"I won't," I said. "1 promise."

 

Luke nodded, and his hand went slack.

 

The gods arrived a few minutes later in their full war regalia, thundering into

the throne room and expecting a battle.

 

What they found were Annabeth, Grover, and me standing over the body of a broken

half-blood, in the dim warm light of the hearth.

 

"Percy," my father called, awe in his voice. "What . . . what is this?"

 

I turned and faced the Olympians.

 

"We need a shroud," I announced, my voice cracking. "A shroud for the son of

Hermes."

 

TWENTY

 

WE WIN FABULOUS PRIZES

 

The Three Fates themselves took Luke's body.

 

I hadn't seen the old ladies in years, since I'd witnessed them snip a life

thread at a roadside fruit stand when I was twelve. They'd scared me then, and