11. In Which We Are Back on the Ship With Our Boy Scout and a Threat
Chapter 11
In Which We Are Back on the Ship With Our Boy Scout and a Threat
Modern-day somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean
E vander took in a breath of sea air and let it out slowly. The deck he was currently on had been closed down, the lights off except for guiding lights. Someone had stacked all the chairs in neat rows. He reveled in the quiet solitude up on this deck. He sensed the shift before he saw her form and let out an annoyed huff.
“Evander.” Her voice was sharp.
He turned around to face the form of Athena. Pandora may have locked the gods on Olympus, but she couldn’t keep them out completely. Athena was not one to check up on her warriors, which made this visit even more plaguing. Evander stood at attention and crossed his fist over his chest at his heart then bowed his head.
“My Goddess,” he said curtly.
“Have you retrieved the book?”
“No, My Goddess. If we had, we would have brought it to you,” he snipped at her glowing form.
“How goes it with the human ?” How she spat the word human out of her mouth made Evander raise his eyebrows.
“In what capacity, My Goddess?”
Athena’s eyes flashed. “You are aware in what capacity I mean. The human knows too much, Evander. She needs to be eliminated. Olympus needs to be protected.”
Evander crossed his arms. “Pardon me, My Goddess, but why is that? Why is she so important to Olympus? I have observed her; she is as mortal as they come. Killing her will not prevent the prophecy from coming to fruition. The Serathena is rumored to be a demigod. The human is not.”
Athena clenched her fists and pounded them on the wooden table in her throne room. Evander was glad for once that he was with the humans.
“I am your goddess, am I not? Your commander? Your obedience and loyalty have never wavered. And yet here you stand, questioning me.” Her eyes narrowed at him. She then twisted her lips into a cruel smile.
“If you do not kill this threat,” she said, her words deadly, “I will send someone who will. This company of the Celestial Legion has become too soft. Perhaps you need reminding of who is in charge. Maybe this requires the Chthonian Legion to take the helm.”
Evander took a sharp breath as a shiver went down his spine. Athena lowered her chin at him.
“Kill her, Evander. Or I will send a Chthonian to do it.”
Her image flashed bright, flooding the darkened deck with white, shimmering light. And she was gone.
He couldn’t have one of the Chthonian Legion coming after her. They were mercenaries, ones Athena rarely sent to the human realm because of the damage they could do. They were guided by Thanatos, trained to show no mercy. If Athena kept to her word, Ellie would be in grave danger. At least if he killed her, it would be swift and merciful.
He had walked down to a lower deck, lost in thought when he saw her. He shifted his weight and pulled the handle of a holstered dagger off his belt. The moonlight glinted off the blade. He slammed it back down.
And walked towards Ellie.