Page 111 of Poseidon's Trident
“Beth, oh my gods, are you okay?” Jayden reaches for me and I recoil.
What’s he doing here? He made his choice. It wasn’t me. He chose to stay on the island so where are we? Are we still there?
I glance up the rocky shore and the glimmer of modern architecture meets my gaze. We aren’t on the lotus eaters island anymore.
“I thought you chose to stay on the lotus island?” I stand, dusting the dirt from my pants.
“Lotus island? What are you talking about?” Jayden asks, confused.
“It was literally ten seconds ago that you picked that fucked-up island over me. What are you doing here, Jayden? Go back to the island. I know that’s where you really want to be.”
“Ten seconds ago I was on this beach searching for you. I have been here for over a day scouring the beach and everywhere to find you. What are you even talking about?” Jayden throws his hands up in frustration.
“The island fucked with your memory. Where are the others?” I ask.
“Are you okay? Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick since Echidna’s cave.” Jayden reaches for me.
I take a step back. I can’t let him touch me. He chose the island. It doesn’t make sense for him to be here.
“It was a test, little sister.” Hermes pops into existence next to me.
“What?” I ask, grabbing my chest, startled.
“Jayden and the others weren’t actually on the island with you. It was a test.” Hermes pats my shoulder.
“That was some fucked-up test, Hermes,” I growl.
“Your buddy Nereus said it was imperative.” Hermes shrugs.
“Fucking Nereus.” I turn to Jayden. “You weren’t on the island of the lotus eaters? You didn’t choose to stay there even though I had to leave?”
“The island of the lotus eaters?” he asks.
Jayden’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. He steps forward. His eyes plead with me to believe him. To understand something that I don’t quite know what.
“They had the drink like Hecate gave us and they said we couldn’t leave. You chose to stay but that wasn’t my choice.” I shake my head.
“I would never choose to leave you.” Jayden steps closer and this time I don’t move away.
Can I trust those words? Everything felt so real.
“It was the magic. Nereus said we had to know what you would choose.” Hermes pats my shoulder. “You chose wisely, little sister.”
“There wasn’t a choice. I don’t have any choices. If I were to stay, the world would burn. People would die.” I shake my head.
“I told Nereus the test was unnecessary, but he was insistent,” Hermes says. “You have choices, Bethany; you just always make the selfless ones.”
“I know,” I grumble. “I hate it. When can I have a choice that’s just mine?”
“I don’t know that you’re capable of making a selfish choice,” Jayden says.
He inches closer and I let him wrap me in his arms but I’m still reeling over Nereus’ little test. It was so fucked up. What if it had been real and Jayden really did choose to stay on that island? Would I ever be the same again?
Dread fills me and my chest aches. That test feels like an omen of things to come. Why do I have a feeling I’ll have to choose between the man I love and saving the world again before this is all over?
“Where are we?” I ask.
I straighten my spine. We need to get back to the task at hand. I don’t even know how long I was separated from my friends on that damn island and we’re racing against the clock.
