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viii<br />
Reyna<br />
‘THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THEM.’ Reyna wondered bitterly how many times she’d said that in her<br />
demigod career.<br />
She should have a badge made and wear it around to save time. When she died, <strong>the</strong> words would<br />
probably be written on her tombstone: There were too many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
Her greyhounds stood on ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> her, growling at <strong>the</strong> ear<strong>the</strong>n shells. Reyna counted at least<br />
twenty, closing in from every direction.<br />
Coach Hedge continued to speak in a very womanly voice: ‘The dead always outnumber <strong>the</strong><br />
living. These spirits have waited centuries, unable to express <strong>the</strong>ir anger. Now I have given <strong>the</strong>m<br />
bodies <strong>of</strong> earth.’<br />
One ear<strong>the</strong>n ghost stepped forward. It moved slowly, but its footfall was so heavy it cracked <strong>the</strong><br />
ancient tiles.<br />
‘Nico?’ Reyna called.<br />
‘I can’t control <strong>the</strong>m,’ he said, frantically untangling his harness. ‘Something about <strong>the</strong> rock shells, I<br />
guess. I need a couple <strong>of</strong> seconds to concentrate on making <strong>the</strong> shadow-jump. O<strong>the</strong>rwise I might<br />
teleport us into ano<strong>the</strong>r volcano.’<br />
Reyna cursed under her breath. There was no way she could fight <strong>of</strong>f so many by herself while<br />
Nico prepared <strong>the</strong>ir escape, especially with Coach Hedge out <strong>of</strong> commission. ‘Use <strong>the</strong> sceptre,’ she<br />
said. ‘Get me some zombies.’<br />
‘It will not help,’ Coach Hedge intoned. ‘Stand aside, Praetor. Let <strong>the</strong> ghosts <strong>of</strong> Pompeii destroy<br />
this Greek statue. A true Roman would not resist.’<br />
The ear<strong>the</strong>n ghosts shuffled forward. Through <strong>the</strong>ir mouth holes, <strong>the</strong>y made hollow whistling<br />
noises¸ like someone blowing across empty soda bottles. One stepped on <strong>the</strong> coach’s dagger-tennisracket<br />
trap and smashed it to pieces.<br />
From his belt, Nico pulled <strong>the</strong> sceptre <strong>of</strong> Diocletian. ‘Reyna, if I summon more dead Romans …<br />
who’s to say <strong>the</strong>y won’t join this mob?’<br />
‘I say. I am a praetor. Get me some legionnaires, and I’ll control <strong>the</strong>m.’<br />
‘You shall perish,’ said <strong>the</strong> coach. ‘You shall never –’<br />
Reyna smacked him on <strong>the</strong> head with <strong>the</strong> pommel <strong>of</strong> her knife. The satyr crumpled.<br />
‘Sorry, Coach,’ she muttered. ‘That was getting tiresome. Nico – zombies! Then concentrate on<br />
getting us out <strong>of</strong> here.’<br />
Nico raised his sceptre and <strong>the</strong> ground trembled.<br />
The ear<strong>the</strong>n ghosts chose that moment to charge. Aurum leaped at <strong>the</strong> nearest one and literally bit
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