Page 148

It was his mother’s song, the one Nico had first heard earlier in this quest. But this time, as each note left Will’s mouth and echoed through Nyx’s garden, it illuminated him. Will burned with the brightness of a thousand suns, and that energy passed through Nico, through his Stygian iron blade.

Will sang, and Nico burned. He burned like a red giant, a star ready to explode and engulf all of Nyx’s realm.

The blade grew longer until the tip of it pierced the membrane of the pod, and Nico cried out as he sliced downward, sending goo gushing everywhere. As Bob slid out of his fleshy prison, complete with his broom, Nico and Will let go of the sword, which smoked and clattered to the ground.

Bob used his wide broom to push himself to his feet, and he coughed up the nasty goo from the pod. Nico and Small Bob rushed to his side, not caring that their friend’s overalls were dripping with slime. Nico wrapped his arms around Bob’s shoulders and squeezed.

‘You’re free!’ he said. ‘You’re free, Bob.’

Bob breathed heavily, his whole body shaking. ‘You listened to me,’ he said, dropping the broom so he could gather his cat into his arms. ‘Thank you.’

‘I’m just sorry we didn’t get here sooner.’

‘What about the other one?’

‘What?’ Nico pulled back.

Bob pointed.

Nico turned to see Will doubled over, panting. ‘I’m fine!’ he called out, then stood upright. ‘Just a little tired.’

Will’s eyes widened as he looked past Nico.

Nico spun around.

It was Nyx, her smoky wings raised in the air and her body swirling with darkness, and Nico could easily imagine that she was wearing the most horrible smile on her void of a face.

‘Welcome back, Nico di Angelo,’ she said. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’

She folded her wings …

… to reveal an army of monsters waiting behind her.

There were chimeras and basilisks.

Cynocephali and telkhines.

Dark pegasi and pit scorpions.

It was like a Tartarus version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’.

Hypnos stepped out from behind Nyx’s left wing and, from the other, Nemesis emerged, a sad look on her face.

‘Sorry, kid,’ she said. ‘Duty calls.’

Every monster Nico had ever encountered and more awaited Nyx’s command, snarling and yapping, growling and hissing.

All but one of them.

A human-looking person was standing next to one of Nyx’s vampire horses. He wore a black uniform with red trim, and his grey hair looked exactly as it had the last time Nico had seen him. And this time he wasnota nightmare conjured up by Epiales.

Nico’s mouth dropped open. ‘Dr Thorn?’

His old vice principal from Westover Hall spat on the ground. ‘I’ve waited too long for you,’ he said, his accent still thick, his tone still furious. ‘You are the last demigod who shall escape me.’

‘No,’ said Nyx, glancing down at him. ‘Now is not the time.’

But Dr Thorn didn’t listen. He roared in Nico’s direction, and then his body began to change.