𝒗. 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘

𝒗.

Noelle sat leaning up against Mrs. O'leary feeling pretty useless right about now. She thought she must've been sitting there for an hour or two after Percy was taken away from her right in front of her eyes. She had tried to teleport, but there was no moonlight so she couldn't, meaning she couldn't use any of her other abilities.

Noelle ran her hand through the thick black fur behind her as Mrs. O'leary whined. "I know, girl. I'm worried too."

Then Mrs. O'leary's ears perked up. She stood up and she started barking in the direction Percy and Nico had been taken. Then Noelle heard it — the sound of bones and metal clanging together.

She watched as the spirits in the fields of Asphodel parted to reveal Percy and Nico being chased by an army of undead. Then the alarms went off, the ringing of gongs echoing around them.

Noelle climbed up onto Mrs. O'leary's back. "Percy!"

Percy couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. When he reached them, he and Nico climbed up to join Noelle. 

"Good girl," Percy said. "Can you give us a ride to the Styx?" 

The word Styx got her excited. She probably thought he meant sticks. She jumped a few times, chased her tail just to teach it who was boss, and then calmed down enough for Noelle to overcome her dizzy spell. Noelle readjusted her grip on the hellhound's fur as Percy's hands found her waist. Then Mrs. O'leary raced toward the gates. She leaped straight over the EZ-DEATH line, sending guards sprawling and causing more alarms to blare. Cerberus barked, but he sounded more excited than angry, like: Can I play too? 

Fortunately, he didn't follow them, and Mrs. O'Leary kept running. She didn't stop until they were far upriver and the fires of Erebos had disappeared in the murk. 

~

Nico slid off Mrs. O'Leary's back and crumpled in a heap on the black sand.

Noelle held her hand out for a square of ambrosia—part of the emergency god-food Percy always kept with him. It was a little bashed up, but he handed it to Noelle. She gave it to Nico, who chewed it. 

"Uh," he mumbled. "Better." 

"Your powers drain you too much," Percy noted. 

He nodded sleepily. "With great power . . . comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later." 

"Whoa." Noelle caught him before he could pass out again. "We're at the river. You need to tell Percy what to do." 

Noelle fed him the last of the ambrosia, which was a little dangerous. The stuff can heal demigods, but it can also burn them to ashes if they eat too much. Fortunately, it seemed to do the trick. Nico shook his head a few times and struggled to his feet. 

"My father will be coming soon," he said. "We should hurry." 

The River Styx's current swirled with strange objects—broken toys, ripped-up college diplomas, wilted homecoming corsages, a pencil sharpener—all the dreams people had thrown away as they'd passed from life into death. Looking at the black water, Percy could think of about three million places he'd rather swim. 

"So . . . I just jump in?" 

"You have to prepare yourself first," Nico said, "or the river will destroy you. It will burn away your body and soul." 

"Sounds fun," Noelle muttered. 

"This is no joke," Nico warned. "There is only one way to stay anchored to your mortal life. You have to . . ." 

He glanced behind Noelle and his eyes widened. She and Percy turned and found themselves face-to-face with a Greek warrior. 

For a second Percy thought he was Ares, because this guy looked exactly like the god of war—tall and buff, with a cruel scarred face and closely shaved black hair. He wore a white tunic and bronze armor. He held a plumed war helm under his arm. But his eyes were human—pale green like a shallow sea—and a bloody arrow stuck out of his left calf, just above the ankle.