The two gods shared a look of utter delight.
“We had not thought of that!” Apate said. “What agrandidea!”
“You must forgive us, Semele Thyone,” said Dolus. “We have been ignored and forgotten for so very, very long. I suppose we got carried away!”
“You will be forgiven,” she said, “as soon as Pirithous is defeated.”
“Then let’s go find that bitter buffoon!” exclaimed Apate.
The twin gods flew down to them. Apate grabbed Nico’s hands. Dolus grabbed Will’s. Together they lifted off, flying back toward the de Young.
When this is over, Nico said to Semele,you need to explain this “Thyone” thing, and why these gods are so scared of you.
When this is over, Semele agreed.But I should really vacate your mind before—
Not yet, Nico said, because he suspected as soon as Semele left him, he was going to pass out.When Pirithous is defeated.
He just hoped he could keep his consciousness intact that long.
Hazel had never been in such a satisfying car wreck.
Arion literally ran circles around the van, and then stopped right in front of it. When the skeletal driver swerved to avoid the sudden magical horse, Arion zipped to one side, allowing the van to careen into the nearest eucalyptus tree.
Hazel didn’t love wrecking the camp’s only working mortal vehicle, but she did enjoy the sound of Pirithous wailing as he hurtled forward and cracked the windshield with his face.
This is why we always wear our seat belts, kids, she thought.
The skeleton in the driver’s seat had gone halfway through the windshield, conducting a violent mind meld with the eucalyptus tree. Hazel didn’t think he would be recovering anytime soon. The side door of the Chevy rolled open, and the second skeleton staggered out, drunkenly waving his bident. But he was no match for an angry grain spirit. Quinoa flew under his spear and executed a perfect aerial roundhouse kick to the guard’s bony face, causing the skull to pop off and roll under the van. The rest of the guard collapsed in a pile of red robes and bones.
That left only Pirithous, who stumbled out of the passenger’s-side door. His judge’s robes were in tatters. He still held his gavel, but it had snapped in half, so it now looked like a wilted flower. A large piece of glass was embedded in Pirithous’s forehead. The rest of his face didn’t look so great, either. If he survived, he would need stitches, plastic surgery, and probably a new left eye.
Somewhere behind Hazel, a voice said, “Well, look who we found!”
She turned to see Apate and Dolus floating in for a landing, carrying Nico and Will by the hands.
Hazel dismounted. She ran to Nico, wrapping him in a hug. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, though his face was even paler than usual and his skin was cold. Will met Hazel’s eyes and shook his head, confirming that Nico was going to need medical help, and soon.
Dolus hooted as he looked Pirithous up and down. “Hey, buddy. How’s that judicial system working for you?”
Pirithous snarled, but he didn’t have enough energy to be properly menacing. “It is not too late,” he mumbled, a trickle of blood seeping from his ear. “We can still work together! There’s so muchsynergyhere! Don’t you feel it?”
Apate glanced at her counterpart. “Wow, he doesn’t give up, does he?”
“I still have allies!” Pirithous insisted. “Those gods are bound to me until I release them!”
He pointed his broken gavel at Nico. “Attackhim! If you believeat allin law and order, destroy these criminals, and you will be pardoned! Join our winning side!”
But the fight was petering out of the “winning” side. The plaza was now almost cleared of mythics. Asterion and his allies were cleaning up the last of the enemy forces who hadn’t chosen to desert Pirithous. Only the di inferi and a few other minor gods remained on the field with their army of undead, but they seemed to be holding back. Maybe they were waiting for direct orders to attack from Pirithous—orders that they probably realized were never going to come, because even the most forgotten gods aren’t fools.
Quinoa scowled. “Are the bad guys you fight normally this pathetic?”
“No,” Nico said. “This one is a special case.”
“What?” Pirithous snapped. “What about my case?”
“Forget it,” Nico said. “Apate and Dolus, do you think you could convince the judge here to release the other gods from their vows?”
