyes widened. "Oh crap, you're hopeless Wise Girl."
Annabeth's cheeks reddened. It was bad when even the daughter of Ares could read her feelings.
Annabeth shifted her glare from Thalia to Clarisse. "Since when has my personal life become fodder for you three?" Annabeth asked exasperatedly.
Clarisse glared right back at the daughter of Athena. "Ever since the day Hera took Percy away from you," Clarisse said. She sighed loudly before continuing. "I may not act like I care about Percy, but he's okay for a kelp head, and we all three care about you. Even if you are a know-it-all daughter of Athena." Clarisse's glare changed to an amused grin.
Athena was as stunned as the rest. "That was sympathetic and downright degrading at the same time," she said.
"Clarisse is right, we care about you Annabeth. Let us help you," Piper said.
Annabeth smiled at her friends. "How can anyone help me? I just want Percy back. I need him," Annabeth admitted.
Athena smiled at the friends her daughter had, but she was also worried about her daughter's need for the son of Poseidon.
Piper smiled at her. "If you haven't noticed, Scipio is Percy now. So you need to make your move," Piper urged.
"Now that's my daughter," Aphrodite said. Piper blushed at the attention.
Clarisse laughed. "Don't tell her to throw herself at him like a piece of meat. If Prissy really is in there, then obviously you're the only one who can find him. Get to know Scipio, become his friend. You might want to be more than friends, but we all know that Prissy was no ladies' man," Clarisse said. Thalia laughed at the description. "Look how long it took the two of you to get together. Just be there, but help him remember why you're so important to him."
Piper and Thalia both stared at Clarisse in shock. "That's really good advice," Piper said.
"That really is good advice," Athena said. It was clear she was in shock. A child of Ares giving good advice.
"Yeah, I didn't know you had it in you, hot head," Thalia said.
Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Please, I have a boyfriend," she said. "You're a forever maiden." Clarisse pointed at Thalia. "And you're pining over a boy with his own memory issues." Clarisse winked at Piper playfully. Piper and Thalia both glared at the daughter of Ares, but Clarisse just smiled at them mischievously.
"So much for being nice," Piper grumbled. She avoided Jason's stare, but the son of Zeus couldn't look away from her.
"Are you three done?" Annabeth asked irritably. Her three friends nodded. "Clarisse, good plan, I guess it couldn't hurt to be his friend." Annabeth stood up and got dressed. She stepped out of the tent with her three friends at her side. They walked to the mess hall for breakfast.
"Later that afternoon at the Command Tent," Hera began.
Scipio opened his eyes. He sat up on a stone bench in a beautiful garden filled with flowers. He rubbed his eyes wondering if he was seeing things.
"Where is he?' Rachel asked. She had been quiet through the whole chapter, so most forgot she was there.
"Don't worry," a familiar voice said. "This is real, in a way at least." Scipio turned around to see his patron, Mars, god of war.
"Mars, why are you talking to my son?" Poseidon asked.
Scipio immediately dropped to one knee and bowed before his mentor.
"I'm his patron; it is only right that I visit him," Mars said.
"Lord Mars, is everything alright?
Mars stared at the son of Neptune curiously. "Well, we're at war, so I'm doing pretty well," Mars said with a mischievous smile.
Artemis rolled her eyes. Men were such pigs, she thought.
Scipio stood up and shook his head in amusement. "War isn't fun for the soldier."
Artemis smiled. Maybe not all men, she thought.
Mars nodded. "Yes, I know." Scipio stared at the god of war curiously.
"I've called you here to discuss your guests."
"The Greeks. I know they're early, but couldn't that be a good thing?"
"Yes it could," Hermes said.
Mars stopped pacing in front of his student. He walked up to Scipio and placed his hands on his shoulders. "It can be, as long as you don't fall for their games."
Scipo stared at his patron in confusion. "What games?"
Zeus looked over at Mars. "What game are you playing?" he asked.
Mars shrugged his shoulders, but the look on his face showed that he knew all too well.
"That daughter of Athena, you can't trust her." Mars stared into Scipio's eyes with the most serious expression that Scipio had ever seen before.
"He can most certainly trust me," she yelled. Mars smiled.
"The Annabeth girl. How can she be a threat?" Scipio asked dismissively.
"Hey, I can be a threat," Annabeth said, not liking the way Scipio dismissed her.
Mars grinned evilly. "Which is it, are you a threat or someone to trust?" he asked.
Annabeth huffed as she crossed her arms. Athena glared at the Roman god.
Mars squeezed Scipio's shoulders tightly. "She's a smart one. She'll try to confuse you, make you doubt yourself and the gods."
"Why would she want to do that? We're at war." Scipio couldn't understand the motives for such deception.
"He's screwing with your head, again," Thalia said.
Mars let go of Scipio's shoulders. "I know, it doesn't make sense, but Athena's children can be quite deceptive and devious." Mars sighed. "Don't forget that Athena is Poseidon's enemy."
Athena's face turned red. She was about to stand up from her throne and attack the Roman god, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She looked up into the sea green eyes of Poseidon. "Don't let him get to you," he said. His soothing voice seemed to drain the anger away. She nodded before looking away from his eyes.
"That's a Greek rivalry; Neptune and Minerva do not have the same bad blood." Scipio looked at Mars skeptically.
Leo looked around confused. "Is that true?" he asked.
Jason smiled at his friend. "Yes, they don't hate each other," he said.
At the word hate Athena and Poseidon looked at each other. They looked down at their hands as guilty expressions crossed their faces.
Mars looked at Scipio warily. "Why so defensive?"
"He likes her," Piper said.
"I can't picture her doing something like that."
Mars stepped closer until he was just inches away from Scipio's face. "She's getting to you."
Annabeth didn't like what Mars was doing, weren't things confusing enough?
Scipio stepped back defensively. "No, she hasn't." Scipio began to pace in front of his patron. He shook his head and stopped walking as he looked back at Mars. "Has she?"
Annabeth felt a pain in her chest. Could he really believe she'd betray him?
Mars stepped towards the Consul of Rome. "You are the leader here, don't forget that. You know better than to trust someone so quickly."
Scipio sighed. "You're right of course. I'll make sure to be more careful, as always."
Thalia watched Annabeth. She could see the pain in her eyes. Thalia felt anger well up inside of her. She hated the war god for his actions.
Mars smiled. "Good, you're doing a great job." Mars hesitated for just a moment. "I'm proud of you, son." Scipio stared at Mars in shock. The god of war never gave compliments and he was anything, but fatherly.
Mars frowned at the description. Poseidon glared at the Roman god jealously.
Scipio smiled at his mentor. "Thank you, I won't let you down."
Mars stepped back with the smile still on his face. "I know you won't. Take care, Consul of Rome." Mars began to glow. Scipio turned away as the god of war disappeared in front of him.
Scipio suddenly opened his eyes again, but this time he saw the inside of the Command tent. It had all been a dream. His meeting with Mars wasn't real, or was it? It seemed so real. Scipio sat up on his cot and ran his hand through his hair. Mars's warning ran through the son of Neptune's mind. Would Annabeth really play such a game with him? He didn't think so, but Mars had never led him astray before. The Consul of Rome promised himself to be wary of Annabeth Chase and her friends.
Everyone, but Mars frowned at the last statement. They felt sorry for the daughter of Athena.
Scipio stood on the beach with the first Cohort and Greeks. They were all paired up and practicing their swordsmanship. Scipio and Alex were fighting expertly. Jason and Reyna stood next to each other catching their breath from their own training and watching the two Romans battle.
Alex swiped at Scipio's abdomen with his sword, but Scipio did a spin move and smacked the flat part of his gladius against Alex's back. Alex just shook his head in awe at the skill that the Consul of Rome exhibited. He was by far the greatest swordsman he had ever seen. They continued to spar, Scipio helping his fellow Roman with his sword skills.
Annabeth and Thalia stopped their training to take a break. They both stood side by side as they watched the Romans practice. Thalia turned to watch Scipio; her lost friend seemed even better than before, if that was possible. He didn't even seem tired after hours of practicing.
"I thought the Curse of Achilles was supposed to make Percy tired?" Thalia asked.
Athena's brow furrowed in thought. Fatigue had always been the price of using the Curse of Achilles. What had changed?
Annabeth watched Scipio closely trying to find any sign of fatigue. "It used to, especially after a fight, but he seems the same as when we started training," Annabeth said.
Scipio and Alex fought back in forth, but the Consul of Rome was always in control. Suddenly, their swords struck together, the two young men pushed as their swords locked. Alex pushed against the son of Neptune, but the strength of his opponent was incredible. Alex pushed hard once more, but his left foot slipped. Alex fell to the ground, but the blade of his sword slipped down Scipio's blade, cutting a long gash along the Consul's hand. Blood dripped down from the wound. Scipio dropped his blade into the sand as the pain shot up his arm.
What happened?" Annabeth yelled.
"The Curse of Achilles seems to be gone," Apollo said.
Artemis smacked her brother. "We know that idiot; we have ears," she said harshly. Apollo sunk down in his throne.
Alex looked up in disbelief. "Scipio, you're hurt," Alex said. Reyna and Jason ran to the son of Neptune. Scipio just stood there watching the blood run down his hand. Annabeth and Thalia both watched, but they stood still. They were in shock at what they were seeing. Annabeth wanted to rush to her lost boyfriend's aid, but Thalia held her back.
"It wouldn't look good to be overly concerned," Thalia said. Athena smiled at her sister's thoughtful reaction.
Thalia leaned next to Annabeth's ear and said, "We shouldn't know about the curse, remember?" Thalia said. Annabeth looked at her friend as Thalia's words registered in her mind. Annabeth nodded.
"Sorry, it's just hard watching him bleed," Annabeth said. Thalia nodded.
Scipio continued to watch the blood run down his hand. Alex just sat in the sand watching the blood drip on the ground. Reyna and Jason ran up and joined the scene.
"Alex, don't sit there, go get a healer," Reyna ordered. Jason snapped his fingers in front of Alex's face, the son of Mars snapped to attention. He jumped up to his feet and turned to run toward camp.
"Hold. It's okay," Scipio said. Alex stopped and turned toward his leader.
"You're bleeding, you need to have it checked out," Reyna said.
Scipio smiled at the Praetor of the first Cohort. "Don't worry, I can heal it," Scipio said.
Scipio walked towards the ocean; he stepped into the waves until the water reached his waist. He placed his hand in the water carefully. Jason, Alex and Reyna watched the son of Neptune curiously. After a few moments, Scipio raised his hand out of the sea, where the cut had been was clean and fresh skin, there was only a small scar. The three Romans stared at their consul in disbelief.
"That's some trick," Jason said. Scipio smiled at the son of Jupiter.
"So is flying," Scipio said as he winked toward Jason. Jason just stared at his cousin in shock.
Zeus stared at the book in his wife's hands. How does he know that? Hera smiled when she read the next line.
"How…" Jason began.
"I make it my business to know my enemies and allies," Scipio said. He looked around the beach at the other demigods. "That's enough sword training. Go to your next training task." All of the demigods nodded as they began to walk off the beach. Reyna, Jason and Alex both saluted their leader before joining the others. Thalia and Annabeth were the only Greeks left on the beach.
Scipio walked up to the two demigods. "Don't you have training to do?" Scipio asked.
"We have archery next, but we're both experts. What about you?" Thalia asked.
Thalia grinned. She wanted to know what Scipio thought of archery.
Scipio chuckled lightly. "I couldn't hit the side of barn with a bow and arrow. I'd much rather use a gun," Scipio said.
Mars smiled. "That sounds like one of my kids," he said.
Poseidon frowned. He leaned toward Athena's ear and whispered, "That's what I'm afraid of."
Annabeth looked down at Scipio's hand. "That's a pretty cool power," Annabeth said as she gestured toward Scipio's hand.
Scipio looked at his hand curiously. "It comes in handy," Scipio said, but he seemed lost in thought.
"Is there something wrong?" Annabeth asked. Scipio looked up at her with a curious expression.
"I told you about my tasks during the war," Scipio said. "And the fight with Saturn." Annabeth nodded. Thalia gave them both curious looks, but Scipio could tell that the daughter of Athena had told her. "Well in order to fight Saturn, I had to bathe in the Styx." Both demigods gave surprised looks, but Scipio sensed something odd about their expressions.
"Damn, is he going to figure it out?" Thalia asked.
"Wow," Thalia said. Annabeth nodded.
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "That's a great acting job Thalia," Annabeth said.
"I should not have been cut, his blade should have bounced off my skin," Scipio said curiously.
Annabeth looked lost in thought for a moment, but it was clear to Thalia that she had already come up with a hypothesis. "Could this have something to do with the monsters reforming from Tartarus?" Annabeth asked.
Scipio seemed to consider this theory. "It might, but I'm not sure how," Scipio said.
Athena frowned. "How can they be connected?" she asked.
"It's as good a theory as any," Poseidon replied. Annabeth nodded.
"Maybe I can help," a familiar voice said. The three demigods turned to see the son of Hades behind them.
"How?" Scipio asked.
Nico stepped up to his three friends. "I can go to the Underworld and ask my dad," Nico said.
Everyone in the room turned to look at Hades. "Don't look at me I have no idea," Hades said.
"I thought the gods were closed off from us?" Thalia asked.
"My dad doesn't like to follow orders, especially from his brothers," Nico said.
Zeus glared at Hades, but the god of the dead just smiled as Poseidon tried to hold in his laughter.
"He's not the only one," Thalia said, as thunder sounded overhead. "You know I'm right, dad," she said to the sky.
Zeus shot a glare towards his daughter, but Thalia stared back daring him to say something.
"Do you think your dad will help?" Annabeth asked.
Nico looked lost in thought for a moment before he looked up at his friends. "I think so. Something weird is going on down there. We might be able to help," Nico said.
"I think you should try," Annabeth said. Thalia nodded. Nico looked up at Scipio.
"You're a Greek; I don't run your life. If you think it will help, then by all means," Scipio said as he gestured toward the son of Hades. Nico nodded, before he ran off and disappeared into the closest shadow.
"I have a bad feeling about that," Rachel said. Annabeth watched her friend worriedly.
Thalia and Annabeth turned back toward the son of Neptune. "I think you two should go talk to Alex and the others. Get yourselves outfitted with some guns," Scipio suggested.
"Is that an order?" Thalia asked. Annabeth just shook her head.
Zeus smiled at his daughter. "It looks like it runs in the family," he said. Thalia grinned at her father.
"I don't command you, Hunter, but take it as a strong suggestion," Scipio said with a wry smile. Thalia couldn't help but return the grin. She nodded before walking back toward camp. Annabeth just stayed there watching Scipio.
"Wise Girl, are you coming?" Thalia asked. Her eyes widened when she realized what she called her friend. Scipio's eyes were just as wide. Annabeth looked shocked at his expression. She finally snapped herself away from Scipio's gaze.
"Does he remember?" Thalia asked.
Annabeth couldn't answer, but she felt another spark of hope that Percy was there inside the Consul of Rome.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Annabeth said before she ran off with her friend.
Scipio watched the two Greeks run toward camp. "Wise Girl," he murmured to himself. "Why does that nickname sound so familiar?" He shook his head and turned toward the sea.
Athena and Annabeth smiled at each other. There really was hope.
Was this one of the mind games that Mars had warned him about? It sure didn't seem like one, but he couldn't get over the impression that Thalia and Annabeth had known about the Achilles curse. Scipio held his hand up in front of his face. He could barely see a light white line where the cut had been. Suddenly, his skin glowed like a light shined from within, and then the scar disappeared completely.
"The curse isn't gone," Athena exclaimed.
AN: I hope you enjoyed another chapter. Stay tuned more to come.