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Will tried to look past Nico to the horrible house that was calling to them both. But then he locked eyes with Nico and … he changed.

He slowly reached into the collar of his hoodie and pulled out his chain. There, dangling on the end of it, was Nico’s skull ring.

‘We made a promise,’ said Will softly. ‘I … I remember.’

Nico nodded. ‘Bothof us get out alive.’

‘Yes,’ he said, and then Will came back to him, light returning to his blue irises.

And then: panic.

‘Nico,’ said Will, paling. ‘Nico, we can’t die here. We justcan’t.’

Nico had never been so happy in his whole life. ‘We won’t,’ he said.

‘But what about Bob?’

Nico glanced back to their friend, who was still trying to overpower Nyx. Only this time, Hypnos was at her side, his hand raised, trying to will Bob to sleep. It was clearly a lot harder than he’d anticipated, as his features were twisted in frustration.

And the other monsters …

They weren’t doinganything. They were scattered around Nyx’s garden, watching the fight unfold with interest but not moving. Not even Nemesis, who was leaning against a blackened tree, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked exhausted.

Why weren’t they attacking Nico and Will, who were easy pickings at this point?

The other shoe hadn’t dropped.

What was Nyx planning for them?

‘Will,’ Nico said, standing. ‘Will, we need to get out of here.’ He saw his sword lying on the ground and snatched it up.

There was a loud roar behind Nico. They were both shocked to see Bob running towards them.

‘We must go!’ said the Titan, and Small Bob in calico form bounded at his heels. ‘This distraction won’t last long!’

‘Distraction?’ said Nico.

Then he smelled it.

Something was burning.

To Nico’s great horror, the Mansion of Night was now on fire.

Flames lapped at the eaves of the house, and a nightmarish screaming rose in Nico’s mind. It was high and piercing, and he knew it came from the burning insects that made up the foundation.

‘How did you do that?’ shouted Nico, finally yanking Will upright.

‘It wasn’t me,’ said Bob, panting. ‘Give me the son of Apollo!’

Nico handed Will to Bob, who easily hoisted him on his shoulder.

‘Go!’ the Titan screamed. ‘We must escape now, or we will never leave!’

‘Say less!’ said Nico, and, with Small Bob still at his heels, he ran for the stone gate. He glanced back to see Nyx wailing at the bonfire as some of her minions struggled to calm her down. Other monsters shrieked along with her, and a pack of cynocephali clutched their dog ears with their hands.

‘I feel like I’m floating,’ Will said dreamily, pulling Nico’s attention back to their escape.

Nico heard Nyx order her army to stop them, but this time he didn’t look over his shoulder. Moments later he passed through the dark entryway. The long path over the pit of Chaos seemed even narrower than before, but that was probably because Nico was sprinting across it, desperate to reach the other side and get as far away from this place as possible.