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He knew that sounded silly.Of coursethey were underground. This was the Underworld. Still, he felt like a little boy again, trembling under the protection of Maron’s umbrella.

‘We don’t have many options,’ Nico said. ‘It would be faster to go overground across Erebos, but … well, you know. My father.’

Will clutched the globe under his left arm while he used his right hand to rub his eyes. There was a slight pressure building behind them. His thoughts felt hazy.

‘What about your father?’

Screech-Bling and Nico traded a worried glance.

‘You remember,’ Nico said. ‘We don’t want my father to know we’re traipsing around down here, or that we’re heading to Tartarus.’

‘Right,’ Will said, wondering why the tunnel seemed to be swaying beneath him. ‘Because he’ll stop us.’

‘We do not cross Hades,’ said Screech-Bling. ‘We like our new home, and we would like to keep it. So we must take the hidden paths.’

‘Okay.’ Will stood with difficulty, his mind still foggy. ‘Then let’s keep going. But … you said this way is longer? I thought it was a shortcut.’

‘No,’ said Nico, a hint of impatience in his voice. ‘I said the troglodytes found a shortcutintoTartarus. We’re heading there now.’

An unfamiliar feeling was bubbling up inside Will. Why was Nico irritating him so much? He clutched the globe tighter.

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I think I’m still tired, that’s all.’

‘It should not be much longer, Will Solace,’ said Screech-Bling. ‘I shall lead the way.’

He moved to the front with Hiss-Majesty. After Will took a few deep breaths, he followed the troglodytes.

‘Just let me know whenever you need a break,’ said Nico. ‘Don’t feel bad about it. I want to reach Tartaruswithyou, okay?’

‘Yeah …’ Will tried to un-tense the muscles in his shoulders. He had no reason to feel irritated; Nico was just trying to help. ‘Tartarus. Together.’

As they continued, Will’s mind drifted in the darkness. What would Tartarus be like? He had nothing to help him imagine it except for Nico’s descriptions from the day before.

The day before.Will wasn’t even sure if itwasa new day.

Will tried to cope with that thought. Gods, he’d always relied on the rising sun to introduce him to a new day. But he wouldn’t have that down here. For all he knew, it had been one hour in the mortal world since they’d entered the Door of Orpheus. Or maybe amonthhad passed.

He missed … a lot of things. Not just the sun. He missed campfires, too – being under an open night sky, eating s’mores and singing with his friends at Camp Half-Blood. Right then, a melody came to him, and he started humming. Low at first, and then he increased the volume until his voice echoed through the tunnel. To his surprise, the tunnel actually seemed to getlighter… Or were his eyes just adjusting? He could see the tiny grooves in the rock where the trogs had used their hands, or some sort of digging tools, to excavate the passage. Will picked up his pace, a sudden burst of energy filling him.

‘What is that tune?’ Nico asked softly.

‘Something my mom wrote a long time ago,’ Will said. ‘I only realized recently that it was probably about my dad. The crowds would go absolutely bonkers for that song. It was about love as a brightness of the spirit.’

He started the melody again, but Nico grabbed his arm.

‘Will,’ he said, ‘do you realize you’reshining?’

Will looked down at his own hands. Sure enough, his skin was illuminated, casting a warm glow.

‘Wow,’ he said. ‘That wasn’t on purpose.’

‘Should you maybe stop?’ asked Nico. ‘Is it draining you?’

At that, Will’s skin slowly dimmed until the only light came from the sun globe.

‘Probably a good idea,’ he agreed, though he wasn’t sure.

The music seemed to be helping him. Will wanted to hum the melody again, but Nico was right – he had to conserve his energy, and if he glowed himself to death before they even reached Tartarus that would be bad. On the other hand, the darkness … gods, it felt like it was gettingworse. And was the tunnel shrinking, too? Was it trying to close in on them?