Percy uses Iris’s newly restored staff to create rainbows that get the serpents’ attention. Annabeth uses her magic baseball cap to turn invisible and find Grover. Percy trips as he runs from the serpents, twisting his ankle. They close in around him, and he realizes that they will soon rip him to shreds. He does not want to die, and he wishes he could tell Annabeth how much he loves her. As soon as he makes his wish, the staff lifts him into the air and transforms him into a rainbow, transporting him directly to Annabeth and Grover at the mouth of the cave. The staff is a messenger god’s staff, after all, so its job is to deliver messages. Percy’s friends are relieved that he is safe; he tells both of them that he loves them.

Percy and Annabeth return the staff to Iris the following day. Grover is doing his photoshoot with Blanche. Iris is pleased to get the staff but reluctant to provide information about the chalice, because she thinks its true thief is very dangerous. Eventually, she tells them that they will find the thief in Greenwich Village. The thief is going by the name “Gary.