was alive and young.

 

Somehow, seeing her like this was even spookier than seeing her as a mummy.

 

"You've killed the woman I loved!" Hades roared. "Your prophecy brought us to

this.'"

 

He loomed over the girl, but she didn't flinch.

 

"Zeus ordained the explosion to destroy the children," she said, "because you

defied his will. I had nothing to do with it. And 1 did warn you to hide them

sooner."

 

"I couldn't! Maria would not let me! Besides, they were innocent."

 

"Nevertheless, they are your children, which makes them dangerous. Even if you

put them away in the Lotus Hotel, you only delay the problem. Nico and Bianca

will never be able to rejoin the world lest they turn sixteen."

 

"Because of your so-called Great Prophecy. And you have forced me into an oath

to have no other children. You have left me with nothing!"

 

"I foresee the future," the girl said. "I cannot change it."

 

Black fire lit the god's eyes, and I knew something bad was coming. I wanted to