Heroes of Olympus 2
Rick Riordan
It has been months since Percy woke up in the Wolf House without his memory. Lupa sent him south to find what he is looking for. Percy hasn’t slept in day and is on the run from the gorgons, Stheno and Euryale. He has killed them several times, but they keep reforming quickly. Gaea is their patron and allows them out of Tartarus each time they die. However, they have scratch and bit at Percy and they can’t seem to hurt him either. One of them mentions that he has the blessing of Achilles. Someone has dipped him in the River Styx to make him invulnerable. They plan to tear him apart until they find the weak spot. Percy is able to kill Euryale and take the tray Stheno holds. He knows that he needs to get into the mountain he is on, but needs a way to the bottom. He uses the tray to sled down the mountain.
Percy narrowly avoids landing in the middle of traffic that goes through the mountain using a tunnel. There is an ugly, old hippie woman there, June, that wants him to carry her to camp with him. She tells him he can flee to the ocean and live out his days in peace, but he will have to carry her to save the world and his friends and family. Percy doesn’t have his memory, but he knows he has to protect Annabeth. He picks up June and starts carrying her to a door in the mountain that is guarded by two children dressed in Roman armor. Frank, an archer, helps take out one fo the gorgons. The other guard, Hazel stays behind to give them time to escape. They get to the Tiber (river) and Percy is reluctant to cross. June tells him the blessing of Achilles is a Greek blessing and the Tiber will wash it away. Percy can’t let anything happen to Annabeth, so he crosses. Hazel catches up with them and Frank stays this time to hold off the gorgons. Once they reach the doors of the fort, an army of kids comes out. The gorgons fly over to Frank and grab him from the middle of the river. Percy uses his command over water to tear the gorgons off Frank. The water washes them away and doesn’t let them reform. June reveals she is really Juno. A girl, Reyna, that seems like some sort of officer seems to know something when Juno introduces them to Percy Jackson. After Juno takes off, Reyna says she doesn’t know Percy, but he can tell she is lying. He knows better than to question her in front of her campers though. Reyna still isn’t sure if he is friend or foe.
There are house gods all around the camp that Percy mistakes for ghosts. Reyna leads the way with Hazel and Frank following. The campers all stare and one of the gods calls Percy greek. There are a few campers that don’t seem fond of Hazel and Frank either. Reyna takes Percy and Hazel into her office. There are two chairs between two dog statues. Reyna takes one chair. The two dogs, Aurum and Argentum, are real and Reyna tells Percy they don’t like liars as they growl at him. Percy tells her his story and Hazel fills in what she knows. Reyna asks about Percy’s sword (though he doesn’t remember using or mentioning it) and he shows her. She is more suspicious of him since his sword is made of celestial bronze. Her own dagger is made of imperial gold, which is very rare. Reyna notices Percy doesn’t have a tattoo like everyone else from their legion. She asks if he has seen her colleague, Jason (who the second chair belongs to and has been missing for 8 months), but he hasn’t. The Feast of Fortuna (luck goddess) is in five days and that is when Juno told them Gaea would attack. That is also when they would normally vote to replace Jason as praetor. Reyna tells Hazel to take Percy to Octavian.
On their way to meet Octavian, Percy and Hazel are first stopped by a Lare named Vitellius. He is very proud that he has been around since the time of Julius Caesar. Hazel explains they demigods and descendants of demigods are split into cohorts and then battalions of 10. Each is constructed of a balance of descendants of different gods. They hurry along and a saytre begs Percy for money. Hazel shoos him off, but the saytre finds a diamond like rock. Hazel picks it up and sends him off like she just saved his life. When they get to the temples, Percy sees that Neptunes is not well cared for. The Romans fear the sea and Neptune, but don’t love him. Percy leaves his leftover food at the temple and asks his dad for whatever help he can give him. They find Octavian sacrificing stuffed animals in Jupiter’s temple. He takes the stuffed panda pillow from Percy and slices it open to examine the fluff. He says Percy can stay. Percy is a bit unnerved by the pile of sliced up stuffed animals. Octavian says he needs the books of prophecy in order to give better predictions. He has been searching for Jason everyday, but is also campaigning to be his replacement as praetor. He tries to threaten Hazel into voting for him by saying the rumors around camp could get worse. He also tells her that her brother is waiting by her father’s temple. Percy and Hazel leave. She is obviously furious over Octavian’s remarks. She takes Percy to meet her brother, Nico Di Angelo. Nico pretends to not know who Percy is and introduces himself.
Percy seems like he recognizes Nico so Hazel thinks her brother might be able to shed some light on the situation. He signals her to drop it and lies saying he doesn’t know Percy, but promises to talk to Percy about it later since he is staying the night. He explains what has been going on with Gaea awakening and how Camp Jupiter took defeated Saturn (Kronos) on Mount Orthys. He thinks a worse war is coming. Frank comes up to tell them Reyna is looking for Percy. Hazel tries not to have feelings for Frank, but her heart skips a beat every time she sees him. Frank takes Percy to get cleaned up before evening muster. Nico and Hazel sit on the roof of the Pluto (Hades) temple that is covered in bones and diamonds. Hazel is the reason it is covered in diamonds. They tend to show up if she is in one place too long or gets too anxious. The campers know not to take them from the temple though. She has been careful to make sure no one gets them because of her curse. Nico tells her he cannot tell Percy anything; he has to find his own way. She thinks back to December 1947 when she was in New Orleans.
Hazel is swept back to her 13th birthday. She went to a school for African and Native Americans. Her friend Sammy worked in the stables that were for the riding club of white kids. Since the war, the stables hadn’t been used as much and Sammy was able to bring Hazel with him to take care of the horses. They were sometimes able to ride them as well. Sammy and Hazel ride out in the field and split a cupcake for Hazel’s birthday. He kisses her on the check. When she goes home, Hazel hears her mother, Queen Marie, discussing her in two different voices. Hazel is scared and starts to leave. Her father, Pluto meets her at the door and gives her colored pencils for her birthday. He apologizes that her mother never told her why she is cursed (produces gemstones that bring bad fortune), but a son of Neptune will wash it away someday. Pluto goes to her mom and tries to talk her into staying where he can protect her. She refuses and says they are going North to Alaska. Pluto vanishes into thin air, and Queen Marie tells Hazel to pack. When Hazel comes back to the present, Nico tells her she will have to get the visions of her past under control so they don’t end up getting her killed in battle. She is still working on it, but they are getting worse. Nico tells her Percy will be a good alley, but the horns sound to signal it is time for muster.
As Nico and Hazel are running for the dinning hall, Hazel trips over a gold bar. She stops Nico from picking it up and reminds him of her curse. She uses her powers to drive it back into the ground where it came from and they continue on. She makes it into place just before her name is called for roll. Percy Jackson is introduced to the entire Legion and they ask if he has any letters of recommendation. He does not and Hazel is surprised Juno’s words didn’t count. Frank offers to stand for him, but he is not a full member and is not eligible to do so. Hazel stands for him and the rest of the fifth cohort welcomes him. Percy thanks them both for standing for him.
They all gather to eat dinner. Percy sits with Hazel, Frank, Nico, and Dakota (Fifth Cohort Centurion). Percy still gets the feeling that he knows Nico, but Nico changes the subject talking about how he found Hazel in New Orleans and spends most of his time in the Underworld. Hazel knew he was trying to revive his sister, Bianca, but she moved on to a new incarnation of life. Dakota tells the story how Hazel saved his life from a stampede of unicorns. She used her powers to direct the unicorns away using the metal in their horns. Percy asks about the missing Eagle during muster. Hazel explains it was lost in ancient times and quickly recovered. Romans would generally destroy their eagle before they would allow it to be taken. It was lost again before she came to camp. The fifth cohort centurion of the time was told it was in Alaska, but it wasn’t time for it to be found. He went anyway and most of the cohort died. That was when people started to believe they were cursed. Things started to look up with Jason around, but his disappearance enforced the rumors. After dinner, they prepare for the war games to begin. First and Second Cohorts will defend while Third through Fifth attack.
Before muster, Frank polishes armor and thinks about Hazel. While they were standing guard before Percy showed up, they attempted small talk in French, but the lack of knowledge and different dialects between New Orleans and Vancouver were not compatible. On his way down to Camp Jupiter, he used the stick in his pocket from Juno to warm himself. As it burned, it drained his life. He considered using it to warm Hazel and she complained about the cold. As he is wishing Apollo would claim him, the Fifth Cohort Lar, Vitellius comes to tell him that he was claimed through an omen when he turned 16; a chicken ran off with his adult robe signaling he would be in medicine. He knows that Frank took the spoils (two vials of blood; one heals, one kills) from the gorgon’s defeat. He points out it might end his curse or cure Percy’s memory issues, but will likely be needed in the upcoming quest. But Neither know which vial heals and which kills. Reyna comes to tell Frank to fetch Percy. He goes to the temple and starts to lead Percy to the baths. Frank mentions the vials and Percy says he wants to save them for the upcoming battle. Percy asks about the Greeks and Frank admits that the Romans are a bit touchy about it because when the Roman Empire fell, the only part that survived was the east (Greek) side. Percy asks about his mortal parent and Frank tells him his mother was a Captain in the Canadian army and she was killed in Afghanistan. Percy drops the subject and goes to bathe.
Right before his mother’s funeral, Frank took his grandmother’s porcelain collection and set up each piece to use as target practice for his archery. Grandmother didn’t seem too upset by it and brought him inside to give him something. Shorty after Frank was born, Juno came to them and told them Frank’s life would burn out shortly after the piece of firewood was consumed. His life would be short and bright. Grandmother ripped it out of the fire and his mother kept it safe until she left for Afghanistan. She tells him Lupa will be sending messengers for him after the funeral. He will go to camp and learn there. She tells him to privately apologize to the praetor for his great-grandfather. Frank does as he’s told and Reyna tells him not to mention the name around camp because it will make people hate him. In the present, the War Games are starting. The First and Second Cohorts have built a new fort and the Third and Fourth are planning to attack after the Fifth wears them down. Dakota and Gwen divide the Cohort up amongst themselves for attacking different sections of the wall. Gwen tells Hazel and Frank to do what they need to do to show Percy the ropes. Frank gets an idea that Percy can control the water canons. Percy isn’t positive he can always control water, but agrees to try. Frank suggests Hazel use her power to find them a tunnel to get them close. She is a bit upset that he shared her secret with Percy, but agrees to the plan.
Frank and Percy start fighting their way through the guards and Hazel gets on the elephant, Hannibal, to get to the banners. Inside, the First and Second Cohorts are not prepared for an invasion - they are playing a game. Frank and Percy are able to grab the banners and get on Hannibal’s back with Hazel to depart the fort. Reyna calls the end of the war game. Gwen is brought out on a stretcher with a pilum through her chest. The medics try to save her, but she is dead. Suddenly, she gasps for air and is alive again. Frank has Hazel and Percy help him remove the pilum from Gwen’s chest. Frank notices Octavian doesn’t have a pilum. Some question if Nico has anything to do with Gwen coming back to life, but he denies any involvement. Mars appears and tells them Death needs to be rescued in order for the dead to stay dead. Percy is not happy to see him and knows they have fought in the past. Mars tells them they will need to go to Alaska, rescue Thanatos (Death), and return to camp before sundown on the 24th (Feast of Fortuna). He then claims Frank as his son and tells everyone that Frank will lead the quest. He tells him he has to take Percy with him and can chose his third person. Lightning shoots across the sky and Mars knows he is out of time and leaves. Frank is sorely disappointed that Mars is his father.
That night, Percy falls asleep instantly. He dreams of Grover and Annabeth. They tell him Tyson is looking for him and to stay where he is. Gaea appears and says Percy will be her pawn. When he wakes up, Frank tells him they only have time for a quick breakfast before the senate meeting they must attend. When they get to the city, a statue of Terminus, the border god, tell them what they need to know in. He makes Percy hand over his pen/sword to his assistant Julia (six year old who lives in the city). As they walk down the street, Percy thinks of what it would be like to live somewhere safe like this with Annabeth in the future, but knows it isn’t where they belong. They catch up with the senators that are entering a big white building.
14 In the Senate House, the meeting starts out with people not being happy about who was chosen to go on the quest. Frank is promoted to centurion as that is the level required to lead a quest. Octavian makes it clear it was Renya’s choice and he doesn’t agree with it. When asked if they have a plan, Hazel points out Mars told them to go to Alaska. The idea makes the Romans uncomfortable because it is a land where the Roman gods don’t have any power. When Gaea created the giants, she created each one to rival a specific god. The eldest, Alcyoneus, was Plutos. The giant now holds Pluto’s lieutenant, Thanatos (guards the gates of the underworld to prevent the dead from returning). They have to free him to prevent the fall of Camp Jupiter. Octavian points out if they fail, it will be up to the camp to protect Rome. Frank is furious, but Percy agrees to it. However, he knows they need to get up to Alaska quickly since they only have four days. He asks for a boat and Reyna agrees. The Senate agrees to this and excuses Frank and his companions. As they are walking away, Octavian stops them to tell Percy Reyna wants to meet with him later. He points out the last private talk she had was with Jason Grace, who disappeared.
15 Percy meets Reyna in the principia. She tells him Octavian saw an army coming towards the camp led by a giant. They do not think Alcyoneus would leave would leave Alaska as long as he is not vulnerable there. They agree it is most likely a second giant. Lupa is trying to slow them down, but is not fairing well. Reyna lived in a spa with her sister Hylla, who still hates Percy for destroying their home. Reyna gives Percy her ring as a token to take to Hylla in Seattle for help. She doesn’t know if her sister will help, but thinks it is worth trying. Reyna needs another praetor to help her lead. She wants Percy to take Jason’s place. Percy asks if she and Jason were together. She explains praetors work closely together and it can turn romantic. Percy lets her know that he has a girlfriend and isn’t seeking power. She points out his attitude is not very Roman. She asks him to think about it while he is on his mission. Percy apologizes for any pain he might have caused Reyna when he destroyed her home.
16 Percy packs the few belongings he has for the quest. He leaves his orange t-shirt on his bed and says he will be back for it. Everyone is quiet at lunch and afterwards, a guy named Bobby takes them to the boarder on Hannibal. Terminus is there to check them over before they leave and gives them directions to where the Roman Navy ship is kept. It takes them some time to get there and they are disappointed in the little row boat they find. Percy uses his control over water to clean it up and tells them it will work for their purposes. He controls it himself, but gets a bit worried when he hears Gaea’s voice in his head telling him he should have taken to the sea to escape her rather than go on the quest. Percy tells her to get out of his head and steers them towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
17 Hazel is nauseous in the row boat as they make their way past Mount Tam. She tells them that is where Jason defeated Krios, a Titan. Percy seems familiar with the experience. Hazel spoke to Nico before they left. He plans to return to the Underworld to help their father and look for the Doors of Death. Hazel is impressed with Frank’s new-found leadership abilities, but knows she can’t act on them. Thinking about her first death makes her black out. She is in Alaska where her mother works as a waitress by day. Most nights, Gaea takes over Marie and the mother and daughter row out to an island where Hazel must bring the treasures of the Earth. One night, a raven tells her it is her last night. When they get inside the cave, Marie is no longer under Gaea’s control. She explains how Hazel came to be cursed. When Hazel was born, Hades was pleased and gave Marie one wish. She was tired of being poor and wished for all of Hades riches. He warned her that greedy wishes reap sorrow, but she insisted. Marie apologizes to Hazel for being weak once again and listening to Gaea. She plans to sacrifice herself to raise Alcyoneus because Gaea promised Hazel’s safety. Hazel sacrifices her mother and herself to prevent the giant from awakening right then. Marie is proud of her daughter as the cave filled with metals, gems, and oil.
Hazel wakes up and they are on land about 150 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. They boys were worried because they weren’t able to wake her up. She decides her companions deserve to know the truth about her. She asks for water and Percy goes to the boat to get her some. Frank has already guessed that Hazel is from the underworld from the way she talks like she lived a long time ago. Hazel is relieved because he doesn’t look at her any differently. Frank admits he has a secret too, but he doesn’t have time to reveal it. He notices the wind stopped, but the grass is still moving. It comes at them like a wave and grabs Hazel.
19 Hazel is being carried away by the grass and searches for some treasure in the ground to anchor herself to. Eventually, she finds something large and concentrates on it. Once the large rock is out of the ground, she is able to get on top of it. Gnome-like monsters form out of the different grains. They have been promised freedom from humans for helping Gaea, who has special torture planned for Hazel. Hazel tries to trick them into telling her where Alcyoneus is located in Alaska, but they will not tell her. She keeps them talking and tries to keep her voice loud to help her friends find her. When the grains have finally had enough, they start climbing the rock to get her. An arrow goes through the chest of Wheat and turns him into Chex Mix.
20 As the grain monsters start to reform, Percy warns them to stay dead. The three heroes stand on top of the rock and can see an army of monsters with the giant Polybotes at the end of the line. Percy is confused why there are centaurs and cyclopses with them; he remembers them being good. Hazel says they have always been taught they are bad. A few of the Cyclopes are the ones Jason, Leo, and Piper fought and this gives Hazel hope that Jason is still alive. There is a convenience store on top of a hill some of the cyclopses try to get into for food, but it is owned by a goddess. She uses a rainbow of light to keep them out. Polybotes says they are already behind and don’t have time to deal with the goddess. He can smell Percy, but one of the cyclopses convinces him it is only because the sea is near and they don’t have time to look for Neptune there. He takes three large, white snakes from his hair and leaves them there to attack the goddess. They march on, but Percy is left shivering. Hazel and Frank agree they won’t be able to get him back to the sea, but the convenience store might be their only chance for help.
21 As the three heroes make a dash for the convenience store, Frank can hear the snakes behind them. He fires a flare arrow at them and can see they breath fire and kill the grass beneath them. One gets close and he hits it with his bow, which disintegrates. They hurry inside. A cloud nymph named Fleecy takes them to Iris. The rainbow goddess sprays some stuff around Percy to help him with his memory sickness. Percy asks to send an Irish message and Iris agrees to have Fleecy do it for her (as she has been doing most of the messaging for the goddess lately). Iris pulls Frank aside to talk to him.
22 Iris shows Frank images of his past. His mother saving him from a mother bear that needed directions, telling him about his ancestors (Xu Fu and Sung Guo), and telling him they are from Li-Jien. Iris points out that Frank must be important and talented for Juno to have saved him as a baby by pulling the piece of wood out of the fire. She tells Frank that his life is more precious because it could be short. She tells him to do what he wants to and offers him a job at her store. She tells him to seek out Phineas (a blind man that can see past/present/future) in Portland Oregon to find out where Thanatos is in Alaska. Iris tells him he will have to use the spear his father gave him to defeat the basilisks outside. On his way out, she tells him she saw him dying while holding the stick. She suggests he find a demigod he trusts to hold onto it for him. He trusts Hazel enough for this task, but doesn’t know how to explain it.
Frank hopes that he has some hidden powers that he doesn’t know about as he goes out to fight the basilisks with just the spear his father gave him. He goes after one of the snakes in the dark only to find out he has become surrounded by them.
The tip of Frank’s spear feels like it is drawn to the ground. He thinks he remembers something about the dragon tooth being put into the ground and drives it in. A skeletal figure, Grey, appears and waits for his orders. Frank tells it to kill the three basilisks and it does. It decapitates them and then spreads the remaining ashes. Afterwards, Grey disappears and the dragon tooth reappears in the spear. Frank remembers Mars told him he only had three charges. He will have to figure out his mother’s gift to prevent using it anymore. Frank fears that Grey is evil and could end up attacking him or his friends. Percy and Hazel run up to him with weapons drawn, but the fight is already over. Frank promises to explain later.
25 Percy was given a satchel of supplies from Iris they take with them as they take off for Portland. Percy is too tired to continue steering so he asks a killer whale for a lift. It agrees and Percy makes a harness. Frank and Hazel take turns keeping watch. Percy first dreams about fighting in the Titan War. He then sees Leo working on the ship in a hurry to help Camp Jupiter. Lastly, he sees ice and the Eagle. Gaea telling him his friends will die. When he wakes up, they are in Portland. A couple of sturgeons took over pulling the boat to help get them further inland. Once they left, the boat seemed to steer itself. They end up in front of a house and Percy hopes it is where Phineas is.
26 As they wander through the rain, they hear a man yelling at chickens and know it must be Phineas. They find themselves in the middle of several food trucks and follow his yells. They find him at a table hind the trucks with a large pile of food in front of him and using a weed waker to fend off starving harpies. Percy yells for Phineas to stop attacking the harpies, but it scares the bird women and they fly off into the trees. Phineas tells them Gaea is his patron. After years of being cursed by Jupiter and unable to eat food, he is bitter against the gods. A group of Romans made it so he can eat again while the harpies starve because they can only eat his food. He tells Percy he will tell them where Thanatos is being kept if they tie up the quicker, smarter harpy for him. The three heroes don’t want to help him, but know they need his information.
Percy grabs a few food items from Phineas’ table and leads Hazel and Frank towards the red feathered harpy. He lures her down from the sky with the smell of food and she wants the cinnamon roll burrito. However, as soon as she gets it, the other harpies attack her and take it away. Percy tries to explain they want to help her and be friends. She starts reciting part of a She tells them her name is Ella and recites part of a prophecy Percy has the feeling is about him. When Hazel mentions Phineas’ name, Ella flies away. They go though a library to get to its roof and find she has a shelter made from books. She has memorized every book she has read. She tells them Phineas cannot see small things and they should challenge him to a game of chance. Percy and Frank realize they will need to use the vials of gorgon blood.
Phineas writes down the location of Alcyoneus’s base on a napkin and puts it in his robe pocket. Percy and Phineas sit opposite each other at the picnic table. Both Frank and Hazel swear on the River Styx they will not seek revenge on the blind seer if Percy dies. The old man takes both vials and tries to examine them for a difference. He lays them on the table and expects Gaea to help him choose the correct one. She rattles one vial more than the other and that is the one he chooses. They both drink and Percy doubles over in pain. However, it is Phineas that dies and becomes ash. Percy doesn’t feel like he has been healed and doesn’t have his memories back. Gaea tells him in his head that what he did was risky, but she does need Percy more than Phineas, so she chose to save him. They get the napkin from Phineas pocket and see the … Glacier is where they need to go. Hazel knows it and says they have a long way to go.
Hazel tells Percy and Frank her story as they continue North in the Pax with Ella. Towards the end, she feels herself slipping into a flashback and takes Frank with her. He is able to watch as the fates sentence how she will spend eternity. She was granted Elysium, but her mother was headed for Punishment. Hazel bargain with them and arranged for both her mother and her to go to the Fields of Asphodel. Once there, most people just exist, not remembering or feeling anything. Since Hazel is a daughter of Pluto, she retains her memories and feelings. While they are stuck standing there in the fields, Frank tells Hazel about his lifeline stick. He asks her to hold it for him and she takes it. When they come back to the present, Ella tells them Hazel won’t black out anymore because she shared. They arrive in Seattle.
Ella tells her new friends she will rejoin them later and flies off. As they dock, the Pax falls apart. They search the city for the Amazon warriors and eventually find the company Amazon. They decide to go in and find out it is actually the headquarters for the Amazons. They are taken to Queen Hylla, who instantly recognizes Percy as the one who destroyed Circe’s school of magic and her home. Hazel points out the ring Percy has from Reyna. The previous queen, Otrera, has come back from the dead and is looking to reclaim her power. She wants Hylla to kill their guests, but Hylla insists on getting the entire story from Hazel first. She send everyone out except Hazel. Otrera calls any women to her that are interested in learning about Gaea. Once they are alone, Hylla explains she will most likely be dead by that night.
Otrera was the original queen of the Amazons. Gaea brought her back to take back power and march against the Romans at Camp Jupiter with the Giant’s army. Hylla explains that any member of the Amazons has the right to challenge her and become queen in a fight to the death. If Otrera loses, Gaea can bring her back to life to challenge Hylla again. Hylla isn’t sure how many nights in a row she will be able to survive fighting Otrera. Hazel notices Arion, a horse she saw and chased in her old life, in a cage. Many Amazons have tried to tame him and one girl lost her arm trying to feed him. Hylla mentions that he prefers to eat gold and Hazel summons a chunk from the ground for him. He eats from her hand. Hylla thinks Hazel might be part of a prophecy that predicts prosperity for the Amazons. She sends Hazel with her loyal guard Kinzie to the jail cell. Hylla warns her not to be around the cells if there is a jail break.
When they get to the jail cells, Hazel realizes they are surrounded by jewelry. She acts sick to get Otrera’s guards towards her. After Kinzie leaves, she is able to take two out with silver bracelets. The third guard runs away. Hazel takes their Amazon cards and uses them to free Percy and Frank. They make their way back towards the throne room to recover Arion. On the way, those loyal to Hylla let them pass easily. Hazel uses the card to free Arion, but they know they can’t all ride him at once. The horse (also a son of Neptune) tells Percy there is a chariot they can use. Hazel rides Arion while Percy and Frank follow. When they get to the chariot, Percy quickly hooks it up to Arion and they take off. They dodge attacks and make it outside. Hazel calls for Ella, who joins Percy and Frank on the chariot. Arion takes off, breaking the sound barrier.
Arion runs until the chariot starts to fall apart. Frank yells up to Hazel, who is able to stop the horse. They are in Canada. Arion is hungry, but Hazel cannot sense any gold around them. She tells the horse to go graze and that she will find some for him soon. She and Percy salvage what supplies they can from the chariot, which had some Amazon packages in the front of it. Frank notices they are close to his grandmother’s house. Hazel and Percy ask him to return, though Frank is not sure how welcomed they will be. By the time they make their way near the house, they find a campfire surrounded by ogres. They can see several others nearby and figure the house is most likely surrounded. Frank uses his second dragon tooth to summon Grey again. He meant for for the skeletal warrior to create a distraction, but Grey kills the six ogres at the nearby campfire and sinks back into the ground. They now have a path to the house.
Once inside, Frank is worried from the state of the house. He notices his grandmother’s usually clean porcelain is covered in dust. He makes his way upstairs to her room with his friends. When he gets there, his grandmother is frail looking and sleeping in her bed. Mars is at her bedside, but only Frank can see him. Frank sends his friends off to get some sleep while he talks to Mars. The war god tells him to think about the stories his family has always told him. One of his ancestors was the son of Poseidon, who was given the family gift. The Romans were defeated in a battle to the east and 15 thousand were taken prisoners. When that civilization found themselves in a battle with the Chinese, the Romans were once again taken prisoners in Li Jien, where his mother said is their homeland. He needs to figure out his family gift quickly if he is going to survive. Every demigod has a fatal flaw; Percy Jackson’s is his loyalty to his friends. Frank’s sense of duty will allow him to make a decision that Percy will not be able to. Frank realizes that he is one of the seven demigods of the prophecy.
In the morning, Frank wakes up on the floor. Hazel brought him a pillow and blanket and breakfast. His grandmother tells him to make her his girlfriend because he needs strong women in his life. She asks if Frank has figured out the family secret. He starts going over their family history. His grandmother confirms that his great grandfather did not do anything wrong, but in his day, he was outcast for being Chinese. Frank continues the history and asks if his mother’s telling him that he can be anything was literal. His grandmother confirms it, but can’t tell him how to use the ability, just that it is easier in times of need. She has arranged for a pilot to take them north from a nearby landing strip. She sends Frank to the attic to get weapons and meet up with his friends. The ogres are preparing to attack.
Frank finds Ella in the attic reading old scrolls. She mentions a piece of prophecy that the sone of Poseidon will drown in Alaska. On the roof, He finds Percy and Hazel. The ogres call out to him, ready to eat him for breakfast. He tells his friends to get Ella to the car in the garage and to get ready to leave. Frank stays on the roof and does his best to keep their focus on him. He attempts to use his family gift to turn himself into a dragon, but it doesn’t work. When the monsters start to get impatient, he goes down to the attack and uses a potato launcher to fire spuds at them. The starch is highly affective against the ogres. He grabs a new bow and bag of mixed arrows. He uses them to fight off the ogres and get to the Cadillac just as Percy is getting ready to get them out of the garage. Frank jumps into the back seat with Hazel and they take off. When they reach the airfield, Frank sends his friends ahead while he shoots different types of arrows at the ogres. Ella refuses to get into the plane. Percy tells her to stay in the area and he will send a friend to help her. Once the three heroes are inside, the pilot takes off.
Percy isn’t thrilled about being in a plane, but he knows it is necessary. His memories have been coming back slowly since drinking the gorgon blood. He tells his new friends that his is from the Greek camp, Camp Half-blood. They all realize that Juno is trying to unite them to stop Gaea, but Octavian will declare war if the Greeks arrive at Camp Jupiter in a war ship. He needs to get into contact with his friends in order to send help for Ella. There is a couch and Percy goes to sleep. He dreams of Tyson at the burned down Zhang mansion. He tells his half brother about Ella and to protect her. Tyson gets the message and takes off. Next, Percy dreams about Polybotes looking down at camp Jupiter. Ms. Gasket and her cyclopses have made a stop for a winery tour and will be joining them the next day. Polybotes is willing to wait for the Feast of Fortuna to attack. Percy wakes up as the plane is starting to land.
The three heroes stop at a diner for food. Hazel marvels at how much Anchorage has changed since she was last there seventy years ago. All around are blue giants called hyperboreans. They are peaceful and don’t seem to take notice of the people. The mortals don’t see them at all. Percy finds a payphone and calls his mom’s apartment. He gets voicemail and leaves her message letting her know he is on a quest and will return when he can. The heroes get on a train and start heading to Seward. Percy is less worried about the prophecy that says he will drown and more worried about the one that says a daughter of Athena will burn through Rome. They are on the top of a double decker train car and take in the scenery along the way. When a group of people start marveling at large eagles, Frank points out they aren’t eagles at all, but large monsters. They fly at the car and the train jumps the tracks.
As the monsters get close, the heroes can see they are gryphons. One takes Percy by the arms and takes off flying. Percy isn’t able to get free, but Frank is able to shoot it down with an arrow. Percy falls to the ground and is okay. They end up at the pack’s nest, which has gold objects all over the place. Hazel creates a distraction using the gold (which includes the gryphons’s eggs) and they make a run for a hyperborean in the distance. They hid under its leg and the gryphons start swooping around it. It uses its breath to freeze the gryphons. Percy and his friends sneak away while they can.
When they arrive at Seward, Hazel is surprised at the size of the town. Before she can warn him, Percy falls into mud that acts like quicksand. Hazel orders Frank to hand her one of his bow and for him to not let go of the other. She jumps into the mud and hopes she can reach Percy. He is able to grab her ankle and she jerks the bow to let Frank know to pull them up. He does and they are all safe for a moment.
The three heroes make it into Seward, and Hazel is amazed at how much everything has changed. Her old home is still standing, but it bad shape. She crawls inside through a window and sees boxes of greeting cards have been stored there. She removes a sign to see her old pictures and drawings are still hanging on the wall. Percy asks about Sammy and says he looks familiar. Frank leaves them to go get supplies. Percy and Hazel set up the boxes like mattresses and try to get some rest while they wait. Percy wonders if the prophecy of him drowning was going to be in the earth. Hazel reminds him the rest of the page was burnt and it could mean something completely different. Frank returns with supplies and they go to get food. Hazel talks to some locals and finds out Hubbard Glacier is much further than she thought. A gryphon attacks and Percy is able to use his control over water to knock it into the sea. There are more in the distance coming right for them. Arion appears to take them across the water and to the glacier.
Arion runs on top of the water to get to the glacier. He is able to run and jump his way up to the top. They come to a Roman-like city at the top. Death is chained up in the middle and appears to be alone. They all know it is most likely a trap, but don’t have any choice but to step into it. As soon as they start to approach Death, Alcyoneus’ ghostly army of fallen Romans arrive.
Death is surprised they are so determined to free him; especially Hazel, his master’s daughter, who has already died. Hazel and Frank both commit to freeing Death to save the rest of the world. Death tells them the fire of life is the only thing that can break his chains. Frank knows he means the piece of wood that is tied to his life line. The golden giant Alcyoneus appears and greets them.
The three heroes don’t have much time to plan out their attacks. Frank knows what he has to do and asks Hazel for the stick she is holding for him. After he assures her he is ready, she gives it back to him. Alcyoneus has been following Percy’s life and is excited at the thought of him joining them. He tells them Kronos’ mistake was not destroying the gods at their roots. They quickly decide Percy will keep the ghosts away from Frank. Hazel decides she will fight the giant made to be her father’s enemy. She rides off on Arion.
Frank starts burning away the chains around Death’s feet first. He can feel his life burning away as he uses the fire of his life to break the chains. He sees Percy is distracting the ghosts using a hurricane and the legion’s eagle. Once Death is free, he promises to keep those that die on the battle field dead. Frank hears Hazel scream, but sees Percy is also being overrun by enemies. Percy shouts for Frank to go help Hazel and he does. He sees Arion trying to protect Hazel as she struggles to get up. Frank focuses on his family gift and turns himself into an Eagle. He claws at Alcyoneus’ eyes and lands in front of Hazel. He changes into a bear next and charges at the giant. He is able to knock Alcyoneus down and starts beating him with a heavy Roman shield. Alcyoneus laughs at him knowing he can’t be killed in his home, which is now Alaska. Frank tells Hazel they have to try to get Arion to drag the giant far away. She points out that Percy is being over taken. Percy yells for them to go. He stabs his sword into the glacier. The ghostly army, parts of the glacier, and Percy are taken down in a wave of icy water.
Frank is so stunned that Hazel has to get his attention to knock out Alcyoneus again. Thanatos reminds them they cannot kill the giant in Alaska. Hazel asks if he is going to take her back to the underworld, but she is not on his list. He tells them he will need to go to the original Rome to close the doors of Death, but he doesn’t know how they will do it. Not able to help Percy right away, Frank and Hazel have Arion pull Alcyoneus out of Alaska and into Canada. Frank becomes an elephant to fight him and Hazel uses her sword to kill the giant. They race back to Glacier bay.
Percy is waiting for them when they return. They fill him in on why the left and Percy is jealous of Frank’s power to transform himself into animals. They spend some time gathering imperial gold weapons to take back to Camp Jupiter. They pack as much as they can into a chariot and have Arion pull it for them.
When they get back to camp, it doesn’t look good for their side. Frank is surprised Lupa isn’t there to help them, but Percy knows she has to look out for her own pack. Percy whistles and Tyson, Mrs. O’Leary, and Ella come to them. He introduces everyone quickly and Tyson is excited to have another relative (Frank).
Hazel rides Arion, Frank becomes an eagle, and Tyson charges into battle. Percy hooks the chariot up to Mrs. O’Leary and have her carry the weapons down to the Fifth Cohort. They follow the eagle and Percy to join with the Third to scare off the centaurs. They head towards Polybotes and the First and Second Cohorts. Percy raises up the eagle and it shoots lightning that destroys an entire line of monsters. He hands the eagle off to Dakota and sends Frank, Hazel, and Tyson to help the Fourth Cohort that is surrounded by cyclopses. The Amazon arrive lead by Hylla and fight with the Romans. Percy challenges the giant and quickly learns Polybotes’ touch changes water to poison. The demigod knows he needs a god’s help to kill him. He leads the giant into town where Terminus’ statue is. He is not happy that Percy tries to bring a weapon inside the Pomerian Line. Polybotes ends up crushing the statue as he takes his trident over the line, so Terminus agrees to help Percy, who uses the statue’s head to kill Polybotes. The Roman army chants for Percy to be their new Praetor.
They Feast of Fortuna is held and Percy moves from table to table to talk to people. Kinzie expresses her interest in Percy, but he isn’t interested. Percy is taken off probation and given medals. That night to celebrate, Hazel, Frank, and Percy walk around town. Percy decides to go to bed early to give them some time alone together. Juno appears in Percy’s dream. He is furious he has lost eight months, but she tries to explain it was necessary to keep him out of play for a while. She tell him Annabeth will be an issue on the quest, but Percy can’t believe his girlfriend wouldn’t be one of the best people to take on the quest.
The next morning, Percy meets up with his friends on the way to the council meeting. Frank shows him that Mars left him The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was Frank’s mother’s favorite book. Hazel thinks she must be cut off from her father as a way to preserve her life. Pluto wouldn’t be able to let her live if he saw her escaped from the underworld. Percy explains he needs both of them on the next quest as part of the seven demigods. They all agree they will need to take Ella because Octavian would abuse her. Tyson brings Percy a scroll from Leo saying they are about an hour away from Camp Jupiter in their war ship. This is the subject of discussion when they get to the council meeting. Percy puts his life on the line that the Greeks are there to help them. Reyna supports him and they let the ship land.