?as the world caves in?

?the tunnel of love?

"She likes bikers."

I smiled. "Whatever."

"Hephaestus knows?"

"Oh sure." I continued. "He caught them together once. I mean, literally caught them, in a golden net, and invited all the gods to come and laugh at them. Hephaestus is always trying to embarrass them. That's why they meet in out of the way places, like..." I finally spotted the Tunnel of Love. "Like that."

Around the pool were a dozen bronze statues of Cupid, maybe Eros, depending on who you ask. On the opposite side from us, a tunnel opened up, probably where water flowed into when the pool was full. The sign above it read, THEILL RIDE O' LOVE: THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' TUNNEL OF LOVE!

Grover came to the edge. "Guys, look."

We looked at the bottom of the pool to see a pink and white two seater boat with a canopy on top and hearts painted all over it. In the left seat, was Ares's shield.

"This is too easy," Percy said, and I nodded. "So we just walk down there and get it?"

Annabeth ran her fingers along the base of the nearest Cupid statue. "There's a Greek letter carved here. Eta. I wonder..."

"Grover," Percy said. "You smell any monsters."

Grover sniffed the air. "Nothing."

"Nothing- like, in the Arch and you didn't smell Echidna nothing, or really nothing?"

I slapped Percy's arm and frowned at him. "Percy!"

Grover looked hurt at this. "I told you, that was underground."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Percy took a breath. "I'm going down there."

"I'll go with you," Grover didn't sound like he wanted to.

"No," Percy told him. "I want you to stay up top with the flying shoes. You're the Red Baron, a flying ace, remember? I'll be counting on you for backup, in case something goes wrong."

Grover looked happier at this. "Sure. What could go wrong?"

"I don't know, just a feeling. Annabeth, come with me—"

"Are you kidding me?" She looked at him like he was some alien.

"What's the problem now?" Percy snapped back.

I sighed before this could go anymore. "I'll go with you, Percy."

Percy nodded, and smiled a little, although I might've been imaging it.

Me and Percy reached the boat, where the shield was propped and next to it was a silk scarf. Percy picked it up and smelled it. He smiled and held the scarf close to him.

I quickly grabbed it from him. "First of all, ew, that's my moms. Second of all, stay away from that love magic. Just get the shield, seaweed brain, and let's get out of here."

The moment Percy touched the shield I knew I had messed up in telling him to do so.

"Wait," Annabeth said from up top.

"Too late." Percy said back.

I looked at the boat. "There's another Greek letter on the side of the boat, another Eta. This is a trap."

Noise suddenly erupted from all around us.

"Guys!" Grover yelled at us.

I looked up and saw the Cupid's drawing their bows. Before I could even think, Percy put an arm in front of me. I watched as they fired not at us, but at each other. They released a string like material that started to weave itself.