Jason and Piper have a picnic in a nearby park. Piper’s cornucopia provides their meal, including a birthday cake and candles. Jason admits it is his sixteenth birthday (the first of July, Hera’s sacred day, which the Romans would find auspicious). Jason admits to feeling like a failure and being disappointed in Hercules. Without Piper, Jason says, he would not have been able to stand up to the hero. Percy comes running toward them.

He has a bad feeling about Annabeth, and with time running out for Nico, Leo, Frank, and Hazel have still not returned. Percy suggests that Piper use Katoptris to find a clue to Nico’s location. She sees a vision of the Romans preparing their invasion of Camp Half-Blood. The next vision is of the Forum and the circular room from her nightmare, then one of Nico, who is now out of pomegranate seeds. Percy says they cannot wait for Hazel, Frank, and Leo to return. Whatever is waiting for them, they must face it to save Nico. Leaving Coach behind, the three demigods head to the forum.