So,' Nico said, 'since we're going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air.' Percy's smile wavered. 'What do you mean?

Nosoi?" Percy planted his feet in a fighting stance. "You know, I keep thinking, I have now killed every single thing in Greek mythology. But the list never seems to end.

You're alive!" Percy said to the others. "The giants said you were captured. What happened?

"Percy?" Annabeth gripped his arm.

"Percy was getting tired of water.

I'm nobody's sidekick," Annabeth growled. "And, Percy, his accent sounds familiar because he sounds like his mother. We killed her in New Jersey.

Percy says be talked to a Nereid in Charleston Harbor!

Please, Percy...change your clothes. You smell like you've been run over by an electric horse.

Beds empty! No note! Car gone - could have crashed - out of my mind with worry - did you care? - never, as long as I've lived - you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy -

I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Harry.

"Akhlys lunged at Percy, and for a split second he thought: Well, hey, I'm just smoke. She can't touch me, right?

Hello, Minister!" bellowed Percy, sending a neat jinx straight at Thicknesse, who dropped his wand and clawed at the front of his robes, apparently in awful discomfort. "Did I mention I'm resigning?

Reyna sent me to get Percy," Frank said. "Did Octavian accept you?

The Council agrees," Zeus said. "Percy Jackson, you will have one gift from the Gods.

Blackjack," Percy said, "this is Piper and Jason. They're friends.

Jeez, Hazel," Percy said, "tell your horse to watch his language.

"My name is Percy Jackson.

Well, I certainly don't," said Percy sanctimoniously. "I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be if I was away from work for five days.

[My mom's] funny that way, celebrating special occasions with blue food. I think it's her way of saying anything is possible. Percy can pass seventh grade. Waffles can be blue. Little miracles like that.

Hercules,huh? Percy frowned. "That guy was like the Starbucks of Ancient Greece. Everywhere you turn--there he is.

Percy wouldn't notice a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing one of Dobby's hats.

Nico studied his face ? his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on.

"Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson protecting them from a manticore. Percy's sword gleamed in the dark. He'd been the first demiGod Nico had ever seen in action.

Annabeth pressed her lips to Percy's ear. "I love you.