Even from far away, I could see people being chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches or listen to opera music.

He offered to stop the tide for me once. He offered to build me a palace at the bottom of the sea.

I wondered if Olympus had gone to a commercial break, or if our ratings had been any good.

The Feast of Fortuna had nothing to do with tuna, which was fine with Percy.

It’s hard to look in charge when you’re hunched over like Quasimodo.

The Romans always wanted bread and circuses-food and entertainement! As we destroy their city, I will offer them both. Behold, a sample!" Someething dropped from the ceiling and landed at Percy's feet: a loaf of sandwich bread in a white plastic wrapper with red and yellow dots. Percy picked it up. "Wonder bread?" "Magnificent, isn't it?" Ephialtes eyes danced with crazy excitement.

You want to know how Egyptians pulled the brains out of mummies. or built the pyramids, or cursed King Tut's tomb? My dad's your man.