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Percy took Annabeth’s hand. “I should have been there for you.”
“But that’s the point,” Annabeth said. “No one can be there for me. When I get to Rome, I’ll have
to strike out on my own. Otherwise, the Mark won’t appear. I’ll have to follow it to…to the source.”
Frank took the coin from Leo. He stared at the owl. “The giants’ bane stands gold and pale, Won
with pain from a woven jail.” He looked up at Annabeth. “What is it…this thing at the source?”
Before Annabeth could answer, Jason spoke up.
“A statue,” he said. “A statue of Athena. At least…that’s my guess.”
Piper frowned. “You said you didn’t know.”
“I don’t. But the more I think about it…there’s only one artifact that could fit the legend.” He
turned to Annabeth. “I’m sorry. I should have told you everything I’ve heard, much earlier. But
honestly, I was scared. If this legend is true—”
“I know,” Annabeth said. “I figured it out, Jason. I don’t blame you. But if we manage to save the
statue, Greek and Romans together…Don’t you see? It could heal the rift.”
“Hold on.” Percy made a time-out gesture. “What statue?”
Annabeth took back the silver coin and slipped it into her pocket. “The Athena Parthenos,” she
said. “The most famous Greek statue of all time. It was forty feet tall, covered in ivory and gold. It
stood in the middle of the Parthenon in Athens.”
The ship went silent, except for the waves lapping against the hull.
“Okay, I’ll bite,” Leo said at last. “What happened to it?”
“It disappeared,” Annabeth said.
Leo frowned. “How does a forty-foot-tall statue in the middle of the Parthenon just disappear?”