had taught him to sharpen his senses—to trust the instincts that had been guiding him south. His homing radar was tingling like crazy now. The end of his journey was close—almost right under his feet. But how could that be? There was nothing on the hilltop. The wind changed. Percy caught the sour scent of reptile. A hundred yards down the slope, something rustled through the woods—snapping branches, crunching leaves, hissing. Gorgons. For the millionth time, Percy wished their noses weren’t so good. They had always said they could smell him because he was a demigod—the half-blood son of some old Roman god. Percy had tried rolling in mud, splashing through creeks, even keeping air-freshener sticks in his pockets so he’d have that new car smell; but apparently demigod stink was hard to mask. He scrambled to the west
Rick Riordan
Related On sentry duty with Hazel, he would try to take his mind off it. He loved spending time with her. He... RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson... RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy mountain cliff in Maine, Perc... RICK RIORDAN You speak horse?" Hazel asked. "Speaking to horses is a Poseidon thing," Percy said. "Uh, I mea... RICK RIORDAN Part of their problem was Percy. He fought like a demon, whirling through the defender's ranks in a ... RICK RIORDAN And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stoo... J.K. ROWLING The rules only applied to people who couldn’t afford different rules. CAMERON STRACHER Which reminded me...I still owed the gods a debt. "You're a genius," I (Percy) told Annabeth. RICK RIORDAN I thought he was OK, but he stopped breathing and they had to put him on a respirator. When I was ab... CODY COLVIN It wasn't as though he didn't have choices. He could have expanded his career, maybe further it with... BOB FULLER He was a hero to his valet, who bullied him, and a terror to most of his relations, whom he bullied ... OSCAR WILDE Percy hated tests. Since he'd lost his memory, his whole life was one big fill-in-the-blank. He was ... RICK RIORDAN The unfortunate thing is that, sometimes, we slip, but, fortunately, consciously or unconsciously, w... ERNEST AGYEMANG YEBOAH Annabeth:My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris. Percy: the ... RICK RIORDAN Decker pulled the mask on. It smelt of his excitement. As soon as he breathed in he got a hard. Not ... CLIVE BARKER No other way off the hill. He’d managed to get himself cornered. He stared at the stream of cars f... RICK RIORDAN The little flickering part of his brain that was still sparking coherent thought through the fog of ... TERRY PRATCHETT And Harry remembered his first nightmarish trip into the forest, the first time he had ever encounte... J.K. ROWLING It was a cold morning, and he shivered a little; but he had been taught by his uncle that his prayer... W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM Hazel squinted. “How far?” “Just over the river and through the woods.” Percy raised an eyeb... RICK RIORDAN It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. His wineglass crashed to the floor and ... CASSANDRA CLARE It had belonged to that idea of the exasperated consciousness of his victim to become a real test fo... HENRY JAMES Hunter woke suddenly. A noise. It was a noise unlike anything he’d ever heard before. Close! ... MICHAEL GRANT Nico was devastatingly alone. He’d lost his big sister Bianca. He’d pushed away all other demigo... RICK RIORDAN You're right,' said the corporal. 'It serves editors like that right. They only stir the people up. ... JAROSLAV HAšEK And the day came out... the mask was removed... and who was behind it? ... No Face... a pe... DEYTH BANGER That was indicative of the trust he had in his principals. I was really fortunate to have had the op... DAN BOYD Lord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma." Bacchus ... RICK RIORDAN The truth hit him. Jason wasn't quite Roman anymore. His time at Camp Half-Blood had changed him. Re... RICK RIORDAN And not only of even mainly because of the protection it had given him - it was thanks to his own st... MICHAEL ENDE It wasn’t simply his choosing to be alone that kept him that way; it was almost a condition of his... TERRY BROOKS Don't talk to my sister that way." Nico said. His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had th... RICK RIORDAN Bob says hello," he told the stars. RICK RIORDAN Tyson put his hand on Grover´s shoulder "I -I will go with him." I couldn´t believe I was hea... RICK RIORDAN The first impression I had was hitting ground balls to him and you realized that he was a special pe... BUDDY BAILEY The marquis de Carabas was not a good man, and he knew himself well enough to be perfectly certain t... NEIL GAIMAN Nicholas looked down at his battered shoes and said nothing. He did indeed wish to be contrary—at ... TRENTON LEE STEWART If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay," said Gatsby. "You always have a ... F. SCOTT FITZGERALD No, it had never been like this for him before, with anyone. Of all the women he’d known, she was ... J.D. ROBB Then someone else appeared from the crowd, and Annabeth's vision tunneled. Percy smiled at he... RICK RIORDAN There is only one classroom in which to learn: 1. The work of God. 2. The will of God. 3. The trustw... ELISABETH ELLIOT Feast of the Conversion of Paul The God of Pharisaism was like the God of the Deists, He stood al... C. H. DODD May I never neither turn left nor turn right in my journey of life, but may I go straight to Christ ... ERNEST AGYEMANG YEBOAH The wind god Favonius had warned him in Croatia: If you let your anger rule you … your fate will b... RICK RIORDAN I cannot put into words how happy I was to have had the opportunity to be around him as much as I wa... OSSIE DAVIS His habit of reading isolated him: it became such a need that after being in company for some time h... W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM Don't you ever feel like, what if the world really IS messed up? What if we COULD Do it all over aga... RICK RIORDAN He had the innate sense that something bad was just around the bend, but a hope that something incre... LAUREN KATE Reyna looked at Percy without much hope. “You do have a plan?” Percy wanted to step ... RICK RIORDAN Two years before, the man had ended my reign. I had been the semel of a tribe of werepanthers, leade... MARY CALMES A major theme for Bonhoeffer was that every Christian must be "fully human" by bringing God into his... ERIC METAXAS He was about to go home, about to return to the place where he had had a family. It was in Godric’... J.K. ROWLING Looking at the elementary schoolers in their colorful T-shirts from various day camps, Percy felt a ... RICK RIORDAN He remembered Apollo, smiling and tanned and completely cool in his shades. Thalia had said, He’s ... RICK RIORDAN His friends told him that nobody was interested in his goddam soul unless it was the priest and he m... FLANNERY O'CONNOR Sanchez had his game on. All of his pitchers were working pretty good. His fastball at the end was h... LUIS DORANTE She was turned on by him— his scent, his smile; he was the manifestation of seduction. Under norma... NORIAN F. LOVE PERCY WAS WAITING FOR THEM. He looked mad. He stood at the edge of the glacier, leaning on the staff... RICK RIORDAN He had just brought back a Central Asian Shepherd dog for my parents and a ring that was a gift from... JENNIFER WESTER The Bible A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was the custo... JACK CANFIELD But he said to his wife, sitting next to him on the couch in the TV room, that rarely had he seen a ... MARK WALLACE When he first got down there, he was 'The Golden Child.' Everyone loved him, ... He had his whole fa... JAMIE SHARPER Only now it had become indispensable to him to have her face pressed close to him; he could never le... D.H. LAWRENCE He tried to remember Moon Child's eyes, but was no longer able to. He was sure of only one thing: th... MICHAEL ENDE Graystripe’s nest was empty. A flash of anger shot through Fireheart. Where was his friend when he... ERIN HUNTER Now, leave." All three boys slumped forward. Percy fell face-first into his pizza. "Perc... RICK RIORDAN Percy was getting tired of water. If he said that aloud, he would probably get kicked out of Po... RICK RIORDAN Keith had it a little better than most kids here because he had two parents in the same household wh... JEFF HILL And in an essential way, this was what he was most ashamed of: not his poor understanding of sex, no... HANYA YANAGIHARA Over time, there would be less and less of him and more of the tumor. His brain was being eaten by G... MAX BARRY As they scuffled in the grass, Adam closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He could nearly scry j... MAGGIE STIEFVATER He was astonished at how calm he found he was. Fear of death had always energised him, making him mo... K.J. PARKER He was a collector of knives. They pulled him over to see what was in his luggage. They saw that he ... MOHAMMED BABAR It suddenly made sense. Only twice in his life had he felt this inexplicable, almost mystical attrac... JULIA QUINN He had half their points in every quarter (in the last meeting). The emphasis was not to stop him, b... DAN BRINKLEY How could he convey to someone who'd never even met her the way she always smelled like rain, or how... JODI PICOULT Mom?” he whispered. “Dad?” They just looked at him, smiling. And slowly, Harry look... J.K. ROWLING He believed the press was doing its job, but, in the absence of candor from the committee, it had re... CARL BERNSTEIN, BOB WOODWARD He was on his knees and had his hand up to his throat, and the blood was squirting through his finge... JOHN HAGGERTY They were talking more distantly than if they were strangers who had just met, for if they had been ... W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM The old man had a big gash in his arm and a hole in his head, a small hole in his head. So we were k... ANDY AKAMINE At first, man was enslaved by the gods. But he broke their chains. Then he was enslaved by the kings... AYN RAND Percy smiled at her - that sarcastic troublemaker smile that had annoyed her for years but eventuall... RICK RIORDAN She was a very pretty woman. She had dark red hair and her eyes -- her eyes are just like mine, Harr... J.K. ROWLING As he rose to his feet he noticed that he was neither dripping nor panting for breath as anyone woul... C.S. LEWIS It was him against the flames and he revelled in it. Logan was good at his job. Exceptionally g... AMY ANDREWS When we got him, he was a late 2-year-old, almost 3. (Previous trainers) tried to break him, but it ... BRUCE MILLER If the right people had been in charge of Nixon's funeral, his casket would have been launched into ... HUNTER S. THOMPSON I don't feel that way anymore," Nico muttered. "I mean... I gave up on Percy. I was young and impres... RICK RIORDAN But some part of him realized, even as he fought to break free from Lupin, that Sirius had never kep... J.K. ROWLING For Achilles, the death of Patroclus pushed him into a fury, but it was not only grief that drove hi... NEL NODDINGS Long ago there was a little boy who lived in the wood with his father and his sister. One night, the... S.R. CRAWFORD But he was no longer in Tollygunge. He had stepped out of it as he had stepped so many mornings out ... JHUMPA LAHIRI For a moment, Nico felt like a little kid again. He was tempted to blurt out, That’s so cool! Even... RICK RIORDAN He had to have been a lonely guy. He gave up his whole life for his career, ... When he was on the r... STEVE ALLEN Percy inhaled the muffin. The coffee was great. Now, Percy thought, if he could just get a shower, a... RICK RIORDAN S., a clever and truthful man, once told me the story of how he ceased to believe. On a hunting expe... LEO TOLSTOY If Robert Blake got in his car after his wife was killed he would have blood on him. (Blake) had no ... ERIC DUBIN His mind drifted back to times past. He missed the companionship of his old pack. He had grown up in... ALAN KINROSS The Marquis believed himself to be hardened against flattery. He thought that he had experienced eve... GEORGETTE HEYER
More Rick Riordan
It's not easy. I got lots of rejections when I first started out. If you want to write, you have... RICK RIORDAN All of my characters tend to be montages of different people I've met: little bits and pieces of... RICK RIORDAN I don't recommend shadow travel if you're scared of: a) The dark b) Cold shivers up your s... RICK RIORDAN Technically, even on inspection, it was against camp rules for two campers of the opposite sex to be... RICK RIORDAN Annabeth:My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris. Percy: the ... RICK RIORDAN Correct." Kekrops sounded bitter, like he regretted his decision. "My people were the original Athen... RICK RIORDAN Gods of Olympus.” Piper stared at Leo. “What happened to you ?” His hair was grease... RICK RIORDAN He turned to Frank who was trying to pull his fingers out of the Chinese handcuffs… “Okay,�... RICK RIORDAN Save yourselves!” Percy warned. “It is too late for us!” Then he gasped and pointed to th... RICK RIORDAN Survive first. Figure out crayon drawing of destiny later. RICK RIORDAN I'm the Super-sized McShizzle, man!" Leo said. "I'm Leo Valdez, bad boy supreme. And the ladies l... RICK RIORDAN Delaying death is one of my favorite hobbies RICK RIORDAN Leo: "So...giants who can throw mountains. Friendly wolves that will eat us if we show weakness. Evi... RICK RIORDAN I have lightning and wind powers," Jason reminded him. "Piper can turn beautiful and charm people in... RICK RIORDAN Can we just call them storm spirits?” Leo asked. “Venti makes them sound like evil espresso drin... RICK RIORDAN On the bright side," Percy said, "both Jason and I outrank you, Octavian. So we can both tell you to... RICK RIORDAN Behold!" Percy shouted. "The god's chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke! RICK RIORDAN Hercules,huh? Percy frowned. "That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn... RICK RIORDAN I try not to think. It interferes with being nuts -Leo Valdez RICK RIORDAN Um," Grover said. "Percy?" "Yeah?" "I thought you'd want to know." "Yeah?" "Cerb... RICK RIORDAN Oh, come on!’ Percy complained. ‘I get a little nosebleed and I wake up the entire earth? That�... RICK RIORDAN You can keep watch, in case – you know, the lake decides to attack us or something." - Leo Valdez RICK RIORDAN He hated being filled with terror. It was embarrassing. RICK RIORDAN Have you ever noticed how parents can go from the most wonderful people in the world to totally emba... RICK RIORDAN I’ve met plenty of embarrassing parents, but Kronos, the evil Titan Lord who wanted to destroy Wes... RICK RIORDAN Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot." "He's the sun god," I said. "That's not what I me... RICK RIORDAN I wanted to argue but I found I couldn't. Athena was pretty darn smart. RICK RIORDAN There is always a way for those clever enough to find it. RICK RIORDAN When Athena falls in love, it's purely intellectual. It's a meeting of minds. The purest kind of lov... RICK RIORDAN Headache!" Zeus bellowed. "Bad. bad headache!" As if to prove his point, the lord of the univer... RICK RIORDAN your loved ones have been used to lure you into Kronos's traps. Your fatal flaw is personal loyalty ... RICK RIORDAN Wisdom's daughter walks alone. That didn't just mean without other people, Annabeth realized. I... RICK RIORDAN The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation," she said. "Evil is easy to fight. ... RICK RIORDAN People usually asked her if she had a belly button. Of course she had a belly button. She couldn't e... RICK RIORDAN Athena stood in the middle of the road with her arms crossed and a look on her face that made me thi... RICK RIORDAN Athena called, "Annabeth Chase, my own daughter." Annabeth squeezed my arm, then walked forward... RICK RIORDAN I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain," she said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, ... RICK RIORDAN She studied me with concern. She touched the new streak of gray in my hair that matched hers exactly... RICK RIORDAN There is always a way out for those clever enough to find it. RICK RIORDAN The first lesson every child of Athena learned: Mom was the best at everything, and you should never... RICK RIORDAN Not knowing is half the fun," Aphrodite said, "Exquisitely painful isn't it? Not being sure who you ... RICK RIORDAN Annabeth gripped the hilt of her dagger. “A bounty on our heads . . . as if we didn’t attract en... RICK RIORDAN The cord, a familiar voice said. Remember your lifeline, dummy! Suddenly there was a tug in my ... RICK RIORDAN You sneaked into my cabin?” Annabeth rolled her eyes. “Percy, you’ll be seventeen in two ... RICK RIORDAN I learned a long time ago: Never bet against Annabeth. RICK RIORDAN Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge." We stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of c... RICK RIORDAN And,” Annabeth continued, “it reminds me how long we’ve known each other. We were twelve RICK RIORDAN He had no idea where the stereotype of dumb giggly blondes came from. Ever since he'd met Annabeth a... RICK RIORDAN I could have killed you.” “Or I could have killed you,” Percy said. Jason shrugged.... RICK RIORDAN I'm Dylan. I'm so cool. I want to date myself, but I don't know how! You want to date me instead? Yo... RICK RIORDAN Argh!" Thalia pushed me, and a shock went through my body that blew me backward ten feet into the wa... RICK RIORDAN This is Annabeth,” Jason said. “Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people. RICK RIORDAN You drool when you sleep. RICK RIORDAN Hey, can I see that sword you were using?" I showed him Riptide, and explained how it turned fr... RICK RIORDAN I'm calm," Rachel insisted. "Every time I'm around you, some monsters attack us. What's to be nervou... RICK RIORDAN Remind me again-why do you hate me so much?" I don't hate you." Could've foole... RICK RIORDAN Leo: Rainbows. Very macho. Annabeth: Butch is our best equestrian, he gets along great with the... RICK RIORDAN It's okay,” he said. “We're together.” He didn't say you're okay , or we're alive ... RICK RIORDAN Monkey bar," Annabeth said. "I'm great at these." She leaped onto to the first rung and start swingi... RICK RIORDAN She raised an eyebrow. "You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?" You'd probably ki... RICK RIORDAN Once she was gone, I knelt next to Annabeth and felt her forehead. She was still burning up. "Y... RICK RIORDAN Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" I asked. "It only works on wild animals.... RICK RIORDAN Percy: Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right? Annabeth: Come back alive,... RICK RIORDAN You are okay?" he asked. "Not eaten by monsters?" "Not even a little bit." I showed him that I ... RICK RIORDAN What if it lines up like it did in the Trojan War ... Athena versus Poseidon?" "I don't know. B... RICK RIORDAN The real story of the Fleece: there were these two children of Zeus, Cadmus and Europa, okay? They w... RICK RIORDAN A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He... RICK RIORDAN Percy (to Annabeth): If I was going to pick one person in the world to reattach my head, I'd pick yo... RICK RIORDAN Dreams like a podcast, Downloading truth in my ears. They tell me cool stuff." "Apoll... RICK RIORDAN Young people don't always do what they're told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderf... RICK RIORDAN It's hard to enjoy practical jokes when your whole life feels like one. RICK RIORDAN Rachel: You're a half-blood, too? Annabeth: Shhh! Just announce it to the world, how about? RICK RIORDAN I turned to Dionysus. "You cured him?" "Madness is my specialty. It was quite simple." "Bu... RICK RIORDAN My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding stude... RICK RIORDAN Hermes gazed up at the stars. "My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons... RICK RIORDAN Hermes smiled. "I knew a boy once ... oh, younger than you by far. A mere baby, really."Her... RICK RIORDAN It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inv... RICK RIORDAN Like water leaking through a dam," said Piper. "Yeah," smiled Percy. "We've got a dam hole." RICK RIORDAN I'd love to tell you I had some deep revelation on my way down, that I came to terms with my own mor... RICK RIORDAN A hero can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as he has the nerve. RICK RIORDAN Very slowly using two fingers, Annabeth drew her dagger. Instead of dropping it, she tossed it as fa... RICK RIORDAN I said hello to the poodle. RICK RIORDAN Nico, you can do this," Jason said. "It might be embarrassing, but it's for the scepter." RICK RIORDAN Love is on every side, Cupid said. And no one's side. Don't ask what Love can do for you.<... RICK RIORDAN Is this guy Love or Death?" Jason growled.Ask your friends, Cupid said. Frank,... RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson... RICK RIORDAN You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or ask a poet to explain his poem. It defeats th... RICK RIORDAN Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing. RICK RIORDAN The real world is where the monsters are. RICK RIORDAN It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality. RICK RIORDAN I felt like one of Apollo's sacred cows- slow, dumb, and bright red. RICK RIORDAN We're staying together," he promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again. RICK RIORDAN Hades raised an eyebrow. When he sat forward in his throne, shadowy faces appeared in the folds of h... RICK RIORDAN The main courtyard was filled with warriors - mermen with fish tails from the waist down and human b... RICK RIORDAN She whirled when the monster was almost on top of her. I thought the thing in her hands was an umbre... RICK RIORDAN Leo,” Hazel gasped, “I can’t—my arms—” “Hazel,” he said. “Do you trust me?”... RICK RIORDAN Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out! RICK RIORDAN She held up her calloused, grimy fingers. Leo couldn't help thinking there was nothing hotter than a... RICK RIORDAN Tantalus made a wild grab, but the marshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames. RICK RIORDAN Everyone thinks you've been kidnapped," he said. "We've been scouring the ship. When Coach Hedge fin... RICK RIORDAN Huh," Leo said. "Well, if you ever get off this island and want a job, let me know. You're not a tot... RICK RIORDAN Um...is that thing tame ?" Frank said. The horse whinnied angrily. "I don't think so... RICK RIORDAN Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tyson pounding the Earthborn into the ground like a game of wha... RICK RIORDAN Frank imitated the voice of Vitellius: 'They're wimps! Back in my day, we died all the time, and we ... RICK RIORDAN He [Death] pulled a pure-black iPad from thin air. Death tapped the screen a few times and all Frank... RICK RIORDAN Just his luck he was related to this grubby old dude. He hoped all sons of Neptune didn't share the ... RICK RIORDAN Look," Percy continued, "I know I'm new here. I know you guys don't like to mention the massacre in ... RICK RIORDAN Part of their problem was Percy. He fought like a demon, whirling through the defender's ranks in a ... RICK RIORDAN Juno: "All roads lead there child. You should know that." Percy: "Detention? RICK RIORDAN They all ordered massive plates of eggs, pancakes, and reindeer sausage, though Frank looked a littl... RICK RIORDAN Percy tried to remember. He really did. For some reason, Annabeth and he had visited a spa and decid... RICK RIORDAN That's because we keep weapons in the attic, silly boy. Do you think this is the first time m... RICK RIORDAN Tyson, Frank is a descendant of Poseidon." "Brother!" Tyson crushed Frank in a hug. Percy ... RICK RIORDAN Elections only happen in two ways," Reyna said. "Either the legion raises someone on a shield after ... RICK RIORDAN You speak horse?" Hazel asked. "Speaking to horses is a Poseidon thing," Percy said. "Uh, I mea... RICK RIORDAN Frank stared at him. "Unfair? You can breathe underwater and blow up glaciers and summon freaking hu... RICK RIORDAN They're Lares. House gods." "House gods," Percy said. "Like...smaller than real gods, but large... RICK RIORDAN I'm fine!" Percy yelled out as he ran by, followed by a giant screaming bloody murder. RICK RIORDAN This is Leo. I'm the... What's my title? Am I like, admiral, or captain, or..." "Repair boy." RICK RIORDAN Reyna sent me to get Percy," Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?" "Yeah," Percy said. "He sla... RICK RIORDAN Percy scowled. "I-I know you." Nico raised his eyebrows. "Do you? RICK RIORDAN Annabeth's face, her blond hair and gray eyes, the way she laughed, threw her arms around him, and g... RICK RIORDAN Two hundred Romans, and no one’s got a pen? Never mind!" He slung his M16 onto his bac... RICK RIORDAN There!" Mars finished writing and threw the scroll at Octavian. "A prophecy. You can add it to your ... RICK RIORDAN Jeez, Hazel," Percy said, "tell your horse to watch his language." Hazel tried not to laugh. "W... RICK RIORDAN Hey!" said the guy in the video. "Greetings from your friends at Camp Half-Blood, et cetera. This is... RICK RIORDAN Life is only precious because it ends, kid. RICK RIORDAN Now, come over here so I can pat you down." "But you don't have-" Percy stopped. "Uh, sure." RICK RIORDAN Can you surf really well, then?" I looked at Grover, who was trying hard not to laugh. "Je... RICK RIORDAN Hera, do not dare take credit! You have caused at least as many problems as you fixed! RICK RIORDAN He wondered if...his dad, Zeus, would write him a note: “Please excuse Jason from eternal damnatio... RICK RIORDAN Usually I give demigods something simple like a shopping trip, singing a funny song, that sort of th... RICK RIORDAN Nico danced around like he needed to use the restroom. "Does Zeus really have lightning bolts t... RICK RIORDAN If you look at it from any other side, it looks like a pile of enormous deer droppings, but Chiron w... RICK RIORDAN Thalia blushed. "Hi, Lord Apollo." Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be... RICK RIORDAN The god of wine looked around at the assembled crowd. “Miss me?” The satyrs fell over... RICK RIORDAN My faithful companion, Zoe Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And ... RICK RIORDAN Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and me. "These two are dangerous. It'd be mu... RICK RIORDAN But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!" Chiron and Grover glanced nervously ... RICK RIORDAN Kronos couldn't have risen if it hadn't been for a lot of demigods who felt abandoned by their paren... RICK RIORDAN Your uncle," Poseidon sighed, "has always had a flair for dramatic exits. I think he would've done w... RICK RIORDAN I looked at Thalia. "You're afraid of heights." Now that we were safely down the mountain... RICK RIORDAN Doesn't miss many meals, does he?" Zeus muttered. "Tyson, for your bravery in the war, and for leadi... RICK RIORDAN The Council agrees," Zeus said. "Percy Jackson, you will have one gift from the gods." I hesita... RICK RIORDAN As for my brothers," Zeus said, "we are thankful"-he cleared his throat like the words were hard to ... RICK RIORDAN It's just Annabeth mom jeez! RICK RIORDAN Хей! - извика Гроувър. - Тя май припадна! - Гррр! - обади... RICK RIORDAN Той ме погледна тъжно, сякаш мислеше какви цветя да изб... RICK RIORDAN Синдром на Дефицит на Вниманието (СДВ) RICK RIORDAN You're cute when you're worried, your eyebrows get all scrunched together. RICK RIORDAN then things got even stranger. Mr. Brunner, who'd been out in front of the museum a minute befo... RICK RIORDAN There are parties and then there are huge major blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties... RICK RIORDAN Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” ... RICK RIORDAN Percy smiled. He knew the stakes were high. He knew this day could go horribly wrong. But he also kn... RICK RIORDAN Hazel squinted. "How far?" "Just over the river and through the woods." Percy raised an ey... RICK RIORDAN Can’t this thing go any faster?” Thalia demanded. Zoe glared at her. “I cannot control tr... RICK RIORDAN Erre es korakas, Blinky!" Dionysus cursed. "I will have your soul! RICK RIORDAN In a way, it's nice to know that there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame ... RICK RIORDAN THAT'S IT!" Terminus cried. "That's AGAINST THE RULES!" Polybotes frowned, obviously confused t... RICK RIORDAN Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes. RICK RIORDAN Go on with what your heart tells you, or you will lose all. RICK RIORDAN If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself. RICK RIORDAN She'd also called me brave...unless she was talking to the catfish. RICK RIORDAN A big sacrifice is coming, and you won't have the courage to make it. That will cost you dearly. It ... RICK RIORDAN Gaea?” Leo shook his head. “Isn’t that Mother Nature? She’s supposed to have, like, flowers ... RICK RIORDAN Humans see what they want to see. RICK RIORDAN Remake the world, a little at a time, each in your own corner of the world. RICK RIORDAN Then she did something so unexpected Nico would later think he dreamed it. She walked up to Nico, wh... RICK RIORDAN You will suffer, son of Hades!’ What else is new? Nico thought. RICK RIORDAN This is so cool!" Nico said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat. "Is this really the sun? I th... RICK RIORDAN Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea. If I'd known what was coming, I would've called i... RICK RIORDAN I had a crush on Percy," Nico spat. "That's the truth. That's the big secret. RICK RIORDAN For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’ Percy looked a... RICK RIORDAN He turned, registering a face with blond hair, and for a split second he thought it was Will Solace.... RICK RIORDAN Good. So you may be dense, but you’re not an idiot.’ ‘How can you even talk to me like t... RICK RIORDAN Nico," I said at last, "shouldn't you be sitting at the Hades table?" He shrugged. "Techn... RICK RIORDAN Oh, did you expect me to play fair?" Cupid laughed. "I am the god of love. I am never fair. RICK RIORDAN With great power... comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later. RICK RIORDAN Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can." Grover cracked a smile.... RICK RIORDAN Because I know you, Percy Jackson. In many ways, you are impulsive, but when it comes to your friend... RICK RIORDAN Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wro... RICK RIORDAN What about a compromise? I’ll kill them first, and if it turns out they were friendly, I’ll apol... RICK RIORDAN Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind... RICK RIORDAN Don't feel bad, I'm usually about to die. RICK RIORDAN I nodded, looking at Rachel with respect. "You hit the Lord of the Titans in the eye with a blue pla... RICK RIORDAN Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand... RICK RIORDAN Don't you ever feel like, what if the world really IS messed up? What if we COULD Do it all over aga... RICK RIORDAN She looked at me, like she was drinking in the fact that I was still here. And I realized I was doin... RICK RIORDAN The world was collapsing, and the only thing that really mattered to me was that she was alive. RICK RIORDAN How did you die?" "We er....drowned in a bathtub." "All three of you?" "It was a big ... RICK RIORDAN Love conquers all," Aphrodite promised. "Look at Helen and Paris. Did they let anything come between... RICK RIORDAN Ever had a flying burrito hit you? Well, it's a deadly projectile, right up there with cannonballs a... RICK RIORDAN Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face. RICK RIORDAN I will call him Small Bob," said Bob. "He is a good monster." End of discussion.The Tita... RICK RIORDAN We’ve arrived,” Leo announced. “Time to Split.” Frank groaned. “Can we leave Valdez i... RICK RIORDAN Wow. When he started looking back on the war with Kronos as the good old days--that was sad. RICK RIORDAN Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy mountain cliff in Maine, Perc... RICK RIORDAN You promised, Seaweed brain. We would not get separated! Ever again! RICK RIORDAN Nico, I've seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did? That was maybe the bravest. RICK RIORDAN Annabeth?” Percy said again. “You’re planning something. You’ve got that I’m-planning-s... RICK RIORDAN