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Nine of the dead had its advantages

I sketched the layout of Calliope’s castle as best I could,each important location--Nicholas’s cell, the nursery, Calliope’s room--as accurately as I could In three minutes, we had a plan Whether it worked or not, at least it would give the others a chance

Getting the hole in the cavern where Cronus had escaped the first time was still there He was trapped on the island, but I tested the exit twice I could get in and out without any trouble

"You first," I said to Persephone She looked at my offered hand like it was made of acid

"How can I possibly be sure you kno to control it? You trarabbed her wrist The Underworld dissolved, replaced by the stark white walls of my roolared at me, but I disappeared before she could insult irls at once, and within a eted, and more than a few pairs of eyes widened in terror as a tidal wave crashed against the cliffs protecting the castle

"Just stick to the plan," I said "And whatever you do, don’t forget that no one can hurt you Not Calliope, not Cronus, no one"

"Can they hurt you?" piped Emmy’s voice

"If we do this, I’ll be fine," I lied No one could pro, but they needed to hear it, and it wasn’t ht now "We don’t have any more time Trust me Trust yourselves"

I pushed the door open and sneaked into the hallway, followed by several pairs of hesitant footsteps I didn’t look back tous They had coe didn’t fail them

The hallway between my room and Nicholas’s was suspiciously empty Did Calliope believe that no one could break into the castle, or did she foolishly not care? I crept forward, prepared for any sort of traps she or Cronus ht have set, but we made it to Nicholas’s room without interruption The door, however, was locked "I have to go in there and get the weapons roup of girls

"Leta pin from her hair, she knelt beside the doorknob I listened for any sign so, but five seconds later, the lock clicked open

"Piece of cake," said E the door open, I burst into the roo for me Instead Nicholas sat chained to the chair, surrounded by his workshop of weapons

"Kate?" he said, squinting through two black eyes Blood dripped down the side of his face froash on his forehead Calliope must’ve been here recently "Persephone?"