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

Story: Divided Soul

Chapter 42: The Truth

Yellowstone National Park – Battlefield

"Percy," Annabeth yelled as she rushed to her boyfriend's side. She felt for a pulse; she found a soft, but steady one. She sighed. She shook him, but he wouldn't wake up. Athena was at her daughter's side along with Poseidon. "His heart is still beating."

Athena and Poseidon stared at the son of Poseidon in wonder.

"That's not possible," Scipio yelled. He rushed forward, but a god stood in his path. Scipio narrowed his eyes at Ares before the god of war shifted into his Roman form. "Mars, stay out of this."

Mars's fiery red eyes burned through his sun glasses before the plastic lenses melted and dripped to the ground. "I am his patron; you will stay away from him," he warned.

Scipio held his sword out with the point toward the chest of the war god. "This is our fight Mars; you can't interfere," he said arrogantly.

"You won the fight, but you will not take his life. You stabbed his Achilles spot; he's in the hands of the Fates now," Mars explained.

"I don't care; he has to die," Scipio growled. He lunged toward Mars, but the god of war blocked his strike with his own sword. The blades struck sending a shockwave out in a tight circle from the combatants. Mars and Scipio both held their ground as their blades pressed together.

Mars led Scipio away from Percy and the others. The two armies followed; they stood on opposite sides as they watched the war god fight the demigod. Scipio was faster than Mars; it was a fact not lost on the Roman war god.

"How are you so fast?" Mars asked curiously.

"You thought Percy was the only child of Rome and Greece?" Scipio asked with a wry smile on his face.

"I should have known," Mars huffed as he sliced his blade toward Scipio's head only to be blocked by the demigod's blade.

Poseidon and Athena watched the fight between Mars and Scipio. They were astonished when they heard that Scipio was Roman and Greek as well. "No wonder he won?" Athena said.

Poseidon gave her a skeptical look. Athena's eyes doubled in size when she realized what the look meant. Was Scipio the son of Styx as well? She shrugged her shoulders; the gesture left the sea god with a sad pain in his chest. He looked back at Percy and Annabeth.

Annabeth stared up into the sea green eyes of the god of the sea; his eyes were almost identical to Percy's. "I think he's in a coma," Annabeth said. A bright golden light appeared between Poseidon and Annabeth. The daughter of Athena looked away as Apollo appeared beside Percy.

Poseidon gave Apollo a slight nod and a look that begged for his help. Apollo smiled before he placed his hand over Percy's body. Percy's body glowed. "I've healed the wound in his Achilles spot. I don't know how it healed, but it did. He's in a coma and I don't know why," Apollo explained sadly.

Athena turned away from the battle when she heard Apollo speak. "His mortal point should not have healed, but even so, the damage has been done. As Mars said, he's in the hands of the Fates now," Athena said.

Annabeth looked at her mother before the tears began to fall. Athena had rarely seen her daughter cry, but she knew this was a special case. Annabeth had already lost Percy once and finally got him back against all odds and now she might lose him again. Athena moved beside her daughter and carefully pulled her into a hug. Athena was not a hugger, but even Poseidon would have to admit that she loved and cared for her children.

Poseidon stood before his trident appeared in his hand. Athena and Annabeth looked up at him. "What are you doing?" Athena asked.

Poseidon looked down at his old rival. "I'm sorry for our rivalry Athena. I'm sorry for the stupid and terrible things I did in the name of our feud. Scipio is my responsibility, even more so than Mars," he said.

Athena stared up at Poseidon with a surprised expression on her face. She never thought he would apologize to her. For one of the first times in her life she felt fear. "You can't beat him," she said.

Poseidon looked down at the wisdom goddess. "Mars can't do it alone," he said simply.

Athena frowned at his reason. "Why do you care about Mars?" she asked.

Poseidon gave her an amused smirk. "I don't, but I won't let Scipio win," Poseidon said before he gave her a sad smile. He raised his trident and charged into battle.

Scipio could sense the sea god's attack before he even charged. The sixth sense that he had created with a magic spell he stole from Hecate never let him down. He spun to the side as Poseidon passed him and hit Mars head on. The two gods fell to the ground hard. "Fool, you played into my hands," Scipio said.

The two gods rolled away from each other. Gold ichor poured from a wound in Poseidon's shoulder where he ran into Mars's blade. Mars cursed out loud as he limped with a badly injured leg.

"Surrender and your ends will be swift," Scipio said as he spun his sword around playfully.

"I won't surrender," Mars said. He looked at Poseidon; the Greek god nodded. They both turned back to Scipio and charged.

Mars slashed with his sword, but Scipio ducked under the slash and used his sword to deflect a stab from Poseidon's trident. He spun around as Mars passed him and kicked the war god in his injured leg. A loud snap echoed through the valley as the war god's knee shattered. Mars screamed and fell to the ground.

Poseidon turned and faced his son from a different reality. "You can stop this fight; you're still my son," Poseidon said.

Scipio laughed. "I'm not your son. The Poseidon or Neptune from my world died pleading for forgiveness," Scipio said.

"You killed him?" Poseidon asked with a horrified look on his face.

Scipio smiled fiendishly. He raised his Adamantine sword into the air. "This sword was forged in the hellfire of Tartarus and cooled with the blood of a Golden Hind," he explained. Poseidon's eyes narrowed as he realized the power of the sword. "Yes, this blade will tear the soul of an immortal from his or her body. The same way Kronos's scythe can do to a mortal.

"I'm not afraid of you," Poseidon said.

Scipio's crooked grin spread across his face. "Neither was the other Poseidon, until I looked into his eyes as his soul was ripped from his body," Scipio said. He looked at the other gods and even toward the Giants. "Now you see my true power."

Percy's Mind

Percy lay on a sandy beach near a familiar river. The dark blue water of the stream radiated with power. Power that was unmatched by any other body of water in the world; this was the River Styx.

Percy opened his eyes and looked around. He knew he was in the underworld, but something felt wrong. He looked at his hands and the rest of his body, but he didn't look like a ghost.

"You're not dead," a familiar woman's voice said.

"Lady Styx?" he asked.

Percy sat up and looked towards the river. A beautiful woman in a black dress walked toward him. Her hair was coal black and she had dark blue eyes the color of the river. Her skin was pale white, but her smile made her face light up with happiness. He wasn't sure the reason for her good spirits, but he knew he'd find out soon enough.

He stood up and then bowed to the goddess. "My lady," he said.

"Please stand my boy," Styx said.

Percy stood and looked at the goddess expectantly. "If I'm still alive how can I be here?" he asked.

"You're here in your mind alone my boy," Styx explained.

"I was stabbed in my mortal spot; I should be dead."

Styx laughed. "You forgot what I told you. As long as you hang on to the two things that you live for, then my river holds no sway over you."

"I don't understand." Percy looked at her strangely.

Styx couldn't help but laugh louder. "You bathed in my river twice, but the second time the river entered your bloodstream. You are more than a demigod, much more than a child of both Rome and Greece."

Percy's face paled. "Am I immortal?"

Styx's smile faded. "Only if you choose to be."

Percy's face turned red with anger. "What in Hades does that mean?"

Styx frowned at his tone. "Do not lose your temper; I'm not one to be disrespected."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand."

Styx sighed as she waved her hand; two boulders appeared on the sandy shore of the river. "Have a seat Percy." Percy and Styx sat on the two boulders and faced each other. It was clear to Percy that the goddess had something important to tell him. "Percy, I need to talk to you about your mother."

"She's okay; Gaea didn't hurt her?" Percy stared at the goddess desperately. His face broke her heart.

"No, she is fine more than fine." She smiled in hopes that it would reassure the young man before her.

"What about my mom then?"

A light shone around the goddess and Percy had to turn away because of how bright it was. When he looked back he stared into the light blue eyes of his mother. Her dark brown hair flowed over her shoulders and she wore a white summer dress.

"Mom" Percy said.

"Yes, I am your mother," Sally said, but her voice was that of Lady Styx.

Percy scowled. "This isn't funny Lady Styx," Percy said with a hint of anger in his voice.

Sally smiled at her son sadly. "It really is me," Sally said, but this time it was her voice.

Percy just stared at her in shock. He couldn't wrap his mind around what he saw or heard. "This isn't funny, my mom is in New York," Percy said.

Sally's smile widened. "We're in your mind; you can will me to be whatever you choose," Sally said.

Percy tried to focus on Sally and turn her back into Styx, but it wouldn't work. "Why doesn't it work?" he huffed in frustration.

"Because I'm not a memory or a vision; I'm truly here in your mind," Sally said.

"My mother doesn't have the power to do that," Percy replied. Sally nodded. Percy's face paled as he reasoned out the answer. "You're Styx; you're really here."

Sally nodded before she turned back into the Raven haired form of the goddess. "Yes, but I'm also Sally," she said as she sent images and memories flowing through Percy's mind. They were memories that his mother would only know.

"My Lady, you're my mom." Percy looked down at the ground. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Styx nodded. She didn't smile. Her face was sad, but she was resigned to whatever impact this news would have on her son. "Yes, I am your mother." Percy looked up at her; he had tears in his eyes. "I didn't tell you because it was forbidden. My sisters the Fates have strict rules, but now those rules must be put aside for the greater good."

Percy's mouth hung open. "What about Paul?"

Styx smiled. She loved that her son would think of his stepfather first. "I love him and I will stay married to him."

"How can you marry a mortal?"

Styx leaned forward on the stone that she sat on. Percy followed her lead. "Once every thousand years I take on the persona of a mortal and live a life outside of my realm." Percy just stared at her in wonder. "I became Sally Jackson and I fell in love with Poseidon. I never expected to have a child, but I did. You are my first child in the many millennia of my life."

"You have no other children?"

Styx nodded. "You are my only son and I'm so proud of you."

Percy smiled at that. "I can't figure out how I didn't know."

"As Sally, I am truly a mortal. I will eventually die and return to my river as the goddess."

"Why do you do it?"

Styx looked at her son thoughtfully for a moment before she said, "I'm the goddess of mortality. I need to understand it."

"It's that simple, huh?"

"You sound like a certain wisdom goddess," Styx said with a sly smile. "Or maybe, a certain daughter of the goddess." Percy's face turned red. Styx laughed at her son's embarrassment. She reached forward and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm proud that you love Annabeth so."

Percy didn't flinch at her touch. Instead, he looked at her hand and marveled at how the touch reminded him of Sally's. "You feel like Sally," Percy observed.

A warm smile spread across Styx's face. "I am Sally, never forget that. You are a part of the river and it is a part of you."

Percy looked around at his surroundings. "Why can't I wake up?"

"You will once you've learned everything."

Percy stared at his mother curiously. "What do I need to learn?"

"Scipio is Greek and Roman as well." Percy stared as his mother with an surprised expression. "However, you can still beat him."

"How?" Percy eyed his mother worriedly.

"I am your mother and the power of the Styx flows through you and your sword."

Percy pulled Riptide out of his pocket and looked at it. "We're connected as well."

Styx smiled at her son's reasoning. "Yes, Riptide is a part of you now." Styx shifted slightly on her rock. "The more force exerted against you or the sword; the stronger you will become. However, beware that you don't over exert yourself; it can cause you intense pain and injury."

"Why was Scipio so strong? It can't be just because of the fact he's of both pantheons."

"Very good, he's used magic to gain a special ability. He can sense danger when it approaches him; a sixth sense as the mortals call it."

"There's more isn't there?"

Styx frowned at the question. "He's immortal."

"What?" Percy stood up. "How is that possible?"

Styx stood up as well. "He ate an apple from the Garden of the Hesperides."

Percy paced in front of her. "How can I stop him?"

Styx held both of her son's shoulders as he came to a halt. "I am the goddess of mortality and you defeated an immortal in my river. The river can take away mortality or immortality. You must figure the way to use it." A fine white mist began to pour into Percy's dream or vision. Styx looked around frantically. "My time is up. My sisters only gave me a short time to talk to you. You have the power to defeat Scipio." The mist closed in around Percy. "As a son of two gods you would normally be a godling, but you are not."

"What am I then?" Percy couldn't see his mom anymore. "Mom"

"You can choose who you wish to be." Those were the last words before Percy's dream ended.

Yellowstone – Battlefield

Percy's eyes opened. Annabeth, Apollo and Athena gasped at the sight. He sat up and looked at the three people beside him. Annabeth pulled him into a tight embrace as she cried into his shirt. Percy pulled out of the hug and wiped her eyes. "Don't cry; I never want to see you cry," Percy said.

Annabeth smiled up at him. "Then don't get yourself killed," she yelled before she punched him in the arm.

Percy didn't even act like it hurt because at that moment a horrible scream echoed through the valley. Percy and the others turned towards the location of the scream to see the god of the sea on his knees with a sword sticking out of his chest; it was Scipio's sword.

AN: Stay tuned more to come.