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 look on his face, but I figure he'd earned the right. He patted his son Nico on the shoulders, and Nico looked happier than I'd ever seen him.

Water liked to be free. Given time, water could overcome any barrier, and it hated to be trapped, just like Percy.

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

Apparently, word of the chicken man incident hadn’t spread quite yet.

Most people call it The Book of the Dead,” he told me. “Rich Egyptians were always buried with a copy, so they could have directions through the Duat to the Land of the Dead. It’s like an Idiot’s Guide to the Afterlife.

I can see hope inside it." Rachel ran her fingers over the ceramic designs. "So fragile.

Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?