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Nyx’s garden was exactly how Nico remembered it. The opposite of Persephone’s garden – something beyond death, beyond rot, beyond life. Every branch of every tree and bush was twisted and gnarled like a bad nightmare, and all of it clicked and chittered with the sound of trillions of swarming insects.

Small Bob let forth an anguished cry and ran to his friend. Nico followed, overwhelmed by the sight of Bob inside one of those disgusting pods. He dropped to his knees at the base of it.

‘Bob,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry it took me so long.’

Nico watched Will approach the pod, his hand outstretched. He laid it gently on the bulging surface and hummed.

Inside, Bob thrashed about, and Will jerked away.

‘He’s still alive,’ said Will. ‘But … this isn’t like the other pods.’

Nico wiped the tears off his face and stood. ‘No, it’s not,’ he said. ‘Look.’ He pointed at the transformation.

Within the regeneration pod, Bob was not just trying to escape. He waschanging. In one moment, he was Iapetus, his orangejumpsuit in tatters, his wild white hair pulled in every direction. He opened his mouth and screamed at Nico and Will, but they couldn’t hear anything.

Then, in the next moment, Iapetus was torn apart.

Will gasped as they both watched. The Titan was nothing more than a soup of flesh and threads, and then he slowly coalesced. His uniform – the one Hades had given him after he’d become Bob – began to stitch itself together. Bob’s body formed next, muscles and sinews stretching, and then there he was, his silver hair parted down the middle and softly glowing.

‘Bob,’ said Nico, and he placed his hand on the membrane.

Bob did the same, and for a moment they made a connection.

You came, he said.My sun and star.

Of course I did,Nico replied, unsure what the other part meant.We shouldn’t have left you down here.

I didn’t know if you’d heard me crying out to you.

Nico laughed.Well, the prophecy was a nice touch. That made it easier.

Bob startled.What prophecy?

Bob pulled his hand back, and Nico heard his cry of pain as he was torn apart and remade into Iapetus. The Titan screamed in fury.

Once he was Bob again, Nico reestablished the connection.

Get me out of here!Bob begged.

Nico unsheathed his sword and stepped back. ‘Watch out, Will!’ he cried, and then he raised his Stygian iron blade and brought it down swiftly on the pulsing membrane of the regeneration pod.

The blow promptly bounced off.

Nico was thrown back by the force, and he landed on his butt.Hard.

‘You’re kidding me!’ he screamed. ‘How is that possible?’

He got up quickly, then thrust the point of his blade at the pod. It was like trying to stab concrete.

‘This doesn’t make sense,’ Nico said, lowering his sword to his side. ‘How?!’

‘Let me try,’ said Will, and he raised both his hands and placed them on the pod. He hummed a low melody, which rose in volume. Will stopped for a moment and glanced at Nico. ‘You should cover your ears.’

Nico complied after sheathing his sword. Even with his ears plugged, he heard the piercing note that rang from Will’s mouth.

But still nothing happened.

Bob pressed his agonized face against the membrane. His lips were moving, so Nico placed his own hand back against Bob’s.