Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
129
129
Then, as I watched, a tiny silver plant sprang out of the soil—a baby moonlace, growing in
the warm summer night.
“Nice plant,” a voice said.
I jumped. Nico di Angelo was standing on the fire escape right next to me. He’d just
appeared there.
“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“That’s—that’s okay. I mean…what are you doing here?”
He’d grown about an inch taller over the last couple of months. His hair was a shaggy black
mess. He wore a black T-shirt, black jeans, and a new silver ring shaped like a skull. His Stygian
iron sword hung at his side.
“I’ve done some exploring,” he said. “Thought you’d like to know, Daedalus got his
punishment.”
“You saw him?”
Nico nodded. “Minos wanted to boil him in cheese fondue for an eternity, but my father had
other ideas. Daedalus will be building overpasses and exit ramps in Asphodel for all time. It’ll help
ease the traffic congestion. Truthfully, I think the old guy is pretty happy with that. He’s still building.
Still creating. And he gets to see his son and Perdix on the weekends.”
“That’s good.”
Nico tapped at his silver ring. “But that’s not the real reason I’ve come. I’ve found out some
things. I want to make you an offer.”
“What?”
“The way to beat Luke,” he said. “If I’m right, it’s the only way you’ll stand a chance.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m listening.”
Nico glanced inside my room. His eyebrows furrowed. “Is that…is that blue birthday cake?”
He sounded hungry, maybe a little wistful. I wondered if the poor kid had ever had a birthday
party, or if he’d ever even been invited to one.
“Come inside for some cake and ice cream,” I said. “It sounds like we’ve got a lot to talk
about.”
To be continued…