Jarad's scream was one of the worst things I had ever heard. It was raw pain, so fresh and new. He fell to the ground and pulled Tom close to his chest. "Why would you do that?" he sobbed. Sarah-Anne stood to the side, tears falling silently from her cheeks.

Tom smiled slightly, blood dribbled down the corner of his mouth. "I've loved you for five years, Jarad Morning," Tom said hoarsely and coughed violently.

Jarad laughed and placed his forehead on Tom's. "Why did you never tell me?"

Tom turned his head and looked at Sarah-Anne. He ignored Jarad's question and stared at Sarah-Anne and Kai for a few seconds. "Cure Percy," Tom said, then looked at me, "Go home, Annabeth, and take them all with you."

And then Tom closed his eyes and his breathing slowed down. Jarad screamed again, tears dripping on Tom's tunic. "Don't leave me, Tommy," Jarad whispered. "Please!"

But Tom's chest had stopped moving and his head had fallen limp.

"Stupid, Cupid," Jarad hissed suddenly. He stood up and collected his sword off the ground where he had dropped it. "I hate him."

Jarad looked straight in my eyes and narrowed his own. "Let's steal his god-damn weapon."