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And then he opened his mouth and threw in the first pomegranate.

‘Wow,’ Nico said. ‘So … you’re not worried about being stuck here forever?’

‘Why would I be?’ Menoetes let out a loud burp. ‘I love it here. I don’t ever want to leave, and I’m sure Geryon will feel the same. We would never be accepted aboveground. Where would people like us fit in? I have a job here that I like a lot. I’m in love. Why would I ever want to throw that away?’

Will stared wistfully into the distance. ‘But you’re not worried about what you might miss out on in the mortal world?’

Menoetes grunted. ‘Every so often, sure. But I’ve been working for Nico’s father now for a long, long time. This is what I’m accustomed to. It’s where I feel at home. And it’s where Geryon is.’

Nico felt a chasm opening in his heart. He loved what Menoetes had just said. But … what was this aching sensation? Was Nicoenviousof the bull-man?

Nico knew that for practical reasons Will would never offer to stay here for him. That was fair. The Underworld had been negatively affecting Will since they’d arrived. But there was something about Menoetes’s confidence in Geryon that felt distant to Nico … out of reach.

Nico’s fingers found their way into the pocket of his jeans, where they traced the image embossed on the coin.

Maybe he was overthinking this. Maybe the Underworld was starting to wear onhim, too.

Meanwhile, Will was telling Hiss-Majesty and Screech-Bling how he and Nico had managed to sneak into Persephone’s garden. Will did a great job making it sound much more suspenseful than it was, dialling up the tension as though they’d come much closer to getting caught by the goddess. He looked genuinely nervous.

‘I am impressed.’ Menoetes turned to Nico. ‘I know you have complicated feelings about Geryon, and I must admit I do not blame you, but, still, you got this fruit, at great danger to yourselves.’

‘We kind ofhadto,’ said Nico. ‘You know, the whole quest thing?’

Menoetes shook his head. ‘You could have retrieved just one pomegranate. Or you could have unearthed an entire skeleton army and forced me to let you pass!’

Nico rolled his eyes. ‘Now you’re just being dramatic. I could still summon some skeletons if you like, though.’

Menoetes gave a hearty laugh. ‘You are a funny one, Nico. Maybe the funniest of Hades’s children.’

‘Hazel’s pretty funny,’ Will offered.

Nico elbowed him in the ribs.

‘Regardless,’ Menoetes continued, ‘I would like to offer you something besides just safe passage through my land. I can provide you with information.’

Nico’s pulse jumped. ‘What information?’

‘About your quest, of course,’ said the bull-man. ‘I know what you’re up to. You’re not the only one hearing his voice calling from Tartarus.’

Nico was pretty sure what was left of his soul had evaporated out of his body. ‘I’m sorry,what?’

‘Many of us down here can hear him from time to time,’ said Menoetes. ‘He is … loud. Sorrowful. We learn to tune out those who are suffering because wehaveto. I mean, the Fields of Asphodel and Punishment are basically white noise to me at this point.’ He sighed. ‘Butheis different. Because … well, he’s notdead. He’s a living being in terrible pain, calling out, aching to be listened to.’

Rage swept through Nico, so encompassing and intense that it wasn’t until Will cleared his throat that Nico realized he was summoning multiple skeletons from the ground. He let out a deep breath, and they collapsed into heaps of bones.

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I just hate knowing Bob is in pain.’

‘I do, too,’ said Menoetes. ‘Bob is pretty legendary around these parts. What he did for Percy and Annabeth … Those of us who care about the Underworldandwhat happens in the mortal world won’t forget that. But after that incident with the Doors of Death, we’re all prohibited from entering Tartarus. So none of us can go confront her.’

‘Her?’ said Will. ‘You mean –’

‘Nyx.’ Menoetes spat on the ground. ‘She’s obsessed with Bob. He representseverythingshe hates.’

‘That’s what we figured,’ said Nico. ‘I met her once, a while ago.’

‘I hope I never meet her,’ said Hiss-Majesty, shaking their head. ‘She sounds terrible.’

Menoetes’s head drooped. ‘Nyx believes that what is born in darkness must remain in darkness. The problem is … Bob willingly chose to remain Bob rather than return to being Iapetus. That is why she has detained him.’