‘No!’ said Hades suddenly, making Hermes jump.

‘Chill out, mate,’ said Hermes, holding a hand to his heart and hovering gently back to his seat. ‘You got a better suggestion?’

‘If I was a Daemon,’ Hades began, ‘I’d stick him in the Cave of Sleep and Death, right here in the Underworld. No one’s gonna find him there, hardly anyone knows where it is.’

‘Do you?’ Hermes asked.

‘Of course,’ said Hades with a wink. ‘Charon, drop us here, please.’

The ship pulled up by a secluded path along the River Lethe.

‘Thanks, mate,’ said Hermes, tossing Charon a glass Coca-Cola bottle and an old plug. ‘And keep the change.’

‘Much obliged, guv,’ said Charon. ‘Best of luck with it all. If you need any advice . . .’

‘Gotcha,’ winked Hermes, and he watched the Ship of Death fade into the swirling mists.

‘This way,’ said Hades, starting up the path confidently.

Hermes looked around uncertainly. This place was epically chilling.

‘Between you and me, Uncle H, I hope it don’t come to war with the Daemons,’ Hermes whispered, trying not to shiver.

‘Why not?’ Hades asked. ‘Your dad seems confident.’

‘Dad’s not the fighter he was,’ said Hermes. ‘None of us is. We’ve had it too easy for too long. If Thanatos gets the Chaos Stones . . . Honestly, I can’t say for mega-sure we’d beat him. It’s, like, totes hashtag – worried.’

‘I see,’ said Hades. ‘You really think the Daemons could win?’

‘Mate,’ said Hermes grimly, ‘I don’t want to think about it at all.’

They continued in heavy silence along the winding path.

‘Here we are,’ Hades announced a few moments later, coming to a halt. ‘The Cave of Sleep and Death.’

‘Boom,’ Hermes whispered, peeking into the dusty entrance. ‘D’ya think Thanatos is here?’

‘Who knows?’ said Hades, rummaging in the poppies that swayed in the stale air outside the cave. ‘Only one way to find out.’ He pulled out the Hydra bow that had wounded Hermes only a few weeks before.

Hermes recoiled at the sight of the weapon that had so nearly claimed his immortal life.

‘How did you know that was there?’ he demanded.

Hades winked and tapped the side of his nose.

‘I make it my business to know everything.’

‘You wanna be careful with that. That thing’s dangerous.’

‘Good,’ said Hades. ‘Let’s go.’

Hermes peered into the cave’s mouth and craned his neck.

‘Pretty quiet in there,’ he said. ‘Sounds like no one’s home.’

‘Better safe than sorry,’ said Hades. ‘After you.’

Hermes crept forward, wincing as a twig snapped beneath his winged feet. He elevated slightly and fluttered silently into the cave. In the centre of the main chamber sat Thanatos’s throne of bones.

‘Not being funny,’ whispered Hermes to Hades behind him, ‘but he ain’t got much of an eye for interior design . . .’