Page 115 of The Sun and the Star

‘The child,’ Amphithemis muttered. ‘Zeus sent me after the child, and I think I lost him. Can’t find him, can’t find him.Whereis the child?’

Nico stepped closer. ‘And Hera?’

The Lamian centaur gave him a rage-filled look. ‘She interfered. She turned me intothis.’ He gestured at his body. ‘I was once a river spirit. Incorporeal. And now … now I’m part human, part ox, and …’

Amphithemis was lost in thought again. He started circling Nico, mumbling to himself. How long has he been down here? Nico wondered. If Zeus had sent Amphithemis to guard a child, he’d clearly failed. But who did Zeus want to protect, and why were they down inTartarus?

Nico hadn’t really interacted with Hera, but he knew enough to fear her temper. So that checked out. But there wasn’t enough time to put all the pieces together – Nicohadto find Will.

‘What if we help each other?’ he suggested once more, to get Amphithemis back on track. ‘I think that would be beneficial to both of us.’

‘Yes, yes,’ said the centaur. ‘Yes, two are better than one, and two can find the child.’

‘Well, it can bethreeif you help me find Will first.’

‘Three for the child,’ said Amphithemis, and he scratched at his chin. ‘Yes. Much better odds. Better odds of finding him.’

Without warning, the centaur sniffed near Nico’s neck again. It was definitely not Nico’s favourite thing, but he didn’t want to upset Amphithemis, especially if the centaur could help track down Will.After a few seconds, Amphithemis turned his nose up into the air.

‘Oh, yes, I think he is close,’ he said. ‘Very.’

The centaur’s movements were jerky. He lurched to the side and ran to the bank of the Acheron. ‘I know, I know,’ he said to the water. ‘I have made many mistakes. But I think they shall be no more. I will succeed this time!’

He waved at Nico, beckoning him. ‘Come,’ he said. ‘We must cross the River of Pain to get to him.’

Nico hesitated. He didn’t think Will would have gone that way. How could he have crossed without a boat? Then again … this was Tartarus. It was entirely possible that Will’s mental stamina was not what Nico’s was, and this place could have led him astray.

Nico had a horrible thought. Had Will been drawn into the water and …?

He shook his head violently. No, he would not think that way. The centaur believed Will was on the other side, and it wasn’t like Nico had any other information.

He walked over to Amphithemis but stopped short of the edge of the bank. ‘So, how do we get across? Should we get the boat?’

The centaur looked at Nico as if he’d just spoken gibberish. ‘Um, wewalkacross,’ he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And that is exactly what he did.

There was no reluctance. No uncertainty. Amphithemis waded through the rushing water – which came up to his thighs – and then stood on the other bank, staring at Nico. ‘Well?’ he said.

Nico’s mouth was still open. ‘I’m sorry, did you just casually walk through theAcheron?’

‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘It only affects those who need to be punished. It means nothing to me.’

That made no sense. The River of Pain magnified a person’smistakes and wrongdoings. Did Amphithemis mean to suggest he’d never made a single mistake in his entire life?

‘I’m waiting,’ said the centaur, tapping his hoof on the ground. ‘We must keep moving!’

Nico grimaced and tentatively approached the edge. ‘Well, here goes nothing.’

The river whispered to him, begging him to give himself over to it.

This is where you belong.

Nico unwrapped the Kit Kat he was holding and greedily gobbled it up, hoping it would give him some strength. Will had to have left it for Nico; that was exactly the sort of caring thing his boyfriend would do. Nico clutched that thought tightly as he stared at the rushing waters.

He recalled the nightmare Epiales had given Will: Nico jumping into the Styx, leaving Will behind. The terrible irony was not lost on Nico. Had Will lefthimbehind?

There was no point hoping an answer would come, and Amphithemis was now stomping his hoof like he was keeping time in a demonic Broadway musical.

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