Page 27 of Dead Serious Halloween Special

“You should listen to her,” Hades says. “She’s right. There’s something very dark and very powerfulin that place.”

“You can’t just drop that bombshell on me and leave,” Harrison snaps waspishly. “What am I supposed to do?”

Olivia stares at him. “I’m going to send someone to help set you on the right path. He has a real soft spot for London. After all, he met his wife here.” A small, enigmatic smile plays across her lips. “You coming, Hades?”

“I suppose so,” he says in a bored tone. “I do find the fae rather tedious though.” His gaze sweeps over to Death and Chan. “Don’t forget, supper next Sunday. I can have Charon bring you down the River Styx. There’s nothing like a romantic boat ride down the river of souls.”

“What?” Chan’s eyes widen. “Charon? TheactualFerryman?”

“Oh, you’ll like him,” Olivia says. “Charon’s a sweetheart. He was in love with my great-great-aunt Charlotte. My husband, Theo, and I rescued him one time when he’d been kidnapped.”

With that parting statement, the pair of them disappear.

“Okaaay,” I drawl as Danny’s arms wrap around me and pull my back into his chest.

“Some night,” Danny says tiredly as he rests his chin on my shoulder. “Are you okay, Harrison?”

I look back to our friend to find him chewing his lip.

“Am I okay?” Harrison replies. “Am I okay when the God of the Underworld and the Guardian of all the hell dimensionstell me there’s something dark and powerful in my shop, the place where I now happen to also live?”

“Yeah, sorry. That was a bit of a stupid question.” Danny sighs.

“What do you think is there?” Harrison says quietly, and there’s a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Prickles, you won’t be alone,” Sam says and takes his hand, and it’s a testament to how unsettled Harrison must be that he doesn’t let go.

Instead, his knuckles whiten as he grips tighter.