Chapter 23
“Now that is a nice ship!” Exclaims Vasos whistling through his teeth at it.
“We should make good time to Melos.” Frowns Sevrrir.
“What’s the matter?” Questions Vasos noticing his frown.
“Kitty cats don’t like water.” Answers Sander for him.
“Are you calling me a coward you pathetic excuse for a child of the gods? I am Sevrrir son of Heimdall guardian of the gods all I know is duty, honor…”
“And fear of water!” Laughs Sander before tripping over an oar and falling.
“Are you alright?” Giggles Vasos stepping on board himself.
“Who cares?” Mutters Sevrrir stepping past him.
“No worries Vasos I’m fine, I didn’t spill my drink!” He smiles.
“That’s nice Sander.” Vasos says ignoring him and walking up to the captain of the ship. “Captain Helios I presume.”
“Indeed.” The captain replies shaking his hand fervently. “You must be Vasos the avenger; it is truly an honor to have you on board.
“It is an honor to be here when do we sail?”
“If there’s nothing else you need to do or get Vasos we’ll sail right now.” He smiles.
“Everyone and everything is present and accounted for captain, we are excited to get underway.” Vasos replies happily.
Just then Sevrrir runs past them to the rail throwing up over the side.
“At least two of us are.” Vasos frowns at Sevrrir. “Now if you’ll excuse me captain I’ll introduce you to the others a little later.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Laughs the captain walking off and shouting orders to the crew.
The ship lurches back and forth as they sail swiftly towards their destination, Sander used the time to sleep while Vasos learned everything he could about sailing but unfortunately for Sevrrir, he has spent the last hour heaving over the side of the ship with his face changing colors.
Unable to bare his friend unhappy Vasos walks up rubbing his friend’s back for a moment. “Is there anything I can do to help you with your sea sickness?”
“It’s not sea sickness.” Sevrrir replies eyeing Sander to make sure he’s still napping.
“What do you mean?” Questions Vasos following his gaze.
Lowering his voice to a whisper. “Sander was right, because of the lion’s blood in me I am deathly afraid of the water.”
“I knew it!” Laughs Sander from right behind them startling them both. “Quick the only way to calm him down is to get him a saucer of milk.”
Sevrrir turns quickly ready to attack but Sander points behind him them. “Look out tidal wave!”
“You really think I’m going to fall for that?” Questions Sevrrir stomping towards him until a giant shadow blots out the sun.
“All hands brace for impact!” Yells the captain confirming Sevrrir’s fears.
Frantic he changes into a lion running from the wave until he reaches the edge of the ship, and then quickly turning he stares in horror at the oncoming wave. All at once the wave smashes into the ship nearly forcing it to capsize. In seconds the lion is washed overboard with the mighty roar bring drown out as the water fills its mouth.
Anxiously Vasos and Sander run to the railing searching for their comrade who pops up for a second still in lion form thrashing violently as he tries to stay afloat. In seconds the fight is over as the lion rapidly sinks below the surface leaving behind a few bubbles as the only trace that it was ever there.
“Vasos quickly!” Yells Sander forming a vine and handing it to him before diving into the water.
Holding on to the vine firmly, Vasos realizes that he’s been holding his breath in worry himself. Seconds pass by with the feel of hours as he stares attentively at the surface of the water waiting for any sign of his friends. All of a sudden the vine tugs for a second against his grip, taking it as a signal Sander has reached Sevrrir, Vasos pulls with all his might but to his disappointment the vine flies out of the water cut in half with no signs of his friends.
“NO!” He yells preparing to jump into the water himself but before he can the ship shakes again driving him to the deck with a loud thud as he hits his head.
Dazed with blurry vision he rolls onto his stomach staring at the opposite side of the ship where the impact originated. To his shock he sees a massive figure rising out of the water.
A massive wormlike body is slowly rising out of the water, its hideous body is wrinkled like an old hags in rings of extra skin sagging up and down the width of the creature. The color is putrid a nasty mix of faded yellow, red and dust brown. As its horrid head breaches the water Vasos nearly gags at the sight, it has beady yellow black eyes with no ears or nose to speak of, it’s massive mouth is foaming and dripping saliva from its jagged dagger like teeth at the same time a snake like tongue flickers back and forth at the air hungry for food but the worst thing about it was the foul breath that smelled of old fish, rotting flesh and old seaweed. But all that wasn’t what made him gag, what made him almost lose his lunch was the sight of Sander riding on top of the head of the creature known as a Cetea holding Sevrrir’s limp body close to him. Visibly Vasos can see that the vines Sander has created are already breaking from the creature thrashing about trying to reach them.
A surge of protective feelings swells in Vasos turning his fear to anger in a second.
With a yell that frightens everyone even the creature, Vasos runs at the edge of the deck leaping over the railing with such force that with his axe in his hands he sails right through the creature leaving a giant hole in his wake. Plunging into the water on the other side of the creature Vasos breaks the surface of the water expecting to turn and find the monster dissolving but instead he discovers the creature fixing it’s gaze on him with absolute hatred.
Out of the corner of his eye Vasos can see Sander throwing Sevrrir’s limp body to the deck of the ship now that they are closer. Time seems to slow after that and many things happen in the same moment, Sevrrir woke and to his horror drinks in the peril his comrades are in. Sander threw himself to the front of Cetea attacking it with his bare fists forcing vines to grow out of it with every blow. The creature dove towards Vasos intent on devouring him and Vasos dove under the water trying to avoid the jaws that spelled his certain doom.
As the creature’s head dove into the water Sander lost his grip floating free in the ocean for a moment as sadly all he can do is watch the jaws of the creature close around Vasos. Sander has no time to grieve since the creature quickly turned to finish him off, swimming as hard as he can Sander breaches the surface but his elation is short lived when the creature explodes from underneath him grabbing him with its tongue as it raises higher and higher. To his surprise he hasn’t been swallowed or chewed until he understands why. Vasos is holding him firmly with one hand while his feet and back strain with all his might keeping the jaws from closing on them.
With the angle of the creature Sevrrir can see it all happening unable to help in anyway, wanting desperately to do something, anything but the moment he sees the water his fear locks him in place.
“I can’t hold it much longer!” Yells Vasos.
“You can if you let me go!” Sander shouts. “Survive my brother and no matter what I said in the past know that I have always respected you and would never have let harm come to you if I could help it, let me protect you now. Let me go!”
“No I won’t, just use your vines to keep the mouth open!”
“They’re not strong enough we’d both be killed!”
“I won’t let you fall, I won’t lose you!” Vasos shrieks as he begins to lose his grip.
“The choice isn’t yours anymore, I have to do this Vasos it’s the only way you’ll survive, take care of Sevrrir, goodbye my brother.” Cries sander forcing vines to grow in between his arm and Vasos hand forcing it open.
“Gods no!” Yells Sevrrir from the deck as he watches Sander disappear into the creature’s throat.
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nbsp; Noticing the massive hole in the monster Sevrrir forgets his fear fueled by rage, quickly he changes shape back into a lion and throws himself into the hole of the creature and then to everyone’s surprise begins clawing his way up the inside of the Cetea destroying it as he goes. With the crew watching the creature’s jaws move closer and closer together and just when it looked like all was lost the massive lion body of Sevrrir explodes from the mouth grabbing Vasos in its jaws without hurting him and Sander on his back.
With one final wail of pain the Cetea begins to dissolve to dust as the trio drops into the water. Minutes later the three of them are breathless with their chests heaving, the crew is rushing about to get them blankets, water and food all the while praising their names and deeds.
“Thought you didn’t like me.” Wheezes Sander looking at Sevrrir.
Flushed Sevrrir stands running his fingers through his hair. “I don’t, I just…I just didn’t want anyone taking away my pleasure of killing you that’s all.”
“Of course.” Sander smiles.
“So you respect me and really do care for Sevrrir huh?” Questions Vasos, putting him on the spot.
“That was the alcohol talking, the real reason I wanted you to drop me is so I could finally be released from this damn quest.” He yawns shrugging off the question as he opens his flask.
“Sure it was.” Vasos says getting to his feet.
“It was.” Sander insists taking a long drink.
“I believe you.” Vasos reassures him. “In any case you both did a great job and I am proud to call you both brothers.”
“Likewise.” Sevrrir nods shivering still from the dip in the water.
“I’ll drink to that.” Sander waves.
Vasos smiles one last time as he walks over to the captain. “Could I talk to you for a minute?” He questions.
“Sure what’s on your mind?”
“Actually I’d like to talk to you in private if I could.” Vasos says looking around. “It’s kind of personal.”
“Say no more let’s head to my cabin.”
Vasos follows the man to his quarters winking at his friends as he passes.
Helios closes the doors behind them after they enter the room. “Before you say anything Vasos I want to tell you how impressed I was with you and your men. Not many people, heroes or otherwise would have been able to defeat that thing.”
“Yeah sorry to have disappointed you by the way.” He replies flatly playing with something’s on the captain’s desk.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t look so offended or surprised. I found it very odd that the Cetea (which just happens to be one of Eris’ creatures by the way) attacked us an hour after we depart but doesn’t really attack the ship only the demigods aboard and what happens while we were attacked and fighting for our lives? Your crew did nothing.”
“Everyone was just in shock, we’re not trained soldiers.” He says nervously edging towards his sword lying on the desk.
“Go ahead reach for it.” Smiles Vasos leaning back in the chair opposite the captain. “You know you want to. Just think of it, we’re completely alone. You could take care of me and then attack my partners before they knew what was happening.”
Lunging for the sword Helios is surprised to see that Vasos didn’t move even an inch to stop him, instead he just sat unconcerned at the situation.
“You should have brought a weapon in here with you.”
“What could you do against me mortal? What can you do against a man that is a weapon himself.”
Helios starts to shake for a moment before he suddenly bursts into tears. “No one will ever love me.” He cries.
Rolling his eyes Vasos stands up slapping him in the face so hard he drops his sword. “Pull it together man! Now tell me what was your deal and with who?”
Immortals Children Of The Gods Page 23