“It’s me! Jeremy!” said Jeremy.
He groaned.
“Don’t you remember? Mr. Magnus sent us here to find the six blood-red lanterns! So we can solve the riddle and save the Enchanted Theater!”
Aristotle looked at him politely. A crowd gathered around them, listening.
Jeremy’s face went red. “Oh, never mind,” he muttered. The important thing was to find Queen Persephone.
Just then the Valley of Heroes became deathly still. The golden birds stopped singing. The unicorns with silver horns bounded into a grove of trees.
The heroes fell silent. They stared at a black chariot and rider rattling at full speed along the road into the valley.
Hades, the god of the Underworld!
Hades stopped his horses in front of the Pool of Forgetfulness. He pulled his black cape tightly around his shoulders. A black visor shaded his eyes.
“He can’t bear the sunlight,” whispered a hero beside Jeremy.
The horses blew steam from their nostrils. They stamped their feet. Hades scanned the silent crowd. “I’m looking for a boy and an orange cat!” he roared.
A huge man with big shoulders stepped in front of Jeremy and Aristotle. It was Hercules! “We haven’t seen them,” he called back.
Jeremy held his breath. The heroes murmured in agreement. “Hercules is right. We haven’t seen them,” they shouted.
Hades glowered. He whipped the horses and spun the chariot around. He disappeared up the road in a thunder of galloping hooves.
“Thanks, Hercules,” said Jeremy.
“I like to help a friend,” said Hercules. He looked at the sun. “It’s too late for the javelin throw. I have to go.”
“Where are you going?” said Jeremy.
“To Mount Olympus,” said Hercules. “That’s where I live. The gods gave me everlasting life. I come here to the Underworld in my chariot once a month for the races.”
“Oh,” said Jeremy.
He thought fast.
“On your way out of the Underworld, do you go near the palace of Hades?”
Hercules looked at Jeremy closely. “I go right past.”
Jeremy took a big breath.
He said, “Do you think you could give us a ride?”