I am Persephone” she said, her voice thin and papery. “Welcome, demigods.Nico squashed a pomegranate under his boot. “Welcome? After last time, you’ve got the nerve to welcome me?”I shifted uneasily, because talking that way...

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...

Still hiding, Cupid said, smashing another skeleton to pieces. You do not have the strength.”Nico,” Jason managed to say, “it’s okay. I get it.”Nico glanced over, pain and misery washing across his face.”No you don’t,”...

He remembered how nice the kids at Camp Half-Blood had been to him after the war with Kronos. Great job, Nico! Thanks for bringing the armies of the Underworld to save us! Everybody smiled. They...

I looked down at my clothes. They were slashed to pieces and full of bullet holes, but I was fine. Not a mark on me.Nico’s mouth hung open. “You just . . . with a...

Nico di Angelo came into Olympus to a hero’s welcome, his father right behind him, despite the fact that Hades was only supposed to visit Olympus in winter solstice. The God of the dead looked...

The two of them looked so comfortable together it made Nico glad. But it also it caused an ache in his heart – a ghostly pain, like an old war wound throbbing in bad weather.

You promised you would protect her Nico said. He might as well have stabbed me with a rusty dagger.It would’ve hurt less than reminding me of my promise.

Whoa,” said Nico as he climbed off the bus. “Is that a climbing wall?””Yeah,” I (Percy) said.”Why is there lava pouring down it?””Little extra challenge…” – Percy

Nothing?” Favonius cried. “The one you care for most… plunged into Tartarus, and you still will not allow the truth?”Suddenly Jason felt like he was eavedropping. The one you care for most.

The wind god Favonius had warned him in Croatia: If you let your anger rule you … your fate will be even sadder than mine. But how could his fate be anything but sad? Even...

Percy is the most powerful demigod I’ve ever met. No offense to you guys but it’s true.

She’d expected some backlash; it happened every time she shared her strength. But she hadn’t anticipated so much raw anguish from Nico di Angelo… If this was only a portion of Nico’s pain… how could...

He scowled at Jason. “And please, I don’t like being touched. Don’t ever grab me again.

Nico wasn’t sure whether to kick himself or Will Solace. If he hadn’t been so distracted bickering with the son of Apollo, he would never have allowed the enemy to get so close.

Jason always tried to build a good relationship with his team. He’d learned the hard way that if somebody was going to have your back in a fight, it was better if you found some...

So,’ Nico said, ‘since we’re going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air.’ Percy’s smile wavered. ‘What do you mean?

Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea. If I’d known what was coming, I would’ve called in sick. I could’ve avoided an army of demons, a fight with a Titan, and a trick that...

I will see you again,’ Hades promised. ‘I will prepare a room for you at the palace in case you do not survive. Perhaps your chambers would look good decorated with the skulls of monks.’...

Grover and Nico came back from their walk, and Grover helped me fix up my wounded arm.”It’s green!” Nico said with delight.

As for my brothers,’ Zeus said, ‘we are thankful -‘ he cleared his throat, like the words were hard to get out – ‘erm, thankful for the aid of Hades.’ The Lord of the Dead...

Nico di Angelo ran up to me with a big grin on his face.”Percy, this is awesome!” His blue-feathered bronze helmet was falling in his eyes, and his breastplate was about six sizes too big....

Nico didn’t like to be touched, but somehow this brief contact with his father felt reassuring – the same way the Chapel of Bones was reassuring. Like death, his father’s presence was cold and often...

not giving people a second thought…that can be dangerous.

Hades allowed himself the faintest smile, but there was nothing cruel in his eyes. ‘I can entertain the possibility that you acted for multiple reasons. My point is this: you and I rose to the...

I still don’t get it” Coach Hedge muttered as they roamed the centre aisle. “They named a whole town after Leo’s table?””I think the town was here first, Coach” Nico said.

Hey, can I see that sword you were using?”I showed him Riptide, and explained how it turned from a pen into a sword just by uncapping it.”Cool! Does it ever run out of ink?””Um, well,...

Oh, he’s not like that,” said Favonius.Jason flinched. “You can read my mind?””I don’t need to.” Favonius tossed his bronze hoop in the air. “Everyone has the wrong impression of Cupid… until they meet him.

Nico scowled. ‘It’s none of your business, but I don’t belong. That’s obvious. No one wants me. I’m a child of –’ ‘Oh, please.’ Will sounded unusually angry. ‘Nobody at Camp Half-Blood ever pushed you...

Really? That would be a first. I’m the son of Hades, Jason. I might as well be covered in blood or sewage, the way people treat me. I don’t belong anywhere. I’m not even from...

He looked at the silver pocketknife in his hand. An idea came to him – possibly the stupidest, craziest idea he’d had since he thought, Hey, I’ll get Percy to swim in the River Styx!...

It’s more than that.’ Reyna rested her hand on Nico’s. ‘While you were asleep, I did a lot ofthinking. What I told you about my father … I’d never shared that with anyone. I guess...

As for my brothers,” Zeus said, “we are thankful”-he cleared his throat like the words were hard to get out-“erm, thankful for the aid of Hades.”The lord of the dead nodded. He had a smug...

Please tell me your master isn’t Aeolus.””That airhead?” Favonius snorted. “No, of course not.””He means Eros.” Nico’s voice turned edgy. “Cupid, in Latin.”Favonius smiled. “Very good, Nico di Angelo. I’m glad to see you again,...

I don’t feel that way anymore,” Nico muttered. “I mean… I gave up on Percy. I was young and impressionable, and I- I don’t…”His voice cracked, and Jason could tell the guy was about to...

Jason’s fingers itched to draw his sword. He’d met plenty of scary demigods, but he was starting to realize that Nico di Angelo–as pale and gaunt as he looked–might be more than he could handle.

He remembered Apollo, smiling and tanned and completely cool in his shades. Thalia had said, He’s hot. He’s the sun god, Percy replied. That’s not what I meant. Why was Nico thinking about that now?...

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.

Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson protecting them from a manticore. Percy’s sword gleamed in the dark. He’d been the first demigod...

We need music,” Nico said. “How’s your singing?””Um, no. Can’t you just, like, tell it to open? You’re the son of Hades and all.””It’s not so easy. We need music.”I was pretty sure if I...

Don’t talk to my sister that way.” Nico said. His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all. — Percy

It’s not mind-reading,’ she said. ‘Not even an empathy link. Just … a temporary wave of exhaustion. Primal emotions. Your pain washes over me. I take on some of your burden.’Nico’s expression became guarded. He...

Frank heard a laugh behind him. He glanced back and couldn’t believe what he saw. Nico di Angelo was actually smiling.”That’s more like it,” Nico said. “Let’s turn this tide!

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.

Nico studied his face – his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on.

Percy scowled. “I-I know you.”Nico raised his eyebrows. “Do you?

I (Percy) set Nico on guard duty with Beckendorf and the Stoll brothers, figuring he’d be safely out of the way….”What’s happening?” Nico demanded, trying to climb up next to me.

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...

With great power… comes need to take a nap. Wake me up later

Please!’ That word didn’t make sense to Nico. The Underworld had no mercy. It only had justice. ‘You’re already dead,’ Nico said. ‘You’re a ghost with no tongue, no memory. You won’t be sharing any...