I wanted to protest, but everybody was looking at me expectantly, even Annabeth.

 

I took a deep breath. "Okay, like I told Annabeth on the phone, something bad is

going to happen by tonight. Some kind of trap. We've got to get an audience with

Zeus and convince him to defend the city.

 

Remember, we can't take no for an answer."

 

I asked Argus to watch Mrs. O'Leary, which neither of them looked happy about.

 

Chiron shook my hand. "You'll do well, Percy. Just remember your strengths and

beware your weaknesses."

 

It sounded eerily close to what Achilles had told me. Then I remembered Chiron

had taught Achilles.

 

That didn't exactly reassure me, but I nodded and tried to give him a confident

smile.

 

"Let's go," I told the campers.

 

A security guard was sitting behind the desk in the lobby, reading a big black

book with a flower on the cover. He glanced up when we all filed in with our

weapons and armor clanking. "School group? We're about to close up."