Summary

In Chapter 13, Percy and Annabeth follow the vampires along the River Phlegethon. Every breath is like inhaling sulfur-scented fiberglass. Annabeth’s ankle is better. She is barely limping. Percy is glad that they are together. The firewater is keeping them going. Percy keeps hoping that life will get better for him and Annabeth. Instead, it seems become to get more and more dangerous. They come to a massive cliff where the empousai are bounding down like mountain goats. It will be treacherous for the demigods to descend to the bleak landscape below. The ground is pocked with blisters. Each time a blister bursts, a monster is released. The monsters go in the same direction the empousai are going.

In Chapter 14, Percy must be careful with his footing as a rock slide will alert the empousai of their presence. As they rest...