Percy’s best friend Grover Underwood and his Latin teacher Mr. Brunner help scare off Alecto. His teacher gives Percy a very powerful cosmic weapon which looks like a pen, and instructs Grover to take him and his mother, Sally to Camp Half-Blood — a secret sanctuary for demigod children on Long Island, leaving behind Sally’s abusive husband, Percy’s stepfather, Gabe Ugliano. On the way there in Sally’s car, they are attacked by the Minotaur, who seemingly kills Percy’s mother. Percy discovers the pen is a magical sword, and uses it to fight off the Minotaur, killing it with its own horn and goes into shock. Waking up three days later, Percy learns he is Poseidon’s son, Grover is a satyr and Percy’s protector, and Mr. Brunner is Chiron, a centaur.