Back home, Gale and Hecuba have a friendly reunion. Over pizza, Grover, Annabeth, and Percy discuss what to do about the wreckage Hecate’s home has become. Percy believes their only option is to use Hecate’s torches. Hecuba tells Grover that no mortal has tried it and that those using the torches are at risk of having their souls devoured, but Annabeth agrees that they do not have any other options. Gale will brew a potion to help them, with Grover’s help. Percy and Annabeth affirm their trust in Grover.

After everyone else has gone to bed, Annabeth and Percy talk things over. Percy notices the condition of the mansion seems to be getting worse. Annabeth reveals that when one of Hecuba’s zombies touched her in Astoria, Annabeth saw the city of Troy collapsing. She wonders why she saw the city while Percy saw people. Percy suggests she saw what she needed to so that she could help them all.

Annabeth says that Hecate’s power comes from ghosts and that she will have to use her torches to summon a ghost architect. Percy shares his belief that something was wrong with the house before they arrived.