The three demigods trudged through the Underworld. It was hotter here than in the camp, and the air was stale with the scent of fire. They had yet to come across any truly horrifying monsters. Other than being hissed at by a group of amphisbaenas, which Alex could only describe as green-skinned chickens with a singular snake at both ends, they were pretty much unbothered.
Alex led the way. One because he was technically the leader of the quest, and two he could sense the wall of Erebus in the distance. It acted as a beacon for his soul, tugging at an invisible string that connected the two.
He shook his head as sweat burned his eyes. His legs felt like they were on fire from traversing the uneven terrain. It wasn't rare that they would come across a cuesta and climb it thinking that it was a small hill, only to be fooled by a sharp drop off on the other side. His hands were covered in dirt, scrapes, and bruises, from their impromptu rock-climbing lessons, though the minor wounds healed within hours.
Near the beginning of the trip, Alex asked Sabrina if she'd brought ambrosia. She had whipped around and glared at him, her electric blue eyes flaring in the darkness, and told him to keep words like that to himself. There were hidden ears in the Underworld. Who knows what might attack them to get a chance at immortality... if they survived eating it, that is.
The group barely spoke after that. Each too focused on their journey ahead. A journey that Alex feared would be never-ending, as there was nothing around them as far as he could see. Well, except for the Asphodel Fields that stretched alongside them. The thought of being lost in that large expanse of dead trees and witless souls sent a cold shiver up his spine.
Thankfully, the ground flattened the farther west they went. It changed from the severe obsidian rock to light brown dirt with sporadic patches of grass.
"We must be getting close to the entrance," said Sabrina. She sounded winded and strained, which made Alex feel better about his own dyspneic breathing.
"How are we going to find Charon?" Alex asked. He'd never been given lessons about the Underworld. He now thought with grim realization that those should've been standard for kids who were brought to live here.
"The great marsh and the rivers that Charon ferries the dead across are on the other side of Cerberus," said Peter. He'd been so quiet that Alex, with a pang of guilt, almost forgot he was there.
They slowed to a stop to survey their surroundings. Up ahead, Alex could make out a large, pointed object in the distance. "That looks promising."
As they got closer to the object, which turned out to be a black tent, an orderly queue of phantom figures came into view. The line stretched back in the direction of the entrance. Alex could hear three distinct male voices shouting at one another. He stopped a few yards away, a new feeling of dread seeding the pit of his stomach.
Three males were sitting at a simple folding table under the tent. One wore a royal circlet made of gold. He was tall and thin, with cruel pointed features that made Hades look tame in comparison. One Alex recognized as William Shakespeare from his upturned collar, his brown and silver armor that covered him from the neck down, his partially balding head, and the facial hair that covered his chin. The last one Alex didn't know, but he had a stern face with a bulbous pointed nose and wore black robes with a poofy white tie around his neck.
They all were a different ghostly shade of blue, though not transparent like those standing in line. The one wearing the gold atop his hood laughed viciously each time he condemned a soul to the Fields of Punishment. The other two must have been used to it because they didn't react to his laughter. Alex didn't know how, since the sound of it was like nails raking down his eardrums.
"I bet the line goes as far back as the gates," Peter mumbled.
"We aren't actually here to be judged. We just need to ask them a quick question," Sabrina said.
Before the others could argue, Sabrina marched confidently to the front of the line. Alex and Peter had no choice but to follow.
Alex mumbled a quick sorry to the person they cut in front of, but they didn't seem to mind at all. It was like they had the rest of eternity waiting for them.
"It is rude to cut in line, Sabrina Glade," the one with the poofy tie said.
The three ghosts studied the group before them. One after another, a mixture of awe and horror filled their white eyes when they landed on Alex. It was the crown-wearing one who addressed him first.
"Come forth, son of Erebus, and let me gaze into your soul," he said, and his eyes glittered with delight.
Alex looked to Peter and Sabrina, the former of which was looking everywhere but at the judges. Alex hesitantly stepped forward. Now that he was underneath the tent, he felt a cool breeze settle on his skin. The tent itself seemed to shudder at his presence.
The king studied him for a tense moment. Alex could have sworn he felt the ghost's eyes piercing into his soul, scanning it with their hard gaze. He could only describe the feeling as having thousands of bugs crawling through the inside of his skin.
"What a life you have led so far," he said. "Abandoned by your mother as a baby. Raised in poverty and filth to abate your pungent demigod scent. Attacked by a daemon, yet somehow still alive. Tell me, boy, does it wear on your soul knowing you were the reason those poor children had to live in those conditions?"
Alex looked down at his feet. He hadn't thought much about his conversation with Edmund where he'd learned that the orphanage was better off now. The guilt threatened to consume him anytime let himself remember that it was all his fault.
"That's enough, Minos," snapped Sabrina. She took her place beside Alex and held her chin up defiantly. "Alex had no control over that, and you know it."
A savage grin pulled at the king's thin lips. "Do not lecture me about self-control, girl, when you allow your sister to bed the son of Hades. Tell me, does Deo Ariti truly believe the lies you have woven for him?"
Sabrina's face went pale. She looked like she was going to be sick. Alex hoped that she would aim for Minos.
"A brute in life, an even bigger ass in death," Shakespeare said levelly. "Tell us why you have come, children."
"We need to talk to Charon," Alex said.
"He resides on the other side of the gate," the one with the fluffy tie responded.
"How do we get over there?" asked Sabrina.
"Do we look like an informational stand to you?" Minos hissed.
Shakespeare rolled his eyes at the king. "You will need to get past Cerberus."
Alex and Sabrina looked at each other. Neither wanted to ask the next question.
"I will tell you how," Minos said with that vicious edge to his voice. "But it will cost you."
Alex frowned. He realized why he'd gotten that sense of dread. The king exuded powerful yet furious energy. Even in death, Alex was sure the king would easily overpower him and kill him in a heartbeat. Yet he seemed to be constrained to his station, for the time being.
Minos didn't wait for a response. "It's a rather simple trade, really. I give you the information you seek, and the child of Hecate takes my place after her heroic death."
"You've got to be kidding," snapped Alex. "Why would she want to sit here for the rest of eternity doing your job?" He looked to the other two judges, begging them to intervene.
"Mr. Jefferson and I politely request to be left out of your bargaining. We did enough of that when we were alive." Shakespeare gave Alex a doleful smile.
"We'll find another way. Let's go." Alex made to grab Sabrina's hand and drag her from the tent.
The air around him just… stopped. Alex couldn't move, couldn't even breathe. The air filled with static that left the taste of metal in his mouth.
Minos rose from his chair. He was much taller than he seemed sitting down. His white robe hung over his thin frame like an uninviting blanket. "The moment you leave this tent our deal is off. You will fail to cross the gates on your own and you will fail to complete your quest. The Underworld will fall. There will be nothing left."
A million thoughts raced through Alex's mind at once. They couldn't trade Sabrina's soul like it was a jar of peach jam. But if they didn't accept the deal, much worse things could happen. Why couldn't the king just tell them… Unless he secretly wanted the Underworld to fall apart. Maybe he thought that they were going to fail anyway, and this was his last sick joke. No, they needed to find their own way around.
"I won't permanently replace you as a judge," Sabrina said, still holding her chin up defiantly. "Six weeks out of the year. That is all I will do."
Alex couldn't believe his ears. She was trading away her afterlife, the rest of eternity, to this monster? He couldn't get air into his lungs to argue.
Minos narrowed his wrinkled eyes and said, "deal."
The air holding Alex returned to normal. He took deep, desperate breaths to stop the burning in his lungs.
"Now tell us how to get past Cerberus," Sabrina said through clenched teeth. Her eyes swam with rage.
Minos returned to his seat. He brushed off invisible dust from his shoulder. "A red squeaky ball should work."
Now Alex felt his own temper rising. He very nearly jumped across the table to strangle the ghost king, but Sabrina gripped his forearm so tightly it would leave him discolored.
"Thanks for your time," she said sharply. She dragged Alex, still steaming, from the tent.
As they reunited with Peter, the king's icy voice called out behind them, "I will see to it that it is you who sends Peter Haynes to the Fields of Punishment."
None of them had time to contemplate his words, because Sabrina grabbed both boys and dragged them in the direction of the entrance to the Underworld.