by Eliza Raine
‘Where do you think we’re going next?’ Epizon asked her.
‘I don’t know,’ she answered with a small shrug. Tiredness was seeping into her, now that Abderos was back and her anxiety was lessening. ‘They say they’re picking the realms at random but we’ve not had any of the big three gods yet. Bit of a coincidence.’
‘We can’t go to Virgo,’ Epizon said abruptly. She looked at him.
‘We’re going to have to go, if the Trial is there. I thought you always wanted to see Virgo?’
‘I… I did. I can’t explain it.’ He frowned, looking around vaguely. ‘Whenever I think about Virgo I feel like something truly awful is about to happen. Like there’s nothing more important than not going. I don’t know why.’
‘Right,’ said Lyssa slowly. ‘Well… I guess we’ll deal with that when we have to.’
He gave her an uneasy look.
2
‘Hedone, please come up on deck. We need to talk.’
Theseus’s voice rang in her head and Hedone dragged the pillow away from her face with a groan. She didn’t want to talk to the others. She already knew what they would say. She had slept badly after they had been spirited back to the Virtus. Theseus had won another Trial, and Hercules wouldn’t be happy about it. Worse, they were saying Hercules was the one who had killed the boy Theseus had wished back to life. How was it that her object of her love was so misunderstood? She rolled out of bed, rubbing her bleary eyes. When they were married and this was all over, they would all see. They would see what she saw. The soft, tender, proud man.
‘I’ll be up shortly,’ she thought back to Theseus, and sighed as she entered her washroom to get ready.
She stepped hesitantly out of the hauler and onto the quarterdeck. The sky was a bright, bright blue, as it often was over Pisces. White clouds sparkled around them and she took a long breath. Theseus stood up from the captain’s chair when he saw her.
‘Morning, Captain,’ she said.
‘Morning, Hedone,’ he answered. She strolled as casually as she could to the railings, and looked out over the island, surrounded by glittering turquoise ocean.
‘Where do you think we’re going next?’ she asked.
‘It doesn’t matter where we’re going next.’ Psyche’s voice was hard and blunt behind her. Hedone turned around slowly.
‘Psyche, I know we’re not going to agree on this, but it doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends,’ she said.
‘Hedone, open your eyes, girl! He threw an unarmed boy to his death!’
‘You’re wrong!’ Hedone yelled back at her, her temper flaring as she stamped her foot on the deck. ‘You didn’t see him do it, they’re lying!’
‘The whole of Olympus saw him do it; they can’t all be lying! What is the matter with you?’ The woman threw her hands in the air as she spoke, her dark braids swinging. She was a fool, Hedone thought. A fool who believed Hera’s lies. Hercules couldn’t have done such a thing.
‘There is nothing the matter with me,’ she spat. ‘You are the one who is jaded. Hera will go to any length to ruin the life of her husband’s illegitimate son.’
‘Hedone, I saw him do it.’ Theseus spoke quietly. She turned to him, seeing sadness on his handsome, open face.
‘No,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘You saw wrong.’
‘I reached the stables before you both. Hercules lifted Abderos from his chair and threw him to the horses. Hedone, we can’t make your decisions for you, but you must know that he is dangerous.’
Doubt, clear and cold, seeped into Hedone. Theseus wasn’t a liar. She knew that. But why would Hercules do such a thing? What would possess him to kill someone who posed no threat?
‘Why?’ she whispered, hot tears burning at the back of her eyes.
‘It distracted the horses.’
She shook her head.
‘There’s something we don’t know. There must be. He wouldn’t…’ she faltered. The uneasy feeling was growing, twisting in her gut. She stared at Theseus, his brown eyes, his square jaw, his soft skin. There was something she didn’t know. Something wrong. She groped and pulled at her memory, grasping at the hidden thread. And suddenly, she caught it. It was Theseus she used to love. Anger washed over her as she looked at her captain. How had she ever wanted him? He was manipulative, cunning and cruel. She had spent years trying to seduce him and he had continually spurned her, never giving her what she desired. Why was she on his crew? Why did she still stand beside him?
‘Why have you never wanted me?’ she blurted, tears spilling from her eyes.
Theseus flinched, looking away.
‘Hedone, you’re beyond beautiful. Of course I’ve wanted you. But…’ he trailed off and Psyche stamped her booted foot.
‘Captain, just tell her,’ she snapped.
‘My heart belongs to another. It has for a very long time.’
Hedone’s mouth fell open.
‘But… But you share your bed with women all the time! With Aphrodite, even.’
‘I can’t say no to a goddess,’ he said. ‘And the other women mean nothing. You… You would not mean nothing.’
‘Why did you keep me close? Why did you let me make a fool of myself?’ Her face felt like it was on fire, shame and anger making her head pound. All this time she had never had a chance? All this time she could have been with Hercules?
‘You were so impressionable when you left the temple, I couldn’t let you fall into the wrong hands.’
‘I’m not a damn toy!’ she shouted, surprising herself with the venom in her voice. ‘You’ve used me! Kept me away from anyone who might actually love me back!’
‘Hedone, if that’s true then I’m sorry, I truly am, but Hercules isn’t—’
‘I’m not talking about this any more!’ She choked on a sob as she whirled around, heading for the hauler as quickly as she could. She needed to be away from him. She needed to find a way off the ship.
3
‘Captain! Captain, Captain, Captain!’ The urgent words dragged Lyssa from sleep.
‘What?’
‘Captain, you need to get up on deck, now.’ Abderos’s voice rang in her mind. She sat bolt upright.
‘What’s wrong? Are you OK?’
‘We have a visitor. An important visitor.’ His mental voice thrummed with excitement.
‘Who?’ she answered, kicking her sheets off.
‘Athena,’ he whispered.
‘Shit,’ she said, and scrabbled out of her bunk.
She grabbed some worn trousers from the floor, pulled them on, and darted from her chambers, still wearing the shirt she had slept in. She didn’t spare a thought for her bare feet or un-brushed hair as she skidded into the hauler. Athena? What did she want? Please, please, gods let her be here to help them. Maybe she would give her a magic sword like Hercules’s.
‘Captain Lyssa.’ The goddess’s beautiful voice calmed her hammering heart as soon as she stepped onto the deck. Athena was standing under the shimmering sails by the main mast, regal and stunning.
‘Athena,’ Lyssa said, and bowed low. She scanned the deck quickly but could only see Abderos up on the quarterdeck.
‘I’m sorry to cut your rest short. But I need to speak with you on an urgent matter.’
‘Of course, Athena,’ she answered.
‘I am about to tell you something that I am forbidden to discuss, so it is very important that you do not share it.’
‘May my crew know?’
Athena assessed her for a moment.
‘Yes,’ she said eventually, and flicked her wrist. With a small flash, the rest of the crew appeared on the deck, accompanied by cries of surprise and confusion. Nestor clicked her hooves on the deck as she looked around and Epizon, to the centaur’s right, was wide-eyed and alert. He was shirtless and Lyssa gaped at the wound in his shoulder until she heard a spluttered protest behind her.
‘What the…?’ She turned and gasped. Phyleus was standing behind her and he was comple
tely naked. He had his hands together over his crotch and his face was aflame under his damp hair.
‘I was bathing,’ he said through gritted teeth. Lyssa’s eyes raked involuntarily over his body, beads of water still rolling down his bare chest. Power hummed to life under her skin and her core tensed.
‘Apologies, human,’ Athena said, and suddenly a large cloak covered Phyleus from head to foot. He fumbled around beneath it and Lyssa choked back a laugh as his head popped out of the thick material. He glared at her.
‘Athena needs to talk to us,’ Lyssa said loudly to the crew. Everyone bowed to the goddess and she inclined her head.
‘During the Trials there has been an… incident in the world of the gods. Hades has broken a very sacred rule. And Zeus has punished him cruelly. The gods have few limitations but we are not creatures of prophecy and none of us know what the implications of Hades’ actions may be.’ She looked at all of them in turn, her gaze lingering on Epizon.
‘Hades has lost something and we would all like to find it.’
Lyssa stared at the goddess. What was she asking?
‘Athena, I don’t know how we can help you. We are bound to the Trials.’
‘It is my belief that you have already come across that which we seek.’
Lyssa screwed up her face.
‘What is it?’
‘Ah, but that is the wrong question.’ Athena smiled. ‘Not what, but who.’
Tenebrae. The second Lyssa thought the name, pain lanced through her skull. She heard shouts from around her as she squeezed her eyes closed, then suddenly, the pain stopped. Athena stepped towards her as she opened her eyes.
‘Where is she?’ the goddess asked gently.
Lyssa opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She frowned, moving her lips, trying in vain to make a sound. Athena’s eyes narrowed and she turned to Epizon, whose dark skin was pale. His eyes were wide and fearful and he shook his head noiselessly.
‘She has power,’ murmured Athena. ‘She must be on this ship.’ Athena looked to Lyssa for confirmation but Lyssa couldn’t move her head to nod. Athena put her hand to her mouth thoughtfully.
‘Keep her here. Keep her secret and safe,’ she said, then vanished in a flash of blinding white light.
‘What just happened?’ stammered Phyleus. Lyssa worked her jaw, testing her voice nervously. To her relief, she could speak again.
‘Did Tenebrae do that? Stop us talking?’
‘She shouldn’t be able to, she’s not been out in the light since Lady Lamia,’ said Len.
Lyssa turned to Epizon.
‘What do you…’ She trailed off as she looked at him. His eyes were unfocused and his skin was still pale. ‘Epizon?’ She stepped towards him, laying her hand on his arm. He jumped and frowned at her.
‘Athena said to keep her safe,’ he said.
‘I know, but… She just stopped the entire crew from speaking. We didn’t know she could do that.’
‘What else can she do?’ Phyleus asked quietly. Epizon looked sharply at him.
‘It doesn’t matter. Athena told us to keep her safe.’
‘Yeah, but didn’t that freak you out?’
‘Just keep her safe!’ Epizon shouted, pulling his arm from Lyssa’s hand and marching towards the hauler.
‘Ep, wait,’ called Lyssa, but he ignored her, yanking open the hauler door and stepping in. ‘Len, what’s wrong with him?’ She frowned, turning to the satyr. ‘He’s acting really strange about going to Virgo, which is Hades’ realm. He’s been sitting down there with the tank every spare minute since she told him her name. Is she… doing something to him?’
Len looked up at her uneasily.
‘He was unconscious on the cargo deck with her for two days. I guess it’s possible she got into his head somehow. But I still don’t think there’s enough light down there for her to be dangerous.’
‘Len, she has enough power to stop us talking to a god.’ Lyssa put her hands on her hips as she spoke.
‘Yeah. I guess she does. I wonder what she’s got to do with Hades?’
Lyssa glanced at Phyleus. He caught her looking and pulled the massive cloak tighter around himself.
‘Don’t ask me, I just got Hades’ residual powers. I have no more idea about this than you do,’ he told her mentally. She sighed. She would talk to Epizon after the Trial announcement, when he would hopefully be more himself.
‘You look ridiculous, by the way,’ she said silently to Phyleus.
‘Have you seen your hair?’ he shot back.
She scowled at him.
‘I’m going back to the bath,’ Phyleus said out loud.
‘Good idea,’ she gave him a sarcastic smile.
‘Wanna join me?’ he added silently. She flushed and barely stopped herself sending back the word ‘Yes.’
4
Eryx roared as he launched himself at Bergion. The giant was too slow to side-step him, and Eryx’s fist slammed into his ribs as they stumbled backwards together.
‘Ow!’ yelled Bergion.
Eryx bounced backwards, panting.
‘Sorry,’ he said.
‘You said you wanted to train, not fight,’ growled the giant, rubbing at his side. ‘I wasn’t ready. This is no fun. I’m going for a drink.’ Bergion’s footsteps echoed around the massive cargo deck as he ambled off to the hauler.
Eryx sighed. He’d have to burn off some of his anger alone. He bounced on the balls of his feet, dropping his shoulders and raising his fists in a fighting stance.
‘One, two,’ he counted aloud, throwing punches into the empty air in front of him.
Nobody listened to him. Why did nobody listen to him? One, two. He had told Antaeus that Busiris couldn’t manage the net alone.
At least Theseus had won, instead of Hercules. Abderos’s broken body flashed in his mind. One, two. Theseus was a good man. It wouldn’t be so bad if he won instead of them. Eryx wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be immortal any more. After all, what was the point of him living forever if nobody else cared what he thought? One, two. Sweat dripped into his eyes but he ignored it. What if Evadne cared what he thought? Would he want to be immortal then? One, two. He punched out too hard, feeling his shoulder muscle pulling painfully. He’d meant what he said to her. Even before he’d seen Hercules kill a defenceless man. He’d rather be a nobody than live with that.
‘Eryx, it’s nearly midday. Come to the flame dish.’ Antaeus’s voice sounded in his head.
‘Yes, Captain.’ He dragged his arm across his forehead, wiping away sweat. He didn’t feel any better.
The flames leaped to life as Eryx topped the stairs to the quarterdeck and the blond announcer smiled from the dish.
‘Good day, Olympus! What can I say but wow! It’s been a rough ride so far for some of the heroes! I bet you can’t wait to see what’s in store for them next…’ He faded with a wink, then the hulking, gleaming figure of Ares solidified in the flames. Albion and Bergion gave a small cheer and Busiris beamed. The realm of war was their home.
‘Heroes,’ the god boomed. ‘You will be set your challenge by a queen of my realm. Journey to Aries, and I will speak with you in one hour.’ He vanished.
‘A queen? Which one do you think it is?’ asked Eryx. They all looked at Busiris.
‘There are many queens on Aries.’ He shrugged, but he was still smiling. ‘And most will look favourably on a king of Aries like me.’
5
Hercules stared into the flames long after Ares had disappeared. He had underestimated his daughter, loath as he was to admit it. The look in her eyes when she held Keravnos had been unmistakable. She bore the same killing urge, the same torrent of power he did. He must kill her. And soon.
‘Evadne, get me some wine,’ he projected at the girl.
‘Yes, Captain,’ came her response.
He sighed as he sat back in his plush chair. He was fed up of these games now. Of being toyed with by the gods. Each of the crews had two win
s, despite him being stronger, faster and more gifted than any of the others. How had that happened? The giants were strong, but they also had that clever king of Egypt on their crew. Theseus had the fierce fighting woman, Psyche, permanently at his side. Lyssa… Lyssa had gotten lucky. Sure, she could make her ship move fast, but her win on Taurus was down to having that prince on her crew. All of the captains had so much help, Hercules thought, running his fingers across his stubbled jaw. Zeus had told him to use Evadne but that wasn’t working. Did he still need her?
On cue, she appeared at the top of the quarterdeck steps, holding a glass of wine. She held it out to him without a word.
‘Do you know what the tonic we won on Scorpio does yet?’ he asked her.
‘No, Captain.’ She shook her head and turned to go.
‘Are you frightened of me, Evadne?’
The girl turned around slowly.
‘Sometimes, Captain,’ she answered, avoiding his gaze.
Hercules thought about that.
‘Good,’ he said eventually. ‘Go and read. Find out what that tonic does.’ He waved his hand at her.
‘Yes, Captain,’ she said, and hurried down the stairs.
What a difference a short time had made to her, he thought. She had been so full of fight, and attitude. He had broken her well and fully, as he’d known he would.
His thoughts drifted to Hedone. She did not need breaking. She needed nothing but his love, his care, his touch. Next time he saw her, they would devise a plan for her to join the Hybris. He could not be without her much longer.
6
‘Ah. I see you brushed your hair.’ Phyleus grinned at Lyssa as he stepped out of the hauler onto the quarterdeck.
‘And I see you found some clothes.’ She smiled back from her captain’s chair.
