Most of the world pities her. I think she’s a moron.

I’ve never met the twit, but if her descendants are any indication she makes fruit flies look like geniuses. I sat next to one in Level 10 math, and let’s just say that on a good day she could count to one hundred. A few of them have book smarts. None of them have the common sense the gods gave an olive tree.

“How is Xander going to help?” Phoebe asks, interrupting my less-than-generous thoughts as we wait for him and Stella to meet us at the entrance to the school stadium.

“He’s a descendant of Narcissus,” Griffin says.

Phoebe shakes her head, still confused.

“When Hades wanted to bring Persephone into the underworld,” Troy explains, “he used Narcissus to lure her.”

“As his descendant,” I add, “Katara has insider info on exactly how Narcissus did that.”

“Huh.” Phoebe shrugs, as if she doesn’t quite get it, but has gotten used to not understanding things in this world.

It’s better that way. Most of this world isn’t worth understanding.

“I still can’t get used to the idea that Stella has a boyfriend,” Phoebe whispers.

“Katara’s twisted,” I offer. “He has to be to put up with—”

“Good morning,” Stella’s too-bright voice singsongs across the field.

As I turn to face her, I can tell she heard—or sensed—what I was about to say. It’s a sign of her new, nonevil attitude that she doesn’t comment.

“Hey, Phoebe,” Xander says as they walk up. “Nicole.”

Phoebe waves.

“Katara,” I reply.

It definitely takes a crazy person to willingly put up with Stella on a regular basis. She hasn’t been entirely awful lately, but she’s near the top of the high-maintenance scale. Judging from the way he looks at her, he’s okay with that.

“You really want to go into Hades?” he asks me.

Want? Hardly. I’d rather endure a solid year of Headmaster Petrolas’s detentions. But I will do anything to get my parents unbanished and Griffin’s unsmoted. Anything. I would sentence myself to an eternity in the underworld if it means undoing my biggest mistake—my biggest regret.

“Yes,” I say. “I really want to go to Hades.”

“You’re sure?” Troy asks.

I give him a stop-asking-stupid-questions look. He should be tired of asking them. I’m done having that debate.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Then I’ll go with you.”

I say, “No,” at the same time Xander says, “No way.”

“Why not?” Troy asks Xander, ignoring me.

“Sorry, buddy,” Xander replies. “Family secret. It’s a big enough no-no taking one outsider in.”

Troy deflates a little.

“You’ll take care of her?” he asks, still talking to Xander. “You’ll get her there and back in one piece?”

Griffin snorts with barely controlled laughter until Phoebe elbows him in the ribs.