Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Really? Good." She glanced at Blackjack, who was

clopping his hooves against the hood of the Prius. "So I guess you guys have to

go save the world now."

 

"Pretty much," Beckendorf agreed.

 

I looked at Rachel helplessly. "Would you tell my mom — "

 

"I'll tell her. I'm sure she's used to it. And I'll explain to Paul about the

hood."

 

I nodded my thanks. I figured this might be the last time Paul loaned me his

car.

 

"Good luck." Rachel kissed me before I could even react. "Now, get going,

half-blood. Go kill some monsters for me."

 

My last view of her was sitting in the shotgun seat of the Prius, her arms

crossed, watching as Blackjack circled higher and higher, carrying Beckendorf

and me into the sky. I wondered what Rachel wanted to talk to me about, and

whether I'd live long enough to find out.

 

"So," Beckendorf said, "I'm guessing you don't want me to mention that little

scene to Annabeth."