by Eliza Raine
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’ve been getting… strong surges of power around him.’
‘Rage?’
Lyssa shook her head, feeling her cheeks heat.
‘Yes, but not from anger.’
‘Oh. Oh, I see. Has that happened before?’
‘A little, but not like this.’
They both fell silent.
‘Well, the first three reasons aren’t really issues at all,’ Epizon said eventually. He carried on, cutting off her noise of protest, ‘He won’t distract you, he’ll ground you. He’s renounced being a prince and the fact that he irritates you is what draws you to him.’
Lyssa huffed, scowling.
‘Your power, though, I don’t know. Do you think you would hurt someone? Hurt him?’
‘I don’t think so,’ she said uncertainly. ‘I’m more worried about sending the ship off a hundred leagues high.’
Epizon laughed, wincing.
‘Then don’t get close to him on the Alastor.’
‘I live on the Alastor,’ she protested.
‘You wanted my advice, here it is. Stop worrying about it. See what happens on Pisces, enjoy it. Keep control of your emotions and your power as best you can. Trust him to help you.’
‘Really?’
‘Lyssa, you knew this was what I would say. You’ve come to me to be told that it’s OK.’ She sighed. He was right. She hadn’t thought for a minute he would tell her to avoid Phyleus.
‘Thanks, Epizon,’ she said, and leaned over to kiss his cheek. He smiled. ‘I’m really, really glad you’re OK.’
‘Me too, Captain. Now let me sleep.’
6
Hedone twirled in front of the full-length mirror in her room, watching the crimson red dress shimmer as it moved. Evadne had looked good in the colour at the feast on Taurus but Hedone saved red for very special occasions.
Tied at her neck, the chiffon fabric of the dress cascaded down her chest in two sections, covering her breasts but leaving her navel exposed. A black ribbon of sparkling crystals wrapped low around her hips, joining the chiffon to a slinky, flowing skirt. Her dark hair fell down her bare back, loose strands accentuating her elegant neck and throat.
She hoped Hercules would be impressed. She was desperate to see him. The two-day journey to Pisces had felt like a lifetime to her, waiting and wanting him so badly. She’d thought she might die when Hermes announced somebody was leaving; the wait to find out if she would be removed was unbearable. Her heart had been pounding so hard, her breathing so shallow, that she had become faint.
Now she squeezed her eyes shut, sending thanks to Hermes for the hundredth time that she had stayed. Hercules wouldn’t want her if she wasn’t immortal with him. He would outlive her, and move on to somebody else. The thought made her feel sick. She opened her eyes and looked in the mirror once more.
She didn’t need to think like that. She would be seeing him soon. And it would be worth the wait. They would dance and drink and laugh and she would get a glimpse of life after the Trials. A life with him. Thrills ran through her and goosebumps rose on her arms. She had found love. She knew this was it. Real, true love.
Theseus looked effortlessly charming, his brown hair tied back with braids and an easy smile on his face as he leaned against the top-deck railings.
‘Wow,’ he said, as Hedone stepped out of the hauler and onto the deck of the Virtus.
She smiled.
‘You look great too, Captain,’ she said. He was wearing a traditional silver toga, tied with black cord, which made his warm brown skin seem to glow. The uneasy wrenching feeling Hedone had been experiencing lasted only a second, and then Psyche appeared, holding a tray of wine glasses.
‘Drink before we go?’ she said. Hedone smiled and took a glass. Psyche was in silver too, a dress cut high at the front but as low as it could get at the back, with no sleeves and a long split up the right leg. It sparkled when she moved.
‘That’s a great dress, Psyche,’ Hedone said.
‘Thanks,’ the woman replied indifferently. ‘To Bellerephon,’ she said, raising her glass.
‘To Bellerephon,’ they chanted back, taking a sip. Bellerephon had been disappointed, of course, and Theseus had been as close to angry as he got, but Hedone suspected that Psyche wasn’t overly bothered by his loss.
‘There’s Pisces,’ said Theseus, turning to look out over the railings. They were flying low over the glittering ocean, and the tropical island paradise was growing larger in the distance. Pinks and purples rolled through the sky around them, and a warm breeze whispered over Hedone’s skin. She’d missed her home.
7
‘I got you a present,’ said Phyleus, as Lyssa opened her cabin door a crack.
‘What?’
‘I got you a present,’ he repeated, slouching casually against the wood-panelled wall outside her door.
‘Why?’
‘That’s not what you’re supposed to say,’ he said, rolling his eyes. ‘You’re supposed to say Why, thank you, Phyleus, you’re so kind. However can I repay you?’ He grinned at her.
‘Not a chance,’ she said, scowling. ‘Why aren’t you dressed yet?’ He was supposed to be in a toga for the feast, as tradition stated, but he was still wearing his normal clothes.
‘Because I wanted to give you this first,’ he said, his brown eyes shining as he held out a flat box. Lyssa snaked one arm around the barely open door and took it hesitantly. It was heavier than it looked.
‘Why are you hiding behind the door?’ Phyleus asked her, his mouth quirking in a curious smile.
‘I’m not,’ she said, too quickly.
She was. And she was hiding because she was wearing the dress again. The gold one Dionysus had fabricated out of nothing for her, that fit like a glove, and, truth be told, was the only dress she had.
‘Course you’re not,’ Phyleus said, pushing himself off the wall. ‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’ He threw her one last grin and sauntered up the corridor, towards his and Abderos’s room.
Lyssa sighed as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. He’d already seen her in the dress. What was she hiding from? When had she ever been insecure about what she looked like?
Cross with herself, she realised she should have squashed her feelings. She needed to be stronger than this… really, she was stronger than this. Shaking her head a little, the equivalent of a mental slap, she carried the box over to her bed.
Opening it, Lyssa stared down at the most beautiful piece of jewellery she had ever seen. Her mouth hung open slightly as she took in the circlet, made of palest gold, and fashioned like a wreath, delicate leaves entwining together to form a circlet. Sprinkled throughout, at the base of the leaves, were deep blue stones, with shots of glittering gold catching and reflecting the light. Lapis Lazuli.
‘Where did you get it?’ she sent the thought to Phyleus immediately. ‘We’ve not stopped anywhere; where did you find it?’
‘People usually start with thank you.’ His voice sounded in her head.
‘Sorry, I’m sorry. Thank you. It’s… Where did you get it?’
There was silence for a minute, then, ‘It’s been on board since we left Libra.’
Lyssa frowned.
‘You bought this for me in Libra? You… You didn’t like me before we left.’ She stared, confused, at the circlet.
‘I didn’t buy it. It was my mother’s.’
Lyssa’s breath hitched.
‘And if you remember, it was you who didn’t like me. I told you we could be friends right from the start.’
‘I can’t accept this, Phyleus. Not if it belongs to your family.’
‘I don’t like my family,’ he said, and she could picture him shrugging, his eyes sparkling with that defiance he wore so well.
‘But…’ she said, not knowing what to say next.
‘Do you like it?’ His voice was quiet in her head.
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘It’s stun
ning.’
‘Then wear it tonight. Decide if you want to keep it later,’ he said. She thought she could hear relief in his voice.
‘I… I guess that’s fair. Thank you,’ she said, projecting her sincerity into the words the best she could.
‘You’re welcome, Captain.’
Lyssa tried to suppress the ripple of nerves as she stepped out of the hauler and onto the deck of the Alastor. Though the circlet nestled into her red curls weighed almost nothing, she was distinctly aware of it.
‘Cap!’ exclaimed Abderos, rolling across the deck towards her. ‘You look… Wow!’ He beamed up at her.
‘You sure do, Captain.’ Mischief sparkled in Len’s eyes as he trotted up beside Abderos’s chair. They were both wearing white togas, the satyr’s draped open across his furry chest, which was far wider than Abderos’s.
‘You both look very smart too,’ she said, scanning the deck.
‘Looking for anyone in particular?’ asked Abderos mildly. She snapped her eyes to his, a warning look on her face. Abderos threw up his hands in defence. ‘I share a room with him! He’s excited about tonight,’ he said. ‘I assumed the feeling was mutual.’
Lyssa could see the question in his face and turned away.
‘The longboat will be here to pick us up in a minute; where is everyone?’ she said evasively.
A clopping sounded and Nestor appeared from the other end of the deck. She too had a shining circlet atop her sleek white hair, and her armour gleamed. She nodded at Lyssa as she approached and Lyssa nodded back.
‘Will Epizon be able to join us?’ the centaur asked.
‘No.’ Len shook his head. ‘He won’t be up and about for another day or so.’
‘I envy him. I abhor this celebrating,’ Nestor said.
‘You don’t have to come, you know.’ The satyr scowled.
Her tail flicked.
‘I am a member of this crew and must represent it. Even in the seedy world of Aphrodite.’
‘We’re very close to the goddess herself to be saying such things,’ Lyssa warned, glancing towards the island of Pisces beyond the ship railings.
The centaur snorted.
‘I have the protection of the chaste Artemis. I do not fear the goddess of love.’
‘I’m terrified of her,’ said Phyleus, and Lyssa spun around.
He was wearing a black toga, belted with a shining silver strap, and his hair was damp and pushed back from his face. He stopped still as his eyes met hers, then slowly took her in. She did the same, her eyes catching on the bare skin of his chest.
‘Are you wearing your boots?’ he asked her.
Heat filled her cheeks. The dress was long, but not quite long enough to hide her feet.
‘I don’t have any other shoes,’ she said fiercely. ‘I only have this dress because Dionysus made it.’
‘I like it. You could start a new trend.’ He grinned, and sauntered over to the group. She huffed and turned to the railings. Where was this longboat?
‘You look incredible.’ His voice sounded in her head. ‘You should keep the crown.’
8
This was more like it, Evadne thought, bringing her glass to her lips. Was this what Theseus’s crew did all the time?
The feast hall was like nothing she had ever seen in her life. Like nothing she had ever dreamed of, even. It took up the half of Aphrodite’s palace that faced the ocean and was completely open to the incredible view. Steps ran down from the hall to the sandy beach, waves lapping gently at the shore. There was no roof on the hall and the dimming orange skies twinkled above Evadne’s head. Grand columns topped with flickering flames rose from the shining marble floor in a ring around a crystal-clear pool in the middle of the room. Luscious green palms twined up the columns and lined the outskirts of the huge room. Small round chest-height marble tables dotted the room, where people were putting down their drinks and food and standing in clusters, talking and laughing. There were nymphs and dryads with trays everywhere, serving drinks and delicacies to the guests, wearing very little, and oozing allure. Evadne eyed a red-haired tree nymph a few feet from the column she was leaning against. Hercules had a thing for redheads. Well, he’d used to. Now, he only had eyes for Hedone. She hadn’t seen her captain since they arrived, and she couldn’t see the demi-goddess of pleasure either. It seemed so obvious to her that they were together. Had Theseus not realised?
She scanned the room for him, spotting him surrounded by admirers, male and female, human and creature alike. His braids were tied back from his face and she could see his beaming smile clearly. He was beautiful. Evadne sighed. There was no point telling Theseus that. He would have no time for her.
‘I saw you.’
Evadne whirled around at the voice, almost spilling her drink. Busiris was standing almost out of sight, by a pillar. She scowled and faced him.
‘You made me jump,’ she snapped.
‘I saw you, when you came to the Orion.’ His onyx eyes bored into hers and she looked away.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she said, sipping her wine.
‘Eryx is an idiot. You know that?’
She shrugged.
‘I’ve got nothing to do with your ship, and I don’t know or care whether Eryx is an idiot,’ she answered coolly.
‘I don’t know what game you’re playing, girl, but you can stop playing it with him,’ the half-giant hissed.
‘You’re so sweet to look out for him.’ She smiled sarcastically. Busiris snorted.
‘I don’t care about him. I care about winning.’
Evadne’s face twitched as she suppressed the flash of triumph she felt. This could be just what she needed.
‘Look, Busiris,’ she said slowly. ‘You know the Orion can’t win.’
His face darkened.
‘Of course—’
She cut him off.
‘But Hercules… He can. Immortality is as good as ours, and you know it. Have you considered that you may be on the wrong crew?’
Busiris stared at her.
‘What are you saying?’
‘I’m saying that, when the time comes, you should think carefully about where your allegiances lie.’
‘Has… Has Hercules said anything? About me?’ Busiris’s voice was hushed, excitement dancing across the words.
‘He’s hinted,’ lied Evadne.
‘But he didn’t help me. On Capricorn, with the boar…’ Busiris frowned. ‘You were the only crew who would have left me to die.’
Evadne tutted.
‘Don’t be so stupid. It was clear the others would rescue you, so he thought it was better to stay out of their way and maintain his image and reputation for fierceness. He knew you wouldn’t die.’ She rolled her eyes and took another sip from her drink.
Busiris shifted his weight. He wasn’t wearing a toga, but a knee-length white wrap that was tied with a bright red ribbon at his waist. His chest was bare and Evadne found herself wanting to touch his gold skin, wondering what it felt like. Bloody Aphrodite, she thought. Any little curiosity, any remote interest was heightened in this place.
‘Why aren’t you wearing a toga?’ she asked him.
‘This is what Egyptians wear,’ he said proudly.
‘The black lines around your eyes, are they Egyptian too?’
‘Yes. We don’t like to look like the rest of Aries’ tribes.’
‘Well, you definitely stand out,’ she said. ‘When the time comes, you’ll know.’ She didn’t give him a chance to reply, but dropped her empty glass onto the tray of a passing nymph and sashayed off, towards the beach side of the hall.
That should keep him guessing. And keep him off Eryx’s back too.
9
Eryx watched as Evadne walked past the glittering pool. She was wearing a short dress, the same colour as her blue-black hair. It was impossible not to notice the shape of her body under the fabric. Why had she been talking to Busiris? Anxiety and not a little jealousy cloude
d his mind. She played games. He knew she would try to manipulate anybody into helping her. What had he expected?
She took a tall thin glass of sparkling liquid from a server and leaned against a palm tree, looking out over the ocean waves. He took a step towards her before he could stop himself. He needed to know what they had been talking about. Was Busiris warning her off him? Or had she played them both, telling Busiris all the same things she had told him? Had she played dice with him?
He had to know. He strode towards her, before he could lose his nerve.
‘Eryx.’ She smiled at him as he reached her. ‘You don’t have a drink.’
‘I don’t like wine,’ he said, dimly aware that this wasn’t how he’d planned to open the conversation.
‘Just ask for something else, then.’
‘No, I…’ he started, but she blinked up at him and he forgot what he’d been about to say. She was beautiful. No matter how hard he fought it, the fact remained that he found her entrancing. ‘I wanted to know why you were talking to Busiris,’ he forced out. Her face darkened.
‘That’s none of your business.’ She turned back to the waves.
‘It is my business! He’s on my crew. And he doesn’t like me.’
‘Yeah, I got that impression. Are you jealous?’
The playful tone of her voice angered him immediately.
‘Don’t toy with me. You should stay away from him, Evadne. I don’t trust him,’ he growled.
‘Well, at least you’ve got something right,’ she muttered, and sipped her drink.
‘What do mean?’
‘Why don’t you trust him, Eryx?’ she looked at him, eyebrows raised, waiting for his answer.
‘I… I… I just don’t. He’s shifty. He’s a coward.’
Evadne rolled her eyes.
‘He’s smart and he’s driven, she said.
