blast was so powerful I knew it could only be one thing: Zeus's master bolt. It

should have vaporized its target, but the dark cloud only staggered backward. A

smoky fist appeared out of the clouds. It smashed another tower, and the whole

thing collapsed like children's blocks.

 

The reporter screamed. People ran through the streets. Emergency lights flashed.

I saw a streak of silver in the sky — a chariot pulled by reindeer, but it

wasn't Santa Claus driving. It was Artemis, riding the storm, shooting shafts of

moonlight into the darkness. A fiery golden comet crossed her path . . . maybe

her brother Apollo.

 

One thing was clear: Typhon had made it to the Mississippi River. He was halfway

across the U.S., leaving destruction in his wake, and the gods were barely

slowing him down.

 

The mountain of darkness loomed above me. A foot the size of Y ankee Stadium was

about to smash me when a voice hissed, "Percy! "

 

I lunged out blindly. Before I was fully awake, I had Nico pinned to the floor

of the cell with the edge of my sword at his throat.

 

"Want . . . to . . . rescue," he choked.

 

Anger woke me up fast. "Oh, yeah? And why should I trust you?"