Hermes shone the light at the door, where the second Hades was standing with a drawn bow and a smirking face.

‘What the actual . . .’ Hermes began, looking at the two identical figures. ‘Oh, no. You are having a laugh . . .’

‘I think you’ll find,’ said the Hades by the door, a plume of black smoke billowing around his feet, ‘the joke is on you. Again.’

And as the smoke enveloped Hades’s body, Hermes slapped his winged head in realization.

‘Nyx!’ he said darkly.

‘At your service,’ said the Goddess of the Night, taking a small bow.

‘I don’t . . . how the . . . when did you . . .’

‘As soon as I saw the beacon, I knew the Gods would assemble,’ said Nyx. ‘Hades is my closest neighbour, so it seemed the best bet to take his place.’

‘But . . . Daemons can’t travel to Olympus,’ said Hermes. ‘So how did you?’

‘She ain’t a Daemon,’ Hades replied. ‘She’s the Goddess of the Night. A dark, twisted, sorry broad of a Goddess. But a Goddess. She can travel to Olympus.’

Nyx laughed.

‘You need better security,’ she hissed.

‘Not being funny, but you need a right good—’ Hermes threatened, flying towards his immortal enemy. But a strong hand from Hades grabbed his ankle and held him back.

‘Hoimes!’ he said. ‘Don’tcha be a fool.’

‘He’s right,’ said Nyx, aiming the bow straight at the Messenger God. ‘You got lucky once. There’s no more potion to save you a second time.’

Hermes stopped mid-air. She was right. He was no good to Elliot in a coma.

‘I tried to warn you,’ Nyx smirked. ‘I’m dangerous.’

‘And I tried to warn you,’ Hermes glowered. ‘This ain’t over yet.’

‘Oh, I think you’ll find it is,’ said Nyx, pulling the Hydra arrow back in the bow. ‘The Gods are right. You are the only one who can get through to the boy. And we can’t have that now, can we? Just do me a favour, will you? Die faster this time . . .’

And she loosed the arrow straight at the Messenger God.

‘Hoimes! No!’ cried Hades, powerless to help his nephew.

But his nephew wasn’t powerless to help himself.

‘Shield app!’ he cried into the phone. Immediately he and Hades were surrounded by a golden bubble. The arrow bounced harmlessly off it and landed on the floor at Hermes’s feet.

‘Mate!’ he roared at the stunned Nyx. ‘If I’ve said it once – the iGod is mightier than the arrow! Come here, you epic anti-babe!’

He charged at the Goddess of the Night, who dropped the bow and flew for the door. She was fast, but Hermes was faster: he reached out, the tip of her wing almost in his grasp—

SLAM!