Page 78 of Hooked on a Witch
A new Ericthonian approached him, flanked by two serpents.
Shannon’s father fought alongside two druids at the opposite end of the porch. They were covered in bloody scratches. All of them would need the remedy to prevent the change. He had a small bit at the office, probably not enough for this many people. No time to fly to the one shaman in Greece who could brew the right healing potion.
This had to end. He protected people. It’s what he did, who he was. Above all, he protected Shannon.
This entire business with Poseidon reeked of gods fucking with his life. His fault. His responsibility.
Merck pointed the sword at the approaching snake man. In Greek, he said, “All of this needs to stop. Take me to Athena. I am the only one here who knows about what she seeks.”
The creature halted, cocking its head as if considering his words. It gazed at the blade he held and then nodded.
Shannon grabbed his arm. His gaze met hers for an instant and then resumed his stare on the snake man.
“I’m going with you,” she said. “This is about me.”
“We don’t know exactly what this is about.” He met her father’s gaze over her head. “Stay with your father right now. I’ll deal with this.”
“You can’t stop me from going with you.”
“I might not make it, darlin’, but I need for you to live. You still have a chance to survive all of this.” His breath came out a harsh rasp. “Please. I need for you to be somewhere safe while I speak with Athena. Go.” He nudged her toward her father. All the Ericthonians looked to be backing out of the fight.
Her gaze darted around the yard. The breeze carried the stench of blood. Streaks of red painted the front of the white house, and the porch rails like a B-grade horror film.
“The only place I’m safe is with you.” She took a step toward him, but her father caught her arm.
“He’s right. Stay here. With us,” Brian ordered.
Merck wished he could keep her close and promise her the safety she asked of him. Right now he had to deal with a goddess he’d never met face-to-face. If everything went south and Athena killed him, then Shannon would be safer out of view or with the druids in a renewed fight against the snake men. He gazed at Brian for a few seconds, silently pleading he keep her safe, before jogging after the Ericthonian.
He approached the black-haired woman at the water’s edge. Not a woman, he amended in his mind, a goddess. Serious goddess. Everything about her appearance was perfect and toned with dark Mediterranean skin and catlike eyes. Intelligent eyes.
He’d lost sight of Bythos long ago. Right now, it’d be nice to have the brothers as backup.
He bowed when Athena’s attention focused solely on him. “It is an honor to be in your presence.”
“Give me the Trident,” she ordered in an echoing voice that ricocheted painfully between his ears.
Merck’s spine went rigid. Athena’s tone and glower demanded fear and deference. What was the worst she offered? Death. He may not want it today, but he wasn’t afraid of it, even if she could probably dream up a painful way to ensure he died eternally screaming. He’d accept it if the outcome protected his water friends and kept Shannon safe.
He asked, “Why do you want the Trident?”
She frowned as if he was an idiot to question her. “I do not answer to you, but I detect your father’s stubbornness should I refuse to answer. To take Poseidon’s power and kill him, of course.”
Merck shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. He released a long sigh. Athena didn’t get the big picture. “This is about revenge for you, then? For something he did a long time ago?”
Athena scowled a promise of impending pain, but the slight widening of her eyes was a clearyeson Poseidon being a shithead at some point in the past.
Merck said, “Assuming I could get the Trident for you, which I’m not saying I can, and I give it to you, what then? Will you steal all of Poseidon’s power and rise over him, humiliate him, possibly even kill him and ascend to his underwater throne? Then what?”
Athena’s face lit up. Her lips curved into a jubilant, scary smile.
The hairs on his arms stood as chills skirted along his skin. “Are you ready to take on his responsibilities? Do you love all of the ocean and her creatures to the point you would devote the rest of your existence to their welfare? To mediate the battles amongst them and against humans? To fight pollution? To pick up after natural disasters? To heal their injuries?”
“Who are you to question me?” Her voice echoed inside his skull to the point his ears hurt.
“So you want his throne without responsibility? Perhaps you plan to delegate the responsibility of sea life and ocean welfare to someone else. Someone who won’t understand them? Someone equally power hungry?”
“You want this job.” She smiled superiorly as if she had him figured out.
