He fixed his dark eyes on her. 'I am Kekrops, the first and eternal king of Athens. I would welcome you to my city.' He held up the covered platter. ' Also, I brought a Bundt cake.'

Piper glanced at her friends. 'A trick?'

'Probably?' Annabeth said.

'At least he brought dessert.' Percy smiled down at the snake guys. 'Welcome aboard!

At the ed of the hall stood a walnut door with a bronze plaque:

ASCLEPIUS

MD, DMD, DME, DC, DVS, FAAN, OMG, EMT, TTYL, FRCP, ME, IOU, OD, OT, PHARMD, BAMF, RN, PHD, INC., SMH

There may have been more acronyms in the list, but by that point Leo's brain had exploded.

Piper was maybe the most impressive. She fenced with the giantess Periboia, sword against sword. Despite the fact that her opponent was five times larger, Piper seemed to be holding her own. The goddess Aphrodite floated around them on a small white cloud, strewing rose petals in the giantess's eyes and calling encouragement to Piper. 'Lovely, my dear. Yes, good. Hit her again!

There are too many of them." Reyna wondered bitterly how many times she'd said that in her demigod career.

She should have a badge made and wear it around to save time. When she died, the words would probably be written on her tombstone: There were too many of them.

But too much love is poison, especially when that love is not returned

Piper McLean," [Annabeth] grumbled, "that was without a doubt the dumbest risk I've ever seen anyone take, and I date a dumb risk-taker.