Like now, I thought. Looking at my helpless parents.

 

I imagined Prometheus smiling, so anxious to help out us poor mortals. Give up

Hope, and I will know that you are surrendering. I promise Kronos will be

lenient.

 

Anger surged through me. I drew Riptide and cut through the driver's side window

like it was made of plastic wrap.

 

"We'll put the car in neutral," I said. "Push them out of the way. And take that

stupid jar to Olympus."

 

Chiron nodded. "A good plan. But, Percy ..."

 

Whatever he was going to say, he faltered. A mechanical drumbeat grew loud in

the distance — the chop-chop-chop of a helicopter.

 

On a normal Monday morning in New York, this would've been no big deal, but

after two days of silence, a mortal helicopter was the oddest thing I'd ever

heard. A few blocks east, the monster army shouted and jeered as the helicopter

came into view. It was a civilian model painted dark red, with a bright green

"DE" logo on the side. The words under the logo were too small to read, but I

knew what they said: DARE ENTERPRISES.

 

My throat closed up. I looked at Annabeth and could tell she recognized the logo