Contents
XXIX
Overview
In Tartarus, Percy, Annabeth, and Bob are ambushed by the arai—spirits of dying curses. Striking the arai inflicts past enemies’ maledictions, wounding Percy and blinding Annabeth. Bob initially shields them but hesitates when the arai reveal Percy erased his memories and that Nico, not Percy, visited him. The arai close in as Bob falters.
Summary
Percy, Annabeth, and Bob confront a flock of arai, the spirits of dying curses, in the darkness of Tartarus. Percy prefers a fight to waiting in the dark and strikes first, only to be suddenly wounded through both sides of his chest by Geryon’s lingering curse, proving that killing an arai triggers a past enemy’s malediction.
When Annabeth instinctively smashes an arai, she is struck blind by Polyphemus’s curse, fulfilling the Cyclops’s hatred of her invisibility trick. The arai taunt Percy with the many deaths he has caused and promise to repay suffering with suffering. As they swarm, Bob sweeps them back with his broom, inexplicably spared further curses because he is already cursed.
The arai then target Bob’s trust, accusing Percy of stealing Bob’s memories and abandoning him to servitude in Hades’s palace. Percy urges Bob not to feed the arai with anger, but he realizes his own guilt—he left Bob behind and never returned. The arai press the point, asking whether Percy ever visited.
Bob reveals it was Nico who came and spoke well of Percy, which is why Bob agreed to help. Hurt and doubtful, Bob lowers his guard. Seizing the moment, the arai attack again, and this time Bob does not stop them, leaving Percy and Annabeth exposed as the spirits close in.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonBattles arai; killing one triggers Geryon’s curse, skewering him; struggles with guilt over Bob’s memory.
- Annabeth ChaseSmashes an arai and is blinded by Polyphemus’s curse; relies on Percy while the arai close in.
- Bob (Iapetus)Titan ally sweeps arai back with his broom; shaken by accusations about his stolen memory; hesitates after learning Nico visited.
- The AraiSpirits of curses; inflict past enemies’ maledictions when killed; sow doubt in Bob to break the group.
- Small BobSkeleton kitten companion; hides in Bob’s coveralls during the arai attack.