A 1

Jason turned, the gold light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. “I cannot stop. One must die.”
Something about that voice…it wasn’t Gaea. It wasn’t Jason. Whoever it was spoke haltingly, as if
English was its second language.
“Who are you?” Piper demanded.
Jason’s mouth twisted in a gruesome smile. “We are the eidolons. We will live again.”
“Eidolons… ?” Piper’s mind raced. She’d studied all sorts of monsters at Camp Half-Blood, but
that term wasn’t familiar. “You’re—you’re some sort of ghost?”
“He must die.” Jason turned his attention back to Percy, but Percy had recovered more than either
of them realized. He swept out his leg and knocked Jason off his feet.
Jason’s head hit the asphalt with a nauseating conk.
Percy rose.
“Stop it!” Piper screamed again, but there was no charmspeak in her voice. She was shouting in
sheer desperation.
Percy raised Riptide over Jason’s chest.
Panic closed up Piper’s throat. She wanted to attack Percy with her dagger, but she knew that
wouldn’t help. Whatever was controlling him had all of Percy’s skill. There was no way she could beat
him in combat.
She forced herself to focus. She poured all of her anger into her voice. “Eidolon, stop.”
Percy froze.
“Face me,” Piper ordered.
The son of the sea god turned. His eyes were gold instead of green, his face pale and cruel, not at
all like Percy’s.