"Oh, I'm freaking out," he promised, his eyes wide. "I just think it's awesome!"

 

"Yeah, well," I said, "you may not be so excited when you hear what's

happening."

 

I told Paul and my mom about Typhon, and the gods, and the battle that was sure

to come. Then I told them Nico's plan.

 

My mom laced her fingers around her lemonade glass. She was wearing her old blue

flannel bathrobe, and her hair was tied back. Recently she'd started writing a

novel, like she'd wanted to do for years, and I could tell she'd been working on

it late into the night, because the circles under her eyes were darker than

usual.

 

Behind her at the kitchen window, silvery moon lace glowed in the flower box.

I'd brought the magical plant back from Calypso's island last summer, and it

bloomed like crazy under my mother's care.

 

The scent always calmed me down, but it also made me sad because it reminded me

of lost friends.

 

My mom took a deep breath, like she was thinking how to tell me no.

 

"Percy, it's dangerous," she said. "Even for you."