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Bracken nodded. “I’m more of a scholar than a warrior. I wouldn’t normally give weapons a second glance, unless they were historically significant, of course. I felt a pull, though,” he said, patting his chest, “so I went in and purchased it.”

It’s like when I saw the chess set in the gallery window in Canterbury, I said to Clive.

Yes. What concerns me is whether or not the powerful beings pushing you all on this path are benevolent. Will they help you or are you entertainment?

Vlad turned to Coco and held out his hand. Coco looked him up and down and finally stood, reaching behind her head and drawing out a broadsword. Both Vlad and Clive’s eyes lit at the sight.

“Yours is spelled like mine,” I said. “We can’t see it until you unsheathe it. That’s so cool.”

Stheno studied the chair Coco had been sitting in. “How did that thing not cut a hole in the seat?”

Coco smirked. “I’m tall and my sheath is fitted so I can sit.”

Vlad inclined his head and held out both hands. Coco paused a moment and then seemed to make a decision, placing the sword across Vlad’s gloved hands.

“This is art,” he crooned. “Perfectly weighted, dragon-forged steel.” He took it in hand, stepped away from us, and then slashed it through the air. “Perfect,” he breathed. Pinning her with his dark gaze, he said, “Name your price.”

Red light flickered in her eyes and smoke drifted from her nostrils. Towering over him, she stepped forward and held out her hand. Reluctantly, he passed it to her.

“My treasure is not for sale.” She sheathed the sword with a practiced precision that was impressive, making her weapon disappear once again.

In the ensuing awkward silence, Bracken said, “Might I ask, Stheno, what you think we could encounter in the Underworld?”

Stheno shook her head. “No idea. If it’s just the dead, we should sail through. Only Sam can see them, and she has power over them. If they’ve rehomed the monsters that can’t be seen by the modern world, I have no idea what could be imprisoned down there. Or worse yet, what’s wandering freely through the caverns.”

Vlad sat beside Stheno again. “I’d rather fight a monster than deal with a god.”

“If it’s Hades’ realm,” Coco began, “does that mean we won’t need to worry about any other gods or goddesses?”

“You’d think,” Stheno responded, scoffing. “The gods give each other a lot of leeway. If those particular gods are fighting, they’ll go after each other.” She paused. “No. I take that back. What they’d do is go after each other’s followers, because they can’t do a lot to one another.”

She stretched her legs out and crossed her ankles. “I don’t know what we’ll be facing because I don’t know why Meg asked for your help. A few details would have been nice, but as she’s an inconsiderate asshole, I probably shouldn’t be surprised.”

Coco’s brows winged up at that assessment.

Eventually, what followed was a lengthy, and at times ridiculous, discussion of every mythological beast we could think of and what we would do to best them. An inordinate amount of time was devoted to getting a Cyclops on the ground so we could blind him. The Hydra caused the most consternation. How does one kill a monster that keeps regenerating?

It might not have prepared us for the Underworld, but it definitely helped create camaraderie, which was much needed after our turbulent takeoff.

Clive and Vlad were most invested in the battle strategy, though their advice wasn’t terribly helpful. Rarely is yanking a monster’s head off a go-to move. Unless you’re a vampire, I suppose.

“We’ll be landing in thirty minutes,” the pilot said over the loudspeaker.

Clive checked the time. “We have a vehicle waiting for us. Cape Taenarum is still a good long drive from the airport, but we should make it before sunrise. Stheno, you said you could direct us where we’re going, correct?”

“You know I don’t drive,” she replied. “If you can get me on the right road, though, I can tell you where to turn.”

“Good,” he said to her. To me, he added, Darling, this could get dicey. Where we’re going looks to be an open, sunny peninsula. If Stheno can’t find the location before sunrise, Vlad and I are going to have a hell of a time locating a daytime resting spot.

Can we get a lightless trailer or something? Then if it’s getting close, we just lock you and Vlad in the trailer and we keep driving.

His lips tipped up. I think you’ve hit upon a new vampire cottage industry. We could market them to my kind who are going on road trips. You’ll be rich.

I’m pretty sure you’re mocking me, but I don’t know why. It’s a good idea.

It is, indeed. Vampires, though, can be very cautious about their daytime resting places. One wouldn’t want their final death to come at the hands of petty thieves, breaking into a trailer, looking for camping gear.

The locking mechanism could be on the inside, so you guys would have control of it. The outside could look like a solid piece of metal. No, wait. We don’t want you to bake in it. Hmm, maybe internal air conditioning would be good. Of course, then we need a power source. And if the trailer gets unplugged, we’re back to baking vamps. I secured my seat belt. I’m going to need a research and development department to help me with design. Maybe some solar panels…