"Ugh!" everyone groaned loudly, annoyed at the cliffhangers.

"C'mon, read people" huffed Ramona.

"You read, then" Leo tossed her the book.

She flinched, nearly dropping it and looked around hoping for another volunteer. Instead, she saw a lot of eyes staring at her in expectation. She sighed and opened the book, too eager to read herself to put up a fight and waste time.

"I BUY SOME NEW FRIENDS" she said quickly, having resisted the urge to peak at the paper that seemed to amuse every person who had taken it out of the book. "Huh, didn't take you for that type, Percy."

The boy in question rolled his eyes.

Mrs. O'Leary was the only one happy about the sleeping city. We found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on the sidewalk, sucking his thumb.

The idea made everyone chuckle, but quietly, as to not disturb the reading.

Argus was waiting for us with his hundred eyes wide open. He didn't say anything. He never does. I guess that's because he supposedly has an eyeball on his tongue.

The people tried to stifle a laugh.

"And you're thinking about it, now?" said Annabeth raising her eyes to the sky.

But his face made it clear he was freaking out.

"Bad sign" muttered Leo, who remembered Argus did anything but freak out.

I told him what we'd learned in Olympus, and how the gods would not be riding to the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic since it made his whole body swirl.

"Uhh."

Hazel scrunched up her nose.

"You'd better get back to camp," I told him. "Guard it as best you can."

"Good" nodded Reyna. "You cannot leave the camp unguarded."

"No shit" mumbled Percy under his breath, earning an elbow in the ribs from his girlfriend.

He pointed at me and raised his eyebrow quizzically.

"I'm staying," I said.

Argus nodded, like this answer satisfied him. He looked at Annabeth and drew a circle in the air with his finger.

"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."

"I love how they speak with him."

"I wouldn't understand what he means."

"Me neither."

"For what?" I asked.

Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much standard issue-the same kind of round shield we always used in capture the flag.

"Capture the flag?" perked up a son of Bellona.

"Not now" hushed him his friend.

But when Annabeth set it on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty-which wasn't anywhere close to us.

"Whoa!"

Murmurs of appreciation spread around the Romans.

"Whoa," I said. "A video shield."

"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "I had Beckendorf make this before-" She glanced at Silena.

"Before what?" frowned Andrea.

"Before he died," said Percy staring at the ground. "He's the one who blew up the Princess Andromeda."

The spirit dropped a little bit as the Romans realized the Greeks lost many lives to the war, too.

"And Silena…" prompted carefully Piper.

"She was wretched. They just got together before… you know" shrugged Annabeth uneasily.

"Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."

Leo's mouth watered just at the thought of such an awesome mechanism. That Deadalus guy would be his hero from now on (sorry, Percy) and he was so going to bug Annabeth about his plans and ideas.

"Mm, gimme one" he groaned longingly.

Annabeth straightened in her seat smugly.

We crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image zoomed and spun at first, so I got motion sickness just watching it.

Annabeth smirked and raised an eyebrow at him.

We were in the Central Park Zoo, then zooming down East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turning on Third Avenue.

"Cool!"

Leo gave an inarticulate whimper, waving his hands like he wished to get the shield out of thin air.

"Whoa," Connor Stoll said. "Back up. Zoom in right there."

"What?" Annabeth said nervously. "You see invaders?"

Everyone held their breath reflexively.

"No, right there-Dylan's Candy Bar." Connor grinned at his brother. "Dude, it's open. And everyone is asleep. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Many demigods protested in disbelieve although Percy noticed some didn't put as much enthusiasm in it as others. Actually, he would go as far as saying they - mostly children of Mercury, it seemed - wished for an occasion like that, but one sharp look from Reyna washed all these thoughts away.

"Connor!" Katie Gardner scolded. She sounded like her mother, Demeter.

"You would know" grumbled someone.

"This is serious. You are not going to loot a candy store in the middle of a war!"

"Sorry," Connor muttered, but he didn't sound very ashamed.

Kids of Mercury grinned sneakily.

Annabeth passed her hand in front of the shield, and another scene popped up: FDR Drive, looking across the river at Lighthouse Park.

"Why there?"

"This will let us see what's going on across the city," she said.

"Right."

"It was kinda stupid to ask."

"I know."

"Thank you, Argus. Hopefully we'll see you back at camp . . . someday."

"Morbid much?" said Leo.

"Nah" said Piper sarcastically. "Why would they be?"

Argus grunted. He gave me a look that clearly meant Good luck; you'll need it,

"Seriously, you could use some optimism."

"Thanks for the oh-so-great advise, Leo. I'll keep in mind to be optimistic next time I face the end of the world."

"Not long, then" said Jason.

then climbed into his van. He and the two harpy drivers

"Harpy drivers" snickered quietly Leo.

Jason and Frank glanced at him oddly but Piper and Percy grinned and stuffed their giggles.

swerved away, weaving around clusters of idle cars that littered the road.

I whistled for Mrs. O'Leary, and she came bounding over.

"Hey, girl," I said. "You remember Grover? The satyr we met in the park?"

"Awww, it's so sweet!"

"What, talking to objects that can't answer? I think you count it as mental illness."

"ANIMALS ARE NOT OBJECTS!" butted in another person.

As the first two speakers kept their voices low, you can imagine the sudden outburst appeared rather bizarre to the gathered teenagers.

"WOOF!"

"Is that a yes?"

"Go figure."

I hoped that meant Sure I do! And not, Do you have more hot dogs?

The people sniggered.

"I need you to find him," I said. "Make sure he's still awake. We're going to need his help. You got that? Find Grover!"

Mrs. O'Leary gave me a sloppy wet kiss,

"Oh gods I'm dying."

Many heads turned to the squealing girl.

"No, you're not," pointed out a person next to her.

The girl waved at him impatiently, indicating to ignore her and read on.

which seemed kind of unnecessary. Then she raced off north.

Pollux crouched next to a sleeping policeman. "I don't get it. Why didn't we fall asleep too? Why just the mortals?"

"That's a good question," said Reyna.

"This is a huge spell," Silena Beauregard said. "The bigger the spell, the easier it is to resist. If you want to sleep millions of mortals, you've got to cast a very thin layer of magic. Sleeping demigods is much harder."

Pride bubbled up in Piper and an involuntary smile graced her features. Children of Aphrodite weren't to be messed with and they had more to them than just good looks. If only she could show it her brainwashed siblings.

I stared at her. "When did you learn so much about magic?"

Silena blushed. "I don't spend all my time on my wardrobe."

"Ha" Piper said softly to herself.

"Percy," Annabeth called. She was still looking at the shield. "You'd better see this."

"I have a bad feeling."

The bronze image showed Long Island Sound near La Guardia. A fleet of a dozen speedboats raced through the dark water toward Manhattan.

"U-uh."

Each boat was packed with demigods in full Greek armor.

"U-UH."

At the back of the lead boat, a purple banner emblazoned with a black scythe flapped m the night wind. I'd never seen that design before, but it wasn't hard to figure out: the battle flag of Kronos.

"BIG U-UH."

"We get it, Leo."

"Scan the perimeter of the island," I said. "Quick."

Annabeth shifted the scene south to the harbor. A Staten Island Ferry was plowing through the waves near Ellis Island. The deck was crowded with dracaenae and a whole pack of hellhounds.

"Not good, not good at all" murmured Hazel worriedly.

Swimming in front of the ship was a pod of marine mammals. At first I thought they were dolphins.

"They're not, 'm afraid."

Then I saw their doglike faces and the swords strapped to their waists, and I realized they were telkhines-sea demons.

The tension was once again running high; everyone sat at the edge of their seats, leaning towards Ramona. Reyna had an impassive face (so nothing new, here) but she sat still as a statue; Jason was frowning, hanging on every word; Frank put his arm around Hazel and she used his other one to squeeze - which was noticeable after one glance at his face - and Piper felt like biting on her nails out of stress. Even Leo quietened down.

Only Percy and Annabeth seemed unaffected as they were there when it all happened. If one looked closer, though, they would notice their joined hands held more meaning than just affectionate action that all the couples do, and their postures were stiff.

The scene shifted again: the Jersey shore, right at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. A hundred assorted monsters were marching past the lanes of stopped traffic: giants with clubs, rogue Cyclopes, a few fire-spitting dragons, and just to rub it in, a World War II-era Sherman tank, pushing cars out of its way as it rumbled into the tunnel.

"This got to be a joke," whispered horrified Gwen.

The crowd was once again moved but no one dared commenting too much at a moment like this.

"What's happening with the mortals outside Manhattan?" I said. "Is the whole state asleep?"

"No way," said Jason.

Annabeth frowned. "I don't think so, but it's strange. As far as I can tell from these pictures, Manhattan is totally asleep. Then there's like a fifty-mile radius around the island where time is running really, really slow. The closer you get to Manhattan, the slower it is."

The faces around were priceless. More than one jaw dropped, some kids had eyes bulging out of their sockets. It seemed unbelievable.

She showed me another scene-a New Jersey highway. It was Saturday evening, so the traffic wasn't as bad as it might've been on a weekday. The drivers looked awake, but the cars were moving at about one mile per hour. Birds flew overhead in slow motion.

"Wow," laughed in bewilderment Piper.

"I wish I could've seen that," said Frank.

"Kronos," I said. "He's slowing time."

"Hecate might be helping," Katie Gardner said. "Look how the cars are all veering away from the Manhattan exits, like they're getting a subconscious message to turn back."

"This is like a foolproof plan," Reyna shook her head. "The whole Manhattan cut off, monsters coming from every side and only a bunch of demigods to defend it all."

"Fortunately for us, it wasn't all that foolproof," said Annabeth, grasping Percy's hand tighter.

Everyone nodded slowly, not wanting to know what would happen otherwise.

"I don't know." Annabeth sounded really frustrated. She hated not knowing. "But somehow they've surrounded Manhattan in layers of magic. The outside world might not even realize something is wrong. Any mortals coming toward Manhattan will slow down so much they won't know what's happening."

"Guys, you were screwed. How did you get out of it?"

"Luck," Percy answered Piper at the same time as Annabeth said "Good planning and hard work."

They looked at each other.

"Okay" said Jason slowly.

"I guess luck goes for Percy and planning for Annabeth but how did others survive?" said Frank, still amazed.

"Some didn't" reminded him quietly Hazel.

Sensing gloomy mood, Ramona cleared her throat overly loud to gain attention.

"Like flies in amber," Jake Mason murmured.

"I like amber."

"Good to know?"

Annabeth nodded. "We shouldn't expect any help coming in."

"Fantastic."

I turned to my friends. They looked stunned and scared, and I couldn't blame them.

"No one can," frowned Reyna.

The shield had shown us at least three hundred enemies on the way. There were forty of us. And we were alone.

"I would've pissed myself by now," it came out louder that the person meant it to be and many turned to the boy.

He stared at them, frozen in spot.

"Roman up!" said Reyna sternly after a pause and everyone turned back to Ramona.

"All right," I said. "We're going to hold Manhattan."

"Oh, right, no big deal."

Silena tugged at her armor. "Um, Percy, Manhattan is huge."

"No shit."

"We are going to hold it," I said. "We have to."

"He's right," Annabeth said. "The gods of the wind should keep Kronos's forces away from Olympus by air, so he'll try a ground assault. We have to cut off the entrances to the island."

"That's one shitty situation."

"They have boats," Michael Yew pointed out.

An electric tingle went down my back. Suddenly I understood Athena's advice: Remember the rivers.

"Uh, I still don't get it."

"I'll take care of the boats," I said.

Michael frowned. "How?"

"He's a Poseidon's kid, duh," said Leo loudly.

"Just leave it to me," I said. "We need to guard the bridges and tunnels. Let's assume they'll try a midtown or downtown assault, at least on their first try. That would be the most direct way to the Empire State Building. Michael, take Apollo's cabin to the Williamsburg Bridge. Katie, Demeter's cabin takes the Brooklyn- Battery Tunnel. Grow thorn bushes and poison ivy in the tunnel. Do whatever you have to do, but keep them out of there! Conner, take half of Hermes cabin and cover the Manhattan Bridge. Travis, you take the other half and cover the Brooklyn Bridge. And no stopping for looting or pillaging!"

Many Romans raised their eyebrows at Percy.

"What?"

"I'm beginning to think you sometimes just pretend to be stupid," said Reyna.

His friends couldn't keep themselves from snorting or chuckling.

"Nothing works better to catch someone off guard," he said easily, smiling.

"Awwww!" the whole Hermes cabin complained.

"Silena, take the Aphrodite crew to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel."

"Oh my gods," one of her sisters said. "Fifth Avenue is so on our way! We could accessorize, and monsters, like, totally hate the smell of Givenchy."

The children of Venus nodded eagerly, while some – like children of Mars – rolled their eyes.

"No delays," I said. "Well . . . the perfume thing, if you think it'll work."

Venus kids squealed and clapped lightly.

Six Aphrodite girls kissed me on the cheek in excitement.

At that, many guys whooped and wolf-whistled. Leo wiggled his eyebrows at Percy and his girl friends laughed.

"All right, enough!" I closed my eyes, trying to think of what I'd forgotten.

"That," said heatedly Piper. "That is self-control and that is how guys should act."

"Um, Pipes…?" Jason glanced at her uncertainly. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how most guys would take advantage of this situation or get really cocky about it while they shouldn't," he leaned slightly away from her.

Almost everyone stared at her blankly.

"Err…" said Leo.

"Sorry," she took a deep breath. "It just really irks me. Read on."

Most of the crowd only gawked at her weirdly but she caught Annabeth's pleased gaze and understanding passed between them.

"The Holland Tunnel. Jake, take the Hephaestus cabin there. Use Greek fire, set traps. Whatever you've got."

He grinned. "Gladly. We've got a score to settle. For Beckendorf!"

Leo felt a pang in his chest as he smiled sadly.

The whole cabin roared in approval.

"The 59th Street Bridge," I said. "Clarisse-"

I faltered. Clarisse wasn't here. The whole Ares cabin, curse them, was sitting back at camp.

Angry muttering and fuming was heard from the children of Mars.

"We'll take that," Annabeth stepped in, saving me from an embarrassing silence. She turned to her siblings. "Malcolm, take the Athena cabin, activate plan twenty-three along the way, just like I showed you. Hold that position."

"You got it."

"I'll go with Percy," she said. "Then we'll join you, or we'll go wherever we're needed."

Somebody in the back of the group said, "No detours, you two."

Everyone laughed.

There were some giggles, but I decided to let it pass.

"All right," I said. "Keep in touch with cell phones."

"With what?"

"Umm, how do you explain what a cell phone is to someone who had never been outside ancient-like camp?"

"You don't. Shut up."

"We don't have cell phones," Silena protested.

I reached down, picked up some snoring lady's BlackBerry, and tossed it to Silena. "You do now.

"Percy!" said Hazel scandalized.

"I like how you think" laughed Leo as a Dakota high-fived Percy.

You all know Annabeth's number, right? If you need us, pick up a random phone and call us. Use it once, drop it, then borrow another one if you have to. That should make it harder for the monsters to zero in on you."

"Okay, seriously," Ramona interrupted herself. "I'm beginning to think you're just playing dumb."

Percy squirmed under all the stares.

"Pizza" he said.

Reyna narrowed her eyes at him.

"Uh-huh" Ramona nodded to herself. "It's all an act, I tell you."

"Or I am dumb" said Percy.

"If you were, why would you fight us on that matter?" reckoned Reyna.

"Because I'm dumb?" he said less surely.

"Okay, leave him be" laughed Annabeth. "Just read, please."

Everyone grinned as though they liked this idea.

Travis cleared his throat. "Uh, if we find a really nice phone-"

"No, you can't keep it," I said.

"Party pooper."

"Aw, man."

"Hold it, Percy," Jake Mason said. "You forgot the Lincoln Tunnel."

"Oops."

I bit back a curse. He was right. A Sherman tank and a hundred monsters were marching through that tunnel right now, and I'd positioned our forces everywhere else.

"Oh shit."

"You have to split the biggest cabins and mix them," said Reyna with her brows furrowed.

Then a girl's voice called from across the street: "How about you leave that to us?"

"Clarisse?" said Frank in surprise, but Percy and Annabeth shook their heads with grins.

I'd never been happier to hear anyone in my life. Aband of thirty adolescent girls crossed Fifth Avenue.

"Okay, I'm confused."

They wore white shirts, silvery camouflage pants, and combat boots. They all had swords at their sides, quivers on their backs, and bows at the ready. A pack of white timber wolves milled around their feet, and many of the girls had hunting falcons on their arms.

"The hell, man?"

The girl in the lead had spiky black hair and a black leather jacket. She wore a silver circlet on her head like a princess's tiara, which didn't match her skull earrings or her Death to Barbie T-shirt showing a little Barbie doll with an arrow through its head.

"I like her," said immediately Leo.

His friends rolled their eyes.

"You met her, idiot," muttered to him Piper.

"Thalia!" Annabeth cried.

Jason flinched. Well, he knew that moment would come but it still caused a flock of emotions to combust inside of him. And not every one of them was pleasant.

The daughter of Zeus grinned. "The Hunters of Artemis, reporting for duty."

"Whoa," breathed Gwen.

Many Romans appeared awed at the girls.

There were hugs and greetings all around . . . or at least Thalia was friendly. The other Hunters didn't like being around campers, especially boys, but they didn't shoot any of us, which for them was a pretty warm welcome.

At that, admiration slipped from many faces making place for consternation.

"Where have you been the last year?" I asked Thalia. "You've got like twice as many Hunters now!"

"That's pretty good."

"It's good for you," said Reyna. "More people to fight."

She laughed. "Long, long story. I bet my adventures were more dangerous than yours, Jackson."

Jason shot Percy a look, wondering how close he was with his sister.

"Complete lie," I said.

"We'll see," she promised. "After this is over, you, Annabeth, and me: cheeseburgers and fries at that hotel on West 57th."

"You're pretty close with her," Hazel voiced Jason's thought with a smile.

Percy couldn't keep a mix of fondness and wretchedness from his face.

"She's one of my best friends," he glanced at Annabeth who seemed to have similar inner struggle as him.

"We just don't see her as much," she added with a sigh.

They missed her as hell, that much anyone could tell. Jason fought down a small surge of jealousy.

"Le Parker Meridien," I said.

"She still owes us that cheeseburgers and fries," he said.

"You're on. And Thalia, thanks."

She shrugged. "Those monsters won't know what hit them. Hunters, move out!"

Everyone grinned, though no one wider than Jason, Percy and Annabeth.

She slapped her silver bracelet, and the shield Aegis spiraled into full form. The golden head of Medusa molded in the center was so horrible, the campers all backed away. The Hunters took off down the avenue, followed by their wolves and falcons, and I had a feeling the Lincoln Tunnel would be safe for now.

"Oh, definitely."

"Thank the gods," Annabeth said. "But if we don't blockade the rivers from those boats, guarding the bridges and tunnels will be pointless."

"Quick, Percy, quick!"

"You know that happened like a year ago?"

"Shhh!"

"You're right," I said.

I looked at the campers, all of them grim and determined. I tried not to feel like this was the last time I'd ever see them all together.

A shiver went up his spine. It was, actually. Many of them died then. But he also realized he may never see again these who had survived, too.

"You're the greatest heroes of this millennium," I told them.

For once, the Romans didn't protest, although Octavian had a sour face.

"It doesn't matter how many monsters come at you. Fight bravely, and we will win." I raised Riptide and shouted, "FOR OLYMPUS!"

Everyone stilled in anticipation.

They shouted in response, and our forty voices echoed off the buildings of Midtown. For a moment it sounded brave, but it died quickly in the silence of ten million sleeping New Yorkers.

The tense atmosphere shifted to the one described in the book. Many held their breath and once again everyone fell into complete silence.

Annabeth and I would've had our pick of cars, but they were all wedged in bumper-to-bumper traffic. None of the engines were running, which was weird. It seemed the drivers had had time to turn off the ignition before they got too sleepy. Or maybe Morpheus had the power to put engines to sleep as well. Most of the drivers had apparently tried to pull to the curb when they felt themselves passing out, but still the streets were too clogged to navigate.

"That's problematic," stated quietly Reyna.

Finally we found an unconscious courier leaning against a brick wall, still straddling his red Vespa. We dragged him off the scooter and laid him on the sidewalk.

Children of Mercury couldn't keep slight smirks.

"Sorry, dude," I said. With any luck, I'd be able to bring his scooter back. If I didn't, it would hardly matter, because the city would be destroyed.

"Way to lighten the mood," mumbled Annabeth, holding tightly onto Percy's hand. He squeezed it even tighter.

I drove with Annabeth behind me holding on to my waist.

Percy looked up, ready for someone to make a snide comment on it but they were all too engaged in the story to care.

We zigzagged down Broadway with our engine buzzing through the eerie calm. The only sounds were occasional cell phones ringing-like they were calling out to each other, as if New York had turned into a giant electronic aviary.

"Wow," breathed out Piper.

Our progress was slow. Every so often we'd come across pedestrians who'd fallen asleep right in front of a car, and we'd move them just to be safe.

Some teenagers subconsciously nodded in approval.

Once we stopped to extinguish a pretzel vendor's cart that had caught on fire. A few minutes later we had to rescue a baby carriage that was rolling aimlessly down the street.

Someone gasped loudly.

It turned out there was no baby in it-just somebody's sleeping poodle. Go figure.

Annabeth bit back a giggle and no one could resist smiling a little bit.

We parked it safely in a doorway and kept riding.

We were passing Madison Square Park when Annabeth said, "Pull over."

And again, everyone tensed.

I stopped in the middle of East 23rd. Annabeth jumped off and ran toward the park. By the time I caught up with her, she was staring at a bronze statue on a red marble pedestal. I'd probably passed it a million times but never really looked at it.

"And what's so special in it?"

A few people shrugged.

The dude was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed. He wore an old-fashioned suit-Abraham Lincoln style-with a bow tie and long coattails and stuff. A bunch of bronze books were piled under his chair. He held a writing quill in one hand and a big metal sheet of parchment in the other.

"Umm, okay," said slowly Leo. "And why do we care?"

"Why do we care about . . ." I squinted at the name on the pedestal. "William H. Steward?"

"My point, exactly."

"Seward," Annabeth corrected. "He was a New York governor. Minor demigod-son of Hebe, I think. But that's not important. It's the statue I care about."

"Yeah, that's cool but why?"

She climbed on a park bench and examined the base of the statue.

"Don't tell me he's an automaton," I said.

"Wait, what?" said Frank, confused.

Annabeth smiled. "Turns out most of the statues in the city are automatons. Daedalus planted them here just in case he needed an army."

Jaws dropped.

"Excuse me?" said Jason amazed.

"To attack Olympus or defend it?"

Annabeth shrugged. "Either one. That was plan twenty-three. He could activate one statue and it would start activating its brethren all over the city, until there was an army. It's dangerous, though. You know how unpredictable automatons are."

"Well, we don't," said Leo. "Enlighten us."

"It's a long story," Annabeth waved him off.

"Uh-huh," I said. We'd had our share of bad experiences with them.

"I want to hear that story."

"You're seriously thinking about activating it?"

"I have Daedalus's notes," she said. "I think I can . . . Ah, here we go."

"If it works…" Reyna trailed off.

She pressed the tip of Seward's boot, and the statue stood up, its quill and paper ready.

"What's he going to do?" I muttered. "Take a memo?"

Some snorted.

"Shh," Annabeth. "Hello, William."

"Bill," I suggested.

This time more giggles escaped teenagers.

"Bill . . . Oh, shut up," Annabeth told me. The statue tilted its head, looking at us with blank metal eyes. Annabeth cleared her throat. "Hello, er, Governor Seward. Command sequence: Daedalus Twenty-three. Defend Manhattan. Begin Activation."

"That sounds so cool," grinned Ramona.

Seward jumped off his pedestal. He hit the ground so hard his shoes cracked the sidewalk.

"That would make such a great movie!" said out of blue a daughter of Apollo. "Just imagine this scene and slow motion and guuys!"

"Maybe later," suggested her friend.

Then he went clanking off toward the east.

"He's probably going to wake up Confucius," Annabeth guessed.

"Confucius?"

"What?" I said.

"Another statue, on Division. The point is, they'll keep waking each other up until they're all activated."

"So, it'll take a while."

"And then?"

"Hopefully, they defend Manhattan."

"That's great," nodded Piper.

"Do they know that we're not the enemy?"

"I think so."

"Or not so much."

"That's reassuring." I thought about all the bronze statues in the parks, plazas, and buildings of New York. There had to be hundreds, maybe thousands.

"That would be just fan-freaking-tastic to fight the monsters, traitor demigods, Kronos and them."

Then a ball of green light exploded in the evening sky. Greek fire, somewhere over the East River.

"Oh dear."

"Wait, what's Greek fire?"

"We have to hurry," I said. And we ran for the Vespa.

We parked outside Battery Park, at the lower tip of Manhattan where the Hudson and East Rivers came together and emptied into the bay.

"Wait here," I told Annabeth.

"And you're going where?"

"Percy, you shouldn't go alone."

"Yeah, you shouldn't," said Hazel worriedly.

"Well, unless you can breathe underwater . . ."

"Oooh, low blow!"

She sighed. "You are so annoying sometimes."

"Like when I'm right? Trust me, I'll be fine. I've got the curse of Achilles now. I'll all invincible and stuff."

"I forgot about it," said Leo.

Frank stared at him like he was touched in the head (and he probably was).

Annabeth didn't look convinced. "Just be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you. I mean, because we need you for the battle."

"Wow, Annabeth, you sound like such a great friend," said Leo.

"Please, Leo, just shut up," sighed Reyna.

I grinned. "Back in a flash."

I clambered down the shoreline and waded into the water.

"It had to be a weird sight."

Just for you non-sea-god types out there, don't go swimming m New York Harbor. It may not be as filthy as it was in my mom's day, but that water will still probably make you grow a third eye or have mutant children when you grow up.

Disgust was displayed on faces with the exception of children of Ceres – they weren't repulsed, they were downright terrified.

I dove into the murk and sank to the bottom. I tried to find the spot where the two rivers' currents seemed equal-where they met to form the bay. I figured that was the best place to get their attention.

"Whose attention?"

"HEY!" I shouted in my best underwater voice.

Teenagers snorted.

The sound echoed in the darkness. "I heard you guys are so polluted you're embarrassed to show your faces. Is that true?"

"Ooh!" and "aah!"s spread around the Forum as every person realized why he went down underwater.

A cold current rippled through the bay, churning up plumes of garbage and silt.

"I heard the East River is more toxic," I continued, "but the Hudson smells worse. Or is it the other way around?"

"It's at the same time smart and dumb," said Annabeth. "How do you manage that?"

"Natural talent."

"You seriously are suicidal," said Jason.

"And I am not surprised anymore," put in cheerfully Ramona. "Remember? I'm not surprised at anything he does anymore. I recommend it, it works."

The water shimmered. Something powerful and angry was watching me now. I could sense its presence . . . or maybe two presences.

"No duh."

I was afraid I'd miscalculated with the insults. What if they just blasted me without showing themselves?

"Exactly!" said Jason, like it should've been obvious. Because in all honesty – it should be.

But these were New York river gods. I figured their instinct would be to get in my face.

Everyone bursted out laughing.

Sure enough, two giant forms appeared in front of me. At first they were just dark brown columns of silt, denser than the water around them. Then they grew legs, arms, and scowling faces.

"Ew?" said Diane.

The creature on the left looked disturbingly like a telkhine. His face was wolfish. His body was vaguely like a seal's-sleek black with flipper hands and feet. His eyes glowed radiation green.

"Ew," established Andrea.

The dude on the right was more humanoid. He was dressed in rags and seaweed, with a chain-mail coat made of bottle caps and old plastic six-pack holders. His face was blotchy with algae, and his beard was overgrown. His deep blue eyes burned with anger.

"Very ew," agreed Ramona.

The seal, who had to be the god of the East River,

Leo laughed at that and few people joined him.

said, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, kid? Or are you just extra stupid?"

"Both, I think."

The bearded spirit of the Hudson scoffed. "You're the expert on stupid, East."

"Watch it, Hudson," East growled. "Stay on your side of the island and mind your business."

"Or what? You'll throw another garbage barge at me?"

They floated toward each other, ready to fight.

"Wow," said Annabeth unimpressed. "So, gods aren't the only ones who manage to act like little kids with millennia of lifetime."

"Hold it!" I yelled. "We've got a bigger problem."

"The kid's right," East snarled. "Let's both kill him, then we'll fight each other."

Jason raised his hands and looked pointedly at Percy, like 'told you so'. Son of Poseidon stuck out his tongue as an answer.

"Oh, no," said Annabeth dramatically. "I'm so sorry Piper. It's beginning."

The people looked at her blankly but Piper caught on and nodded solemnly.

"I'm afraid so. Before we know it, they'll ditch us for each other."

They both sighed loudly while their boyfriends glanced from one to another to each other.

"I'm missing the joke," said Percy.

Jason nodded slowly.

"Sounds good," Hudson said.

Before I could protest, a thousand scraps of garbage surged off the bottom and flew straight at me from both directions: broken glass, rocks, cans, tires.

"Uh-oh."

I was expecting it, though. The water in front of me thickened into a shield. The debris bounced off harmlessly. Only one piece got through-a big chunk of glass that hit my chest and probably should've killed me, but it shattered against my skin.

"WOO-HOO!" Leo jumped up throwing his arms in the air.

But no one minded him, they all whistled and cheered.

"That will get them to listen to you," grinned Frank.

The two river gods stared at me.

"Son of Poseidon?" East asked.

I nodded.

"Took a dip in the Styx?" Hudson asked.

"Yep."

They both made disgusted sounds.

Everyone laughed.

"Not as stupid as they seem."

"Well, that's perfect," East said. "Now how do we kill him?"

"We could electrocute him," Hudson mused. "If I could just find some jumper cables-"

Percy snorted.

"Listen to me!" I said. "Kronos's army is invading Manhattan.'"

"Don't you think we know that?" East asked. "I can feel his boats right now. They're almost across."

Immediately, all the good mood was gone.

"Yep," Hudson agreed. "I got some filthy monsters crossing my waters too."

"So stop them," I said. "Drown them. Sink their boats."

"Yeah, I'm sure they'd be delighted to do so for you now."

"Why should we?" Hudson grumbled. "So they invade Olympus. What do we care?"

"Good point."

"Because I can pay you." I took out the sand dollar my father had given me for my birthday.

"The sand dollar," Reyna sighed. "Of course."

"Good thinking," said Jason.

The river gods' eyes widened.

"You'd like one, wouldn't you?" cackled someone.

"It's mine!" East said. "Give it here, kid, and I promise none of Kronos's scum are getting across the East River."

"Forget that," Hudson said. "That sand dollar's mine, unless you want me to let all those ships cross the Hudson."

"We'll compromise." I broke the sand dollar in half.

"Uh, can you do that? Isn't it like ripping a real dollar in half?"

"Nope."

A ripple of clean fresh water spread out from the break, as if all the pollution in the bay were being dissolved.

"Can you get it somewhere?" said Hazel.

"It could clean all the polluted waters!" said a son of Ceres excitedly.

"I - um, I can ask?" said Percy uncertainly.

All the ecologists nodded and beamed at him.

"You each get half," I said. "In exchange, you keep all of Kronos's forces away from Manhattan."

"Oh, man," Hudson whimpered, reaching out for the sand dollar. "It's been so long since I was clean."

"Me too."

Everyone looked around but it was impossible to tell who had said it.

"The power of Poseidon," East River murmured. "He's a jerk, but he sure knows how to sweep pollution away."

They looked at each other, then spoke as one: "It's a deal."

Demigods and legacies breathed out in relief and laughed.

I gave them each a sand-dollar half, which they held reverently.

"Um, the invaders?" I prompted.

East flicked his hand. "They just got sunk."

Hudson snapped his fingers. "Bunch of hellhounds just took a dive."

"Woo-hoo!"

"Thank you," I said. "Stay clean."

As I rose toward the surface, East called out, "Hey, kid, any time you got a sand dollar to spend, come on back. Assuming you live."

"Curse of Achilles," Hudson snorted. "They always think that'll save them, don't they?"

"No wonder you're so pessimistic if you hear things like that all the time," scoffed Hazel. "I would be, too."

"If only he knew," East agreed. They both laughed, dissolving into the water.

"Bless their souls."

Back on the shore, Annabeth was talking on her cell phone, but she hung up as soon as she saw me. She looked pretty shaken.

"Oh no," sighed Piper.

"It worked," I told her. "The rivers are safe."

"Good," she said. "Because we've got other problems.

"Of course."

Michael Yew just called. Another army is marching over the Williamsburg Bridge. The Apollo cabin needs help. And Percy, the monster leading the enemy . . . it's the Minotaur."

"Ugh, why do you have the worst luck?" groaned Ramona, closing the book.

"Let me guess – it's the end of the chapter?" said Leo.

"Yup. That's why I closed the book."

"So, now we get a break?" said Percy casually.

"No way!" protested Piper.

Many agreed with her, too many to fight with, Percy noticed with a sigh. He threw a look towards the woods, wondering how on earth he is supposed to drag Nico over here.

"Now time for some real action" grinned a son of Mars in a way resembling Clarisse.

"Just could someone take the damn book?" Ramona waved it in the air. Andrea snatched it from her hands.

"As you wish."

Percy sunk in his chair, bracing himself for another long chapter.

I'm a pathetic, bad, bad excuse of a writer. So sorry, guys. I literally have such pathetic excuses I'm ashamed to write them - Fashion Week and getting drunk. I had this written ages ago, but there wasn't a good moment to update. Sorry. Let's pretend I was supposed to update this weekend, not the last one, okay?

Anyway, please REVIEW, give me some feedback! Any IDEAS, CRITICISM or simply NICE WORD are welcome!

And I swear, I'll really try to update sooner next time. Till then, thanks for sticking around,

Love, Ronnie :)