Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Divided Soul

Chapter 6: An Oath to Keep

Camp Half Blood

The sun was low in the sky as the fiery orb made its descent below the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. It looked like the sun was merging with the dark blue-green water as the light reflected off the water and towards the sandy shore. A lone figure sat on the beach with her feet in the wet sand. The waves rushed forward to meet her, like the sea was trying to console the teenage demigod. She moved a loose golden curl from her face and placed it behind her ear. She looked towards the horizon, and her grey eyes flashed in the remaining light of the slowly setting sun.

Annabeth Chase, the daughter of Athena, regularly visited the beach around sunset every evening. All the other demigods left her alone, as they knew she was thinking of her lost boyfriend, Percy Jackson. The girl kept her nightly vigil in hopes that the dark haired, green eyed son of Poseidon would walk out of the waves to greet her with a warm embrace. But the daughter of Athena knew better. Everyone knew that Percy was at the Roman camp with no memories of himself, or where he was from.

Jason, the son of Jupiter and the brother of Thalia, had come to camp with his friends, Piper and Leo. They had completed a quest that had freed the goddess Hera and at least for a little while thwarted the plans of the giants. Jason had begun to remember his past after the completion of his quest. He remembered that he was from the Roman camp and that piece of knowledge had led to the conclusion that Percy had taken his place. The Greek camp was in an uproar after that realization, but ideas of charging into the Roman camp were squashed by Chiron. It was decided to work on the plans of the Argo II, a ship design found in the old Bunker Nine. Leo, the son of Hephaestus, and his siblings had been working on the ship for the past two months.

Once the great ship was complete, Jason, Piper, Leo and Annabeth would sail to the Roman Camp to retrieve Percy and identify the seven half bloods that would complete the next Great Prophecy. By the look on the girl's face it was clear that she dreaded the wait. Most of the camp knew that if Annabeth had it her way, she would already be at the Roman camp, but that would go against Chiron's orders.

Suddenly, a light appeared in the sea only a short distance from the shoreline. Annabeth looked at the glowing water with apprehension and hope. She slowly but bravely stepped into the rolling surf. The waves washed around her feet, and then her legs as she stepped further into the dark sea. She eventually reached the light, but the water was now to her shoulders. She took a deep breath before plunging under the rolling waves.

Annabeth swam down until she saw the source of the light. A great air bubble sat on the sea floor, inside the bubble was some type of light source. The daughter of Athena approached the bubble and touched it carefully. As her hand touched the bubble, it moved to cover her body. Annabeth panicked, but in just a moment she was sitting inside the bubble. The bubble seemed to be lit by an otherworldly light.

A ball of water the size of a basketball moved into the bubble from the sea above. The water ball hovered in the air in the middle of the air bubble. Annabeth stared at the ball in amazement. Suddenly, a light shone in the water ball. When the light dissipated, Annabeth was faced with the smiling image of her mother, Athena, goddess of wisdom and battle strategy.

At first Annabeth was completely surprised, but then her surprise morphed into joy and relief.

"Mother," she said.

Athena's smile widened at her daughter. Olympus had been closed for nearly three months now and Athena missed her daughter. She had seen her many times after the war, as Annabeth conducted her job as the architect of Olympus.

"Yes, my dear, I'm sorry that I haven't been able to see you," Athena said sadly with a hint of anger in her voice. "My father's paranoia has overtaken his better judgment."

Annabeth smiled at her mother's criticism of Zeus. "If Olympus is closed off, how are you here talking to me?"

Athena seemed to look behind her awkwardly, like someone might be watching her. "Poseidon helped me," Athena said softly.

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Really? I didn't know that the two of you helped each other, except for the chariot that is," she said with a slight hint of amusement in her voice.

"It won't be a recurring event." She clearly picked up on her daughter's amusement at her awkwardness.

"For you and Poseidon to risk Zeus's wrath, this discussion must be important."

Athena smiled at her perceptive daughter. "It's about Perseus."

Annabeth's eyes widened in shock. She looked at her mother with a concerned expression. "Is he okay?" Annabeth said earnestly.

Athena sighed at her daughter's distress. "He is physically fine, maybe better than that." The goddess stared off in the distance as she spoke about her rival's son.

"What do you mean by physically?" Annabeth's eyes were full of concern.

"His memories are gone, but there is something else." It was clear that the goddess of wisdom was trying to find the best way to discuss this sensitive issue.

"Mother, please just tell me," Annabeth urged.

Athena sighed before she continued, "His memories are gone, and Hera and Ares have replaced them with a new identity and new memories."

Annabeth's eyes widened in shock, her face turned red as her anger grew. "Why? Isn't it bad enough that she took him away and stole his memories, but then she has to turn him into someone else?" Her voice was full of anger and sadness.

"They wanted Percy to become the Consul of Rome. They needed to make sure that he would be a great leader. They gave him memories, skills and training to aid him in this goal. Just a day ago, he was appointed as Consul."

"Oh my gods." Annabeth's eyes widened at the news, but quickly narrowed as she bit her lower lip. "Thank you for telling me, but why did you risk so much to give me this news?" It was clear by her tone that she suspected there was something important that she was missing, some piece of information that could answer all the questions racing through her mind.

Athena smiled at her daughter proudly. "Yes, there is something more. I know what Perseus saw when he bathed in the Styx."

Annabeth looked at her mother in shock. "How?"

"Hestia is friendly with the Lady of the Styx. She told her and Hestia relayed the information to me."

"How is that important?" Annabeth was taken aback by how calmly her mother acted about this information.

"You're his link to the mortal world. His memories of you are gone, or at least buried deeply. Without you he will be more like Achilles. He will live for battle and he may even suffer from the great warrior's fatal flaw, arrogance. That is what led to Achilles' downfall."

Annabeth stared down at the ground, avoiding her mother's gaze. "I've lost him."

Athena frowned at her daughter's sad expression and defeated posture. "He is lost now, but you have the power to help him regain his memories. Don't forget that the power of the Styx is strong, possibly even stronger than Hera's power. You're his link to humanity, his connection to what makes him human."

"I can save him?" Annabeth asked. She seemed like a lost little girl at the moment. The pain in Athena's expression was evident as she looked at the suffering in her favorite daughter's eyes.

"You have always been the one to save him. I may be his father's rival, and Perseus may not have been my first choice as a companion to you, but he is a true hero and he loves you," Athena said.

Annabeth looked up at her mother. The girl nodded at the goddess before a smile crossed her lips. "Mother, thank you for telling me, but what can I do? The Argo II is under construction. Chiron has ordered us to stay here until the ship is complete."

A mischievous smile crossed Athena's mouth as she looked at her daughter knowingly. "Obeying orders is good thing most of the time, but even I disobey orders when I know it's the wise thing to do," Athena confessed.

"Thank you, mother. I know what to do."

"Good. I have faith in your judgement. I know you will do what needs to be done," Athena said before her image faded away.

Annabeth broke the bubble and swam to the surface. After a few minutes she reached the beach. Her clothes were soaked, but the daughter of Athena seemed to walk with a new sense of purpose. She strode from the beach with a determined look on her face and shining grey eyes.

"I'll find you Percy, and I swear on the Styx that your memories will be restored."

Castra Semideus

Scipio had only slept for a few hours after he finished his conversation with Reyna. It was still early in the morning as he walked out of his tent. He was dressed in the familiar purple Roman shirt with his black running shorts on. He wasn't wearing any shoes, but he wore his silver ring and an imperial gold necklace with a charm in the shape of a Roman gladius hanging from it. He also wore his gold wrist band. The morning sun was just barely over the horizon as he looked around camp. Some campers were up, but most were still asleep.

Scipio began to jog around the camp. He ignored the curious stares of campers as he passed them by. He ran past Lupa, who just stared at the Consul of Rome as he jogged by her.

This was a normal morning for the cliens of Mars, except for his duties as Consul. Scipio trained hard everyday, but today he also oversaw the preparations for war. The Romans were awed by his dedication to training himself as well as the legions. He spent all morning and the early afternoon training with the warriors of Rome. He taught them new battle techniques and his knowledge of the enemy.

It was nearly mid-afternoon when Lupa found the son of Neptune on the beach, practicing an unusual fighting style. The style was clearly a mix of martial arts and military self-defense training. The son of Neptune glided across the sand as he performed several different maneuvers in quick succession. Once he completed his training, the Consul of Rome sat cross legged in the sand in some type of trance.

Lupa walked up to Scipio quietly, trying to assess the warrior's skills. She managed to get within a short distance of the demigod, only to have him move at lightning speed. The wolf's feet were knocked out from under her as Scipio dropped down on top of her with his fingers clutched around the wolf's furry throat. Scipio's right hand was held in the air ready to land a deadly blow to the wolf's skull.

Lupa just stared at the demigod in surprise. His movements were so quick and fluid that even the reflexes of the immortal wolf were no match for him. Scipio stared at her wide eyed for a moment before quickly releasing his fellow Consul. Scipio stood up and watched as the old wolf rose onto her four legs. She shook off the pain from her bruised throat.

"You shouldn't have snuck up on me, Lupa," Scipio said.

Lupa eyed the demigod warily. "I'll try to remind myself not to do that again," Lupa said as she recovered from the attack. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"It's a mix of martial arts such as Judo, Jujitsu and Ninjitsu," Scipio said. "I learned it at a few of the military schools I went to, plus Mars instructed me as well."

Lupa's eyes widened at the news that Mars himself had taught the son of Neptune. "Dinner will be starting soon. We missed you at breakfast and lunch, Consul."

"I apologize. I wasn't hungry earlier, I wanted to conduct my normal training exercises, plus perform my duties as Consul."

"You train like this every day?" Lupa asked, surprised.

Scipio smiled at the wolf. "For as long as I remember," he said.

"Well, I need you at dinner this evening," Lupa said, expectantly. "We will give you the oath as Consul today, and then officially present you to the legions."

The trumpet sounded, signaling the beginning of dinner. Lupa led Scipio through camp and to the mess hall. Once the two Consuls entered, the legions stood and bowed their heads in respect. Lupa waved for all of them to sit. The two Consuls stood at the front of the Legion tables. Reyna smiled at the son of Neptune, who just nodded in response.

"Legions, before we start with dinner," Lupa announced, "I must administer the oath to Scipio. The Oath of Rome will sanctify him as a Consul of Rome. I ask for all of you to stand."

Scipio stood proudly next to the wolf. He wore the imperial gold headband that signified him as a Consul of Rome.

"Repeat after me," Lupa said. "Ego Scipio Marcellus filius Neptuni et cliens Martis defendere Romanum imperium et populum dejuro. Defendere legiones Romae de hostibus ac tueri usque mortem animum et legem Romae dejuro." Scipio recited the oath word for word. Lupa turned toward the standing legionnaires. "I present to you Scipio Marcellus, Consul of Rome."

Each legionnaire raised their fist into the air and then crossed it in front of their chests in salute to Scipio. "Hail Scipio, Consul of Rome," the legions shouted.

Lupa barked loudly to quiet the legions. "Eat, my children. You will need your strength. Our enemies grow restless. The defense of our home and way of life is at stake." She began to glow, and after a moment she stood before the demigods in her human form. She walked over to the command table with Scipio at her side.

Lupa and Scipio at down across from each other as campers brought them platters of food. "The legions are training, but I sense that you have a plan. Do you mind sharing it?" Lupa asked him curiously.

"I have an idea to improve our chances," Scipio said, "but I will need the Vulcan, Mars, Mercury and Minerva cabins."

"Of course, you shall have their assistance," Lupa said.

"Thank you," Scipio said.

The two finished their dinner in silence as they both contemplated the dangerous events to come. Although the events of this day seemed innocent at best, a major piece of the puzzle of the new great prophecy had fallen into place. That piece would eventually lead to a major change in the lives of both Annabeth Chase, the architect of Olympus, and Scipio Marcellus, Consul of Rome.

AN: No action here, but from now on there will be much more. Another great job by my Beta, Starlit Reader. [StarlitReader sends her apologies for keeping you all waiting.] Here is the translation of the oath, courtesy of Starlit Reader, I, Scipio Marcellus, son of Neptune and cliens of Mars, swear to protect the Roman Empire and its people. I swear to protect the legions of Rome from their enemies and uphold until death the spirit and laws of Rome. Stay tuned more to come.