The Lost Hero

At the forge, Leo learns that children of Hephaestus originally built the bronze dragon that is now on the loose. However, recently, it’s been on a rampage, destroying cabins and trying to eat satyrs. He asks if any of his new siblings have the ability to withstand flames, and is told that such an ability is both rare and a harbinger of danger to come. Leo stays behind and contemplates coming up with his own solution. He practices creating flames in his hand, a power “he’d promised himself never to use […] again” (82).

This chapter returns to Jason’s perspective. He has the strong feeling he does not belong at Camp Half-Blood. Drew, a daughter of Aphrodite, flirts with him on their way to Chiron’s house. Chiron is a centaur, and his first words to Jason are, “you should be dead” (87). He speaks to Jason in Latin, and Jason responds in the language as well. Chiron clearly knows something about Jason’s background, but says he has sworn not to reveal the truth. As Jason tries to get more information, a woman in black robes appears. She speaks to Jason, telling him that he must rescue her, and that his father gave him to her; “you belong to me,” she tells him (93). She also confesses to taking his memory. He must rescue her by the solstice. Annabeth and Rachel are at Chiron’s, with news of Rachel’s vision. They carry with them Piper, who is passed out.

Comparing Rachel’s possession with the appearance of the woman in Chiron’s cabin, the campers deduce that Hera is trying to contact them: she is the goddess who needs to be rescued. Chiron will not give them any additional information. Annabeth takes Jason to Hypnos’s cabin; Hypnos is the god of sleep. There, one of his children, Clovis, inspects Jason and tells him that his memories have been “stolen” by a god (103). Jason tells Clovis that Juno did it, using Hera’s Roman name. Clovis explains that Greek gods all have a Roman aspect with a different personality that is “harsher, more powerful” (105). Jason feels the need to defend the Roman gods.