"No," I said. "Don't . . ."

 

My mother could see through the Mist. I could tell from her expression that she

understood how serious things were. I hoped she would have the sense to run. But

she locked eyes with me, said something to Paul, and they ran straight toward

us.

 

I couldn't call out. The last thing I wanted to do was bring her to Kronos's

attention.

 

Fortunately, Hades caused a distraction. He charged at the wall of force, but

his chariot crashed against it and overturned. He got to his feet, cursing, and

blasted the wall with black energy. The barrier held.

 

"ATTACK!" he roared.

 

The armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded

into absolute chaos.

 

Mortals screamed and ran for cover. Demeter waved her hand and an entire column

of giants turned into a wheat field. Persephone changed the dracaenae's spears

into sunflowers. Nico slashed and hacked his way through the enemy, trying to

protect the pedestrians as best he could. My parents ran toward me, dodging

monsters and zombies, but there was nothing I could do to help them.