The Heroes of Olympus, #3
The Mark of Athena
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXII
Overview
Hazel leads Leo through a shared vision of her past at St. Agnes, where a Leo lookalike named Sammy defuses a bully and pockets one of Hazel’s cursed diamonds. The vision shifts to Houston decades later, revealing Sammy as Leo’s great-grandfather. Sammy apologizes for selling the diamond and asks Leo to help Hazel. Back aboard the Argo II, the ship is abruptly attacked by a sea monster, escalating immediate danger.
Summary
As ghosts in a memory, Hazel and Leo arrive at St. Agnes Academy in the past, where younger Hazel is bullied by a large boy named Rufus demanding a diamond. A boy identical to Leo—Sammy Valdez—interrupts with theatrical bravado, humiliates Rufus, and secretly pockets the freshly surfaced diamond despite Hazel’s warnings about its curse.
After the bell scatters the students, Sammy comforts Hazel, flirts playfully, and promises always to be there for her. Hazel worries about the diamond’s danger; Sammy vows not to sell it, calling it a token of her favor, and escorts her back inside, clearly having won her affection.
The vision shifts to Houston years later. On a porch, an elderly man—revealed as Sammy Valdez—meets baby Leo, brought by Leo’s mother, Esperanza. Speaking fondly to the infant, Sammy confesses he sold Hazel’s diamond, used it to move to Texas and build a life, and never saw Hazel again. He recalls a warning from Doña Callida, blesses baby Leo, and asks him to tell Hazel he is sorry and to help her.
The scene dissolves, returning Hazel and Leo to the deck of the Argo II, both shaken by the revelation that Leo is Sammy’s great-grandson and that their histories intersect. Before they can process it, Festus alarms, Coach Hedge shouts, and the ship lurches as a sea monster attacks in the night.
Who Appears
- Leo ValdezWitnesses Hazel’s past; discovers Sammy Valdez is his great-grandfather; returns to the Argo II as a sea monster attacks.
- Hazel LevesqueGuides Leo through her memory at St. Agnes; reveals past with Sammy; becomes emotional upon learning Sammy’s fate.
- Sammy ValdezHazel’s charming schoolmate who defuses a bully and pockets a diamond; later, as Leo’s bisabuelo, regrets selling it and blesses baby Leo.
- Esperanza ValdezLeo’s mother; brings baby Leo to meet his great-grandfather in Houston.
- RufusSchool bully who torments Hazel for a diamond; is outmaneuvered and mocked by Sammy.
- Coach HedgeAlerts the crew when a sea monster attacks the Argo II.
- FestusBronze dragon figurehead; alarms and breathes fire as the monster approaches.