Chapter 5 Lyssa
Lyssa
There’s a clattering, and then Lucas skids to a stop beside me, arm chains clanging. A second later Len catches up, hooves clicking. They’ve unfrozen.
Both of them look scared, and I draw deep breaths. They need me to not lose my shit. I need me to not lose my shit.
“What’s happening? Why is it dark?”
“Where are we? What’s that up there?”
“Whose are all these other ships?”
“How did we get here?”
The questions tumble from the both of them, and I hold my hands up.
“We are at the Olympian Void,” I say. My voice is clear and steady, thankfully.
Len and Lucas’s mouths fall open, and Epizon’s tightens. Len moves to the railings, but he’s far too short to see over.
“I’ve read about the Void, but I never thought we’d see it! It’s by invitation of the gods only!”
“You don’t need to see it—it’s just a big fucking hole in Olympus that leads to endless nothingness, and that’s exactly what it looks like,” I say, yanking him back a little too hard from the railings.
He looks up at me, and I grind my teeth.
“You fall in there, it’s a one-way trip. Stay away from the railings.”
“Yes, captain,” he grumbles.
“I don’t know what is above us, and I don’t know why we’re here, or who all these other ships belong to, but I do know that a god brought us here.
That’s what the white flash was, and no other being could possibly move an entire ship halfway across Olympus in a few seconds.
And as Len said, this place is by invitation of the gods only. ”
The words sound ridiculous even as I say them, and I’m trying hard to keep emotions I’ve buried for a long time from affecting my composure.
Most folk in Olympus will be lucky enough to never even see a god. Last time I saw one…
“Why in Hades would a god bring us here?” Len breathes.
Nobody answers him.
Even Lucas seems to have nothing to say. He’s staring up at the solid platform, still open-mouthed. Small mercies.
A noise makes us all turn. It’s a longboat, bumping against the edge of the railings. Big enough for about six people, it floats there in place.
We all stare. After a moment, Lucas points with both shackled hands at the ship next to us. “They’re getting on one,” he whispers.
He’s right. Four finely dressed humans are climbing from their extremely well-appointed and painted ship onto the waiting longboat. We watch as the last person is helped in, and the boat floats up, toward the platform above us.
“I guess we get in?” I say.
“All of us?” Lucas asks, hopefully.
I look at Epizon, my indecision melding with the fear and trepidation.
I have no idea why I’m here. I removed myself from the world of gods, demigods, and even fancy ships and well-dressed folk, years ago.
Very, very deliberately. But now, for some unknown reason, I’ve been summoned back to it.
And if it was by a god, then I have absolutely no choice whatsoever than to stay and find out why.
“What if…” The words come out a whisper, then trail off, and I’m instantly angry I’ve let myself look vulnerable in front of the others.
“He may be here,” Epizon rumbles, looking out over the huge number of ships. “If they’ve brought Olympus’s finest, which it appears they might have, then it is possible.”
I shake my head. “Epizon…” Fear curls around my gut, making my skin feel too tight.
“Who is she talking about?” Lucas says in a loud whisper. I look at him, and his wide-eyed, confused face is enough to me to snap me out of the spiraling fear.
I straighten, my voice sharp when I speak. “We can’t leave him on the ship.” I shove my thumb at Lucas. “Get his shackles off, and find him something to wear that isn’t filthy. Quickly.”
Epizon looks relieved at my change of tone. “Yes, captain.”
He grabs Lucas and jogs across the deck, Lucas tripping over his ankle cuffs as Epizon half drags him along.
“Cap, he might not be here,” Len says doubtfully.
I’m scanning all the ships closest to us, looking for the one I know belongs to him. I’m trying to keep my heart rate steady, my breathing even.
I knew this day would come. One day, I would have to see him again. But I didn’t think it would be so soon.
Soon? Shit, Lyssa, it’s been fifteen years, I berate myself.
“Len, it looks like every ship in Olympus is here. That means all the wealthiest families.” That means him.
“We’ll be with you.”
I look down at the little satyr. He wouldn’t last thirty seconds against him, nor would he have the courage to try. But I’m so grateful for his words that I actually almost reach out to hug him.
Fortunately I remember he’s a little pervert before I do, and nod at him instead. “Thanks, Len.”
“Always here for you, cap.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Day or night. Especially the night.”
I sigh and aim a half-assed kick near him. He trots to the side.
A few minutes later Epizon returns with a shackle-free Lucas.
He’s wearing clothes that clearly belong to a man much larger than him, a tight belt cinching both heavy woolen trousers and a baggy black shirt around his middle.
He has the sleeves rolled up and I can see the fresh chafe wounds over the old scars on his wrists.
He’s not lying. Those marks are from being shackled for months, at least.
I swallow down anger and make a show of appraising him. He grins at me, from a slightly less dirty face.
“No shoes?” I ask, glancing at his bare feet.
Epizon snorts, then straightens. “My boots are much, much too large for him, captain. Yours might fit?”
We all look down at my relatively small feet.
“I doubt it,” Len says.
“Just watch where you step,” I say, and turn to the still-hovering longboat. “Let’s go and get some answers,” I mutter.