easier it is to resist. If you want to sleep millions of mortals, you've got to

cast a very thin layer of magic. Sleeping demigods is much harder."

 

I stared at her. "When did you learn so much about magic?"

 

Silena blushed. "I don't spend all my time on my wardrobe."

 

"Percy," Annabeth called. She was still looking at the shield. "You'd better see

this."

 

The bronze image showed Long Island Sound near La Guardia. A fleet of a dozen

speedboats raced through the dark water toward Manhattan. Each boat was packed

with demigods in full Greek armor. At the back of the lead boat, a purple banner

emblazoned with a black scythe flapped m the night wind. I'd never seen that

design before, but it wasn't hard to figure out: the battle flag of Kronos.

 

"Scan the perimeter of the island," I said. "Quick."

 

Annabeth shifted the scene south to the harbor. A Staten Island Ferry was

plowing through the waves near Ellis Island. The deck was crowded with dracaenae

and a whole pack of hellhounds. Swimming in front of the ship was a pod of

marine mammals. At first I thought they were dolphins. Then I saw their doglike

faces and the swords strapped to their waists, and I realized they were

telkhines — sea demons.