Seraphim dropped to her knees, and Eleos knelt by her side, tearing off his cloak to bind her forearms. Setting me down gently, Seth whirled around to watch the dock.
Several guards had reached the field of flowers, and while many stopped to gape in confusion, many more did not. Raising their spears and bows, they aimed for our ship.
Spears whirled through the air. With a thud, one impaled the mast, splintering a chunk of wood off. The other sailed toward me. Lunging forward, Seth grabbed his floating greatsword from the air and cleaved through the lance.
The shaft splintered, raining wood into the sea. Flinching away from the impact, I was taken off guard when Seth tackled me. My back struck the deck with a painful thud. Arrows whizzed overhead, lost in the waves.
I tried to rise, but Seth pushed me down, shielding my body with his. Twisting my neck to search for the others, I glimpsed Eleos by Seraphim, head ducked as he tended her wounds. Percy cowered at the helm, one hand clutching his hat, the other wrapped protectively around Whisper.
“Are we alive?” He shouted over the crashing waves.
“Not yet,” Seraphim lifted her head. “Now we face the storm.”
31
Chapter 31
Water stretched around us in all directions. Somewhere ahead, great mountains would close in, forcing us through the infamous Lethe Strait.
Trapped aboard a ship not meant for those waters, death surely awaited us.
Eleos parted my torn tunic, examining my wound. He looked exhausted. Blood dripped down his nose, and a drop ran from his eyes like a morbid tear. “It’s not bad.” He said. “Put pressure on it.” Balling up his scarf, he offered it to me.
Flinching, I pressed it to the gash on my ribs. Nerves danced in my chest as I watched Seth lean against the mast and roll up his sleeves, checking the wounds Phaedrus had given him.
A nasty gash tore his upper arm, soaking his tunic with blood. Pressing a hand to the laceration, he closed his eyes and leaned back, unconcerned with the injury.
Eleos followed my gaze. “That’s how chthonics are.Reckless.”
“I guess I’ll have to tend his wounds if he won’t,” I said.
Eleos tried to summon a smile, but failed. Wiping his face, he exhaled. “I knew I was right.”
“About what?”
He glanced away, bashful. “When we first met, I had a feeling youwould be our hope.”
Smiling, I wiped the smear of blood from his face. “Sweet-talker,” I whispered.
A tiny half-smirk appeared on his face.
Eyes snapping open, Seth glared at Seraphim. She lay against the mast, arms wrapped around herself. “You should have let me kill him.” He said.
“I couldn’t.” Seraphim shook her head.
“How could you forgive him?” Seth pushed off the mast. “Better yet, how did you not see his betrayal coming? Heattackedus in Serifos!”
“Phaedrus couldn’t use magic when I was exiled. The masked nobleman you described bore no resemblance to the brother I knew. He was always my ally. Always.” Seraphim looked away sadly. “I found a way to correspond with him during my time in Duath Nun. We were of the same mind. At least, so I thought.”
“Hewason your side,” I said. “He told me himself. But somewhere along the way, he changed.”
Seraphim fell silent, watching the endless sea. “We were both dealt poor hands. But I never imagined we’d turn out so differently.” She eyed Seth sharply. “I have losteverything. I will not bury my brother, too.”
Lip quivering, Seth glanced away. “Eleos did say he was a powerful psyche. I can hardly blame you for falling for his manipulations.” He paused before speaking again. “He’ll pursue us.”
“He will,” Seraphim confirmed.
“Then we should avoid him at all costs.”
