A big sacrifice is coming, and you won't have the courage to make it. That will cost you dearly. It will cost the world dearly.

— Rick Riordan

About five meters ahead, Nico was swinging his black sword with one hand, holding the scepter of Diocletian aloft with the other. He kept shouting orders at the legionnaires, but they paid him no ate

— Rick Riordan

According to Fests, our flying table, Buford, made it back safely while we were in Charleston, so those eagles didn't get him. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."" Dang it!" Frank Barked, which Leo figured was probably severe profanity for him. No doubt Frank would've cursed some more -busting out the golly gees and the gosh darns- but Percy interrupted by doubling over and groaning." Did the world just turn upside down?" he asked. Jason pressed his hands to his head. "Yeah, and it's spinning. Everything is yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?

— Rick Riordan

A Delphine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet tall, with slick black seal fur and stubby little feet. He had the head of a Doberman, but his clawed hands were almost human. Furthermore, he growled and muttered as he tapped on his keyboard. Maybe he was messaging his friends on uglyface.com.

— Rick Riordan

A demigod!" one snarled." Eat it!" yelled another. But that's as far as they got before I slashed a wide arc with Riptide and vaporized the entire front row of monsters." Back off!" I yelled at the rest, trying to sound fierce. Behind them stood their instructor--a six-foot tall telephone with Doberman fangs snarling at me. I did my best to stare him down." New lesson, class," I announced. "Most monsters will vaporize when sliced with a celestial bronze sword. This change is completely normal, and will happen to you right now if you don't BACK OFF!" To my surprise, it worked. The monsters backed off, but there was at least twenty of them. My fear factor wasn't going to last that long. I jumped out of the cart, yelled, "CLASS DISMISSED!" and ran for the exit.

— Rick Riordan

A faint smile played on his lips. "Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it""No...sir""I must take some blame for that, I suppose. The sea does not like to be restrained.

— Rick Riordan

A faint smile played on his lips. "Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it?"" No...sir""I must take some blame for that, I suppose. The sea does not like to be restrained.

— Rick Riordan

A father should do more - a father should give more to his children than he takes.

— Rick Riordan

Afros nodded, a glint of pride in his eyes. “We have trained all the famous MER-heroes! Name a famous merger, and we have trained him or her!”“Oh, sure,” Leo said. “Like…um, the Little Mermaid?” Aphros frowned. “Who? No! Like Triton, Caucus, Weissmuller, and Bill!”“Oh. ”Leo had no idea who any of those people were. “You trained Bill? Impressive.

— Rick Riordan

After his experience with Minos, Nico realized that most specters held only as much power as you allowed them to have. They pried into your mind, using fear or anger or longing to influence you. Nico had learned to shield himself. Sometimes he could even turn the tables and bend ghosts to his will.

— Rick Riordan