The House of Hades

“To my wonderful readers:Sorry about that last cliff-hanger.Well, no, not really. HAHAHAHA.But seriously, I love you guys.”

“Tell the sun and stars hello for me.”

“But magic is neither good nor evil. It is a tool, like a knife. Is a knife evil? Only if the wielder is evil.”

“Annabeth pressed her lips to Percy’s ear. “I love you.”She wasn’t sure he could hear her—but if they died, she wanted those to be her last words.”

“Keep climbing,' he told himself.'Cheeseburgers,' his stomach replied.'Shut up,' he thought.'With fries,' his stomach complained.”

“I had a crush on Percy," Nico spat. "That's the truth. That's the big secret.”

“Lots of death, huh? Personally, I'm trying to avoid lots of death, but you guys have fun!”

“[Jason] faltered when he looked at Leo, who was mimicking taking notes with an air pencil.“Go on, Professor Grace!” he said, wide-eyed. “I wanna get an A on the test.”

“Annabeth's voice caught on the word friend. Percy was a lot more than that. Even boyfriend really didn't cover it. They'd been through so much together, at this point Percy was part of her--a sometimes annoying part, sure, but definitely a part she could not live without.”

“Yeah, well,” Nico said, “not giving people a second thought…that can be dangerous.”

“You’re that lady,” Leo said. “The one who was named after Caribbean music.”Her eyes glinted murderously. “Caribbean music.”“Yeah. Reggae?” Leo shook his head. “Merengue? Hold on, I’ll get it.”He snapped his fingers. “Calypso!”

“I figure the world is basically a machine. I don't know who made it, if it was the Fates, or the gods, or the capital-G god or whatever. But it chugs along the way it's supposed to most of the time. Sure, little pieces break off and stuff goes haywire once in a while, but mostly... things happen for a reason.”

“Oh, I wouldn't say Love always makes you happy. Sometimes it makes you incredibly sad.”

“Stupid rock gods!” Leo yelled from the helm. “That’s the third time I’ve had to replace that mast! You think they grow on trees?”Nico frowned. “Masts are from trees.”“That’s not the point!”

“Huh," Leo said. "Well, if you ever get off this island and want a job, let me know. You're not a total klutz."She smirked. "A job, eh?" Making things in your forge?""Nah, we could start our own shop," Leo said, surprising himself. Starting a machine shop had always been one of his dreams, but he'd never told anyone about it. "Leo and Calypso's Garage: Auto Repair and Mechanical Monsters.”

“Akhlys lunged at Percy, and for a split second he thought: Well, hey, I’m just smoke. She can’t touch me, right?He imagined the Fates up in Olympus, laughing at his wishful thinking: LOL, NOOB!”

“Nico, I've seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did? That was maybe the bravest.”

“Love is no game! It is no flowery softness! It is hard work- It demands everything from you- especially the truth. Only then does it yield results.”

“The first time Calypso came to check on [Leo], it was to complain about the noise.“Smoke and fire,” she said. “Clanging on metal all day long. You’re scaring away the birds!”“Oh, no, not the birds!”

“You promised, Seaweed brain. We would not get separated! Ever again!”

“Annabeth?” Percy said again. “You’re planning something. You’ve got that I’m-planning-something look.”“I don’t have an I’m-planning-something look.”“Yeah, you totally do. Your eyebrows knit together and your lips press together and—”“Do you have a pen?” she asked him.”

“Thunder boomed overhead. Lightning flashed, and the bars on the nearest window burst into sizzling, melted stubs of iron.Jason flew in like Peter Pan, electricity sparking around him and his gold sword steaming.Leo whistled appreciatively. “Man, you just wasted an awesome entrance.”Jason frowned. He noticed the hog-tied Kerkopes. “What the—”“All by myself,” Leo said. “I’m special that way.”

“Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy mountain cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson protecting them from the manticore. Percy's sword gleamed in the dark. He'd been the first demigod Nico had ever seen in action. Later at Camp Half-Blood, Percy took Nico by the arm, promising to keep his sister Bianca safe. Nico believed him. Nico looked into his sea-green eyes and though, How can he possibly fail? This is a real hero.”

“She held up her calloused, grimy fingers. Leo couldn't help thinking there was nothing hotter than a girl who didn't mind getting her hands dirty. But of course, that was just a general comment. Didn't apply to Calypso. Obviously.”

“Wow. When he started looking back on the war with Kronos as the good old days--that was sad.”

“Then there was Nico di Angelo. Dang, that kid gave Leo the freaky-deakies. He sat back in his leather aviator jacket, his black T-shirt and jeans, that wicked silver skull ring on his finger, and the Stygian sword at his side. His tufts of black hair struck up in curls like baby bat wings. His eyes were sad and kind of empty, as if he’d stared into the depths of Tartarus—which he had.”

“We’ve arrived,” Leo announced. “Time to Split.”Frank groaned. “Can we leave Valdez in Croatia?”

“She grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss, which effectively shut him up.”

“Oh, by the way…” Jason glanced at Percy. “I resigned my office, gave Frank a field promotion to praetor. Unless you want to contest that ruling.” Percy grinned. “No argument here.” “Praetor?” Hazel stared at Frank. He shrugged uncomfortably. “Well… yeah. I know it seems weird.” She tried to throw her arms around him, then winced as she remembered her busted ribs. She settled for kissing him. “It seems perfect.” Leo clapped Frank on the shoulder. “Way to go, Zhang. Now you can order Octavian to fall on his sword.”

“I will call him Small Bob," said Bob. "He is a good monster." End of discussion.The Titan hefted his spear and they continued marching into the gloom.”