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Chapter no 10 – PIPER

The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus #3)

โ€ŒPiper had trouble falling asleep.โ€Œ

Coach Hedge spent the first hour after curfew doing his nightly duty, walking up and down the passageway yelling, โ€œLights out! Settle down! Try to sneak out, and Iโ€™ll smack you back to Long Island!โ€

He banged his baseball bat against a cabin door whenever he heard a noise, shouting at everyone to go to sleep, which made it impossible forย anyoneย to go to sleep. Piper figured this was the most fun the satyr had had since heโ€™d pretended to be a gym teacher at the Wilderness School.

She stared at the bronze beams on the ceiling. Her cabin was pretty cozy. Leo had programmed their quarters to adjust automatically to the occupantโ€™s preferred temperature, so it was never too cold or too hot. The mattress and the pillows were stuffed with pegasus down (no pegasi were harmed in the making of these products, Leo had assured her), so they were รผber- comfortable. A bronze lantern hung from the ceiling, glowing at whatever brightness Piper wished. The lanternโ€™s sides were perforated with pinholes, so at night glimmering constellations drifted across her walls.

Piper had so many things on her mind, she thought sheโ€™d never sleep. But there was something peaceful about the rocking of the boat and the drone of the aerial oars as they scooped through the sky.

Finally her eyelids got heavy, and she drifted off.

It seemed like only a few seconds had passed before she woke to the breakfast bell.

โ€œYo, Piper!โ€ Leo knocked on her door. โ€œWeโ€™re landing!โ€ โ€œLanding?โ€ She sat up groggily.

Leo opened her door and poked his head in. He had his hand over his eyes, which wouldโ€™ve been a nice gesture if he hadnโ€™t been peeking through his fingers. โ€œYou decent?โ€

โ€œLeo!โ€

โ€œSorry.โ€ He grinned. โ€œHey, nice Power Ranger jammies.โ€ โ€œThey are not Power Rangers! Theyโ€™re Cherokee eagles!โ€

โ€œYeah, sure. Anyway, weโ€™re setting down a few miles outside Topeka, as requested. And, umโ€ฆโ€ He glanced out in the passageway, then leaned inside again. โ€œThanks for not hating me, about blowing up the Romans yesterday.โ€

Piper rubbed her eyes. The feast in New Rome had been only yesterday? โ€œThatโ€™s okay, Leo. You werenโ€™t in control of yourself.โ€

โ€œYeah, but stillโ€ฆyou didnโ€™t have to stick up for me.โ€

โ€œAre you kidding? Youโ€™re like the annoying little brother I never had. Of course Iโ€™ll stick up for you.โ€

โ€œUhโ€ฆthanks?โ€

From above, Coach Hedge yelled, โ€œThar she blows! Kansas, ahoy!โ€

โ€œHoly Hephaestus,โ€ Leo muttered. โ€œHe really needs to work on his shipspeak. Iโ€™d better get above deck.โ€

By the time Piper had showered, changed, and grabbed a bagel from the mess hall, she could hear the shipโ€™s landing gear extending. She climbed on deck and joined the others as theย Argo IIย settled in the middle of a field of sunflowers. The oars retracted. The gangplank lowered itself.

The morning air smelled of irrigation, warm plants, and fertilized earth. Not a bad smell. It reminded Piper of Grandpa Tomโ€™s place in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, back on the reservation.

Percy was the first to notice her. He smiled in greeting, which for some reason surprised Piper. He was wearing faded jeans and a fresh orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, as if heโ€™d never been away from the Greek side. The new clothes had probably helped his moodโ€”and of course the fact that he was standing at the rail with his arm around Annabeth.

Piper was happy to see Annabeth with a sparkle in her eyes, because Piper had never had a better friend. For months, Annabeth had been tormenting herself, her every waking moment consumed with the search for Percy. Now, despite the dangerous quest they were facing, at least she had her boyfriend back.

โ€œSo!โ€ Annabeth plucked the bagel out of Piperโ€™s hand and took a bite, but that didnโ€™t bother Piper. Back at camp, theyโ€™d had a running joke about stealing each otherโ€™s breakfast. โ€œHere we are. Whatโ€™s the plan?โ€

โ€œI want to check out the highway,โ€ Piper said. โ€œFind the sign that says Topeka 32.โ€

Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle, and the sails lowered themselves. โ€œWe shouldnโ€™t be far,โ€ he said. โ€œFestus and I calculated the landing as best we could. What do you expect to find at the mile marker?โ€

Piper explained what sheโ€™d seen in the knifeโ€”the man in purple with a goblet. She kept quiet about the other images, though, like the vision of Percy, Jason, and herself drowning. She wasnโ€™t sure what it meant, anyway; and everyone seemed in such better spirits this morning, she didnโ€™t want to ruin the mood.

โ€œPurple shirt?โ€ Jason asked. โ€œVines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus.โ€ โ€œDionysus,โ€ Percy muttered. โ€œIf we came all the way to Kansas to seeย Mr.

Dโ€”โ€

โ€œBacchus isnโ€™t so bad,โ€ Jason said. โ€œI donโ€™t like his followers much.โ€ฆโ€

Piper shuddered. Jason, Leo, and she had had an encounter with the maenads a few months ago and almost gotten torn to pieces.

โ€œBut the god himself is okay,โ€ Jason continued. โ€œI did him a favor once up in the wine country.โ€

Percy looked appalled. โ€œWhatever, man. Maybe heโ€™s better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didnโ€™t Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?โ€

Frank grunted. The big guy was wearing a blue tracksuit this morning, like he was ready to go for a jog in the sunflowers.

โ€œThe gods havenโ€™t been very good at followingย thatย order,โ€ he noted. โ€œBesides, if the godsย haveย gone schizophrenic like Hazel saidโ€”โ€

โ€œAndย Leoย said,โ€ added Leo.

Frank scowled at him. โ€œThen who knows whatโ€™s going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there.โ€

โ€œSounds dangerous!โ€ Leo agreed cheerfully. โ€œWellโ€ฆyou guys have fun. Iโ€™ve got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Annabethโ€”I could really use your help. Youโ€™re the only other person who evenย sort ofย understands engineering.โ€

Annabeth looked apologetically at Percy. โ€œHeโ€™s right. I should stay and help.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll come back to you.โ€ He kissed her on the cheek. โ€œPromise.โ€ They were so easy together, it made Piperโ€™s heart ache.

Jason was great, of course. But sometimes he acted so distant, like last night, when heโ€™d been reluctant to talk about that old Roman legend. So often he seemed to be thinking of his old life at Camp Jupiter. Piper wondered if she would ever be able to break through that barrier.

The trip to Camp Jupiter, seeing Reyna in person, hadnโ€™t helped. Neither did the fact that Jason had chosen to wear a purple shirt todayโ€”the color of the Romans.

Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail. โ€œI think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles.โ€

โ€œWhy a crow?โ€ Leo asked. โ€œMan, if you can turn into a dragon, why donโ€™t you just turn into a dragon every time? Thatโ€™s the coolest.โ€

Frankโ€™s face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. โ€œThatโ€™s like asking why you donโ€™t bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because itโ€™s hard, and youโ€™d hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isnโ€™t easy.โ€

โ€œOh.โ€ Leo nodded. โ€œI wouldnโ€™t know. I donโ€™t lift weights.โ€ โ€œYeah. Well, maybe you should consider it, Mr.โ€”โ€

Hazel stepped between them.

โ€œIโ€™ll help you, Frank,โ€ she said, shooting Leo an evil look. โ€œI can summon Arion and scout around below.โ€

โ€œSure,โ€ Frank said, still glaring at Leo. โ€œYeah, thanks.โ€

Piper wondered what was going on with those three. The boys showing off for Hazel and razzing each otherโ€”thatย she understood. But it almost seemed

like Hazel and Leo had a history. So far as she knew, theyโ€™d met for the first time just yesterday. She wondered if something else had happened on their trip to the Great Salt Lakeโ€”something they hadnโ€™t mentioned.

Hazel turned to Percy. โ€œJust be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could beย karpoiย on the loose.โ€

โ€œKarpoi?โ€ย Piper asked.

โ€œGrain spirits,โ€ Hazel said. โ€œYou donโ€™t want to meet them.โ€

Piper didnโ€™t see how a grain spirit could be so bad, but Hazelโ€™s tone convinced her not to ask.

โ€œThat leaves three of us to check on the mile marker,โ€ Percy said. โ€œMe, Jason, Piper. Iโ€™m not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But, Jason, if youโ€™re on better terms with himโ€”โ€

โ€œYeah,โ€ Jason said. โ€œIf we find him, Iโ€™ll talk to him. Piper, itโ€™s your vision.

You should take the lead.โ€

Piper shivered. Sheโ€™d seen the three of them drowning in that dark well. Was Kansas where it would happen? That didnโ€™t seem right, but she couldnโ€™t be sure.

โ€œOf course,โ€ she said, trying to sound upbeat. โ€œLetโ€™s find the highway.โ€

Leo had said they were close. His idea of โ€œcloseโ€ needed some work.

After trudging half a mile through hot fields, getting bitten by mosquitoes and whacked in the face with scratchy sunflowers, they finally reached the road. An old billboard for Bubbaโ€™s Gas โ€™nโ€™ Grub indicated they were still forty miles from the first Topeka exit.

โ€œCorrect my math,โ€ Percy said, โ€œbut doesnโ€™t that mean we have eight miles to walk?โ€

Jason peered both ways down the deserted road. He looked better today, thanks to the magical healing of ambrosia and nectar. His color was back to normal, and the scar on his forehead had almost vanished. The newย gladiusย that Hera had given him last winter hung at his belt. Most guys would look pretty awkward walking around with a scabbard strapped to their jeans, but on Jason it seemed perfectly natural.

โ€œNo carsโ€ฆโ€ he said. โ€œBut I guess we wouldnโ€™t want to hitchhike.โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ Piper agreed, gazing nervously down the highway. โ€œWeโ€™ve already

spent too much time going overland. The earth is Gaeaโ€™s territory.โ€ โ€œHmmโ€ฆโ€ Jason snapped his fingers. โ€œI can call a friend for a ride.โ€

Percy raised his eyebrows. โ€œOh, yeah? Me too. Letโ€™s see whose friend gets here first.โ€

Jason whistled. Piper knew what he was doing, but heโ€™d succeeded in summoning Tempest only three times since theyโ€™d met the storm spirit at the Wolf House last winter. Today, the sky was so blue, Piper didnโ€™t see how it could work.

Percy simply closed his eyes and concentrated.

Piper hadnโ€™t studied him up close before. After hearing so much at Camp Half-Blood about Percy Jacksonย thisย and Percy Jacksonย that, she thought he lookedโ€ฆwell, unimpressive, especially next to Jason. Percy was more slender, about an inch shorter, with slightly longer, much darker hair.

He wasnโ€™t really Piperโ€™s type. If sheโ€™d seen him in the mall somewhere, she probably wouldโ€™ve thought he was a skaterโ€”cute in a scruffy way, a little on the wild side, definitely a troublemaker. She would have steered clear. She had enough trouble in her life. But she could see why Annabeth liked him, and she could definitely see why Percy needed Annabeth in his life. If anybody could keep a guy like that under control, it was Annabeth.

Thunder crackled in the clear sky. Jason smiled. โ€œSoon.โ€

โ€œToo late.โ€ Percy pointed east, where a black winged shape was spiraling toward them. At first, Piper thought it might be Frank in crow form. Then she realized it was much too big to be a bird.

โ€œA black pegasus?โ€ she said. โ€œNever seen one like that.โ€

The winged stallion came in for a landing. He trotted over to Percy and nuzzled his face, then turned his head inquisitively toward Piper and Jason.

โ€œBlackjack,โ€ Percy said, โ€œthis is Piper and Jason. Theyโ€™re friends.โ€ The horse nickered.

โ€œUh, maybe later,โ€ Percy answered.

Piper had heard that Percy could speak to horses, being the son of the horse lord Poseidon, but sheโ€™d never seen it in action.

โ€œWhat does Blackjack want?โ€ she asked.

โ€œDonuts,โ€ Percy said. โ€œAlways donuts. He can carry all three of us ifโ€”โ€

Suddenly the air turned cold. Piperโ€™s ears popped. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers like a scene fromย The Wizard of Oz. It touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horseโ€”a misty steed with lightning flickering through its body.

โ€œTempest,โ€ Jason said, grinning broadly. โ€œLong time, my friend.โ€ The storm spirit reared and whinnied. Blackjack backed up skittishly.

โ€œEasy, boy,โ€ Percy said. โ€œHeโ€™s a friend too.โ€ He gave Jason an impressed look. โ€œNice ride, Grace.โ€

Jason shrugged. โ€œI made friends with him during our fight at the Wolf House. Heโ€™s a free spirit, literally, but once in a while he agrees to help me.โ€

Percy and Jason climbed on their respective horses. Piper had never been comfortable with Tempest. Riding full gallop on a beast that could vaporize at any moment made her a bit nervous. Nevertheless, she accepted Jasonโ€™s hand and climbed on.

Tempest raced down the road with Blackjack soaring overhead. Fortunately, they didnโ€™t pass any cars, or they might have caused a wreck. In no time, they arrived at the thirty-two-mile marker, which looked exactly as Piper had seen it in her vision.

Blackjack landed. Both horses pawed the asphalt. Neither looked pleased to have stopped so suddenly, just when theyโ€™d found their stride.

Blackjack whinnied.

โ€œYouโ€™re right,โ€ Percy said. โ€œNo sign of the wine dude.โ€ โ€œI beg your pardon?โ€ said a voice from the fields.

Tempest turned so quickly, Piper almost fell off.

The wheat parted, and the man from her vision stepped into view. He wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed in grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and Birkenstocks with white socks. He looked maybe thirty, with a slight potbelly, like a frat boy who hadnโ€™t yet realized college was over. โ€œDid someone just call me theย wine dude?โ€ he asked in a lazy drawl. โ€œItโ€™s Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-

Gods-Please-Donโ€™t-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus.โ€

Percy urged Blackjack forward, though the pegasus didnโ€™t seem happy about it.

โ€œYou look different,โ€ Percy told the god. โ€œSkinnier. Your hair is longer.

And your shirt isnโ€™t so loud.โ€

The wine god squinted up at him. โ€œWhat in blazes are you talking about?

Who are you, and where is Ceres?โ€ โ€œUhโ€ฆwhat series?โ€

โ€œI think he means Ceres,โ€ Jason said. โ€œThe goddess of agriculture. Youโ€™d call her Demeter.โ€ He nodded respectfully to the god. โ€œLord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma.โ€

Bacchus scratched his stubbly chin. โ€œAhโ€ฆyes. John Green.โ€ โ€œJason Grace.โ€

โ€œWhatever,โ€ the god said. โ€œDid Ceres send you, then?โ€

โ€œNo, Lord Bacchus,โ€ Jason said. โ€œWere you expecting to meet her here?โ€

The god snorted. โ€œWell, I didnโ€™t come to Kansas toย party, my boy. Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gaea rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are spreading. Theย karpoiย are in revolt. Even my grapes arenโ€™t safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war.โ€

โ€œThe plant war,โ€ Percy said. โ€œYouโ€™re going to arm all the little grapes with tiny assault rifles?โ€

The god narrowed his eyes. โ€œHave we met?โ€

โ€œAt Camp Half-Blood,โ€ Percy said, โ€œI know you as Mr. Dโ€”Dionysus.โ€ โ€œAgh!โ€ Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his temples. For a

moment, his image flickered. Piper saw a different personโ€”fatter, dumpier, in a much louder, leopard-patterned shirt. Then Bacchus returned to being Bacchus. โ€œStop that!โ€ he demanded. โ€œStop thinking about me in Greek!โ€

Percy blinked. โ€œUh, butโ€”โ€

โ€œDo you have any idea howย hardย it is to stay focused? Splitting headaches all the time! I never know what Iโ€™m doing or where Iโ€™m going! Constantly grumpy!โ€

โ€œThat sounds pretty normal for you,โ€ Percy said.

The godโ€™s nostrils flared. One of the grape leaves on his hat burst into flame. โ€œIf we know each other from thatย otherย camp, itโ€™s a wonder I havenโ€™t already turned you into a dolphin.โ€

โ€œIt was discussed,โ€ Percy assured him. โ€œI think you were just too lazy to do it.โ€

Piper had been watching with horrified fascination, the way she might watch a car wreck in progress. Now she realized Percy wasย notย making things better, and Annabeth wasnโ€™t around to rein him in. Piper figured her friend would never forgive her if she brought Percy back transformed into a sea mammal.

โ€œLord Bacchus!โ€ she interrupted, slipping off Tempestโ€™s back. โ€œPiper, careful,โ€ Jason said.

She shot him a warning glance:ย Iโ€™ve got this.

โ€œSorry to trouble you, my lord,โ€ she told the god, โ€œbut actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom.โ€

She used her most agreeable tone, pouring respect into her charmspeak. The god frowned, but the purple glow faded in his eyes. โ€œYouโ€™re well-

spoken, girl. Advice, eh? Very well. I would avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-key affair, with locally produced organic snacks andโ€”โ€

โ€œNot about parties,โ€ Piper interrupted. โ€œAlthough thatโ€™s incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping youโ€™d help us on our quest.โ€

She explained about theย Argo IIย and their voyage to stop the giants from awakening Gaea. She told him what Nemesis had said: that in six days, Rome would be destroyed. She described the vision reflected in her knife, where Bacchus offered her a silver goblet.

โ€œSilver goblet?โ€ The god didnโ€™t sound very excited. He grabbed a Diet Pepsi from nowhere and popped the top of the can.

โ€œYou drink Diet Coke,โ€ Percy said.

โ€œI donโ€™t know what youโ€™re talking about,โ€ Bacchus snapped. โ€œAs to this vision of the goblet, young lady, I have nothing for you to drink unless you want a Pepsi. Jupiter has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to minors. Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you know.โ€

โ€œYou can fight?โ€ Percy asked.

Piper wished he hadnโ€™t sounded so incredulous.

Dionysus snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five-foot staff wreathed in ivy, topped with a pinecone.

โ€œAย thyrsus!โ€ Piper said, hoping to distract the god before he whacked

Percy on the head. Sheโ€™d seen weapons like that before in the hands of crazy nymphs, and wasnโ€™t thrilled to see one again, but she tried to sound impressed. โ€œOh, what a mighty weapon!โ€

โ€œIndeed,โ€ Bacchus agreed. โ€œIโ€™m gladย someoneย in your group is smart. The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction! I was a demigod myself in the first Giant War, you know. The son of Jupiter!โ€

Jason flinched. Probably he wasnโ€™t thrilled to be reminded that the Wine Dude was technically his big brother.

Bacchus swung his staff through the air, though his potbelly almost threw him off balance. โ€œOf course that was long before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought side by side with the gods and some other demigodโ€ฆ Harry Cleese, I think.โ€

โ€œHeracles?โ€ Piper suggested politely.

โ€œWhatever,โ€ Bacchus said. โ€œAnyway, I killed the giant Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible boors, those two. Pinecone in the face for both of them!โ€

Piper held her breath. All at once, several ideas came together in her head

โ€”the visions in the knife, the lines of the prophecy theyโ€™d been discussing the night before. She felt like she used to when she was scuba diving with her father, and he would wipe her mask for her underwater. Suddenly, everything was clearer.

โ€œLord Bacchus,โ€ she said, trying to control the nervousness in her voice. โ€œThose two giants, Ephialtes and Otisโ€ฆwould they happen to be twins?โ€

โ€œHmm?โ€ The god seemed distracted by hisย thyrsus-swinging, but he nodded. โ€œYes, twins. Thatโ€™s right.โ€

Piper turned to Jason. She could tell he was following her thoughts:ย Twins snuff out the angelโ€™s breath.

In the blade of Katoptris, sheโ€™d seen two giants in yellow robes, lifting a jar from a deep pit.

โ€œThatโ€™s why weโ€™re here,โ€ Piper told the god. โ€œYouโ€™re part of our quest!โ€

Bacchus frowned. โ€œIโ€™m sorry, my girl. Iโ€™m not a demigod anymore. I donโ€™t

doย quests.โ€

โ€œBut giants can only be defeated by heroes and gods working together,โ€ she insisted. โ€œYouโ€™re a god now, and the two giants we need to face are Ephialtes and Otis. I believe theyโ€™re waiting for us in Rome, ready to destroy the city. The silver goblet I saw in my visionโ€”it might symbolize your help. You have to help us take down the giants!โ€

Bacchus glared at her, and Piper instantly regretted her choice of words. โ€œMy girl,โ€ he said coldly, โ€œI donโ€™t have to do anything. I only assist those who pay me proper tribute, which hasnโ€™t happened in many centuries.โ€

Blackjack whinnied nervously.

Piper couldnโ€™t blame him; she didnโ€™t like the sound of tribute. She recalled the maenads, Bacchus’s wild followers who would tear apart nonbelievers with their bare handsโ€”especially when they were in a good mood.

Percy voiced the question that made Piper uneasy. โ€œWhat kind of tribute?โ€

Bacchus waved his hand dismissively. โ€œNothing you could handle, insolent Greek. But since this girl has some manners, Iโ€™ll offer you a bit of free advice. Seek out Gaeaโ€™s son, Phorcys. He has always despised his motherโ€”who can blame him? He didnโ€™t care much for his twin siblings either. Youโ€™ll find him in the city named after that heroineโ€”Atalanta.โ€

Piper hesitated. โ€œYou mean Atlanta?โ€ โ€œThatโ€™s the one.โ€

โ€œBut this Phorcys,โ€ Jason said. โ€œIs he a giant? A Titan?โ€ Bacchus laughed. โ€œNeither. Seek out the salt water.โ€ โ€œSalt waterโ€ฆโ€ Percy said. โ€œIn Atlanta?โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ Bacchus said. โ€œAre you hard of hearing? If anyone can give you insight on Gaea and the twins, itโ€™s Phorcys. Just watch out for him.โ€

โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€ Jason asked.

The god glanced at the sun, which had climbed almost to high noon. โ€œItโ€™s unlike Ceres to be late, unless she sensed something dangerous in this area. Orโ€ฆโ€

The godโ€™s face suddenly went slack. โ€œOr a trap. Well, I must be going!

And if I were you, Iโ€™d do the same!โ€ โ€œLord Bacchus, wait!โ€ Jason protested.

The god shimmered and disappeared with a sound like a soda-can top

being popped.

The wind rustled through the sunflowers. The horses paced in agitation. Despite the dry, hot day, Piper shivered. A cold feelingโ€ฆAnnabeth and Leo had both described a cold feeling.โ€ฆ

โ€œBacchus is right,โ€ she said. โ€œWe need to leaveโ€”โ€

Too late,ย said a sleepy voice, humming through the fields all around them and resonating in the ground at Piperโ€™s feet.

Percy and Jason drew their swords. Piper stood on the road between them, frozen with fear. The power of Gaea was suddenly everywhere. The sunflowers turned to look at them. The wheat bent toward them like a million scythes.

Welcome to my party,ย Gaea murmured. Her voice reminded Piper of corn growingโ€”a crackling, hissing, hot and persistent noise she used to hear at Grandpa Tomโ€™s on those quiet nights in Oklahoma.

What did Bacchus say?ย the goddess mocked.ย A simple, low-key affair with organic snacks? Yes. For my snacks, I need only two: the blood of a female demigod, and the blood of a male. Piper, my dear, choose which hero will die with you.

โ€œGaea!โ€ Jason yelled. โ€œStop hiding in the wheat. Show yourself!โ€

Such bravado,ย Gaea hissed.ย But the other one, Percy Jackson, also has appeal. Choose, Piper McLean, or I will.

Piperโ€™s heart raced. Gaea meant to kill her. That was no surprise. But what was this about choosing one of the boys? Why would Gaea let either of them go? It had to be a trap.

โ€œYouโ€™re insane!โ€ she shouted. โ€œIโ€™m not choosing anything for you!โ€ Suddenly Jason gasped. He sat up straight in his saddle.

โ€œJason!โ€ Piper cried. โ€œWhatโ€™s wrongโ€”?โ€

He looked down at her, his expression deadly calm. His eyes were no longer blue. They glowed solid gold.

โ€œPercy, help!โ€ Piper stumbled back from Tempest.

But Percy galloped away from them. He stopped thirty feet down the road and wheeled his pegasus around. He raised his sword and pointed the tip toward Jason.

โ€œOne will die,โ€ย Percy said, but the voice wasnโ€™t his. It was deep and

hollow, like someone whispering from inside the barrel of a cannon.ย โ€œI will choose,โ€ย Jason answered, in the same hollow voice. โ€œNo!โ€ Piper yelled.

All around her, the fields crackled and hissed, laughing in Gaeaโ€™s voice as Percy and Jason charged at each other, their weapons ready.

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