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‘We move deeper underground,’ Screech-Bling said. ‘Do you require a source of light?’
Nico looked to Will with an eyebrow raised.
‘Maybe,’ Will said. ‘How dark is it?’
‘There is no light below,’ said Screech-Bling.
Will tried to imagine whatno lightmeant for a troglodyte, sincepitch-blackwas theirsunny afternoon.
‘Nothing to worry about.’ He swung his knapsack around and fished out the sun globe. When he switched it on, Hiss-Majesty gasped.
‘Does the child of Apollo carry the sun with him everywhere?’
Will laughed. ‘It’s artificial,’ he said, handing it to them. ‘Powered by batteries.’
‘I don’t know what batteries are,’ said Hiss-Majesty, holding the globe in their hands as if it would burn them at any second. ‘Surely this is some type of demigod magic, yes?’
‘Sure,’ said Will. ‘And nowyoumay wield it!’
Hiss-Majesty looked like a kid in a candy store. ‘Allow me to lead the way,Screech-Bling! I shall provide light for our companions like a child of Apollo!’
Screech-Bling nodded and let Hiss-Majesty go first. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Will. ‘It is important thatHiss-Majesty feels they can contribute in meaningful ways.’
‘Of course,’ said Will. He glanced over at Nico, who had a strange, wistful look on his face. ‘What?’
‘It’s just nice seeing you give that responsibility toHiss-Majesty.’
Will shrugged. ‘They’re just trying to help,’ he said. ‘None of the troglodytes have to, so it’s the least I can do.’
Nico still had the same look on his face.
Will squinted at his boyfriend. ‘I don’t know what that expression means, so I’m just going to ignore it. Let’s get going.’
Will faced the tunnel entrance and took a deep breath, his nerves tingling. Then he ducked down and crawled into the hole.
Despite the fact that Hiss-Majesty was just in front of him, the darkness and closeness of the tunnel made Will’s heart race. This reminded him too much of their descent from the Door of Orpheus, except here, the ground felt softer and warmer beneath his feet, which made him think about Nico’s story of the living landscape in Tartarus. The trogs had no trouble walking upright in the tunnel, but Nico and Will had to crouch and even crawl in some places. It wasn’t long before Will wished thathewas holding the sun-therapy globe. Hiss-Majesty kept getting further in front of the group, and Screech-Bling had to remind them multiple times that humans could not move as fast as troglodytes.
‘Yes, I will go slower,’ they said. ‘I am sorry, son of Apollo and son of Hades.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Will. ‘You’re just excited.’
So they pressed on. Nico had been silent since they’d entered the tunnel, and Will wondered if he was starting to freak out a little bit, too. Or did he naturally adapt to places like this? Did he not feel like the earth was pressing down on top of him?
The tunnel twisted often, and Will couldn’t escape the sensation that they were crawling down the oesophagus of some massive creature. He was so disorientated. He wasn’t sure what direction they were even heading, aside fromdown. Always down.
He slowed, and Nico bumped into the back of him.
‘You okay?’ asked Nico.
Will bent over and put his hands on his knees, his breathing laboured. ‘I need a moment.’
Screech-Bling clicked his tongue a few times, and Hiss-Majesty came running back. ‘Yes?’
Nico held out his hand, and Hiss-Majesty reluctantly dropped the glowing orb into it.
Nico knelt in front of Will. ‘Take this for now,’ he said. ‘The trogs don’t actually need it to lead the way, and it’ll make you feel better.’
‘I just wish we didn’t have to be underground,’ Will said. ‘It’s so dark.’
