"Mrs. Dodds," I said.

 

She bared her fangs. "Welcome back, honey."

 

Her two sisters — the other Furies — swooped down and settled next to her in the

branches of the poplar.

 

"You know Alecto?" Nico asked me.

 

"If you mean the hag in the middle, yeah," I said. "She was my math teacher."

 

Nico nodded, like this didn't surprise him. He looked up at the Furies and took

a deep breath. "I've done what my father asked. Take us to the palace."

 

I tensed. "Wait a second, Nico. What do you — "

 

"I'm afraid this is my new lead, Percy. My father promised me information about

my family, but he wants to see you before we try the river. I'm sorry."

 

"You tricked me?" I was so mad I couldn't think. I lunged at him, but the Furies

were fast. Two of them swooped down and plucked me up by the arms. My sword fell

out of my hand, and before I knew it, I was dangling sixty feet in the air.

 

"Oh, don't struggle, honey," my old math teacher cackled in my ear. "I'd hate to