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“Nice polecat,” Annabeth said. “Definitely a polecat.”

Gale sniffed indignantly, then started playing with her nearest combat dummy. And when I sayplaying, I mean she leaped on its head and began to chew a hole in its face.

“Adorable,” I said.

“I know.” Hecate sighed contentedly. “I hate to leave them, even for a few days! But I trust they will be in good hands.” She looked at me, frowned, then gazed at Annabeth a bit more hopefully. “Gale’s harness is on the wall over there. She can go with you when you take Hecuba for walks.”

The harness was black leather with stainless steel spikes. Because Gale was metal.

Hecate showed us a few other highlights of the polecat cave: the cardboard box where Gale liked to sleep, next to the expensive polecat habitat that had come in the box but Gale wouldn’t even look at. There was a pallet of extra cedar shavings to spread on the floor as needed, a pooper-scooper, a grooming kit, and a polecat toothbrush with special bunny-flavored toothpaste.

Finally, Hecate led us back to the great room.

“What else…?” she mused. “Ah, yes, my symbols of power!”

She pointed to the crossed set of torches hanging from the balcony railing. “I am leaving you this set, but they should be used only in the event of anextremeemergency. Is that clear?”

It was absolutely not clear. What were we supposed to do with a couple of torches? Did it count as an emergency if a Hyperborean giant came by and asked us for a light?

Since Hecate already thought I was an idiot, I figured the safest thing to do was nod. “Got it.”

“Good…” Hecate glanced at the stained-glass windows, which were darkening with the sunset. “I must be off. Tokyo Disneyland will be opening soon, and they’re holding a Spooky Boo! parade in my honor. Any questions? No? Good!”

She snapped her fingers once more. Her nightshirt and yoga pants transformed into an elaborate black evening gown, with black silk gloves, a diamond necklace, and a golden tiara in her thick black hair. She looked like Dark Cinderella, ready to torture her wicked stepsisters, the prince, and the fairy godmother for not getting her a better carriage.

“The house keys are hanging by the front door on a keychain with little crossed torches,” she said. “Always lock up when you leave. I will see you at midnight on Friday. If all is in order, you will have your recommendation letter, Percy Jackson. If all isnotin order…”

“I won’t need the recommendation letter,” I guessed. “Because I won’t have a future.”

She patted me on the cheek with her silk glove. “I knew you were smarter than you looked. Ta-ta!”

The goddess disappeared in a swirl of black soot.

I looked at Annabeth and Grover. I tried to think of something encouraging to say. Then I noticed Hecuba and Gale staring at us from the doorways of their respective rooms. Their eyes gleamed. They both grinned, baring their teeth as if thinking,Mom is gone. Now the fun begins.

The “fun” started with cleanup from the kibble-and-chicken massacre. We did the best we could, though I wished we had hazmat suits and maybe a fire hose.

By the time I staggered back into the great room, I wasn’t much in the mood for my own dinner. That was just as well. Hecuba and Gale had another idea. They were both standing by the front door, holding their leashes in their mouths.

“Fine,” I told them. “But we’re not going all the way to Pennsylvania. Annabeth and I have school tomorrow.”

I expected the animals to pout. Instead, they went bonkers with excitement. Gale chittered and ran in circles, dragging her heavy-metal harness behind her. If there had been a chicken carcass in the room, I imagine she would have eviscerated it out of sheer joy.

Hecuba stood on her hind paws like she was feeling the Holy Spirit at a Sunday revival. Then she went into a play bow and barked with such force it rattled the candelabra.

Annabeth helped me get Hecuba’s collar on her. No matter the dog, Annabeth loved all of them—the bigger and scarier the better. When it came to my own hellhound buddy, Mrs. O’Leary, I found this heartwarming. When Annabeth acted so casual around Hecuba, it was just worrying.

Grover spent a few minutes sweet-talking Gale, trying to calm her so he could put on her harness. “That’s a good polecat! So much prettier than a skunk or a vole! Such a lovely mustelid!”

Gale farted, which I guess was a sign they were bonding.

At last, we had both animals on their leashes. Annabeth held Hecuba’s, which had a bar handle on the end like a waterskiing rope. Grover took charge of Gale, who wrapped up his legs like a mummy as she raced around his hooves, ready to rock and roll.

“Good to go?” I asked once Grover had disentangled himself.

“Good to go,” Annabeth agreed.

We were definitelynotgood to go. As soon as I opened the front door, Hecuba tore down the sidewalk, dragging Annabeth behind her. Gale did her best to keep up, forcing Grover into a brisk jog.