‘You did really good,’ said Will, inspecting the bandages. ‘Thanks.’ ‘I had a good teacher.’ Nico sat back. ‘But you don’t seem to be as healing as fast as usual. Should I be worried?’

And unfortunately Will was transfixed by the ever-moving mansion. ‘It’s alive, isn’t it?’ Nico quickly clamped his hand over Will’s eyes. ‘Don’t look at it.’ But Will pushed him away. ‘It wants me.’

Will whistled appreciatively. ‘I bet many Bothans died to bring us this information.’

‘He’s powerful,’ said Nico. ‘And decisive,’ added Will. ‘He’d always know exactly where to go for your date. No arguing about that.’

The corner of Will’s mouth rose. ‘I’m glad you thought about helping them.’ ‘Well, that’s what this quest is all about, isn’t it?’ said Nico, facing forward. ‘We have to fix what’s been broken.’ ‘I love that about you, Nico di Angelo.’

‘Oh, please.’ Will sounded unusually angry. ‘Nobody at Camp Half-Blood ever pushed you away. You have friends – or at least people who would like to be your friend. You pushed yourself away. If you’d get your head out of that brooding cloud of yours for once –’

‘I’m not that dramatic,’ Will said, then curled his lips in a smile. ‘That’s your job in this relationship.’

Relief rushed through him. ‘Nico,’ he said. ‘Where’d you go?’ Nico walked over and handed him a strange bronze cup that was warm to the touch. ‘Drink up.’

Anyone could have guessed which god was Will’s father — he radiated energy and light. Sometimes literally, as they had learned in the troglodytes’ caverns earlier that year. Will was Apollo’s son, through and through.

Will’s smile faltered. ‘Well ... no. Turns out if an entire train is packed except for one car, that’s actually a warning sign.’ Nico twisted up his face. ‘A warning for ... what?’ Will wrinkled his nose.

‘It was a very big tree,’ said Will. ‘I was sure it could take it.’

Love didn’t find people like him. But then came ... Will.

‘Nico, wake up,’ Will pleaded. ‘You have to be okay.’ ‘Does he?’ jeered Rachel, her red hair falling over her face. ‘Come on, Will Solace. Heal him.’ ‘Heal him!’ Lester ordered, and it was the command of a god, not of a seventeen-year-old.

Menoetes snorted. ‘That is appropriate. Being inside one is rather like drowning in a boiling whitehead.’ Will clutched his stomach. ‘Thanks for that.’

‘Bro, I’d like to see you try!’ Will’s jaw was practically on the mossy ground. ‘I think I may never recover from this.’

Will kept staring into the darkness, hoping to see that purple glow reappear. Then a heavy shadow fell over him. Will didn’t have the strength to fight as it enveloped him like a burial cloth.

Moments later, Will stood next to Nico, his hand outstretched. In it was a small airtight bag full of Golden Oreos, a granola bar and a banana. ‘What’s this?’ asked Nico. Will rolled his eyes. ‘Nico, it’s food. We still have to eat down here.’

‘He’s powerful,’ said Nico. ‘And decisive,’ added Will. ‘He’d always know exactly where to go for your date. No arguing about that.’

‘Nico, you —’ Will dissolved into giggling. ‘You just built a halfpipe of the dead.’

The son of Apollo spent most of his time in the infirmary.