Victory must be real. It must be earned. That means it must be rare and difficult, against steep odds, and defeat must be the other.

Will put his hand on Nico's shoulder. "Nico, we need to have another talk about your people skills.""Hey, I'm just stating the obvious. If this is Apollo, and he dies, we're all in trouble."Will turned to me. "I apologize for my boyfriend."Nico rolled his eyes. "Could you not―""Would you prefer special guy?" Will asked. "Or significant other?""Significant annoyance, in your case," Nico grumbled

Unless you stop him. Perhaps next we meet.""You'll be just as annoying?" I guessed.He fixed my with those warm brown eyes. "Or perhaps you could bring me up to speed on those modern courtship rituals."I sat there stunned until he gave me a glimpse of a smile-just enough to let me know he was teasing. Then he disappeared."Oh, very funny!" I yelled.

Fear can't be reasoned with. Neither can hate. They're like love. They're almost identical emotions.

Keep moving. Don't get bogged down. Don't think about the bad stuff. Smile and joke even when you don't feel like it.

Piper went a little crazy. She cried out with relief and dove straight into the water.What was she thinking? She didn't take a rope or a life vest or anything. But at the moment, she was just so happy that she paddled over to Leo and kissed him on the cheek, which kind of surprised him."Miss me?" Leo laughed.Piper was suddenly furious. "Where were you? How are you guys alive?" "Long story," he said. A picnic basket bobbed to the surface next to him. "Want a brownie?

She'd secretly had a crush on him since they were twelve years old. Last summer, she'd fallen for him hard.

He understood how dangerous oaths could be. But Leo didn't care. "I'm coming back for you, Calypso," he said to the night wind. "I swear it on the River Styx.

I tried to think of something to say. Excuse me? Hello? Marry me? Anything would have done.