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She sat on her bunk, using one of Daedalus’s 3-D-rendering programs to study a model of the Parthenon in Athens She’d always yearned to visit it, both because she loved architecture and because it was the et her wish, if they lived long enough to reach Greece But the ht about the Mark of Athena, and the old Root

She didn’t want to, but she recalled her argument with her

Annabeth had been riding the subway back fro those long , Annabeth ive Sally Jackson and her husband Paul an update on the search, and partly because Annabeth and Sally needed to lift each other’s spirits and convince one another that Percy would be fine

The spring had been especially hard By then, Annabeth had reason to hope Percy was alive, since Hera’s plan see him to the Roman side, but she couldn’t be sure where he was Jason had remembered his old caic--even that of the campers of Hecate’s cabin--couldn’t confirm that Percy was there, or anywhere He seemed to have disappeared from the planet Rachel the Oracle had tried to read the future, and while she couldn’t see o II before they could contact the Romans

Nevertheless, Annabeth had spent every spareall sources for any ruends about Ro for clues on Daedalus’s notebook, and spent hundreds of golden drachod, or monster she’d ever met, all with no luck

That particular afternoon, co back from Sally’s, Annabeth had felt even more drained than usual She and Sally had first cried and then atteether, but their nerves were frayed Finally Annabeth took the Lexington Avenue subway down to Grand Central

There were other ways to get back to her high school dorh Grand Central Tern and the vast open space resin a place so permanent made her feel more permanent

She had just passed Sweet on America, the candy shop where Percy’sinside to buy some blue candy for old ti the subway map on the wall

"Mother!" Annabeth couldn’t believe it She hadn’t seen her ates of Olyods

Many ti for guidance, sending up burnt offerings with every meal at camp She’d had no response Now here was Athena, dressed in jeans and hiking boots and a red flannel shirt, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders She held a backpack and a walking stick like she was prepared for a long journey

"Ithe map "The way is complex I wish Odysseus were here He would understand"

"Mooddess turned She seenition

"That was oddess said dreamily "Before they sacked my city, took ust "I must return home"

Annabeth stepped back in shock "You’re…you’re Minerva?"

"Don’t call er "I used to carry a spear and a shield I held victory in the palm of my hand I was so much more than this"

"Mohter"

"My daughter…" Athena repeated "Yes, e me They must destroy the Roued that we ht Let my children destroy the usurpers"

Annabeth’s heartbeat thumped in her ears "You wanted that? But you’re wise You understand warfare better than any--"

"Once!" the goddess said "Replaced Sacked Looted like a trophy and carted off--away from my beloved hoive Neither would my children" She focused hter?"

"Yes"

The goddess fished so from the pocket of her shirt--an old-fashioned subway token--and pressed it into Annabeth’s hand

"Follow the Mark of Athena," the goddess said "Avenge me"

Annabeth had looked at the coin As she watched, it changed from a New York subway token to an ancient silver drachma, the kind used by Athenians It showed an owl, Athena’s sacred animal, with an olive branch on one side and a Greek inscription on the other

The Mark of Athena

At the time, Annabeth had had no idea what itlike this Minerva or not, she shouldn’t be so confused