the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

Rachel issued the Prophecy of Seven as soon as I blessed her. But prophecy doesn’t work that way!
Father just needed someone to blame. So of course he picked the handsomest, most talented,
hopelessly awesome god.’
Artemis made a gagging gesture.
‘Oh, stop it, sister!’ Apollo said. ‘You’re in trouble, too!’
‘Only because I stayed in touch with my Hunters against Zeus’s wishes,’ Artemis said. ‘But I can
always charm Father into forgiving me. He’s never been able to stay mad at me. It’s you I’m worried
about.’
‘I’m worried about me, too!’ Apollo agreed. ‘We have to do something. We can’t kill Octavian.
Hmm. Perhaps we should kill these demigods.’
‘Whoa there, Music Man.’ Leo resisted the urge to hide behind Frank and yell, Take the big
Canadian dude! ‘We’re on your side, remember? Why would you kill us?’
‘It might make me feel better!’ Apollo said. ‘I have to do something!’
‘Or,’ Leo said quickly, ‘you could help us. See, we’ve got this plan …’
He told them how Hera had directed them to Delos, and how Nike had described the ingredients
for the physician’s cure.
‘The physician’s cure?’ Apollo stood and smashed his ukulele on the stones. ‘That’s your plan?’
Leo raised his hands. ‘Hey, um, usually I’m all for smashing ukuleles, but –’
‘I cannot help you!’ Apollo cried. ‘If I told you the secret of the physician’s cure, Zeus would
never forgive me!’
‘You’re already in trouble,’ Leo pointed out. ‘How could it get worse?’
Apollo glared at him. ‘If you knew what my father is capable of, mortal, you would not ask. It
would be simpler if I just smote you all. That might please Zeus –’
‘Brother …’ Artemis said.
The twins locked eyes and had a silent argument. Apparently Artemis won. Apollo heaved a sigh
and kicked his broken ukulele across the stage.
Artemis rose. ‘Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, come with me. There are things you should know
about the Twelfth Legion. As for you, Leo Valdez –’ The goddess turned those cold silver eyes on
him. ‘Apollo will hear you out. See if you can strike a deal. My brother always likes a good bargain.’
Frank and Hazel both glanced at him, like Please don’t die. Then they followed Artemis up the
steps of the amphitheatre and over the crest of the hill.
‘Well, Leo Valdez?’ Apollo folded his arms. His eyes glowed with golden light. ‘Let us bargain,
then. What can you offer that would convince me to help you rather than kill you?’