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Annabeth shuddered She’d had her own share of nightmares lately

"Seven half-bloods must answer the call," she said "It needs to be a mix from both our camps Jason, Piper, Leo, andwith Hazel and Frank That’s seven"

"What?" Octavian shot to his feet "We’re just supposed to accept that? Without a vote in the senate? Without a proper debate? Without--"

"Percy!" Tyson the Cyclops bounded toward them with Mrs O’Leary at his heels On the hellhound’s back sat the skinniest harpy Annabeth had ever seen--a sickly-looking girl with stringy red hair, a sackcloth dress, and red-feathered wings

Annabeth didn’t knohere the harpy had come from, but her heart warmed to see Tyson in his tattered flannel and denim with the backward SPQR banner across his chest She’d had some pretty bad experiences with Cyclopes, but Tyson was a sweetheart He was also Percy’s half brother (long story), which made him almost like fa hisbrown eye was full of concern "Ella is scared," he said

"N-n-nofuriously at her feathers "Titanic, Lusitania, Pax…boats are not for harpies"

Leo squinted He looked at Hazel, as seated next to hiirl just compare my ship to the Titanic?"

"She’s not a chicken" Hazel averted her eyes, as if Leo h-strung"

"Ella is pretty," Tyson said "And scared We need to take her away, but she will not go on the ship"

"No ships," Ella repeated She looked straight at Annabeth "Bad luck There she is Wisdohter walks alone--"

"Ella!" Frank stood suddenly "Maybe it’s not the best tih Ro her hands over her ears and raising her voice "Twins snuff out the angel’s breath, Who holds the key to endless death Giants’ bane stands gold and pale, Won through pain from a woven jail"

The effect was like sorenade on the table Everyone stared at the harpy No one spoke Annabeth’s heart was pounding The Mark of Athena…She resisted the urge to check her pocket, but she could feel the silver coin groarift froe me

Around them, the sounds of the feast continued, but muted and distant, as if their little cluster of couches had slipped into a quieter dimension

Percy was the first to recover He stood and took Tyson’s arned enthusiaset some fresh air? You and Mrs O’Leary--"

"Hold on" Octavian gripped one of his teddy bears, strangling it with shaking hands His eyes fixed on Ella "What was that she said? It sounded like--"

"Ella reads a lot," Frank blurted out "We found her at a library"

"Yes!" Hazel said "Probably just so she read in a book"

"Books," Ella muttered helpfully "Ella likes books"

Now that she’d said her piece, the harpy seeed on Mrs O’Leary’s back, preening her wings

Annabeth gave Percy a curious glance Obviously, he and Frank and Hazel were hiding so Just as obviously, Ella had recited a prophecy--a prophecy that concerned her

Percy’s expression said, Help

"That was a prophecy," Octavian insisted "It sounded like a prophecy"

No one answered

Annabeth wasn’t exactly sure as going on, but she understood that Percy was on the verge of big trouble

She forced a laugh "Really, Octavian? Maybe harpies are different here, on the Roence to clean cabins and cook lunches Do yours usually foretell the future? Do you consult theuries?"

Her words had the intended effect The Rohed nervously Some sized up Ella, then looked at Octavian and snorted The idea of a chicken lady issuing prophecies was apparently just as ridiculous to Romans as it was to Greeks

"I, uh…" Octavian dropped his teddy bear "No, but--"

"She’s just spouting lines froested Besides, we already have a real prophecy to worry about"

She turned to Tyson "Percy’s right Why don’t you take Ella and Mrs O’Leary and shadow-travel somewhere for a while Is Ella okay with that?"

"‘Large dogs are good,’" Ella said "Old Yeller, 1957, screenplay by Fred Gipson and Willia"

Annabeth wasn’t sure how to take that answer, but Percy smiled like the problem was solved

"Great!" Percy said "We’ll Iris-uys e’re done and catch up with you later"

The Ro Annabeth held her breath

Reyna had an excellent poker face She studied Ella, but Annabeth couldn’t guess what she was thinking

"Fine," the praetor said at last "Go"

"Yay!" Tyson went around the couches and gave everyone a big hug--even Octavian, who didn’t look happy about it Then he climbed on Mrs O’Leary’s back with Ella, and the hellhound bounded out of the foruht into a shadow on the Senate House wall and disappeared