Wrath of the Triple Goddess

by Rick Riordan

October. Best month ever.

You may bring those friends of yours…Anna and Groverbeth.”

Maybe that sounds self-centered, but the idea of anybody writing a book about me makes me super paranoid.

I’m not sure if you’ve ever had this experience—when you see someone you know from a distance, and for a split second you don’t recognize them. Your brain just registers, Oh, that person looks amazing. Then you realize it’s someone you’ve known for years—your girlfriend, in fact—and that sends a tingle of happiness through your whole body.

She snarled, “You shall not pass!” “Wait, I know that line,” I said. “It’s from the wizard guy in Lord of the Rings.”

Otherwise, you will face the wrath of the Triple Goddess!”

(Exactly and obviously sounded almost identical in Polecat, and yeah, I was definitely starting to hallucinate.)

I even learned how to hold a spoon with my tentacles to scoop and mix. My mom would have been so proud.

I’ll say it again: thank the gods for Halloween.

“And I recommended you! I am a fool!” “Don’t beat yourself up. A lot of people make the mistake of recommending me.”

I had swim practice that afternoon. Apparently, coaches don’t believe in giving the day off for Halloween. Big meanies.

The flavor varied every time I tried it. Usually, the taste reminded me of some favorite form of comfort food. This time…it was candy corn.

“Pete!” I yelled. “Get your ghosts off my lawn!” I figured my buddy Geras, the god of old age, would approve of my cranky shouting.

Then again…Annabeth and I were more than just two people. We were a pair, and when we stood at the crossroads, we did it together.

“Besides, I gotta believe we’re a good team because we make each other’s fatal flaws into slightly less fatal flaws. Like, maybe even fatal strengths.”

“Wears a bra on his ankle,” Juniper offered, then frowned. “Sorry. I have trouble with human jokes. Was that too much?” Everybody laughed. Even I smiled.