I Touched The Combination Lock. I Concentrated So Hard I Felt Like I Was Dead-lifting Five Hundred Pounds. My Pulse Quickening. A Line Of Sweat Trickled Down My Nose. Finally I Felt Gears Turning. Metal Groaned, Tumblers Clicked, And The Bolts Popped Back. Carefully Avoiding The Handle, I Pried Open The Door With My Fingertips And Extracted An Unbroken Vial Of Green Liquid. Hal Exhaled. Thalia Kissed Me On The Cheek, Which She Probably Shouldn't Haven't Done While I Was Holding A Tube Of Deadly Poison. "you Are So Good," She Said. Did That Make The Risk Worth? Yeah, Pretty Much.

-Rick Riordan

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I Touched The Combination

Rick Riordan

Topic

Doors

Sweat

Risk

More From Rick Riordan

Artemis Smiled. "you Have Done Well, My Lieutenant. You Have Made Me Proud, And All Those Hunters Who Perished In My Service Will Never Be Forgotten. They Will Achieve Elysium, I Am Sure." She Glared Pointedly At Hades. He Shrugged. "probably." Artemis Glared At Him Some More. Okay," Hades Grumbled. "i'll Streamline Their Application Process.

Elysium

Hunters

Done

We Don’t Have Much Time. Mel Will Be Out Of The Restroom Soon.” “you’ve Got A Magician Named Mel?

Magician

Restroom

I Was Five Steps Away When He Called, "perseus." I Turned. There Was A Different Light In His Eyes, A Fiery Kind Of Pride. "you Did Well, Perseus. Do Not Misunderstand Me. Whatever Else You Do, Know That You Are Mine. You Are A True Son Of The Sea God.

Eye

Pride

Son

Stacy Schiff Is That Rare Combination: A First-rate Historian And A Brilliant Storyteller. Using A Wide Range Of Sources, She Spins Straw Into Gold, Conjuring The World Of Ptolemaic Egypt In Full Vibrant Color, And Returning The Voice Of One Of The Most Powerful, Fascinating, And Maligned Women In History. Cleopatra Is Impossible To Put Down.

Powerful

Egypt

Color

While Leo Fussed Over His Helm Controls, Hazel And Frank Relayed The Story Of The Fish-centaurs And Their Training Camp. 'incredible,' Jason Said. 'these Are Really Good Brownies.' 'that's Your Only Comment?' Piper Demanded. He Looked Surprised. 'what? I Heard The Story. Fish-centaurs. Merpeople. Letter Of Intro To The Tiber River God. Got It. But These Brownies--' 'i Know,' Frank Said, His Mouth Full. 'try Them With Ester's Peach Preserves.' 'that,' Hazel Said, 'is Incredibly Disgusting.' 'pass Me The Jar, Man,' Jason Said. Hazel And Piper Exchanged A Look Of Total Exasperation. Boys.

Boys

Men

Rivers

Um ,sorry. I Cant Read The Last Line." "fish. Have You Stolen Any Fish From The Holy Lakes?" "i Lived In Kansas..so ..no

Sorry

Lakes

Kansas

Turkey, Australia, And Japan Are Three Of My Top Destinations.

Japan

Turkeys

Australia

That's Why We Live By A River. Occasionally, I Forget And Pat Lit On The Back--' 'i Hate That.' King Midas & Lit

Kings

Hate

Rivers

Happy The Dragon Was Not So Happy.

Dragons

No, No, I Never Mess Around.

Mess

Whoa," Said Nico As He Climbed Off The Bus. "is That A Climbing Wall?" "yeah," I (percy) Said. "why Is There Lava Pouring Down It?" "little Extra Challenge..." - Percy

Wall

Climbing

Challenges

Any Moment Now..." The Girl [calypso] Stared Out At The Water. No Magical Raft Appeared. "maybe It Got Stuck In A Traffic," Leo Said.

Girl

Water

Calypso

Annabeth Realized That If Six Of Them Went On These Two Quests, It Would Leave Percy Alone On The Ship With Coach Hedge, Which Was Maybe Not A Situation A Caring Girlfriend Should Put Him In. Nor Was She Eager To Let Percy Out Of Her Sight Again—not After They’d Been Apart For So Many Months.

Girlfriend

Caring

Sight

He Scowled At Jason. "and Please, I Don't Like Being Touched. Don't Ever Grab Me Again.

Jason

Hades

Please

You're Pretty Smug, Lord Ares, For A Guy Who Runs From Cupid Statues.

Running

Guy

Cupid

The Set Animal’s Jaws Were Pried Open So Fast That It Yelped And Let Go Of My Arm. I Stood, Now Encased In A Magical Barrier Twice My Normal Size, And Kicked Leroy Into A Wall. Good! Said Horus. Now Dispatch The Beast To The Netherworld! Quiet Man. I’m Doing All The Work.

Letting Go

Wall

Animal

He Also Didn't Mind Piper's Using Him For A Pillow. She Had A Cute Way Of Breathing When She Slept - Inhaling Through The Nose, Exhaling With A Little Puff Through The Mouth. He Was Also Disappointed When She Woke Up.

Cute

Breathing

Mind

It's All Still About Having A Good Story. You Have To Have A Good Story As Your Anchor, As Your Main Focus. So For Me, Personally, I Just Like To Concentrate On Writing The Best Book I Can, And If There's Other Stuff That Goes Along With It, That's Awesome, As Long As The Story Is Central.

Book

Writing

Anchors

We Walked On The Beach, Fed Blue Corn Ships To The Seagulls, And Munched On Blue Jelly Beans, Blue Saltwater Taffy And All The Other Free Samples My Mom Brought Home From Work. I Guess I Should Explain The Blue Food. See, Gabe Had Once Told My Mom There Was No Such Thing. They Had This Fight, Which Seemed Like A Really Small Thing At The Time. But Ever Since, My Mom Went Out Of Her Way To Eat Blue. She Baked Blue Birthday Cakes. She Mixed Blueberry Smoothies. She Bought Blue-corn Tortilla Chips And Brought Home Blue Candy From The Shop.

Mom

Beach

Home

Erre Es Korakas, Blinky!" Dionysus Cursed. "i Will Have Your Soul!

Soul

Dionysus

Cursed

Why Didn’t You Sleep With The Headrest?” I Shrugged. “it Was Uncomfortable.” I Looked At Sadie For Support. “you Didn’t Use It, Did You?” Sadie Rolled Her Eyes. “well, Of Course I Did. It Was Obviously There For A Reason.

Sleep

Eye

Support You

Yeah, Well,” Nico Said, “not Giving People A Second Thought…that Can Be Dangerous.

People

Giving

Yeah

Most Problems Look Worse Than They Are. Nothing Is Unfixable.

Looks

Problem

I Wanted To Keep Things As Normal As Possible For The Trainees, So I Led My Usual Morning Class. I Called It Magic Problem-solving 101. The Trainees Called It Whatever Works.

Morning

Class

Magic

No One Can Hate You With More Intensity Than Someone Who Used To Love You.

Love

Relationship

Hate

The First Thing We Pulled Out Was A Lump Of White Gunk. “wax,” Carter Pronounced. “fascinating.

White

Firsts

Carter

But... You're Still Getting Married?" Grover Sounded Hurt. "who's The Bride?" Ploypemus Looked Toward The Boiling Pot. Clarisse Made A Strangled Sound. "oh, No! You Can't Be Serious. I'm Not-

Hurt

Sound

Serious

Um, Dad?" I Called "how's It Going?" "percy!" Annabeth Whispered. "we're In A Hurry!

Dad

Annabeth

I Grabbed A Pair Of Glowing Red Legs.

Glowing

Legs

Red

You Put The Set Animal In Your Locker? Do You Know How Much Strength That Requires?” “yeah,” I Said. “i Was There.

Animal

Lockers

Yeah

So Few People Did Good In Their Lives. It Was Depressing.

Depressing

People

The Sign Read Mouse Pass Gas Frank: "that's Wrong

Gas

Frank

Mice

My Only Thought Was To Keep Him Away From Annabeth.

Annabeth

Percy Jackson And The Olympians

It Wasn’t Easy Looking Dignified Wearing A Bed Sheet And A Purple Cape.

Rome

Purple

Bed

She Led Him Past The Engine Room, Which Looked Like A Very Dangerous, Mechanized Jungle Gym, With Pipes And Pistons And Tubes Jutting From A Central Bronze Sphere. Cables Resembling Giant Metal Noodles Snaked Across The Floor And Ran Up The Walls. “how Does That Thing Even Work?” Percy Asked. “no Idea,” Annabeth Said. “and I’m The Only One Besides Leo Who Can Operate It.” “that’s Reassuring.” “it Should Be Fine. It’s Only Threatened To Blow Up Once.” “you’re Kidding, I Hope.” She Smiled. “come On.

Wall

Blow

Past

The Olympians Were A Reminder That There Was Always Someone Better Than You, So You Shouldn't Get A Big Head.

Bigs

Reminders

Big Heads

Piper Bit Her Lip. The Last Thing She Wanted To Do Was Check Katopris For More Terrifying Images. 'i've Tried,'she Said.'the Dagger Doesn't Always Show What I Want To See. In Fact,it Hardly Ever Does' 'please,'percy Said.'try Again.' He Pleaded With Those Sea-green Eyes, Like A Cute Baby Seal That Needed Help.piper Wondered How Annabeth Ever Won An Argument With This Guy. 'fine,'she Sighed,and Drew Her Dagger

Cute

Baby

Eye

So," I (percy) Said Glumly. "we're Going To Get A Ride From Your Brother, Huh?" Artemis's Silver Eyes Gleamed. "yes, Boy. You See, Bianca Di Angelo Is Not The Only One With An Annoying Brother. It's Time For You To Meet My Irresponsible Twin, Apollo.

Brother

Eye

Boys

Everybody Loves To Show Up At The Party Once All The Hard Work Is Done.

Party

Hard Work

Done

All I Could Think To Say Was, "the Lakers Are My Home Team!

Team

Home

Thinking

Now Fight Me! For Today Thee House Of Hades Will Be Called The Saviors Of Olympus.

Fighting

House

Olympus

That’s Narmer With The Spoon,” I Guessed. “angry Because The Other Bloke Stole His Breakfast Cereal?

Cereal

Spoons

Breakfast

I Named My Camel Katrina. She Was A Natural Disaster. She Slobbered Everywhere And Seemed To Think The Purple Streak In My Hair Was Some Kind Of Exotic Fruit. She Was Obsessed With Trying To Eat My Head. I Named Walt's Camel Hindenburg. He Was Almost As Large As A Zeppelin And Definitely As Full Of Gas.

Thinking

Hair

Purple

Well," Said Apollo With A Brave Smile. "you Were Right, My Dear. You Had Everything Under Control! Let's Go See If We Boiled Anyone Important, Shall We?

Brave

Important

Apollo

But Annabeth Knew That People Saw What They Wanted To See. They Didn’t Need The Mist To Warp Their Perceptions.

People

Perception

Needs

A Tinkerer,” Snapped Pasiphaë. “even Worse. I Knew Daedalus. His Inventions Brought Me Nothing But Trouble.” Leo Blinked. “daedalus…like, The Daedalus? Well, Then, You Should Know All About Us Tinkerers. We’re More Into Fixing, Building, Occasionally Sticking Wads Of Oilcloth In The Mouths Of Rude Ladies—

Rude

Mouths

Daedalus

That's It, Cupcake. You're Going Down.

Cupcakes

Die,human! Die, Silly Polluting Nasty Person!

Silly

Nasty

Humans

I Can’t Believe How Much This Place Has Grown,” Hazel Muttered. The Taxi Driver Grinned In The Rearview Mirror. “been A Long Time Since You Visited, Miss?” “about Seventy Years,” Hazel Said. The Driver Slid The Glass Partition Closed And Drove On In Silence.

Believe

Glasses

Mirrors

The Ancient Egyptians Were Not Fools, Carter. They Built The Pyramids. They Created The First Great Nation State. Their Civilization Lasted Thousands Of Years.” “yeah,” I Said. “and Now They’re Gone.

Years

Civilization

Pyramids

You Want To Know How Egyptians Pulled The Brains Out Of Mummies. Or Built The Pyramids, Or Cursed King Tut's Tomb? My Dad's Your Man.

Kings

Dad

Men

Wha-what?" Her Eyes Fluttered Open. "nothing," I Shouted. "we're Being Followed By A Slaying Machine. Go Back To Sleep.

Sleep

Eye

Machines

You Can't Call A Ninja Lord Dweeb.

Ninja

Lord

Delaying Death Is One Of My Favorite Hobbies

Death

Favorite Hobby

Hobbies

Leo Scratched His Head. “well I Dunno About Enchiladas-“ “enceladus,” Piper Corrected. “whatever. But Old Potty Face Mentioned Another Name. Porpoise Fear, Or Something?” “porphyrion?” Piper Asked. ”he Was The Giant King, I Think.

Kings

Thinking

Names

You Wrote This Right?” He Said. “it Tells How To Defeat Set.” Thoth Unfolded The Papyrus Pages. “oh, Dear. I Hate Reading My Old Work. Look At This Sentence. I’d Never Write It That Way Now.” He Patted His Lab Coat Pockets. “red Pen—does Anyone Have One?” Isis Chafed Against My Willpower, Insisting That We Blast Some Sense Into Thoth. One Fireball, She Pleaded. Just One Enormous Magical Fireball? I Couldn’t Say I Was Tempted, But I Kept Her Under Control. “since When Does Drool Make You Powerful?

Powerful

Hate

Reading

The Romans Always Wanted Bread And Circuses-food And Entertainement! As We Destroy Their City, I Will Offer Them Both. Behold, A Sample!" Someething Dropped From The Ceiling And Landed At Percy's Feet: A Loaf Of Sandwich Bread In A White Plastic Wrapper With Red And Yellow Dots. Percy Picked It Up. "wonder Bread?" "magnificent, Isn't It?" Ephialtes Eyes Danced With Crazy Excitement.

Crazy

Eye

Cities

I Looked Across The River To Manhattan. It Was A Great View. When Sadie And I Had First Arrived At Brooklyn House, Amos Had Told Us That Magicians Tried To Stay Out Of Manhattan. He Said Manhattan Had Other Problems--whatever That Meant. And Sometimes When I Looked Across The Water, I Could Swear I Was Seeing Things. Sadie Laughed About It, But Once I Thought I Saw A Flying Horse. Probably Just The Mansion's Magic Barriers Causing Optical Illusions, But Still, It Was Weird.

Horse

Views

Rivers

Where's The Glory In Repeating What Others Have Done?

Done

Glory

If I Had My Way," Dionysus Said, "i Would Cause Your Molecules To Erupt In Flames. We'd Sweep Up The Ashes And Be Done With A Lot Of Trouble. But Chiron Seems To Feel This Would Be Against My Mission At This Cursed Camp: To Keep You Little Brats Safe From Harm." "spontaneous Combustion Is A Form Of Harm, Mr. D," Chiron Put In. "nonsense," Dionysus Said. "boy Wouldn't Feel A Thing. Nevertheless, I've Agreed To Restrain Myself. I'm Thinking Of Turning You Into A Dolphin Instead, Sending You Back To Your Father.

Father

Boys

Thinking

Which Reminded Me...i Still Owed The Gods A Debt. "you're A Genius," I (percy) Told Annabeth.

Annabeth

Genius

Debt

Please Excuse Jason From Eternal Damnation. He Has Had Amnesia.

Damnation

Jason

Excuse

Well That Was Sucktastic

Wells

I Concentrated Hard And Snapped My Fingers. "you Don't See The Sword," I Told The Girl. "it's Just A Ballpoint Pen." She Blinked. "um . . . No. It's A Sword, Weirdo.

Girl

Fingers

Weirdo

I'm So Glad You're Here," Aphrodite Said. "war Is Coming. Bloodshed Is Inevitable. So There's Really Only One Thing To Do." "uh... And That Is?" Annabeth Ventured. "why, Have Tea And Chat, Obviously

War

Tea

Annabeth

I Wrote For 10 Years Before I Even Started The 'percy Jackson' Series.

Years

Series

We'll Have To Work On Your Bunny Phobia Later.

Bunnies

Phobia

Olympian

Hermes Rolled His Eyes. "surely You've Seen Network Tv Lately. It's Clear They Don't Know Whether They're Coming Or Going. That's Because Janus Is In Charge Of Programming. He Loves Ordering New Shows And Cancelling Them After Two Episodes. God Of Beginnings And Endings, After All. Anyway, I Was Bringing Him Some Magic Doormats, And I Was Double-parked -" "you Have To Worry About Double-parking?" "will You Let Me Tell The Story?" "sorry."

Sorry

Eye

Two

He Nodded Nervously. ‘he Looks Like A Magician. I Hate Magicians. They Usually Have Rabbits.’ I Stared At Him. ‘you’re Scared Of Bunnies?’ ‘blah-hah-hah! They’re Big Bullies. Always Stealing Celery From Defenceless Satyrs.

Hate

Bully

Rabbits

Good Luck, Boss. Don't Let'em Turn You Into Horse Meat! (blackjack)

Horse

Good Luck

Boss

Never Bet Against A Cat.

Cat

You Teach Combat, I Guess.” Aphros Threw Up His Hands In Exasperation. “why Does Everyone Assume That?” Leo Glanced At The Massive Sword On The Fish-guy’s Back. “uh, I Don’t Know.

Hands

Guy

Doe

I Never Thought I'd Get To See Rome," Hazel Said. "when I Was Alive, I Mean For The First Time, Mussolini Was In Charge. We Were At War." "mussolini?" Leo Frowned. "wasn't He Like Bff's With Hitler?" Hazel Stared At Him Like He Was An Alien. "bff's?" "never Mind." "i'd Love To See The Trevi Fountain," She Said. "there's A Fountain On Every Block," Leo Grumbled. "or The Spanish Steps," Hazel Said. "why Would You Come To Italy To See Spanosh Steps?" Leo Asked. "that's Like Going To China For Mexican Food, Isn't It?" "you're Hopeless," Hazel Complained. "so I've Been Told.

Block

War

Mean

It Is A Costly Thing, Looking On The True Face Of Love.

Faces

Just My Luck, On Top Of Everything Else I Had To Take Baboon Medicine.

Medicine

Luck

Baboons

My Dear Young Cousin, If There's One Thing I've Learned Over The Eons, It's That You Can't Give Up On Your Family, No Matter How Tempting They Make It.

Family

Cousin

Giving Up

Before Keto Could Notice, Hedge Pointed Towards The Top Of The Amphitheater. It Looked Like He Might Be Screaming, Gods Of Olympus, What Is That? Keto Turned. Coach Hedge Promptly Took Off His Fake Foot And Ninja-kicked Her In The Back Of The Head With His Goat Hoof.

Feet

Fake

Olympus

I Will Feast On Enemies Of Ra Until My Belly Is Full!” “charming,” Sadie Whispered.

Enemy

Charming

Sadie

Annabeth's Voice Caught On The Word Friend. Percy Was A Lot More Than That. Even Boyfriend Really Didn't Cover It. They'd Been Through So Much Together, At This Point Percy Was Part Of Her--a Sometimes Annoying Part, Sure, But Definitely A Part She Could Not Live Without.

Voice

Together

Annabeth

Life Is Only Precious Because It Ends, Kid.

Kids

Life Is

Ends

Does Truth Have A Moral?

Truth

Doe

Moral

Yay!” Tyson Went Around The Couches And Gave Everyone A Big Hug—even Octavian, Who Didn't Look Thrilled About It.

Hug

Yay

Looks

One Basketball To Rule Them All,” Leo Muttered.

Basketball

Because I Know You, Percy Jackson. In Many Ways, You Are Impulsive, But When It Comes To Your Friends, You Are As Constant As A Compass Needle. You Are Unswervingly Loyal, And You Inspire Loyalty. You Are The Glue That Will Unite The Seven.

Loyalty

Inspire

Glue

What About King Tut’s Tomb?” I Protested. “that Boy King?” Zia Rolled Her Eyes. “boring. You Should See Some Of The Good Tombs.

Kings

Eye

Boys

Annabeth's Face, Her Blond Hair And Gray Eyes, The Way She Laughed, Threw Her Arms Around Him, And Gave Him A Kiss Whenever He Did Something Stupid. She Must Have Kissed Me A Lot, Percy Thought.

Stupid

Eye

Kissing

[jason] Faltered When He Looked At Leo, Who Was Mimicking Taking Notes With An Air Pencil. “go On, Professor Grace!” He Said, Wide-eyed. “i Wanna Get An A On The Test.

Air

Grace

Jason

I Think Kids Want The Same Thing From A Book That Adults Want - A Fast-paced Story, Characters Worth Caring About, Humor, Surprises, And Mystery. A Good Book Always Keeps You Asking Questions, And Makes You Keep Turning Pages So You Can Find Out The Answers.

Book

Character

Kids

Aphrodite: Pfft. That's Not The Point. Follow Your Heart. Percy: But... I Don't Know Where It's Going. My Heart, I Mean.

Heart

Mean

Aphrodite

We Choose To Believe In Ma'at. We Create Order Out Of Chaos, Beauty Out Of Ugly Randomness. That's What Egypt Is All About.

Believe

Egypt

Order

If I'm Dead," He Murmured. "why Does It Hurt So Much?

Hurt

Doe

Ifs

I Sat Up In Bed. "what Did He Say?" Tyson Groaned, Still Half Asleep. He Was Lying Facedown On The Couch, His Feet So Far Over The Edge They Were In The Bathroom. "the Happy Man Said...bowling Practice?" I Hoped He Was Right, But Then There Was An Urgent Knock On The Suite's Interior Door. Annabeth Stuck Her Head In--her Blonde Hair In A Rat's Nest. "disembowling Practice?

Lying

Men

Feet

Hey! Guy With Scary Eyes?" Madison Called Out. "you Know What A Moose Does When Someone Insults Her Family?" Ivan Raised His Eyebrows. "she Does This." Madison Crouched Down And Charged Ivan. Her Head Hit Him In The Stomach.

Eye

Guy

Scary

I Looked Into His Eyes, And I Realized He Was The Same Man I'd Seen In My Dreams. His Face Might Be Totally Different, But The Same Soul Was In There, The Same Intelligence And All The Sadness.

Dream

Sadness

Eye

Menshikov Wants To See The Old Gold Swallowed By Apophis. He Wants To See The World Plunged Into Darkness And Chaos. He Is Quite Insane. "oh." [great Response, I Know. But What Do You Say To A Story Like That?]

Darkness

Insane

Gold

It's Not Bad Enough I Am Exiled? It's Not Bad Enough You Take Away The Few Good Heroes I'm Allowed To Meet? You Think It's Funny To Send Me This This ― This Charbroiled Runt Of A Boy To Ruin My Tranquility? This Is Not Funny! Take Him Back!

Hero

Boys

Thinking

Ut Cum Spiritu Postrema Sacramentum Dejuremus," He Chanted. "et Hostes Ornamenta Addent Ad Ianuam Necem." "you Just...finished The Prophesy,"rachael Stammered. "-an Oath To Keep With A Final Breath/and Foes Bear Arms To The Doors Of Death. How Did You-" "i Know Those Lines." Jason Winced And Put His Hands To His Temples. "i Don't Know How, But I Know That Prophecy." "in Latin, No Less," Drew Called Out. "handsome And Smart.

Latin

Smart

Doors

I Looked At Thalia. "you're Afraid Of Heights." Now That We Were Safely Down The Mountain, Her Eyes Had Their Usual Angry Look. "don't Be Stupid." That Explains Why You Freaked Out On Apollo's Bus. Why You Didn't Want To Talk About It." She Took A Deep Breath. Then She Brushed The Pine Needles Out Of Her Hair. "if You Tell Anyone, I Swear—" No, No," I Said. "that's Cool. It's Just… The Daughter Of Zeus, The Lord Of The Sky, Afraid Of Heights?

Daughter

Stupid

Eye

Leo Valdez Deserved A Special Punishment," She [khione] Said. "i Have Sent Him To A Place From Which He Can Never Return.

Punishment

Special

Return

My Girlfriend: Sophomore Honors Student, Demigod, And — Oh, Yeah — Head Architect For Redesigning The Palace Of The Gods On Mount Olympus In Her Spare Time.

Girlfriend

Honor

Olympus

You Said Your Mom Is The Goddess Of Balance," I Reminded Him. "the Minor Gods Deserve Better, Ethan, But Total Destruction Isn't Balance. Kronos Doesn't Build. He Only Destroys.

Mom

Deserve Better

Balance

I Caught Bast’s Arm When She Was A Few Steps From The Bank. “stay Away From The Water.” She Frowned. “carter, I’m A Cat. I’m Not Going For A Swim. But If You Want To Summon A River Goddess, You Really Need To Do It At The Riverbank.

Cat

Rivers

Water

I'm Dylan. I'm So Cool. I Want To Date Myself, But I Don't Know How! You Want To Date Me Instead? You're So Lucky!

Lucky

Want

Dylan

Marvelous,” She Said. “tell Me About This Tapestry.” Arachne’s Lips Curled Over Her Mandibles. “why Do You Care? You're About To Die.” “well, Yes,” Annabeth Said. “but The Way You Captured The Light Is Amazing. Did You Use Real Gold Thread For The Sunbeams?

Real

Light

Gold

For An Absurd Moment, I Wondered If Ammit Devoured The Hearts Of Wicked Cows, And If He Liked The Beefy Taste. - Carter Kane

Heart

Wicked

Cows

If You've Ever Tried Ba Travel, I Wouldn't Recommend It-- Unless Of Course You Fancy Turning Into A Phantom Chicken And Rafting Uncontrollably Through The Currents Of The Duat.

Rafting

Fancy

Phantoms

George Unhinged His Jaw And Coughed Up A Little Plastic Bottle Filled With Chewable Vitamins. "you're Kidding," I Said. "are Those Minotaur-shaped?" Hermes Picked Up The Bottle And Rattled It. "the Lemon Ones, Yes. The Grape Ones Are Furies, I Think. Or Are They Hydras? At Any Rate, These Are Potent."

Thinking

Bottles

Hydra

Shut Up, Me,” Leo Said Aloud. “what?” Piper Asked. “nothing,” He Said. “long Night. I Think I’m Hallucinating. It’s Cool.” Sitting In Front, Leo Couldn’t See Their Faces, But He Assumed From Their Silence That His Friends Were Not Pleased To Have A Sleepless, Hallucinating Dragon Driver. “just Joking.” Leo Decided It Might Be Good To Change The Subject.

Night

Thinking

Dragons

About The Prophecy That Rachel Did At The End Of "the Last Olympian," Percy Jackson Will Participate This Prophecy, Along With Annabeth? Sorry For Spelling Errors

Sorry

Errors

Annabeth

Curse Us Eh/i'll Make You Pay!/i Don't Want To Rhyme All Day!

Want

Pay

Rhyme

It’s Not Important,” Silena Insisted. “we Have To Find Charlie!” Another First: A Child Of Aphrodite Uninterested In Jewellery.

Children

Important

Firsts

"aphrodite," She Said. "venus?" Hazel Asked In Amazement. "mom," Piper Said, With No Enthusiasm.

Mom

Venus

Enthusiasm

Doughboy," I Said. "what Is This Scroll?" "a Spell Lost In Time!" He Pronounced. "ancient Words Of Tremendous Power!" "well?" I Demanded. "does It Tell How To Defeat Set?" "better! The Title Reads: The Book Of Summoning Fruit Bats!

Book

Bats

Titles

At The Feast Of Fortune, She'll Awaken, And The Demigods Will Be Cut Down Like-- Like---" "like Our Low Prices At Bargain Mart!" Stheno Suggested.

Cutting

Lows

Fortune

He Told Me He Wouldn't Hurt... Charlie. He Lied To Me.

Hurt

Lied

Charlie

Anyway. Leo Said, I Hope You've Got Your Worksheet, 'cause I Used Mine For Spit Wads Days Ago. Why Are You Looking At Me Like That? Somebody Draw On My Face Again?

Faces

Causes

Used

I Must Admit I’m Impressed, Sadie. You Controlled Your Magic And Controlled Isis. And You, Carter, Did Well Turning Into A Lizard.

Isis

Magic

Lizards

The End Of The World Started When A Pegasus Landed On The Hood Of My Car

Car

Pegasus

World

More Minions!” He Shouted. “come To Me!” That Couldn’t Be Good. Another Round Of Giant Crocs And We’d Be Dead. Why Don’t We Get Minions? I Complained To Horus, But He Didn’t Answer.

Answers

Giants

Crocs

If Somebody Offers You Hapi Pills, Just Say No!

Pills

Just Say No

Offers

You're Cute When You're Worried, Your Eyebrows Get All Scrunched Together.

Cute

Eyebrows

Together

Maybe Being Home Schooled, Carter Didn’t Realize That “test” Is Normally A Bad Thing.

Home

Tests

Realizing

If You Ever Leave Me Again,’ She Said, Her Eyes Stinging, ‘i Swear To All The Gods-‘ Percy Had The Nerve To Laugh. Suddenly The Lump Of Heated Emotions Melted Inside Annabeth. ‘consider Me Warned,’ Percy Said. ‘i Missed You, Too.

Eye

Laughing

Nerves

Love Is No Game! It Is No Flowery Softness! It Is Hard Work- It Demands Everything From You- Especially The Truth. Only Then Does It Yield Results.

Hard Work

Love Is

Yield

But This Plan Of Yous!' Tawaret Shuddered, Causing A Tsunami Of Jiggling Hippo Flesh.

Flesh

Hippo

Plans

Mark My Words, Nothing Smells Worse Than Burned Scorpion.

Smell

Scorpions

Mark

I Apologize For Apologizing." "thank You.

Apologizing

I Apologize

The Answer To Every Problem Involved Penguins

Answers

Penguins

Problem

I Love Norse Mythology - Thor And Odin And Loki - Amazing Characters.

Character

Odin

Norse

The Cafe Windows Wrapped All The Way Around The Observation Floor, Which Gave Us A Beautiful Panoramic View Of The Skeleton Army That Had Come To Kill Us.

Beautiful

Army

Skeletons

So," Annabeth Said, "are You Going To Argue About Me Coming Along?" "nah. You'd Just Beat Me Up." Percy Said. She Managed A Laugh, Which Was Good To Hear

Laughing

Annabeth

Arguing

Tell The Sun And Stars Hello For Me.

Stars

Sun

Hello

Team Leo!~ Leo Valdez

Team

Leo Valdez

No Man May Be Completely Invulnerable.

Men

May

He Offered To Stop The Tide For Me Once. He Offered To Build Me A Palace At The Bottom Of The Sea.

Sea

Tides

Palaces

Okay," Annabeth Said. "what Exactly Do You Smell?" "something Bad," Tyson Answered. "great," Annabeth Grumbled. "that Clears It Up.

Smell

Annabeth

Said

I Stared At The River Far Below. "why Did You Park Us On The Mountain? Why Not Closer?" Bast Shrugged, As If This Hadn't Occurred To Her. "cats Like To Get As High Up As Possible. In Case We Have To Pounce On Something." "great," I Said. "so If We Have To Pounce, We're All Set.

Cat

Rivers

Mountain

If There Were Ever Any Half-bloods Who Needed To Worry About That, It Was Thalia And Me. I Wondered If Maybe I Should've Sent Poseidon That Seashell Pattern Tie For Father's Day After All. --percy Jackson

Father

Blood

Ties

There's Another Problem," Percy Said. "i'm Not Good With Air Travel. It's Dangerous For A Son Of Neptune." "you'll Have To Risk It...and So Will I," Frank Said. "by The Way, We're Related." Percy Almost Stumbled Off The Roof. "what?

Son

Air

Risk

The Wind Blowing Through My Ripped Clothes Was So Cold That I Felt Like A Percysicle.

Wind

Clothes

Cold

I Figure The World Is Basically A Machine. I Don't Know Who Made It, If It Was The Fates, Or The Gods, Or The Capital-g God Or Whatever. But It Chugs Along The Way It's Supposed To Most Of The Time. Sure, Little Pieces Break Off And Stuff Goes Haywire Once In A While, But Mostly... Things Happen For A Reason.

Fate

Break Off

Littles

We Started This Together, Leo. Seems Only Right You Come Along. You Find Us A Ride, You're In." "yes!" Leo Pumped His Fist. * * * * * Jason Gazed Up At The Dragon And Shook His Head In Amazement. "leo, What Have You Done?" "found A Ride!" Leo Beamed. "you Said I Could Go On The Quest If I Got You A Ride. Well, I Got You A Class-a Metallic Flying Bad Boy! Festus Can Take Us Anywhere!

Boys

Class

Dragons

Trantulus Casually Roasted A Marshmallow And Reached Out For It But The Marshmallow Commited Sucide And Dived Into The Flames.

Flames

Marshmallow

Quintus..." Geryon Mused. "short Gray Hair, Muscular, Swordsman?" "yeah." "never Heard Of Him.

Hair

Yeah

Gray

Die Human, Die!! Die Nasty Polluting Person!!!!' Yelled Grover. I Turned Him So He Faced Me. He Kept On Clicking His Plastic Gun Towards Me As If I Was Part Of The Game.

Gun

Games

Nasty

No Matter How Many Times Percy Killed Them And Watched Them Crumble To Powder, They Just Kept Re-forming Like Large Evil Dust Bunnies.

Dust

Evil

Bunnies

All Da Ladies Love Leo!!

Lady Love

I Have A Great Deal Of Sympathy For Reluctant Readers Because I Was One. I Would Do Anything To Avoid Reading. In My Case, It Wasn't Until I Was 13 And Discovered The 'lord Of The Rings' That I Learned To Love Reading.

Reading

Lord

Cases

I Heard Amos Yell, “for Brooklyn!” It Was An Odd Battle Cry.

Battle

Brooklyn

Cry

You Know How Hard It Is To Feel Like An Extreme Falcon-headed Combat Machine When Somebody Calls You "chicken Man"?

Men

Machines

Chickens

I've Found Peace Here At The Co-op. You Could Stay With Us, If You Want. Become A Roflcopter.

The Horse Seemed To Bend Time And Space As He Ran, Blurring The Landscape And Making Frank Feel Like He'd Just Drunk A Gallon Of Whole Milk Without His Lactose-intolerance Medicine: "seven Hundred And Fifty Miles Per Hour. Eight Hundred. Eight Hundred And Three. Fast. Very Fast.

Horse

Eight

Medicine

Annabeth Looked At Me. " We Have To Get Out Of Here." " You Think I Want To Be In The Girls' Restroom?" " I Mean The Ship, Percy! We Have To Get Off The Ship." " Smells Bad," Tyson Agreed. " And Dogs Eat All The Eggs. Annabeth Is Right. We Must Leave The Restroom And The Ship.

Girl

Dog

Mean

You Speak Horse?" Hazel Asked. "speaking To Horses Is A Poseidon Thing," Percy Said. "uh, I Mean A Neptune Thing." "then You And Arion Should Get Along Fine," Hazel Said. "he's A Son Of Neptune Too." Percy Turned Pale. "excuse Me?

Horse

Mean

Son

Heroes!" Euryale Said With Disgust. "they Always Bring That Up, Just Like Our Mother! 'why Can't You Turn People To Stone? Your Sister Can Turn People To Stone.' Well, I'm Sorry To Disappoint You, Boy! That Was Medusa's Curse Alone. She Was The Most Hideous One In The Family. She Got All The Luck!" Stheno Looked Hurt. "mother Said I Was The Most Hideous.

Mother

Hurt

Sorry

Otrera Stayed Dead The Second Time," Kinzie Said, Batting Her Eyes. "we Have To Thank You For That. If You Ever Need A New Girlfriend...well, I Think You'd Look Great In An Iron Collar And An Orange Jumpsuit." Percy Couldn't Tell If She Was Kidding Or Not. He Politely Thanked Her And Changed Seats.

Girlfriend

Eye

Thinking

Being A Hero Doesn’t Mean You’re Invincible. It Just Means That You’re Brave Enough To Stand Up And Do What’s Needed.

Hero

Mean

Brave

The Death Mist Is Not For Helping!" Akhlys Shrieked. "it Shrouds Mortals In Misery As Their Souls Pass Into The Underworld. It Is The Very Breath Of Tartarus, Of Death, Of Despair!" "awesome," Percy Said. "could We Get Two Orders Of That To Go?

Order

Two

Soul

Indeed, "hera Said. ―porphyrion, The Strongest Of His Kind. Gaea Needed A Great Deal Of Power To Raise Him Again —my Power. For Weeks I‘ve Grown Weaker As My Essence Was Used To Grow Him A New Form." ―so You‘re Like A Heat Lamp,"leo Guessed. ―or Fertilizer.

Essence

Lamps

Gaea

Our Baboon Was Going Completely Sky Goddess - Which Is To Say, Nuts.

Nuts

Sky

Goddess

So, If I Looked Him Up On Google Maps-

Google

Maps

Google Maps

There's No Point In Defending Camp If You Guys Die. All Our Friends Are Here.

Guy

Camps

Dies

Piper, You’re The Strongest, Most Powerful Beauty Queen I’ve Ever Met. You Can Trust Yourself. For What It’s Worth, You Can Trust Me Too.

Queens

Powerful

Trust Me

I Try Not To Think. It Interferes With Being Nuts" - Leo Valdez

Thinking

Nuts

Trying

Nico, You Can Do This," Jason Said. "it Might Be Embarrassing, But It's For The Scepter." Nico Didn't Look Convinced. In Fact He Looked Like He Was Going To Be Sick. But He Squared His Shoulders And Nodded. "you're Right. I- I'm Not Afraid Of A Love God." Favonius Beamed. "excellent! Would You Like A Snack Before You Go?

Snacks

Sick

Jason

You Have To Be Compelled To Write. If You’re Not, Nothing Else That You Do Matters.

Writing

Matter

Letting You Go

We’ve All Got Weaknesses. Me, For Instance. I’m Tragically Funny And Good-looking.

Weakness

Looking Good

Instance

Be Careful Of Love. It'll Twist Your Brain Around And Leave You Thinking Up Is Down And Right Is Wrong.

Love

Thinking

Brain

They Send A Person Who Can Never Stay," She Whispered. "who Can Never Accept My Offer Of Companionship For More Than A Little While. They Send Me A Hero I Can't Help ... Just The Sort Of Person I Can't Help Falling In Love With." ... As I Sailed Into The Lake I Realized The Fates Really Were Cruel. They Sent Calypso Someone She Couldn't Help But Love. But It Worked Both Ways. For The Rest Of My Life I Would Be Thinking About Her. She Would Always Be My Biggest What If.

Falling In Love

Hero

Fate

Forget The Chicken-nugget Smoke Screen. Percy Wanted Leo To Invent An Anti-dream Hat.

Dream

Hats

Nuggets

She Would Always Be My Biggest What If.

What If

Ifs

Must’ve Been Hard On Your Mom,” Frank Said. “i Guess We’ll Do Anything For Someone We Love.” Hazel Squeezed His Hand Appreciatively. Nico Stared At The Cobblestones. “yeah,” He Said Bitterly. “i Guess We Will.

Mom

Hands

Cobblestone

I May Be Biased, But I Think Jackals Are Cute And Cuddly, Even If They Were Known For Digging Up Graves In Ancient Egypt.

Cute

Thinking

Egypt

Annabeth Frowned. "that Doesn't Make Sense. But Why Were You Visiting --" Her Eyes Widened. "hermes Said You Bear The Curse Of Achilles. Hestia Said The Same Thing. Did You . . . Did You Bathe In The River Styx?" "don't Change The Subject." "percy! Did You Or Not?" "um . . .maybe A Little.

Eye

Rivers

Bears

The Images From The Book You Make In Your Head Are Always Going To Be The Best Images.

Book

Being The Best

You Think It's Okay That We're Eating Rudolph?" "dude," Percy Said, "i Could Eat Prancer And Blitzen, Too. I'm Hungry.

Thinking

Rudolph

Eating

Annabeth Pressed Her Lips To Percy’s Ear. “i Love You.” She Wasn’t Sure He Could Hear Her—but If They Died, She Wanted Those To Be Her Last Words.

Love You

Annabeth

Ears

Getting Something And Having The Wits To Use It...those Are Two Different Things.

Two

Different

Use

You're Bes, I Guess?" I Said. "yes," He Said. "your Car's A Mess," Liz Muttered. "if One More Person Rhymes," Emma Grumbled, "i'll Throw Up.

Car

Liz

Emma

Is That Me?,' Leo Said. 'like Me--having This Dream--looking At Me Having A Dream?

Dream

Said

Hephaestus

But If She'd Realized That Nine Desiccated Zombie Nymphs Would Be Waiting For Her, She Never Would Have Come Down Here.

Nymphs

Waiting

Zombie

I Woke To A Bucket Of Ice Water In My Face. “sadie! Get Up,” Zia Said. “god!” I Yelled. “was That Necessary?” “no,” Admitted Zia.

Ice Water

Buckets

Faces

You Sure About This?" I Asked Thalia. She Turned To Me. "amaltheia Leads Me To Good Things. The Last Time She Appeared, She Led Me To You." The Compliment Warmed Me Like A Cup Of Hot Chocolate. I'm A Sucker That Way. Thalia Can Flash Those Blue Eyes, Give Me One Kind Word, And She Can Get Me To Do Pretty Much Whatever.

Eye

Blue

Giving

To All My Librarian Friends, Champions Of Books, True Magicians In The House Of Life. Without You, This Writer Would Be Lost In The Dust.

Book

Dust

House

He Just Raised The Dead With Coke And Cheeseburgers

Coke

Raised

Percy Jackson And The Olympians

The World May Need Fixing, But It's Worth Preserving.

May

Fixing

Needs

Now, As Far As I Knew, He (luke) Was Still Sailing Around On His Demon-infested Cruise Ship While The Chopped-up Lord Kronos Re-formed, Bit By Bit, In A Golden Sarcophagus, Biding His Time Until He Had Enough Power To Challenge The Olympian Gods. In Demigod-speak, We Call This A “problem.” - Percy, 'the Battle Of The Labyrinth

Challenges

Sailing

Labyrinth

It's Like I Was Connected To The Plumping System.

Connected

Some Risks Are Worth Taking, Even If It Means Losing A Life.

Mean

Risk

Losing

I Seriously Needed An Extra-strength Magic Pillow, Because My Ba Refused To Stay Put. [and No, Sadie, I Don't Think Wrapping My Head In Duct Tape Would've Worked Either.]

Thinking

Magic

Tape

Almost Everything Strange Washes Up Near Miami.

Miami

Strange

Sea Of Monsters

Just Curious How Much I'm Going For These Days," Leo Said. "i Mean, I Can Understand Not Being As Pricey As Percy Or Jason, Maybe...but Am I Worth, Like, Two Franks, Or Three Franks?

Mean

Two

Jason

Death Has More In Common With Love Than You Might Imagine.

Might

Common

Imagine

I Told You I Try Not To Live In The Past And Nothing Could Change The Fact That My Mum Was Gone. But I’m A Liar. The Truth Was, I’d Had One Dream Ever Since I Was Six: To See My Mum Again. To Actually Get To Know Her, Talk To Her, Go Shopping, Do Anything. Just Be With Her Once So I Could Have A Better Memory To Hold On To.

Dream

Memories

Liars

Oh, Dear Hazel.” Aphrodite Folded Her Fan. “such Optimism, Yet You Have Heartrending Days Ahead Of You. Of Course War Is Coming. Love And War Always Go Together. They Are The Peaks Of Human Emotion! Evil And Good, Beauty And Ugliness.

War

Evil

Optimism

No," I Said. "i Choose The Prophecy. It Will Be About Me." "why Are You Saying That?" She Cried. "you Want To Be Responsible For The Whole World?" It Was The Last Thing I Wanted, But I Didn't Say That. I Knew I Had To Step Up And Claim It. "i Can't Let Nico Be In Any More Danger," I Said. "i Owe That Much To His Sister. I…let Them Both Down. I'm Not Going To Let That Poor Kid Suffer Any More.

Kids

Suffering

World

He Was Slumped Over, Blood Trickling From The Side Of His Mouth. I Shook His Furry Hip, Thinking, No! Even If You Are Half Barnyard Animal, You're My Best Friend And I Don't Want You To Die!

Animal

Thinking

Blood

They Sped By A Pack Of Sea Lions Lounging On The Docks, And She Swore She Saw An Old Homeless Guy Sitting Among Them. From Across The Water The Old Man Pointed A Bony Finger At Percy And Mouthed Something Like 'don't Even Think About It.' "did You See That?" Hazel Asked. Percy's Face Was Red In The Sunset. "yeah. I've Been Here Before. I...i Don't Know. I Think I Was Looking For My Girlfriend." "annabeth," Frank Said. "you Mean, On Your Way To Camp Jupiter?" Percy Frowned. "no. Before That.

Girlfriend

Sunset

Mean

I Keep Forgetting About Your Amnesia. Heh. Forgetting About Amnesia. That's Funny.

Forget

Amnesia

Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.

2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.

2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.

2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.

3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.

3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.

3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.

4. Proper Usage of Quotes

4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.

4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.

4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.

5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.

5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.

6. Quotes in Different Contexts

6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.

6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.

6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.

7. Punctuation and Formatting

Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:

Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.

Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.

Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.

8. Ethical Considerations

Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes

Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.

Conclusion

Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.

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