Page 81 of Poseidon's Trident
“Maybe we don’t actually have to go into Canada,” Greyson says. “I’ll need a different map once we’re closer.”
“Yes,” Thad says thoughtfully. “Vancouver is a coastal city, and the tip of Washington is coastal too. If we can find a boat, we can probably find the island without ever crossing into Canada.”
“Are we sure about boats?” Jayden asks.
“The trident is on an island, Jayden. We are going to have to go into the sea at some point.” I sigh.
“I just don’t like it. My father was always clear—stay out of the seas and the skies. His brothers won’t like me being in their domain.”
“I get it. Nereus made a comment about me risking a lot to come into the ocean and help him because other sea gods may try to attack me for it.” I nod.
“You shouldn’t have risked yourself like that. You should have gotten help,” Jayden growls.
“I thought he was drowning. There wasn’t enough time. I thought if I didn’t help him immediately, he would die.” I cross my arms.
“I know.” Jayden grips my thigh harder. “I just wish I had been there to help.”
“Everything turned out fine.”
“Guys?” Raven calls. “Look at the ocean.”
I turn and look out Jayden’s window as the water retreats too far from the normal tide. Thunder crashes overhead and the skies open up as rain pelts the windshield.
“It’s getting worse. Is there about to be a tsunami?” I lean forward into Jayden’s space.
“It’s not to that point yet,” Thad says. “The water will build for a couple minutes and then crash back into the sand.”
“Or on the highway,” I say, watching the ocean warily.
I should trust Thad to know these things about the ocean, but I have seen the devastation the sea has caused in the human world. Anything can happen when Poseidon is weakened and unable to control the waters.
The rain comes down in heavy sheets and we can barely see anything as the announcer comes over the radio.
“Interstate One has been closed after a freak mudslide has covered the highway outside of Half Moon Bay. All traffic is being diverted while crews do their best to clear the roadway.”
“Well, shit. You think that’s where the next trial is?” I chew my lip.
“The only other way out of Half Moon Bay doesn’t go along the coast. Nereus told you we had to drive along the coast, right?” Greyson asks.
“Yeah, he said we must drive along the coast and there are trials along the way. We have to pass each trial to gain access to the island.” I lean back in my seat.
“Then we have to stop,” Jayden says.
Thad rests his arms on the back of Greyson’s seat. “I can probably clear the mud faster than the humans, but I can’t do it while they are there. I’ll have to do it at night.”
“Okay, so we are decided, then. We stay in Half Moon Bay tonight. Hopefully we don’t encounter anything too nasty.” I shudder.
I turn to the sea as it crashes back into the beach without destroying the road ahead of us. What are we in for in this quiet little seaside town? The sea retreats again even farther this time and I grimace. What will happen to all the humans here if there’s a tsunami?
Hundreds or thousands of people will die if a tsunami hits these little towns. An even greater urgency rushes through me as the waves churn and crash violently against the beach. It’s not just the academy at stake if we don’t hurry, but we don’t have a choice in stopping.
The instructions from Nereus were clear. We must travel along the shore and pass all trials. We have to stay and face what is to come, even if it slows us down.
Gods, please don’t let us be too late to save everyone. It will mean the destruction of everything.
20
Jayden pulls the SUV into the parking lot of a local diner. Thunder crashes overhead louder and more violent than I have ever heard since coming to California. A puddle lines the curb and threatens to spill over to the sidewalk and flood the small restaurant.
