“This way.” He shouted, running off.
Another guard lay unconscious behind me. Swallowing, I waited for Percy to squeeze through and pushed him ahead of me, watching behind for pursuit.
The ship we were supposed to take was moored in a cove beneath the lord’s manor. Here at the south shore, we couldn’t be further from our goal—only an array of fishing boats bobbed along the docks.
Eleos halted before the only ship in sight with two decks. Percy ran to his side and doubled over, panting. “Why did you stop?” He gasped.
“I think this is our escape route,” Eleos said calmly.
“What?” Percy repeated. “Only one ship can survive the Lethe, and I don’t think this is it!”
“Want to run back up to the manor and steal the keys?” Eleos looked up sharply, listening to the alarm bells. “We don’t have time. It’s this or nothing.”
“Wait,” I said. “Seraphim crossed the Lethe—traveled to Duath Nun and back. How?”
“With a better ship than this,” Eleos said. “There’s another way to avoid the storm—but it’s more likely to claim our lives.”
“Morelikely?Gods.” Percy cursed, drawing his dagger to cut the ropes loose.
It wasn’t a bad ship. Double-masted with an underbelly, it could probably weather rough seas, but not the deadly whirlpool said to haunt the Lethe.
Standing guard at the pier, I glanced up and down the dark docks, hoping to see Seth, Athena,anything.
Something moved out of the corner of my eye, and I turned to see blood-red vines streaking across the docks toward me.
The vines shot up, wrapping around my wrist while another grabbed my ankle. Both pulled, yanking me off my feet and twisting the sword from my grip. I hit the ground with a heavy thud and was dragged across the rough ground.
Phaedrus stepped from the building’s shadows, the scarlet blood streaming from his palm a match for his hair. Grabbing my collar, he hauled me up. Sage-green eyes peered at me. Not with anger, but sorrow.
“You’re as slippery as Ainwir.” He said. “He would’ve been proud.”
My mouth twisted into a sneer. I’d never wanted to kill someone before. Not until now.
Phaedrus’ eyes darted behind me, landing on Percy and Eleos.
“If you so much astouchthem. . .” I snarled.
Eyes flaring open, Phaedrus threw me aside and leapt back. A greatsword of dripping scarlet whirled between us. Had he not released me, it would have severed his arm.
Seth dashed in front of me, a crimson longsword gripped in one hand, and a scarlet dagger in the other. The floating great sword impaled the wall behind Phaedrus before launching out of the stone. Vines sprang from the ground in a rush of blood, blocking the greatsword from cleaving through the nobleman’s neck.
A shower of blood rained from the clash of two chthonic spells. Red splotches darkened my vision.
“Get the hell away from her.” Seth snarled.
The sound of galloping hooves pounded toward me, and I desperately rubbed my eyes, stumbling backward.
My vision cleared. Athena halted beside me, Seraphim mounted on her back. Leaping off the mare, Seraphim grabbed my arms and turned me toward the boat. “Get aboard! We’ll be right behind you.”
Panicked, I searched for Seth. He stood amidst a sea of red flowers and deadly vines, chopping aside the striking whips with his blades while advancing toward Phaedrus.
One tendril found its mark, tearing across Seth’s upper arm. Blood rushed from the wound, quickly gathering into a new blade—a thin rapier that darted toward Phaedrus, grazing his cheek.
Seraphim whirled me around and pushed me. “Go!” She ordered.
Slapping Athena’s rear, I aimed her toward our boat. She took off running, with Whisper at her heels. Eleos ducked out of their way, grabbing my fallen sword to saw through the anchor’s ropes. On the deck, Percy fought with the mast, trying to unfurl the sails.
Forcing my attention away from the battle, I ran for the ship.
