‘Because you’ll already be toast,’ trilled Hypnos.

‘This just keeps getting better,’ Elliot muttered, slathering Medea’s potion all over his body before stuffing the tube in his hole-filled trouser pocket, where it immediately fell straight to the ground. With a grunt, he transferred it into his other, safer pocket where he kept the Chaos Stones. He took a deep breath and started to walk towards the riverbank. But almost immediately, he was repelled by the heat.

‘So much for your stupid sun cream,’ he grumbled at Hypnos.

‘Trust me,’ winked Hypnos. ‘Without it, you’d be approaching medium rare round about now.’

Elliot looked nervously at the river. How was he ever going to survive this?

‘Oh, dear,’ sighed Thanatos. ‘Looks like someone has stage fright. Allow me to offer you a little incentive . . .’

Elliot stared into the fire as Thanatos muttered strange incantations under his breath. At the Daemon’s command, the flames started to meld and twist, forming a golden shape in their heart. It was a face. A face he knew. A face he loved. It was her face. It was Mum.

He felt the waves of grief surging at the dam.

‘You see,’ whispered Thanatos. ‘I have power over death. Only I can summon your mother’s soul and return it to the Earth. All you have to do is give me my Chaos Stones.’

But Elliot was only half-listening. He was hypnotized by the image in the flames. Without thinking, he reached for his mother’s beautiful, smiling face . . .

‘AARGH!’ he screamed as the flames licked his hand, instantly snatching his mother from view.

‘Mum!’ Elliot cried involuntarily. She had been there. She was real. She . . .

Elliot stopped himself. He tried to rebuild the dam inside. Emotion couldn’t get the better of him. Not now.

‘Here – have these too,’ said Hypnos, almost looking concerned. ‘They’ll help you see where you’re going at least.’

He handed Elliot a pair of golden goggles.

‘Won’t these just melt?’ Elliot asked uncertainly.

‘Shouldn’t do,’ said Hypnos. ‘They’ve been forged in the flames of Tartarus and are designed to withstand even the hottest immortal flame. They’ll survive anything.’

‘Lucky them,’ said Elliot, pulling them on to his face. ‘Don’t suppose you have a wetsuit made of the same stuff?’

‘Afraid not,’ said Hypnos. ‘But good eye care is essential. Just ask Medea.’

Elliot moved closer to the edge of the river of fire. The heat was almost unbearable on his torso. But he had to do this.