Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
CASSANDRA
She could make a nest strong enough for us.
Tired of lying awake and feeling the anxiety humming through my veins, I eased out from beneath her wing. She didn’t stir, and despite myself I was relieved. In the dark, I found my veil and a cloak against the chill of night, then slipped out into the temple.
I had no idea if it was the new moon, because we’d had a few weeks of beautiful weather, and then days of wicked winds and terrifyingly high waves.
I’d been terrified. She’d just smiled and pointed at the cliffs, teaching me what the marks meant. Where waves struck. Where water had sat. She’d held my hand and stood with me on the steps, beautiful in the rain as she was in the sun. The storm hadn’t passed fully yet, but it was easing.
A strong gust of wind caught my cloak and slapped it against my calves. I grabbed it with an impatient hand, my skin crawling at the sensation of wet cloth. I’d returned without her noticing last night. I doubted I would tonight.
There. A splash.
Alarm skittered up my spine as I stepped onto the stone landing. Of course there were splashes. I was at the pier. There was water.
But the splash had been…different?
I wasn’t going out onto the pier. Not in this wind. But I did walk up alongside a statue armored with audacity and lifted a hand, as if it might better shield my eyes from the wind.
“I told you she’d come!”
I jumped and the hand that went to take my elbow grabbed my forearm instead.
“Come on,” Perseus hissed.
I couldn’t smell the wealth on him now. The wind slapped my cloak into his legs and he didn’t even notice.
He must’ve been inhuman.
I dug in my heels but my feet slipped.
She’d never hear me screaming. Not down here. Terror spurted through me, but I moved to the next option.
“Thank the gods you came,” I said, no longer resisting, running along beside him as he towed me to the pier.
“The monsters here are terrifying. O Brave One, I fear you’ve been grossly misled.
The gods make mockery of your heroism.” I just needed to get them out of here.
Sure, men had never listened to me before, but surely just this once I could work around the ego of one of them.
He grunted. “Tell me all about it on the ship.”
I couldn’t even see it. I felt sick, but it was a far away feeling. “Of course,” I agreed, relieved. “We must sail far from this place. What will be the next leg of your quest, Shining Warrior?”
“This is my quest,” he said, and shrouded lantern light became visible. I was guided up a plank and onto the dark, looming ship. Men peered at me. Armored. Grim. Their lanterns were guarded against the wind.
“Where is she now?” he demanded.
Asleep, naked in the nest she made us. The wind changed direction. My hair blew free as my hood was pushed back over my shoulders. A feather blew loose. I watched it vanish into the darkness, terror drumming at my heart.
“There are many Gorgons,” I said, raising my voice to carry. “Some sleep at night. Others at day. They have only one weakness, O Heroic One. You need a silver weapon.” I spun dramatically. “Hear me—”
I was grabbed by the arm and half-dragged, swallowing my words as I slipped over the ship’s deck. “Athena told us she’d lie,” Perseus shouted, over the wind.
Unarmed, I focused on survival.