The Heroes of Olympus, #3
The Mark of Athena
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XLII
Overview
Percy, Jason, and Piper descend beneath the Forum into a buried nymphaeum that reacts to Percy’s presence. They are confronted by Hagno and eight withered nymphs bound to the shrine, embittered by centuries of neglect. The nymphs, aligned with the giants nearby, trap the trio and unleash dark water to drain their powers and beauty.
Summary
Percy leads Jason and Piper to a hidden entrance overlooking the ruined Forum. Despite Piper’s vision of drowning, they descend a cramped spiral stairwell into a cylindrical chamber with nine empty niches and no visible exits. The doorway seals behind them, matching Piper’s ominous premonition.
When Percy steps into the center, the room awakens: sea-scented light ripples over the walls, and shells embedded in the niches reveal it is a Roman nymphaeum. The place feels unnaturally dry and hostile, as though water should be present but is not.
Nine withered nymphs materialize in the niches, led by Hagno. She claims they are the original attendants of infant Zeus, later lured to Rome and bound to this shrine. After centuries abandoned underground, they have grown bitter and thirsty, unable to leave because their life sources are tied to the site.
Hagno recognizes Percy, Jason, and Piper, and mentions the nearby giants Ephialtes and Otis. She vows to reclaim power and beauty by draining the demigods: Jason for sky power, Percy for endless water, and Piper for youth and voice. The nymphs vanish as their alcoves erupt with sickly dark water, flooding the chamber and springing the trap.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonLeads the team to the underground site; activates the nymphaeum; targeted for his water power.
- Piper McLeanHaunted by a drowning vision; attempts charmspeak; marked by Hagno as the source of beauty to steal.
- Jason GraceIdentifies the shrine as a nymphaeum; targeted for sky-related power by the vengeful nymphs.
- HagnoLeader of the withered nymphs; recounts their history; allies with nearby giants; triggers the watery trap.
- The eight withered nymphsBound to the shrine’s niches; support Hagno in sealing the exit and unleashing dark water.