The man in the owl mask jumped on board, his boots hitting the wood hard with every step. One foot set itself in the water, but he didn't lose his stride. The sword, that was beautifully placed at his side, was now invading my personal space.
"Your name, Pirate." He said harshly.
I was stunned, I tried to find the words to explain I wasn't a pirate but everything I wanted to shout formed a lump in my throat. Our ship, The Argo which had survived Scylla and Charybdis, was being swallowed by the ocean. The man's knuckles turned white, the sword moved from my neck. Before my head could be, rather unkindly, removed from my body Leonidas had charged at the man. He threw a punch and the man grabbed his arm and snapped it, he was definitely as strong as he looked. Leonidas screamed out in pain, but stayed up. I wish he hadn't.
He went to tackle the man and was suddenly on the ground holding his stomach in pain and the man was behind him. He moved faster than my eyes could register, he reminded me of Hermès. His mask had fallen from his face revealing neat brown hair and grey eyes, a short beard and a face that reminded me of Odysseus.
The man moved to stab Leonidas, but I shouted out the first thing I could think of. "Telemachus! We're following the path of your father!"
Telemachus stopped, his sword mere centimeters from Leonidas' neck. "Why should I care why you are you here, Ocean Child?" His full attention turned to me, the tip of his blade tilting my head up to face him.
"Because the gods sent us here. My father, Poseidon, sent me here. Whatever debt our fathers have made, leave him out of it," I straightened my spine, staring Telemachus in his eyes.
"You're father is Poseidon?" He smiled "My my, I've never seen a Daughter of Poseidon with hair of fire." His blade turned, the edge pressing into my jaw. "I'm sure it'd look amazing on a spike in front of my palace."
"Yeah, but your wife would be pissed off." Andromeda called out.
"Oh, Daughter of Darkness, you live." Telemachus answered, turning to her. "What would you know of my wife?"
Andromeda was knee deep in water, holding her shoulder where the arrow had struck her. "Circe sent us here, Telemachus. I assume you're The True King of Ithaka, Champion of Athena, Ruler of The The Realm of Monsters?"
"Hm, I see she still speaks highly of me after all these years. I haven't seen her in ages." He paused to think of his words. "family trait I guess." He sighed and sheathed his sword. "I don't trust you, but it'd be foolish to think my wife sent you to me without good reason."
Andromeda stepped forward and held her hand out "Andromeda Rose, Daughter of Selene."
"Ah, The Moon Titan, your magic is strong and your fleet was formidable. Welcome aboard The Watchful Owl, Andromeda." Telemachus said, shaking her hand, his entire demeanor had changed. I no longer felt in danger.
I stood up, my leg burned from the spear that grazed me in the first volley. I held my hand out to him "Sara Pearl, Daughter of Poseidon."
"Our fathers hated each other, but that's their debt not ours. Your powers are strong, and I have no doubt they impressed Circe. Welcome aboard The Watchful Owl, Sara." Telemachus shook my hand and I stood next to Andromeda.
Leonidas stood up slowly, careful of his broken arm, holding his good arm out. "Leonidas Sheppard, Son of Ares."
"Sorry about the arm, had I been a regular opponent you would've had me though. I'm blessed by Athena to be quick and efficient, maybe I could teach you. Welcome aboard The Watchful Owl, Leonidas." He smiled as he shook Leo's hand and watched as he stood next to us. "Alright ladies and gentleman, let's get you fixed up."
I stepped up to the ship and was greeted by two men who pulled me aboard, Andromeda was after me. The men were careful of the arm that got impaled by an arrow. Telemachus helped push Leo on board and turned to see Jason on the ship still.
"Jason!" He called out, "Come aboard and join my fleet!"
"Oh, Son of Odysseus, I wish I could be my place is with The Argo. I sail Elysium's river, guarding its water." Jason answered, looking at the mast.
"My father, does he rest among the heroes?" Telemachus asked.
"Indeed he does, he rests among them as a legend. He would be proud of you, any father would be," Jason said, as the mast began to crack.
"Tell him of me, Argonaut Jason man of The Golden Fleece. Survivor of Scylla and Charybdis, Legend of The Sea, Hero worthy of Elysium. Rest within the comfort of the rivers," Telemachus had praised him, clearly Jason had been a favorite of his.
"You're too kind, friend. I'll sing a song of your greatness to your father, Telemachus," Jason bowed and the mast of The Argo fell on him and took him to a watery grave.
Telemachus took two coins from his pocket and tossed them into the sea, stepping back to the helm in silence. He raised a hand and the ship moved forward, I looked around at his men, all wearing Athenian armor with swords at their sides. The ones I hadn't killed were already patched up and removing my damage from the ship. All still ready for a fight if needed, how many pirates roamed free on these waters? And who was The Child of Oceanus he compared me to?
A man came up to us, he wore a pendant of Asklepios and an old white toga. He looked beyond ancient, like the old paintings of Hades. The man looked like he had been formed before Khronus himself.
"May I tend to your wounds?" The man spoke in a polite, yet hushed voice. Something put me on edge though.
I took a step back and I heard a low chuckle from Telemachus, "Back so soon old friend?" He called down.
The mans bones let out audible and blood-curdling crunches as he morphed from an old man into a goddess. Her hair was wild and thrown about, her smile reached ear to ear and her eyes were stormy grey and full of delight. Her dress was a light pink decorated with rose gold. She wasn't a goddess I recognized what so ever.
She laughed at the remark then turned to me, holding a hand out "Aeolus, keeper of the winds."
I shook her hand carefully as Leo chimed in. "Aeolus, aren't you a-"
"Man?" She giggled. "Tell me Son of Ares does the wind not blow North, East, South, and West!" She had yelled from different ends of the ship. Suddenly she was infront of us again "I'm whatever I please to be. Male, Female, Greek, Roman, whatever fits me. So no I'm not a man, I am Keeper of The Wind." She smiled "Now, let's get all of you patched up"
Aeolus led us down under the deck, getting supplies ready to heal us and let us rest. She hummed and continued moving quickly, cutting pure ambrosia and setting up resting spots. She moved as fast as a hurricane and prepared everything before I knew it, first up was Leo.
She gently fed him the nectar, careful of his injuries, and tilted his head back. His arm snapped back, and the bruising and bleeding faded away as soon as they appeared.
"There we are, I thought my days patching up Spartans were over," Aelous laughed to themselves and watched Leo walk away to make room for Andromeda.
"I'll be back, I have something I need to take care of," I said, going back above deck into the fresh ocean air.
I walked towards Telemachus as he led his fleet through the water, every oar in sync as he turned to me. "Daughter of Poseidon," He smiled at me.
"I know the history of our fathers, I know you have no reason to do anything for me, but I need the biggest favor ever if you possibly could," I said stepping up to the helm.
"You're right, I have no reason to do anything for you. Nonetheless, I'll hear you out," Telemachus kept his eyes on the ocean now.
"I need to go to The Underworld, I'm seeking Tiresais The Prophet. Your wife promised us passage, but I really need to leave this realm," I pleaded, gripping the helm near him.
He thought for a moment, carefully considering his next answer, then turned back to me. "Let me Iris message Circe, and then we'll see."
I nodded briefly then headed below deck, Andromeda was recharging. She was asleep with some strands of her hair turning normal, while Leo was passed out with his head leaning against the hull of the ship. I sat across from where Aelous stood, waiting for me patiently.
"You've been through a lot, Sara. Physically and mentally, healing you could take months. Not like you'd stay still for it anyway, but I am curious why you act like you're not afraid of death?" Aelous smiled as she took my arm.
I looked up at her, seeing flashes of my Mater in her eyes, "I'm much more afraid of a life where I can't be myself, than a death I can die on my own terms."
Aelous nodded and didn't say a word more, Telemachus would call his message in and hopefully we'd be on our way to The Prophet. I couldn't wait much longer, I could hardly contain my excitement that I'd finally be leaving this watery hell. My joy would not last me long.