She pushed past me and stormed toward the strawberry fields. She hit the

tetherball as she passed and sent it spinning angrily around the pole.

 

I'd like to say my day got better from there. Of course it didn't.

 

That afternoon we had an assembly at the campfire to bum Beckendorfs burial

shroud and say our good-byes. Even the Ares and Apollo cabins called a temporary

truce to attend.

 

Beckendorfs shroud was made out of metal links, like chain mail. I didn't see

how it would bum, but the Fates must've been helping out. The metal melted in

the fire and turned to golden smoke, which rose into the sky. The campfire

flames always reflected the campers' moods, and today they burned black.

 

I hoped Beckendorfs spirit would end up in Elysium. Maybe he'd even choose to be

reborn and try for Elysium in three different lifetimes so he could reach the

Isles of the Blest, which was like the Underworld's ultimate party headquarters.

If anyone deserved it, Beckendorf did.

 

Annabeth left without a word to me. Most of the other campers drifted off to

their afternoon activities.

 

I just stood there staring at the dying fire. Silena sat nearby crying, while

Clarisse and her boyfriend, Chris Rodriguez, tried to comfort her.