ID 1: ‘I’ll take point,’ I said. ‘You’ve got the invisibility hat.’ / She nodded. We’d fought together so many times we knew each other’s moves. We could do this, easy.
ID 2: The dragons lunged. Leo and Jason charged to intercept. Piper was amazed how fearlessly the boys attacked—working like a team who had trained together for years.
ID 3: “Remind me again—why do you hate me so much?” / “I don’t hate you.” / “Could’ve fooled me.” She folded her cap of invisibility. “Look . . . we’re just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals.”
ID 4: “I try very hard to be annoying,” Leo said. “Don’t insult my ability to annoy. And how am I supposed to resent you if you go apologizing? I’m a lowly mechanic. You’re like the prince of the sky, son of the Lord of the Universe. I’m supposed to resent you.”
ID 5: ‘WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?’ Annabeth interrupted, shoving aside the other campers. I thought she was going to punch me, but instead she hugged me so fiercely she nearly cracked my ribs. The other campers fell silent. Annabeth seemed to realize she was making a scene and pushed me away. ‘I – we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!’ / ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I got lost.’
ID 6: Leo was heartsick. / As the others grabbed chairs from the nearby tables, Jason leaned in and squeezed his friend’s shoulder. ‘Hey, man,’ he said, ‘what happened?’ / Leo’s eyes swept around the group. The message was clear: Not here. Not in front of everyone. / ‘I got marooned,’ Leo said. ‘Long story. How about you guys? What happened with Khione?’
ID 7: “Well, unless you can breathe underwater . . .” / She sighed. “You are so annoying sometimes.” / “Like when I’m right? Trust me, I’ll be fine. I’ve got the curse of Achilles now. I’ll all invincible and stuff.” Annabeth didn’t look convinced. / “Just be careful.”
ID 8: “Shut up, Valdez.” / Leo managed a little smile. “Yeah, see. I do annoy you.” / “I apologize for apologizing.” / “Thank you.” He went back to work, but the tension had eased between them.
ID 9: Annabeth pressed her lips to Percy’s ear. ‘I love you.’ / She wasn’t sure he could hear her – but if they were going to die she wanted those to be her last words.
ID 10: ‘No!’ Jason said. ‘We have to stay with you. Piper’s got the cure. Leo, you can’t –’ / ‘Hey.’ Leo grinned, which was unnerving in the flames, his teeth like molten silver ingots. ‘I told you I had a plan. When are you going to trust me? And by the way – I love you guys.’
