Paul shrugged. "It seemed like the thing to do. But Percy, is this really ... I

mean, this story about the six hundredth floor?"

 

"Olympus," I said. "Yeah."

 

Paul looked at the ceiling with a dreamy expression. "I'd like to see that."

 

"Paul," my mom chided. "It's not for mortals. Anyway, the important thing is

we're safe. All of us."

 

I was about to relax. Everything felt perfect. Annabeth and I were okay. My mom

and Paul had survived. Olympus was saved.

 

But the life of a demigod is never so easy. Just then Nico ran in from the

street, and his face told me something was wrong.

 

"It's Rachel," he said. "I just ran into her down on 32nd Street."

 

Annabeth frowned. "What's she done this time?"

 

"It's where she's gone," Nico said. "I told her she would die if she tried, but

she insisted. She just took Blackjack and — "

 

"She took my pegasus?" I demanded.