A 1

“Don’t get me wrong, Hazel. It’s just that your brother, Nico… he knew about both camps, right?”
“Well, yes,” Hazel said.
“He’s been going back and forth,” Leo said, “and he didn’t tell either side.”
Jason sat forward, his expression grim. “You’re wondering if we can trust the guy. So am I.”
Hazel shot to her feet. “I don’t believe this. He’s my brother. He brought me back from the
Underworld, and you don’t want to help him?”
Frank put his hand on her shoulder. “Nobody’s saying that.” He glared at Leo. “Nobody had better
be saying that.”
Leo blinked. “Look, guys. All I mean is—”
“Hazel,” Jason said. “Leo is raising a fair point. I remember Nico from Camp Jupiter. Now I find
out he also visited Camp Half-Blood. That does strike me as… well, a little shady. Do we really know
where his loyalties lie? We just have to be careful.”
Hazel’s arms shook. A silver platter zoomed toward her and hit the wall to her left, splattering
scrambled eggs. “You… the great Jason Grace… the praetor I looked up to. You were supposed to be
so fair, such a good leader. And now you…” Hazel stomped her foot and stormed out of the mess hall.
“Hazel!” Leo called after her. “Ah, jeez. I should—”
“You’ve done enough,” Frank growled. He got up to follow her, but Piper gestured for him to
wait.
“Give her time,” Piper advised. Then she frowned at Leo and Jason. “You guys, that was pretty
cold.”
Jason looked shocked. “Cold? I’m just being cautious!”
“Her brother is dying,” Piper said.