Chiron was looking at the four of us and raised his eyebrows.

"Chiron, Rachel Dare," I said. "Rachel, this is our teacher, Chiron."

"Hello," Rachel said, she looked so glum and dejected. She didn't look at all surprised that Chiron was a centaur. I pressed my lips together I needed to tell her everything, clearly Percy forgot our conversation at home when we needed Sally's blessings.

"You are not asleep, Miss Dare," he pointed out. "And yet you are mortal?"

"I'm mortal," she agreed, like it was a depressing thought. I looked to Raph again. Trying to lip read was awful when you're tired.

"The pilot fell asleep as soon as they passed the river. Don't know why he didn't. Just knew she had to be here, to warn Percy and Nora." he signed for me.

"Warn Percy and Nora?"

"She's been seeing things," Percy said. "Writing lines and making drawings."

Chiron raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? Tell me."

She did. I raised my hand and waved it. 

Chiron was too busy stroking his beard. "Miss Dare... perhaps we should talk."

"Chiron," Percy blurted, he looked anxious and worried. "You... you'll help Rachel, right? I mean, you'll warn her that she's got to be careful with this stuff. Not go too far."

His tail flicked like it does when he's anxious. "Yes, Percy. I will do my best to understand what is happening and advise Miss Dare, but this may take some time. Meanwhile, you and Miss. Blofis should rest. We've moved your parents' car to safety. The enemy seems to be staying put for now. We've set up bunks in the Empire State Building. Get some sleep."

"Everyone keeps telling me to sleep..." But Percy got up and trudged away.

"Can I say something?" I finally leapt to my feet, heat radiated off me, I was tired and frustrated.

The three remaining all looked at me.

"Yes Nora?" Chiron asked, using his ASL, "What would you like to say."

"I'm positive I know what's happening! Can I talk to you quickly?"

Chiron nodded. I held up a hand for Raph for a second. I saw the look of hurt in his eyes, but he nodded and I followed Chiron a ways away. Rachel looked dejected and lonely sitting alone in the curb.

"Alright Nora, what is it." Chiron asked, he didn't bother using his mouth, just his ASL.

"Rachel is my cousin. My mom and her dad were siblings. The Dares are direct descendants of Pythia- the Oracle of Delphi. You know this...though don't you. I've seen dreams. Apollo loved my mom, and she was going to break the curse of the Oracle- she had the gift of the Sight...she could see visions and dreams of the future, she could see through the mist. But then she got pregnant... Then died. Rachel has the gift too. She could break the curse!"

"I've had an inkling. Especially when you did not loose your mind when the Oracle at camp breathed into you. You also possess the gift, which is why your Sight is strong."

I nodded. "Apollo said the same thing."

I explained everything dad told me about my mom, and what Apollo said and the dreams Hestia showed me and the ones about Hades cursing the Oracle.

He looked troubled, but he was nodding like I confirmed his suspicions.

"Thank you Nora for explaining this. I will talk to Rachel, and I will handle this situation with the utmost care."

"Thanks Chiron." I sighed. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

"You now need to sleep. You look dead on your feet child."

I waved a hand, "I'm totally fine." I yawned.

"Have you looked at yourself recently, Nora?"

I glanced down at my clothes, which were scorched, burned, sliced, and tattered from my night of constant battles. "I look like death," I admitted. "But you think I can sleep after what just happened?"

"You and Percy may be invulnerable in combat," Chiron chided, "but that only makes your body tire faster. I remember Achilles. Whenever that lad wasn't fighting, he was sleeping. He must've taken twenty naps a day. You, Nora, need your rest. You and Percy may be our only hope."

I just nodded. I trudged toward the Empire State Building. When I glanced back, Rachel and Chiron were walking together in earnest conversation, like they were discussing funeral arrangements.

Inside the lobby, I found an empty bunk and sat down for a second staring at the ground. A moment later the bed dipped. I looked around and almost cried in relief. Raph was there. He was already helping me undo the straps under my arms of the chest armor off.

"If your invincible in combated, why do you wear the armor?"

"One. Apollo gave it to me. And it's pretty. And two...I needed to have a spot on my body to keep me anchored to my humanity. My Achilles heel."

His dark eyes regarded me, I could see the wheels spinning. He was brilliant and I saw it click.

"And your vulnerable spot is behind the armor." He stated.

I looked around quickly. Then took his hand and laid it on my chest, over my heart. I held his hand over the place I had imagined the cord keeping me attached; my heart, my love for my family and friends, my love for my home. His dark eyes flooded with understanding and I just nodded.

"I love you Sunshine." He gave me a genuine smile, not a smirk, "I would expect nothing less."

"Why I wear the armor. Keep me protected."

"Good." He moved his hand up to my cheek, his thumb swept my cheekbone. "You were incredible tonight."

I smiled weekly. I was exhausted.

"We have a lot to talk about and catch up on...but right now, you need to sleep."

"Yeah..." I yawned again. My eyes felt incredibly heavy.

"Sleep." He commanded.

"Will you stay?"

I saw his dark eyes widen in surprise. And a blush rise on his cheeks. "You...you want me to sleep here...with you?"

I was surprised he didn't become cocky and arrogant with a smirk.

"Dude...I'm not trying to like DO anything." 

He looked at me and then I saw the dark crooked smirk appear. I rolled my eyes. "Okay Sunshine."

"I just want you close. Ya know...incase we all die tomorrow."

I saw the smirk fade and his eyes soften.

"Alright Sunshine." He wrapped his arms around me and we laid down. I wished I could hear his heartbeat. But I settled for feeling it. And my heavy eyes slid closed and I was out in a few seconds.

🔆

In my dreams, I was back in Hades's garden. The lord of the dead paced up and down, holding his ears while Nico followed him, waving his arms. (Clearly things haven't changed much since last time I easedropped on them.) And once again, I could hear and it drove me batty.

"-you have to!" Nico insisted.

Demeter and Persephone sat behind them at the breakfast table. Both of the goddesses looked bored. Demeter poured shredded wheat into four huge bowls. Persephone was magically changing the flower arrangement on the table, turning the blossoms from red to yellow to polka-dotted.

"I don't have to do anything!" Hades's eyes blazed. "I'm a god!"

"Father," Nico said, "if Olympus falls, your own palace's safety doesn't matter. You'll fade too."

"I am not an Olympian!" he growled. "My family has made that quite clear."

"You are,'' Nico said. "Whether you like it or not."

"You saw what they did to your mother," Hades said. "Zeus killed her. And you would have me help them? They deserve what they get!"

Persephone sighed. She walked her fingers across the table, absently turning the silverware into roses. "Could we please not talk about that woman?"

"You know what would help this boy?" Demeter mused. "Farming."

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Mother-"

"Six months behind a plow. Excellent character building."

Nico stepped in front of his father, forcing Hades to face him. "My mother understood about family. That's why she didn't want to leave us. You can't just abandon your family because they did something horrible. You've done horrible things to them too."

"Maria died!" Hades reminded him.

"You can't just cut yourself off from the other gods!"

"I've done very well at it for thousands of years."

"And has that made you feel any better?" Nico demanded. "Has that curse on the Oracle helped you at all? Holding grudges is a fatal flaw. Bianca warned me about that, and she was right."

"For demigods! I am immortal, all-powerful! I would not help the other gods if they begged me, if Percy Jackson or...that descendant of the Oracle herself, Eleanora Blofis herself pleaded-"

"You're just as much of an outcast as I am!" Nico yelled. "Stop being angry about it and do something helpful for once. That's the only way they'll respect you!"

Hades's palm filled with black fire.

"Go ahead," Nico dared him. "Blast me. That's just what the other gods would expect from you. Prove them right."

"Yes, please," Demeter complained. "Shut him up."

Persephone sighed. "Oh, I don't know. I would rather fight in the war than eat another bowl of cereal. This is boring."

I swear I saw her glance in my direction and wink. I had a feeling someone pulled me here, clearly Persephone had.

Hades roared in anger. His fireball hit a silver tree right next to Nico, melting it into a pool of liquid metal.

"Feel better?" Nico rolled his eyes.

"Does that mean we're leaving?" Persephone perked up.

And my dream changed.

I was standing outside the United Nations, about a mile northeast of the Empire State Building. The Titan army had set up camp all around the UN complex. The flagpoles were hung with horrible trophies—helmets and armor pieces from defeated campers. All along First Avenue, giants sharpened their axes. Telkhines repaired armor at makeshift forges.

Kronos himself paced at the top of the plaza, swinging his scythe so his dracaenae bodyguards stayed way back. Ethan Nakamura and Prometheus stood nearby, out of slicing range. Ethan was fidgeting with his shield straps, but Prometheus looked as calm and collected as ever in his tuxedo.

"I hate this place," Kronos growled. "United Nations. As if mankind could ever unite. Remind me to tear down this building after we destroy Olympus."

"Yes, lord." Prometheus smiled as if his master's anger amused him. "Shall we tear down the stables in Central Park too? I know how much horses can annoy you."

"Don't mock me, Prometheus! Those cursed centaurs will be sorry they interfered. I will feed them to the hellhounds, starting with that son of mine- that weakling Chiron."

Prometheus shrugged. "That weakling destroyed an entire legion of telkhines with his arrows."

Kronos swung his scythe and cut a flagpole in half. The national colors of Brazil toppled into the army, squashing a dracaena.

"We will destroy them!" Kronos roared. "It is time to unleash the drakon. Nakamura, you will do this."

"Y-yes, lord. At sunset?"

"No," Kronos said. "Immediately. The defenders of Olympus are badly wounded. They will not expect a quick attack. Besides, we know this drakon they cannot beat."

Ethan looked confused. "My lord?"

"Never you mind, Nakamura. Just do my bidding. I want Olympus in ruins by the time Typhon reaches New York. We will break the gods utterly!"

"But, my lord," Ethan said. "Your regeneration."

Kronos pointed at Ethan, and the demigod froze.

"Does it seem," Kronos hissed, "that I need to regenerate?"

Ethan didn't respond. Kind of hard to do when you're immobilized in time.

Kronos snapped his fingers and Ethan collapsed.

"Soon," the Titan growled, "this form will be unnecessary. I will not rest with victory so close. Now, go!"

Ethan scrambled away.

"This is dangerous, my lord," Prometheus warned. "Do not be hasty."

"Hasty? After festering for three thousand years in the depths of Tartarus, you call me hasty? I will slice Percy Jackson into a thousand pieces
And then take his wretched step sister and use her!"

"Thrice you've fought them both" Prometheus pointed out. "And yet you've always said it is beneath the dignity of a Titan to fight a mere mortal. I wonder if your mortal host is influencing you, weakening your judgment."

Kronos turned his golden eyes on the other Titan. "You call me weak?"

"No, my lord. I only meant-"

"Are your loyalties divided?" Kronos asked. "Perhaps you miss your old friends, the gods. Would you like to join them?"

Prometheus paled. "I misspoke, my lord. Your orders will be carried out." He turned to the armies and shouted, "PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"

The troops began to stir.

From somewhere behind the UN compound, an angry roar shook the city- the sound of a drakon waking. The noise was so horrible it shook everything like an earthquake, I woke with a start and I realized I could feel the shaking. Raph sat up.

"What was that?"

"They're coming!" I signed. "And we're in trouble!"

🔆

The Hephaestus cabin was out of Greek fire. The Apollo cabin and the Hunters were scrounging for arrows. Most of us had already ingested so much ambrosia and nectar we didn't dare take any more.

We had sixteen campers, fifteen Hunters, and half a dozen satyrs left in fighting shape. The rest had taken refuge on Olympus. The Party Ponies tried to form ranks, but they staggered and giggled and they all smelled like root beer.

The Texans were head-butting the Coloradoans. The Missouri branch was arguing with Illinois. The chances were pretty good the whole army would end up fighting each other rather than the enemy.

Chiron trotted up with Rachel on his back. I felt a twinge of annoyance because Chiron rarely gave anyone a ride, and never a mortal.

"Your cousin, here has some useful insights." he said and signed as he came to a stop.

Rachel blushed, giving me a sheepish smile. "Just some things I saw in my head." Her ASL was very choppy, but I appreciated it.

"A drakon," Chiron said with his hands. "A Lydian drakon, to be exact. The oldest and most dangerous kind."

Percy stared at her. "How did you know that?"

"I'm not sure," Rachel admitted. "But this drakon has a particular fate. It will be killed by a child of Ares."

Annabeth crossed her arms. "How can you possibly know that?"

"I just saw it. I can't explain."

"'Cause she's awesome. Also...Chiron?"

My teacher looked at me and raised his eyebrows.

"You explained?"

He nodded. I grinned and turned to Annabeth, "she's not just some mortal. She's one, my cousin. And two, a direct descendant of The Oracle of Pythia- Delphi herself. So ha!"

"Well, let's hope you're wrong," Percy said. "Because we're a little short on children of Ares..."

I looked at Percy funny. But then a horrible thought occurred to me, Percy just have had the same train of thought- he must have had the same dream last night. (It was getting kind of annoying how tied together we were in all of this.) He cursed in Ancient Greek.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

"The spy," I signed.

"Kronos said," Percy picked up my train of thought. "We know they cannot beat this drakon. The spy has been keeping him updated. Kronos knows the Ares cabin isn't with us. He intentionally picked a monster we can't kill."

Thalia scowled. "If I ever catch your spy, he's going to be very sorry. Maybe we could send another messenger to camp-"

"Already done." Chiron said.

The people around me all looked in the same direction. I looked around and saw Raph standing with his arms folded and a dark broody expression on his face. He must have cleared his throat.

"What am I? Chopped liver?"

"Nope." I signed with a grin. "You are our hero right now."

"Uh..ya sorry dude." Percy rubbed the back of his neck.

Annabeth opened and closed her mouth a few times.

"Selina is working on it. Just...trust her. I'll hold it as long as it takes."

He signed with confidence, but I could see the fear in his dark eyes. He needed his brothers and sisters. Taking on a draken was not something you wanted to do alone.

"You won't be alone."

A roar shook the ground. I couldn't hear it, be ut everyone flinched, including Raph, the son of Ares, the bravest warrior I knew.

I grabbed Rachel's arm, "Rachel, get inside the building."

"I want to stay."

I shook my head just as a shadow blotted out the sun. Across the street, the drakon slithered down the side of a skyscraper. It must have roared, because a thousand windows shattered.

"On second thought," Rachel said in a small voice, "I'll be inside."

🔆