19 AD

Helix crouched in the shadows keeping his breathing slow and quiet. It was two nights since the storm had blown over. Everything on board except the cabins had been drenched. Even the cabins were damp but they had faired the best. The deck which had, of course, dried the fastest in the brisk sea air was now littered with crates, barrels, and anything that needed to dry out. It was behind one such crate that Helix hid.

Ever since she had miraculously rescued him, Helix had watched Sal closely. He wanted to know more about her and how she'd saved him but, if he was being honest with himself, he was scared of her. It was Sal he watched now as she stood near the rail at the prow of the ship. She had been standing in the same place, staring into the water, for over an hour.

Just as his muscles began to groan in agony and his eyes tired of straining through the darkness, a dull glowing green light began emanating from the water somewhere below where Sal stood. Eyes wide he forced his breath to stay calm and even.

A hand suddenly appeared next to Sal on the rail, followed by a man's head, shoulders and finally legs as he climbed onto the ship. Helix instantly noticed how tall the stranger was as he stood looking down at Sal. His bare torso complete with thick muscular shoulders and back was tattooed with what looked like scales. The impressive ink started at the strangers neck and vanished beneath the midnight blue pants. His wet shoulder length black hair, almost the same color, and length as Helix's own swayed slightly as the man tilted his head presumably to examine Sal. The stranger's entire body seemed to emanate an eerie dark green glow which lit the area around him and the woman quite well.

"Why have you summoned me Decuma?"

The stranger's voice, although barely audible from Helix's hiding place, was deep and rich with power as he spoke Sal's much longer real name. Each syllable crashed across his ears as waves crashed against the ship. The familiarity in his tone stiffened every muscle to the point of trembling. Helix cringed as lighting on a clear day and the sound of a thunder-filled voice filled his mind.

"I need to find your nephew." She quietly growled the words at him, her chin lifted high.

"Why come to me? You are the third Seer. Surely you can weave your thread and find him."

"Ares is avoiding me."

"With good reason I am sure." Humor laced his words.

"Tell me where he is Poseidon."

Helix's mind raced. Poseidon. God of the Sea. Zeus's brother. Brothers with similar voices, he mused.

"No." The god firmly answered.

Anger twisted Sal's pretty face as she spat at his feet. "If you do not want to help me then why bother coming at all!"

Faster then light or sound, a strong male hand closed around her throat lifting her clear of the deck. Still, her expression remained angry the fire in her green eyes burning bright.

"Do not think that because you have courted my Nephew and garnered favor in the Pantheon that I will tolerate your meddling ways." His face was so close to hers that his black waves of hair mixed with her red ones. "You gave a damned mortal a blessing two nights past. My blessing. Who?"

She glowered, gasping slightly as his hand loosened enough for speech and for her to land back on the deck, her knees absorbing the shock. "An insignificant boy."

Poseidon's back tightened. "No one is insignificant, and my blessings are not yours to fling about as you please!"

Her lips curled back into a smile which looked more like a snarl. "As you said, I am the third Seer. The future is mine to weave in whatever way I see fit!

"Even you can't control the future Decuma."

She suddenly flashed a winning smile. Her eyes turning sweet she pulled what seemed like a long thread from her hand. Her fingers wrapped around each end.

"Decuma." He spoke her name as if it was an order.

"If you won't help me find Ares then this is goodbye." She snapped the thread and Poseidon vanished cursing so loudly Helix was surprised no one aboard awoke to check. The light surrounding Sal disappeared with the god.

Helix had to blink as his eyes adjusted the deeper darkness. He could just make out Sal gracefully vanishing below decks, presumably to return to her cabin. A dread filled Helix waiting an extra minute to be sure that she was truly in her cabin and not going to re-appear.

Only then did it dawn on him that the night watch who was supposed to keep alert on deck had never appeared during Sal's strange visit. Finally sure that all was quiet he sprang up and searched the deck.

Slumped behind the ship's wheel was the night watch. A middle-aged man that everyone just called BT. Bending down he put a hand in front of the man's mouth checking for breath. Nothing.

For a moment Helix considered calling the captain and telling him about Sal and what she had undoubtedly done. Murder. She had murdered one of the crew. Then the sheer hopelessness of his situation hit him. She had sent Poseidon away. A god. She had lived while rescuing him from the bottom of the ocean and miraculously helped him breathe underwater. What would stop her from murdering the rest of the crew if she felt threatened? Helix did not doubt she could and would do it.

Helix rose and looked down at his fellow sailor. Perhaps he could tell the captain about BT but leave Sal out of the story? No. If he told anyone about BT, Sal might find out about Helix's spying. He knew that with the dawn someone would find BT's body so he left the deck, making his way to his berth.

Sleep eluding him, Helix listened to the sounds of the ship. Creaking wood as the vessel swayed, broken only by the breath and snoring of men. With his heart heavy, Helix thought through everything he had learned and seen this night.

Poseidon had mentioned Sal giving him a blessing? For surely he had to be the insignificant boy of whom they spoke. Poseidon's blessing. The breathing under water? Wondering if he could still breath under water or if the blessing wore off made Helix feel excited, then sickened. Here he was being excited about something a murderer had given him. The blessing of a god whose brother had slaughtered his family.

Rolling over in the hammock, careful not to tip it, Helix shut his eyes. Memories of his mother's soft face flitted before him. Much to his distress, the memory of his mother had begun to fade over time. He could no longer recall her voice or the color of her eyes. Only her face remained. Helix worried that one day he would lose even that piece of her.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Morning found Helix again in the crows nest, a spyglass held to his face. A soft wind ruffled his black hair and kissed his skin softly. In the distance, he studied the shore. On the island of Montaron sat a bustling port. A dozen sailing ships sat anchored along the islands shore, with numerous smaller fishing and rowing vessels scattered around them. It was from Montaron a secondary, much smaller vessel would take Sal up the Natiso river to her destination, the Roman city of Aquileia.

Lowering the spy glass Helix glanced below his eyes settling on the ship's wheel. The second mate had found BT's corpse in the early hours of dawn. They had told the crew it was a heart attack. Helix had merely listened. BT's body had been ceremoniously given to the Sea with all crew in attendance. Sal had even joined them tears in her eyes. Tears. The wretched woman, thing, whatever she was, had the gall to fake sadness! Helix had kept as far from her as possible during the service.

A quick scan over the deck told him that Sal was below. Likely packing to disembark. A niggling thought had begun to take root in Helix's mind as they gave BT to the dark waters. Sal knew the gods. She had dismissed Poseidon, seemingly against his will. Whoever she was, perhaps she also knew how to kill a god.

Helix did not dare to ask her while aboard the ship, while he was surrounded by his friends that she might harm or kill. Once on shore though?

With his mind made up, Helix placed the spy glass in his belt and climbed to the deck. Moving quickly he descended below decks, gathered his few belongings, including his coin pouch which contained all of his last salary. He then went to the captain's cabin door.

Rapping three times Helix waited for the, "Enter." In the captains booming voice.

The captain's cabin was spacious as shipboard rooms went. At a small desk in the corner sat the captain looking over some maps. He was a shorter balding man whose skin was leathery and wrinkled from long years on the sea. The captain's sea green eyes lifted to Helix as the young man entered. His assessing gaze took in the small packed bag and his expression.

"Sir I've come to-"

"You plan to leave us young Helix." It was not a question, or a judgment just a simple statement.

Helix nodded. " Yes, sir. I need to take care of a few things shoreside, but if you could let Portheus know that I will try to return one day I would appreciate it."

The captain's eyes twinkled warmly as he stood. Coming around the desk he held out his hand to Helix. "Take care of yourself Helix."

Helix shook his hand meeting the strong grip with his own. "I will."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Feeling both invigorated and if he was honest, a little bit nervous, Helix walked down the gangplank and onto the dock. Pausing for a moment he let his legs adjust to the strange sensation of solid ground beneath him. The effort of walking on the unusually still surface took Him a good half hour to adjust to, and even then he was not very confident.

Sal had gotten off the ship before him. He did not know which way she had gone but figured she would eventually have to find someone to take her on a boat from the island of Montaron to Aquileia. He would wait for her by the docks. Eventually, she would return to hire a boat.

Ignoring his hunger he sat on a crate. His mind immediately went to a different dock eight years earlier. A small smile crossed his face at the accomplishments he'd achieved. Pouring over those memories he almost missed the whisper of cloth behind him.

Casting a look over his shoulder, he toppled off the crate curses spitting from his lips as he landed on the wood and rolled up to his feet. Sal stood there, a wicked smile on her lips. "Shore leave?"

Clearing his throat he stood and shook his head. "Decided to stay on land for a while. Maybe join up." Helix saw the look in her eyes. The flash of brief anger.

"Seeing as that is your intention, you should join me. I'm sure you can find a legion in Aquileia that will take you." Her tone was slightly mischievous.

Trying hard to not look too eager or disgusted Helix nodded. "Yeah, alright."

This would be better, he thought to himself. If he could stay alive, it would be easier to travel with her until the right opportunity arose to ask her if she knew a way, a way to kill Zeus.

Sal grinned and tilted her head toward a road leading away from the docks. "I'm going to stay at the inn up the way for the night. I'd be pleased if you'd join me for the afternoon meal?"

Again Helix nodded. Then he followed Sal while slinging his bag over one shoulder.

The inn was surprisingly lavish for being so close to the ocean, the docks being ever known for their more nefarious establishments. Helix quickly glanced around taking in details. A bright roaring fire burned in each of the three hearths around the main common area. On the rich wood floor were plush rugs, graced every so often by mahogany tables and chairs. Across the windows and walls hung tapestries of fine silk.

He blinked absorbing the scene and realized that the patronage of the establishment wore fine clothes the like of which he had not seen since his family's palace. The women were decked in jewels and rich colored dresses. The men wore expensive leathers, silks, and wools.

"Fabulous, is it not?" Sal was staring at him, her eyes dancing.

"It is... very fine." Helix breathed rubbing his neck.

"Come my table is this way." Taking his arm Sal led him across the room to a corner in the far left.

Helix remembered his manners and pulled her chair out for her.

"Oh my. What a gentleman." Sal smirked.

Sitting across from her Helix continued to observe the room. Something was strange here. Something he could not place seemed, wrong.

An innkeeper crossed to them and asked in a gravely voice, "What will you have? We got soups, good meats of all kinds?"

"He will have the braised beef and vegetables. I will have the same."

"Alright." The innkeeper left.

The meal was good albeit quiet. Sal tried to make some conversation but Helix kept his answers short. About halfway through his food, Sal had the innkeeper bring a pitcher of drink.

She poured some into both of their crystal goblets. It was a rich ruby red and released a sweet smell. Helix guessed some kind of wine. He tasted it and found himself drinking one glass, then another, and another. Not long after Helix was laughing at some joke Sal made. His head felt foggy and light.

"You are quite the handsome young man Helix." Sal scooted her chair closer and brushed her hand through his hair. She leaned close her nose brushing his. "And I could use a handsome distraction tonight."

"I..." the fog in his mind thickened. He shook his head or thought he did. Vision swimming he tried to respond again, "I don't..."

Soft sensuous lips brushed against his and moved down his neck. "Shhhh sailor." She breathed onto his skin. "Don't fight your feelings."

A scream in his mind as she kissed him again, run, run, escape! Grasping his slim thread of control which threatened to snap with every heartbeat, Helix violently stood up and stumbled toward the exit.

Sal who had fallen back into her chair at his sudden movement started after him, an adders smile dancing across her face.