Percy has a nightmare of choking in mud then being in an underground parking garage where he overhears the giant twins Ephialtes and Otis planning the death of the demigods and the destruction of Rome. They mention a bronze jar and a “talented friend” who is protecting a statue (117). In the bronze jar, Nico is trapped. He appears to be meditating and has pomegranate seeds lying at his feet. Percy wakes up to find Annabeth standing over him in the middle of the night.

They go for a walk around the ship, stopping at the stables. Percy tells her about the opportunities in New Rome, how demigods can live normal lives, go to college, marry, and raise families. Annabeth worries that the Roman and Greek demigods will never be able to reconcile. Percy shares his dream with her, and she recalls Nemesis’s five-day deadline, the Kalends of July. Annabeth admits that the last time she saw her mother, Athena accused her of failing her. They fall asleep in each other’s arms.

When Percy wakes up, Frank is standing over him and Annabeth. Everyone feared they had been kidnapped.