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But that didn’t make her fear easier to deal with Once, she’d al a tarantula in her bunk Years later, she’d had a panic attack at a water park in Denver, when Percy and she were assaulted by mechanical spiders And the past feeeks, Annabeth had drea over her, suffocating her, wrapping her in webs

Now, standing in the barracks at Fort Suhtmares had come true

A sleepy voice murmured in her head: Soon, my dear You will meet the weaver soon

"Gaea?" Annabeth murmured She feared the answer, but she asked: "Who--who is the weaver?"

The spiders beca around Annabeth’s feet like a glistening black whirlpool Only the hope that itout from fear

I hope you survive, child, the woman’s voice said I would prefer you as e…

Gaea’s voice faded On the far wall, in the center of the spider swarure of an owl like the one on the silver drachhtmares, the Mark of Athena burned across the walls, incinerating the spiders until the room was empty except for the smell of sickly sweet ashes

Go, said a new voice--Annabeth’ssyarrison door burst open Annabeth stood stunned in thereal, or just a vision

An explosion shook the building Annabeth reer She’d stayed here

She forced herself to , she stuazed across the courtyard--past the panicked tourists and fighting dee ht have been Annabeth’s i red She dashed toward it An eagle swooped at her, but she ducked and kept running Nothing could possibly scare her as ods had foro II, but a h the day was clear all around the flashed above the Romans Rain and wind pushed them back

Annabeth didn’t stop to think about it

She reached thethat blocked the opening, the Mark of Athena began to glow--the red outline of an owl

"In the mortar," she said "Of course"

She pried at the plug with her fingers No luck Cursing, she drew her dagger As soon as the Celestial bronze touched the plug, the plug shrank and loosened Annabeth pulled it off and stuck her hand inside the cannon

Her fingers touched so cold, smooth, and metal She pulled out a small disk of bronze the size of a tea saucer, etched with delicate letters and illustrations She decided to examine it later She thrust it in her pack and turned

"Rushing off?" Reyna asked

The praetor stood ten feet away, in full battle arrowled at her side

Annabeth scanned the area They were more or less alone Most of the combat had moved toward the docks Hopefully her friends had all made it on board, but they’d have to set sail i overrun Annabeth had to hurry

"Reyna," she said, "what happened at Ca spirits--"

"Save your explanations," Reyna said "You’ll need thes snarled and inched forward This ti the truth She tried to think of an escape plan She doubted she could take Reyna in one-on-one cos, she stood no chance at all

"If you let Gaea drive our caiants have already won They’ll destroy the Roods, the whole mortal world"

"Don’t you think I know that?" Reyna’s voice was as hard as iron "What choice have you left ion into a frenzy, and I can’t stop it Surrender toyou back to New Rome for trial It won’t be fair You’ll be painfully executed But it h to stop further violence Octavian won’t be satisfied, of course, but I think I can convince the others to stand down"

"It wasn’t me!"

"It doesn’t matter!" Reyna snapped "Someone must pay for what happened Let it be you It’s the better option"

Annabeth’s skin crawled "Better than what?"

"Use that wisdom of yours," Reyna said "If you escape today, on’t follow I told you--not even a madman would cross the sea to the ancient lands If Octavian can’t have vengeance on your ship, he’ll turn his attention to Caion will march on your territory We will raze it and salt the earth"

Kill the Ro They can never be your allies

Annabeth wanted to sob Camp Half-Blood was the only real home she’d ever known, and in a bid for friendship, she had told Reyna exactly where to find it She couldn’t leave it at the mercy of the Romans and travel halfway around the world

But their quest, and everything she’d suffered to get Percy back…if she didn’t go to the ancient lands, it would allBesides, the Mark of Athena didn’t have to lead to revenge

If I could find the route, her mother had said, the way home…

Hoill you use your reward? Aphrodite had asked For war or peace?