"Percy," she said. "What did you mean about Luke's mother? Did you meet her?"

 

I nodded reluctantly. "Nico and I visited her. She was a little . . .

different." I described May Castellan, and the weird moment when her eyes had

started to glow and she talked about her son's fate.

 

Annabeth frowned. "That doesn't make sense. But why were you visiting — " Her

eyes widened. "Hermes said you bear the curse of Achilles. Hestia said the same

thing. Did you . . . did you bathe in the River Styx?"

 

"Don't change the subject."

 

"Percy! Did you or not?"

 

"Um . . . maybe a little."

 

I told her the story about Hades and Nico, and how I'd defeated an army of the

dead. I left out the vision of her pulling me out of the river. I still didn't

quite understand that part, and just thinking about it made me embarrassed.

 

She shook her head in disbelief. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

 

"I had no choice," I said. "It's the only way I can stand up to Luke."

 

"You mean . . . di immortales, of course! That's why Luke didn't die. He went to