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It all happened so fast. Dr Thorn’s arms and legs became the furry appendages of a lion, and from his rear sprouted an enormous scorpion tail, leathery and brown. He sent numerous missile-like spikes towards Nico, who rolled out of the way just in time.

‘Oh, I don’t think so,’ said Nyx.

Nico watched in horror as she pointed a finger at Dr Thorn. From it, a dark smoke erupted and surrounded the manticore’s body, and then …

Well, it was like Nyx had encased Dr Thorn in a black hole. The manticore screamed, ‘Comeon! I’ve been planning this revenge for years!’

Then he folded in on himself and disappeared.

Will helped Nico up. ‘Who wasthat?’ he asked.

‘Nico di Angelo,’ said Nyx, before Nico could answer Will. ‘You succeeded in bringing me another demigod! The brochures must have worked!’

Nico raised an eyebrow. ‘The what?’

‘The travel brochures!’ she said. ‘The last set of demigods who came through here said I wasn’t advertising enough, so Hypnos helped me design some to spread throughout the Underworld!’

Hypnos drifted forward and held out a few leaflets.

Nico took one. Across the front of it were the wordsSO YOU’RE THINKING OF VISITING TARTARUS …

Beneath it was a black rectangle.

‘Uh … what’s this?’ said Will, pointing to the cover.

‘That’s the pit,’ said Hypnos proudly. ‘I think it’s a rather flattering depiction.’

‘I think it’s ridiculous,’ said Nemesis. ‘Mother, those demigods were makingfunof you.’

But Nyx wasn’t hearing it. ‘We should expect a boost in tourism any day now,’ she said, dismissing Nemesis with a wave. ‘Just you wait and see.’

Nico tossed the brochure aside. ‘We’re not here to visit.’

It was as if he hadn’t spoken. Nyx examined Will’s face, and her dress swirled. ‘You know, I am glad Nico got you here, son of Apollo. Even though I tried to trick you into falling into Chaos. How do you mortals put it? You’re the cherry on top of the Saturday.’

Nemesis hid a laugh in a cough. When Nyx glared at her, she shrugged. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘You know how weak I get when I’m in Tartarus.

‘It’ssundae,’ corrected Will. ‘And you’ll regret that I’m here once we escape with Bob.’

‘Oh, you have no idea what you’ve set in motion, Will Solace!’ said Nyx. ‘This will make Nico’s sacrifice all the more worthy.’

This time, Bob arose. ‘There will be no sacrifice,’ he said, and Nico could easily imagine him as a Titan. ‘I will walk out of your realm with these two demigods, and you will leave us alone forevermore.’

Nyx laughed and, when she did so, it sent a horrible chill through Nico’s body, like his blood had been flash-frozen. The stars in Nyx’s dress sparkled, and Nico found his gaze getting lost in her void.

Fight her, Nico told himself.You can’t lose when you’re so close to rescuing Bob.

‘You underestimate what I have done,’ said Nyx. ‘You do not understand why I have gathered all my children here.’

‘You already told me,’ Nico said through gritted teeth.

Will tugged on the sleeve of Nico’s bomber jacket. ‘Nico, let’s just leave. We can’t win here.’

‘Your boyfriend is correct,’ said Nyx. ‘There is no winning herefor you. Not only are you outnumbered, Nico di Angelo, but you will ultimately choosenotto fight.’

Nyx took a step forward, and Nico’s heart raced.

‘Impossible,’ he said. ‘I would never choose you or this place.’