Page 91 of Poseidon's Trident
“I have to be able to touch him I think, and he’s too wound up for me to get close.” Thad swims to the horse, making soothing sounds in his throat.
“Fuck.” My head is barely above water. As Pegasus continues thrashing, the water spins in a circle, throwing me into the cave wall.
My back screams with white-hot pain searing through me in waves. My feet falter and I sink for a second, barely gasping in a breath before I’m pulled under the swirling vortex. Something brushes my leg and I nearly open my mouth in a silent scream but remember to hold my breath.
A hand bands around my ankle from under the depths and I kick out with the other to dislodge it, but it is like an iron vise.
My lungs burn with the need for oxygen, and I flail my arms in an attempt to swim back to the surface, but the hand tugs me down below the depths. Whatever has a hold of me is going to kill me. I fight the best I can underwater and thrash at the hand. Black spots tint my vision as the creature pulls me through the exit into the tunnels.
I need air. My lungs scream as my movements become sluggish. My body is giving out from the lack of oxygen.
Air. I need air.
My limbs are lead as the creature pulls me out into the deep. The sea deities really do want me dead and they may just get their wish. I should have listened to Jayden. He was right and I may not live to tell him that.
22
Water sprays from my lungs and I cough as I blink my eyes open. Thunder booms overhead and the sea churns around me.
“What the fuck? Where am I?” I glance to either side, unable to move past the net I’m ensnared in.
I close my eyes in an attempt to remember what happened. Medusa. We fought Medusa, and then Pegasus and Chrysoar were born. Pegasus freaked out and now… I’m here being towed through the sea like the gods damn catch of the day.
“I’m not dinner for sea monsters, asshole,” I shout.
“I’m not feeding you to the sea beasts,” the creature growls. “You are safe.”
“Then why am I in a fucking net?” I ask.
“Because you were a dead weight and this is easier. Now stop struggling.” He yanks at the net and I go still.
“Where are you taking me? This isn’t the way back to shore.” I scan the horizon but there is no sign of the mainland.
“I’m taking you somewhere safe,” the creature says.
“I need to go back to the mainland. We have a mission to complete for Poseidon,” I argue.
“I know about your mission for Lord Poseidon. I am here to help,” he says.
“Then help me by taking me back to the mainland,” I say with a growl.
“I can’t take you to the mainland. The town you were in is gone. It’s wiped out and flooded.”
“What?” I ask. “How? When?”
“A great tsunami ravaged the coast halfway across the place you call California. There is no place to safely take you there,” he says.
“What about the academy?” I gasp.
“I’m not sure what’s happening with your academy, but the tsunami rocked the California coast and I need to take you elsewhere.”
I turn and a giant green and blue tail flicks out behind me. Is he a merman? His features are horselike. Can he be some kind of fish centaur?
“Is all this going to be in vain? The academy is a main reason we started out on this stupid mission in the first place,” I say.
“I don’t know. I’m just doing what I’m told by the sea god. He weakens more every day and we fear he will not be able to last much longer. You, young demigod, hold the fate of the world and the gods in your hands,” he says solemnly.
“Same shit. Different day,” I say bitterly.
