XIV

Nico jolts awake in a sunny Portuguese square after thirty-six hours of sleep. Reyna rests nearby with her metal dogs, and Coach Hedge explains they are in Évora, where the Athena Parthenos lies sideways atop a Roman temple. Hedge has kept watch, entertained locals, and points out a gray-flamed wraith beckoning Nico.

Armed with his Stygian iron, Nico follows the ghost through narrow streets to a church whose side chapel bears the warning: “We, the bones that are here, await yours.” Inside the Chapel of Bones, walls and columns of skulls surround an altar where the wraith kneels, trapped in perpetual immolation.

Hades appears in a Franciscan habit, drawn by the concentration of death. He identifies Gaea’s hunter as Orion, once a giant who befriended Artemis after receiving mechanical eyes from Hephaestus but now resurrected and embittered. Hades says Apollo or Artemis might stop Orion, yet the twins are weakened; Nico’s only chance is to outrun him. Orion already has their scent, and rest is over.

Hades adds that Hazel has learned one of the Seven will die and may lose perspective trying to prevent it. He reminds Nico of his past courage and urges him to let go of anger, expressing rare paternal respect and a wish for Nico’s happiness. The burning monk, Brother Paloan, silently warns that “wolves” are near—Orion’s hunting pack.

Hades cautions that shadow-traveling with the statue may destroy Nico, briefly steadies him with a touch, and vanishes. Oppressed by the chapel’s memento mori, Nico hurries back, resolved to rejoin Reyna and Coach Hedge before Orion’s pack arrives.