harmlessly into his robe. "You should be helping Olympus!" I said. "All the

other gods are fighting Typhon, and you're just sitting here—"

 

"Waiting things out," Hades finished. "Yes, that's correct. When's the last time

Olympus ever helped me, half-blood? When's the last time a child of mine was

ever welcomed as a hero? Bah! Why should I rush out and help them? I'll stay

here with my forces intact."

 

"And when Kronos comes after you?"

 

"Let him try. He'll be weakened. And my son here, Nico — " Hades looked at him

with distaste. "Well, he's not much now, I'll grant you. It would've been better

if Bianca had lived. But give him four more years of training. We can hold out

that long, surely. Nico will turn sixteen, as the prophecy says, and then he

will make the decision that will save the world. And I will be king of the

gods."

 

"You're crazy," I said. "Kronos will crush you, right after he finishes

pulverizing Olympus."

 

Hades spread his hands. "Well, you'll get a chance to find out, half-blood.

Because you'll be waiting out this war in my dungeons."

 

"No!" Nico said. "Father, that wasn't our agreement. And you haven't told me

everything!"