Page 88 of The Court of the Dead
Nico grabbed him by the throat, which shut the ghost up. It had probably been centuries since a mortal had been able to make physical contact with him.
“I’m the Ghost King,” Nico said. “You don’t scare me.”
The spirit howled as he dissolved into smoke.
Nico felt pretty proud of himself until he heard Asterion grunt in pain behind him. He wheeled to find the bull-man on his knees, his hand pressed against a newly opened gash on his head, and the Cyclops-at-arms standing over him, her spiked club glistening with blood.
“No!” Will’s glow factor surged until he was brighter than the spotlights. The Cyclops roared and staggered, momentarily blinded, but even on a wild swing, her club was too big to miss. It caught Will’s shoulder and spun him around like a top.
“Will!” Nico rushed toward him, but it turned out that yelling wasn’t a good idea when a half-blind Cyclops was trying to pinpoint your location. The monster’s club swept Nico off his feet. He hit the floor, the breath knocked out of him. He looked up to see the Cyclops about to smash him in the face, when Pirithous shouted, “HOLD!”
Nico rolled to one side. He struggled to his feet. The backs of his legs where the Cyclops’s club had connected felt like they’d been gone over with a meat tenderizer. He limped over to Will, who was just sitting up, clutching his shoulder.
The Cyclops scowled. She was clearly displeased at not getting to bash Nico’s head in, but she continued to loom over them, just in case Pirithous changed his mind. One of the red-robed guards now stood with his spear pointed at Asterion. The other guard was prodding Hazel toward the bench. The Puffs had disappeared—perhaps fled to the safety of Will’s backpack.
The concert illusion had evaporated, as had the vestiges of the mortal courtroom. That left only Pirithous’s court, which was fast becoming Nico’s least-favorite reality.
Tantalus ripped off his satyr’s mask and leered down at the defeated demigods.
“Heroes,” he growled. “I thought I was done with your kind! Why are you always soannoying?”
Nico gripped the hilt of his sword. He calculated the odds of breaking through the crowd, but with his injured legs and Will’s injured shoulder, it was hopeless. Plus, the guard on Hazel was keeping his spear only inches from her back, and Nico had seen what that weapon could do.
Queen Mary tutted in disappointment. “Heroesshould know better than to interrupt our righteous proceedings. What do you think you’re doing, young fools?”
“Trying to free our friend!” Will said.
Tantalus laughed. “Friend?That is the Minotaur! He nearly killed one of youractualfriends a few years ago, did he not?”
“Enough!” called out Pirithous. “Suzanne, if any of these hooligans acts up again, you have permission to knock their brains out.”
The Cyclops-at-arms grinned. Somehow, the name Suzanne suited her. Up close, Nico could see that her lip gloss matched Asterion’s blood on her spiked club, which was some next-level color coordination.
“The spectators shall be seated and quiet!” Pirithous continued. “Or I will clear the court!”
The assembled monsters began to settle, some of them grumbling that they didn’t get to hear Billy Joel finish his song.
Asterion remained on his knees, listing to one side as he kept pressure on his head wound. Hazel met Nico’s eyes, silently askingWhat now?But Nico had no answer. Hazel looked drained from controlling the Mist. Will’s shoulder was probably dislocated at the very least. None of them were in any shape to fight an entire court. Maybe if Nico could stab Suzanne…
“Ah, Nico di Angelo,” Pirithous chided. “I see your devious mind at work. I warn you, do not test the court’s patience. You are even more outnumbered than you realize.”
He gestured at the front row. The only spectators still standing were three humanoids in gray robes. In fact, everything about them was gray—their skin, their eyes, their hair, their long, curly beards. They might have been carved from granite.
Nico had no idea who they were, but he didn’t like the way their stony faces sized him up, as if thinking of all the interesting ways they could dismantle him. He also didn’t like that there were three of them. Trios in the world of myth were always powerful, usually deadly, and sometimes godly.
Pirithous nodded with satisfaction. “Good. You begin to appreciate your situation. Never fear, Nico di Angelo. You will have your chance to testify. The Court of the Dead might even show leniency to you and your glowing companion, if you choose to cooperate. After all, you have brought us the criminal we wanted most!”
Nico assumed he meant Asterion. Then he realized Pirithous was smiling at Hazel.
“Praetor Levesque,” said Pirithous. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Nico felt like the floor had dropped out from under him.
Hazel looked stunned. “What did you say?”
Pirithous chuckled. “You don’t remember? No matter. This court is well acquainted with your crimes. A daughter of Pluto, harboring fugitives from the Underworld!”
Asterion struggled to rise. “You will not harm my friends.”
