The rivalry ends here,” Percy said. “I love you, Wise Girl.

The plan had three phases: dangerous, really dangerous and insanely dangerous.

Always happens with men. They promise friendship. They promise to treat you as an equal. In the end, all they want is to possess you.

Think long and hard about how you proceed, Nico di Angelo. You cannot lie to Cupid. If you let your anger rule you… well, your fate will be even sadder then mine.

No,” Frank said. “I’m only a centurion.”Jason cursed in Latin. “He means he can’t control a whole legion. He’s not of high enough rank.”Nico swung back his black sword at another gryphon. “Well, then, promote...

Frank, how did you do that?” Jason yelled.Frank’s head swam with pain. He forced himself not to pass out. “I’m the ranking Roman officer,” he said. “They- uh, they don’t recognize you. Sorry.”Jason grimaced, but...

Once the others were below, Hazel and Leo faced each other awkwardly. They were alone except for Coach Hedge, who was back on the quarterdeck singing the Pokémon theme song. The coach had changed the...

Is this guy Love or Death?” Jason growled.Ask your friends, Cupid said. Frank, Hazel, and Percy met my counterpart, Thanatos. We are not so different. Except Death is sometimes kinder.

Nico drank from the chalice, then offered it to Jason. “You asked me about trust, and taking a risk? Well, here you go, son of Jupiter. How much do you trust me?”Frank wasn’t sure what...

Nico drew his sword. His smile was even more unsettling than his scowl.”Underground,” he said. “My favorite place.”Underground was not Jason’s favorite place.

My point,” Jason said, “is that blaming each other isn’t going to solve anything. That’s how the Romans and the Greeks got divided in the first place.

So now I get the scepter?” Jason asked.Cupid laughed. Unfortunately, you could not wield it. Only a child of the Underworld can summon the dead legions. And only an officer of Rome can lead them.

Tempting,” Percy called down.

Nico, you can do this,” Jason said. “It might be embarrassing, but it’s for the scepter.”Nico didn’t look convinced. In fact he looked like he was going to be sick. But he squared his shoulders...

Yeah, okay. But, Nico, you do choose how to live your life. You want to trust somebody? Maybe take a risk that I’m really your friend and I’ll accept you. It’s better than hiding.

Poor Nico di Angelo. The god’s voice was tinged with disappointment. Do you know what you want, much less what I want? My beloved Psyche risked everything in the name of Love. It was the...

Percy smiled. He knew the stakes were high. He knew this day could go horribly wrong. But he also knew that Annabeth was on that ship.If things went right, this would be the best day...

hermes has threatened me with slow mail. lousy Internet service and a horrible stock market if i publish this story. I hope he is just bluffing.

Please, Percy…change your clothes. You smell like you’ve been run over by an electric horse.

Love is on every side, Cupid said. And no one’s side. Don’t ask what Love can do for you.”Great,” Jason said. “Now he’s spouting greeting card messages.

Forget the chicken-nugget smoke screen. Percy wanted Leo to invent an anti-dream hat.

Nico’s voice was like broken glass. “I- I wasn’t in love with Annabeth.””You were jealous of her,” Jason said. “That’s why you didn’t want to be around her. Especially why you don’t want to be...