The god's expression hardened like he'd turned to marble. "You should've left

that subject alone."

 

Annabeth stepped back nervously. "Sorry?"

 

"SORRY doesn't cut it!"

 

George and Martha curled around the caduceus, which shimmered and changed into

something that looked suspiciously like a high-voltage cattle prod.

 

"You should've saved him when you had the chance," Hermes growled at Annabeth.

"You're the only one who could have."

 

I tried to step between them. "What are you talking about? Annabeth didn't — "

 

"Don't defend her, Jackson!" Hermes turned the cattle prod toward me. "She knows

exactly what I'm talking about."

 

"Maybe you should blame yourself!" I should've kept my mouth shut, but all I

could think about was turning his attention away from Annabeth. This whole time,

he hadn't been angry with me. He'd been angry with her. "Maybe if you hadn't

abandoned Luke and his mom!"

 

Hermes raised his cattle prod. He began to grow until he was ten feet tall. I

thought, Well, that's it.