[alansplace]

Hades said, “Do you know my dog’s name?”
“Cerberus,” I said promptly. “But everyone knows that.”
“Do you know what it means?”
I opened my mouth and closed it again. I shook my head.
“It is from an ancient word, kerberos. It means ‘spotted.’”
I blinked. “You’re a genuine Greek god. You’re the Lord of the Underworld. And . . . you named your dog Spot?”
“Who’s a good dog?” Hades said, scratching the third head behind the ears, and making the beast’s mouth drop open in a doggy grin. “Spot is. Yes, he is.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.