We have drakon-fighting classes at camp, but there is no way to prepare yourself

for a two-hundred- foot-long serpent as thick as a school bus slithering down

the side of a building, its yellow eyes like searchlights and its mouth full of

razor-sharp teeth big enough to chew elephants.

 

It almost made me long for the flying pig.

 

Meanwhile, the enemy army advanced down Fifth Avenue. We'd done our best to push

cars out of the way to keep the mortals safe, but that just made it easier for

our enemies to approach. The Party Ponies swished their tails nervously. Chiron

galloped up and down their ranks, shouting encouragement to stand tough and

think about victory and root beer, but I figured any second they would panic and

run.

 

"I'll take the drakon." My voice came out as a timid squeak. Then I yelled

louder: "I'LL TAKE THE DRAKON! Everyone else, hold the line against the army!"

 

Annabeth stood next to me. She had pulled her owl helmet low over her face, but

I could tell her eyes were red.

 

"Will you help me?" I asked.

 

"That's what I do," she said miserably. "I help my friends."