‘It’s over,’ said Virgo. ‘We lost.’

Hermes held Virgo’s chin in his hand and looked into her face.

‘Babe,’ he said softly. ‘While we’re still here, we ain’t lost nothing. This ain’t over until the fat lady sings.’

‘Hey,’ said Hades, punching Hermes in the arm. ‘So Persephone’s put on a few pounds, but whatcha gonna do?’

‘Shut up, Uncle H,’ said Hermes, turning his attention back to Virgo. ‘We’ve got this, V.’

‘But Elliot . . .’

‘Elliot is still our friend,’ said Hermes. ‘And he needs us more than ever. D’ya reckon you can show me where you last saw him?’

Virgo nodded tearfully.

‘Then let’s go get our boy,’ said Hermes with a wink.

‘Do it,’ Hades nodded. ‘You crazy kids go after the boy. I’m guessing my brother needs me up on Olympus. This thing only ends one way now. We’re going to war.’

‘This thing ends when we kick Thanatos’s butt,’ said Hermes, scooping Virgo up in his arms. ‘And I ain’t going nowhere till it’s done. Whaddya say, V?’

Virgo wiped the tears from her eyes.

‘Bosh,’ she said quietly.

‘That’s my girl!’ Hermes smiled, shooting up in the air. ‘Elliot – hold tight! We’re coming for you, mate! BOOOOOOOOOOOM!’

And with a whoosh, the Messenger God whizzed out of the cave, leaving a flurry of bones in his wake.

10. Don’t Look Back

10. Don’t Look Back

‘Time to Earth: forty-four minutes.’

Elliot followed the faint glow of Ariadne’s golden twine with hasty footsteps.

‘Elly,’ came his mother’s imploring voice behind him. ‘Elly. You have to listen to me.’

‘I told you, we’ll talk about it when we get home . . . or . . . wherever,’ gabbled Elliot. ‘We have to get you out of here.’

He lowered his head and strode on, following the twine’s gentle light up the winding path towards the faintest speck of daylight above him. He could feel his mother’s golden glow moving closer. Every molecule of his soul was desperate to turn around and see her again. All his emotions were straining at the dam. But Thanatos’s warning rang starkly in his ears. Losing her once had nearly destroyed him. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if he had to lose her again.

‘My darling,’ Josie begged. ‘You have to listen to me.’

‘I’ll listen when I have you back,’ said Elliot through gritted teeth. ‘When you’re safe. When you’re . . . living.’

‘But that’s just it,’ Josie implored. ‘You won’t be able to listen. Because I won’t be living.’

Elliot halted. Again, the urge to turn and face his mother nearly overwhelmed him. But he kept it in check. The dam was straining.

‘What do you mean?’ he asked. ‘Don’t tell me Thanatos lied again – I’ll go back down there and kick his—’