Reyna, Nico, and Coach Hedge are plummeting toward a volcano, Mount Vesuvius. Nico shadow-jumped the three of them—along with the Athena Parthenos in a harness. Reyna commands Nico to take them out of danger, but his strength is depleted. Using the power of her mother, Roman war goddess Bellona, Reyna infuses Nico with strength, and he takes them to safety in a Pompeii courtyard known for its lemures (unfriendly spirits). She gives Nico unicorn draught—“powdered horn mixed with sanctified water from the Little Tiber” (44)—to restore him. During the transfer of power, Nico’s sadness, loneliness, and heartbreak washes over Reyna, filling her with both sadness and respect for him. She urges him to rest, as they must depart again by nightfall. Coach Hedge takes the first watch with Reyna’s metallic greyhounds, Aurum and Argentum, who appear whenever she calls them, while Nico and Reyna sleep.

Reyna has a nightmare that Camp Jupiter is being destroyed and hears Gaea taunting her that she has left Camp Jupiter defenseless, Gaea’s hunter will destroy her, and the quest will fail. Reyna tries to will the nightmare away and sees a vision of Camp Jupiter’s legion preparing to attack Camp Half-Blood under Octavian’s orders.