The House of Hades

Jason has just enough time to summon the winds and avoid smashing into the water. He tells Leo to change course and tells the crew about his dream. They can’t believe Annabeth is still alive and that Reyna is risking being stripped of her position and life to find them. Jason thinks about Camp Jupiter and the changes he wants to implement to make it more Greek, but he also wants to go back to Camp Half-Blood with Piper. Jason says Reyna’s expecting them to go to Diocletian’s Palace and get Diocletian’s scepter to summon the ghostly Roman legions to fight in the House of Hades. He can leave a message for Reyna too. Nico agrees to go with Jason to help him speak to Diocletian’s ghost. Jason is uneasy around Nico because of Percy’s stories about him.

Jason sees an angel and points him out to Nico. When they get close, the angel gestures to Diocletian's palace and disappears. Jason picks Nico up and flies them into the courtyard. Nico reveals he’s been here with his family before. Jason tries to relate and mentions Percy, which causes Nico to clam up. Piper told Jason a rumor that Nico likes Annabeth, so Jason assumes that is the reason. They follow the angel underground to a bust of Diocletian where Jason leaves a note for Reyna. The angel reveals himself as Favonius, the god of the West Wind. He’s here because his master, Eros the god of love, took the scepter. Favonius says Nico must face a difficult trial to get it. Nico looks ill. Jason tries to encourage him, and Nico tells Favonius to take them to Eros.

Favonius brings Jason and Nico to the ruins of the town of Salona, the home of Cupid. Favonius warns Nico about lying to Cupid and disappears. The ground shakes, and Nico and Jason pull their sword as Cupid’s voice taunts them and tosses them around. Jason asks for the scepter, but Cupid says only an officer of Rome can lead dead Roman legions. Jason hesitates because he doesn’t feel Roman anymore. Nico asks for the scepter, and Cupid calls Nico a coward who can’t face his feelings. Nico summons dead soldiers and a wave of darkness rolls off him and envelops Jason, who almost loses consciousness from fear, hatred, and shame. Jason sees visions of Percy and Nico and realizes Nico is in love with Percy. Jason tries to tell Nico he understands, but Nico says he doesn’t belong.

Cupid becomes visible when Nico admits his crush on Percy and then dissolves, leaving the scepter of Diocletian in his place. Nico tells Jason not to tell anyone. Jason imagines what it would be like for Nico to keep a secret that would’ve been unthinkable for him to share in the 1940s when he was born. He tells Nico he did the bravest thing he’s ever seen. Nico shadow-travels them to the ship.

Losing her sight and being isolated was terrible, but Annabeth decides watching Percy slowly die while not being able to help is worse. Bob carries Percy on his shoulder with Annabeth barely able to keep up. Bob leads her to a hut in the middle of a swamp where a drakon skull encircles an oak tree. She hears a roar before a drakon charges.

Bob tells Annabeth it’s a Maeonian drakon, and they can’t kill it. Annabeth decides to distract it while Bob takes Percy to safety. A giant emerges from the hut and kills the drakon. Bob introduces Damasen the giant. Annabeth asks him to help Percy, and Damasen invites them in for drakon meat stew.

Bob puts Percy in bed while Damasen makes stew, and Annabeth pleads with Damasen to heal Percy. When pleading doesn’t work, Annabeth goads that he isn’t talented enough to cure gorgon’s blood. Bob stirs the stew while Damasen makes medicine and feeds it to Percy. Percy wakes up before passing out. Annabeth tells Damasen about her life though he makes her uneasy. She hesitates when broaching Gaea because Gaea is Damasen’s mother, and his father is Tartarus. Damasen is a disappointment to them, but she should worry about Tartarus actively opposing them. He was created to oppose Ares, the god of war, so he is a peaceful giant who refused to fight the gods. When he avenged a mortal friend’s death by killing the Maeonian drakon, Gaea exiled him to the belly of Tartarus where he must kill that same drakon every day. Annabeth explains the plan to hide in the Death Mist, which Damasen thinks is a long shot. Annabeth tries to convince him to come with them as Bob puts her to sleep next to Percy.

Annabeth wakes to Damasen and Bob talking. Damasen doubts Bob can guide them past Night and questions his motives for helping. Bob counters with his reason for helping Percy. Damasen can’t help them further because it is not his fate. Bob questions the idea of fate and admits he liked being Bob better before remembering Iapetus. Damasen packs while Bob dreams about seeing the sun and stars again. The roar of the Maeonian drakon wakes a confused Percy. Damasen gives them supplies saying they must go because the drakon will lead others to them. Annabeth thinks about the Prophecy of Seven and realizes Damasen must come with them to close the Doors. Damasen thinks he can’t escape his fate. Annabeth tells him to find another fate that leads to seeing the sun and stars. The drakon roars again followed by the sound of Polybotes yelling for Percy. Damasen gives Annabeth a drakon bone sword and urges them to go. Annabeth wants to cry, but Bob and Percy hurry her out the door. She doesn’t look back as Damasen shouts his despairing battle cry once again.