Nyx launched herself into the air and unleashed a torrent of red lightning at the Messenger God. But Hermes was prepared. He raised his shield and deflected the lightning straight back at the Goddess of the Night, who had to dive to avoid her own blast.

‘E! V! Go stop Thanatos!’ Hermes shouted, pulling out his iGod. ‘Me and old night-night knickers have a score to settle.’

Nyx saw Elliot and Virgo clamber out of the warthog, guarded by the three heroes, who tried to clear a path for them through the Daemons towards the tunnels leading to the core of the Earth. She smiled. These brats had troubled her long enough. She began her charge to take the children out of the equation for good.

SMACK!

A blast of light flew out of Hermes’s iGod, striking Nyx square in the chest, smashing her against a rocky outcrop.

‘’Ave it,’ grinned Hermes, blowing imaginary smoke from his iGod. ‘Upgraded my phone, didn’t I? This one comes with a top-of-the-range camera, improved storage and unlimited monthly BOSH! E – hold my bag. I got some business to take care of.’

He tossed his satchel to Elliot.

Nyx took a moment to gather her wind and her wits.

‘Clearly I didn’t kill you enough the first time,’ she howled, summoning a ball of red lightning between her talons. ‘I won’t make the same mistake twice. AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!’

And she launched herself at the Messenger God, determined that, this time, she would finish him off for good.

18. A Right Royal Kicking

18. A Right Royal Kicking

‘OUCH!’

The King of the Gods came thundering down to the ground for the umpteenth time. ‘Give up yet?’ roared The Ram, kicking Athene and Aphrodite across the fields with his left foot.

‘NEVER!’ roared Zeus, pulling himself up again. ‘I’M COMING FOR YOU!’

‘He doesn’t speak for both of us,’ grumbled Pegasus, struggling to his four hooves. ‘If you wish to be tossed around like a salade niçoise, by all means continue. But I’d like to have some of my magnificent limbs left intact, thank you very much.’

‘Come on, Peg,’ said Zeus, ignoring his haughty steed’s groans and clambering back into the saddle. ‘Fourteenth time’s a charm . . .’

‘YOU NASTY LITTLE BLIGHTER!’ Achilles shouted at The Brain, as the younger Titan played keepy-uppy with his head. ‘JUST YOU WAIT! I’LL KICK YOUR GREAT BIG BEHIND FOR THIS! JUST AS SOON AS I’VE FOUND MY LEGS!’

‘Yous need to loirn some manners, you big ole brute!’ yelled Persephone, stepping on The Brain’s giant foot with her high heels.

‘Ow!’ yelped the Titan. ‘You gave me an ouchy.’

‘Get off,’ said The Ram, picking Persephone up by her tail feathers.

‘You put her down!’ commanded Hades, charging towards the larger Titan. ‘I’m woining yoo—’

‘If you say so,’ smiled The Ram, tossing Persephone through the air. She landed with a crunch on top of her husband.