The Blood of Olympus

Using items in his magic tool belt, Leo constructs a magical instrument to use as a bargaining chip. First, Leo convinces Apollo that Zeus would be much more likely to forgive him if he helps defeat Gaea, which would also make a much more appealing ballad than smiting a demigod. Apollo agrees that Leo’s plan could work to defeat Gaea. When Apollo asks what the instrument is, Leo calls the Valdezinator and then plays a sad song that Calypso sang for him. For a moment, he doesn’t want to relinquish the instrument but relents, remembering that Calypso needs his plan to succeed. He agrees to give the Valdezinator to Apollo in exchange for the physician’s cure.

Apollo explains that he can’t provide the potion; only Asclepius can do that. Apollo can, however, give them its final ingredient, the Curse of Delos—yellow daisies that sprouted on Delos after he and Artemis were born—and directions to Asclepius. Although frustrated at having to visit another god, especially one who is under guard, Leo agrees.

Apollo and Artemis disappear as the three demigods reconvene to return to the Argo II. Hazel and Frank tell Leo what they learned from Artemis: Octavian has amassed weapons and monsters to destroy Camp Half-Blood, after which the monsters will destroy Octavian, and Gaea will rise. Leo reveals his plan, and it brings them to tears. He tells them that, as Romans, they understand the importance of sacrificing oneself. He insists that it must be this way, reminding Frank of the warning by Mars that he’d have to make a call no one else could make, and they don’t argue with him.

At the temple complex of Asclepius in Epidaurus, Leo’s mechanical knowledge enables them to access the secret passage that leads underground to where, in ancient times, “the high priests had their intensive care, super-magical-type compound” (252). Leo, Piper, and Jason follow the passage into a waiting area, where a large statue of Hygeia stands guard over a metal door. A sign over the door indicates that the doctor is incarcerated. As they enter the room, Hygeia walks toward them, asking about their insurance and whether they washed their hands. Declaring them a health hazard, she tells them that they must be sanitized and unleashes a golden snake. The demigods fight Hygeia and the snake, but the machines are programmed to repair any damage immediately. While Piper and Jason distract the machines, Leo climbs first on the snake and then on Hygeia, reprogramming them to “idiot mode” (258, italics in original) so that they continually make the worst possible decisions. With the machines out of the way, Leo, Jason, and Piper approach the metal door.

They find Asclepius with an attendant python called Spike. Piper uses her charmspeak to tell Asclepius that they need the physician’s cure. Saying he’d be “delighted to help” (260), Asclepius diagnoses Jason with near-sightedness, giving him a pair of glasses rimmed with imperial gold, and offers advice for Piper’s old wounds and vegetarian diet. When he sees Leo, his expression clouds, and Leo realizes that he must go through with his plan. Jason and Piper demand to know what’s wrong with Leo, but he ignores them, reiterating their request for the physician’s cure and placing the collected ingredients on the desk.

Asclepius feeds the ingredients to Spike, and the snake belches out a vial filled with red liquid. When Asclepius questions why he should agree to make it, recalling the trouble he experienced the last time he raised someone from the dead, Piper uses her charmspeak again, telling him that he’s the only one who can help them save the world. He warns the demigods that the vial has only enough for one person and must be administered as soon as possible after death.

Back on the Argo II, the other demigods want to know why Asclepius looked so grim about Leo, but Leo brushes them off. Only Hazel and Frank seem to understand. Leo reflects on the line of the prophecy, “To storm or fire the world must fall” (265, italics in original) and Nike’s warning that one of the demigods must die, reminding himself that there’s no other way. He must ensure that the war ends. The group agrees that Piper will hold the cure and be ready to administer it when needed. Locking eyes with Hazel, Leo elaborately wraps the cure and hands it to Piper. Later, Jason and Piper try to corner Leo, but he insists that he must work on the ship. Alone in the engine room, Leo checks the astrolabe that he has fitted with Ogygia’s crystal. He pulls out the real vial of physician’s cure and drops it into the engine’s ventilator line.