The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

by Rick Riordan

I had no trouble finding her. I just followed the path of destruction.

“If somebody twisted my eyeballs, I’d wake up,”

Silena led the charge; it was the first time I’d ever followed a child of Aphrodite into battle.

Another first: a child of Aphrodite uninterested in jewelry.

“Percy, you’re a brave guy,” she said. “Just take the compliment. I swear, is it so hard?” We locked eyes. Our faces were, like, two inches apart. My chest felt a little funny, like my heart was trying to do jumping jacks.

“Hey, I didn’t make it up.” He studied my face. “You look terrible, Percy. You should sit down.”

They weren’t thrilled about lugging Bob the Titan too, but I didn’t have the heart to leave him behind, especially after he noticed my shoulder wound, said, “Owie,” and healed it with a touch.