Chapter 14

Days slowly melded into weeks with the sluggish speed of a sea snail. I was losing my mind trapped on this awful ship with that dreadful pirate captain. I spent my days doing nothing more than sleeping, eating, going on deck, and repeating the process the next day.

We'd stopped at another port a few days ago, but Kai had refused to let me go ashore. He said I had caused enough trouble at the last port. A few of his crew members had deserted ship, apparently too frightened to continue on to Medusa's lair. At least we had fresh food. Kai had bought me a few pieces of clothes to wear instead of his clothing, which thrilled me because I was tired of his salty, rugged scent invading my senses.

I glanced down at the clothing he had chosen for me. I was still shocked that I preferred what he had picked out over the dress Penelope had given me. I brushed my hands along the flowy black pants, marveling at how silky they felt against my skin. They rose high on my waist, complementing the white, cropped shirt with delicate buttons running down the bodice. He had bought me a pair of shoes too, but I refused to wear them. I couldn't stand to have my feet so confined.

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with salty sea air. My gaze darted to the rushing waters as the ship pounded over the waves. What I wouldn't give to jump overboard, to feel the cool ocean water against my skin and wash away some of the sweat caused by the suffering heat.

"How much longer?" I tried not to whine, but it came out that way anyway. I angled my body toward Kai, who leisurely stood behind the wheel.

I had tried to avoid him over the past few weeks, but I would go stir-crazy if I didn't speak to someone, and I secretly prayed that he would say that we were nearly there.

"We are under full sail. I can do no more. The ship can only travel as fast as the wind allows," Kai answered without glancing my way.

"Seems to me you have more patience when it comes to the prospect of death," Cael's deep voice rumbled as he leaned against the railing beside me.

"I have no intention of dying… I can't." I exhaled, staring helplessly toward Aquarius. "The fate of my people depends upon me."

Cael crossed his arms over his chest, seemingly intending to stay for a while. "Tell me about your home and people."

Kai glanced at Cael with evident annoyance written across his pinched face.

"Aquarius is a beautiful kingdom. One of the largest siren kingdoms around." I paused mid-sentence as I was about to reveal the location of Aquarius. Sea monster hunters did not need to know the whereabouts of my home. Kai glanced back at me when I paused but then focused back on the horizon.

"My father is there, and my mother, and I have a younger sister. I had an older sister, but she was killed by humans." That last part came out lined with venom, and I was surprised that neither man flinched or even seemed at all concerned about my sister's death, but why should they? "When she died, it became my duty to carry on our legacy." My voice deepened with sadness, gaining me a quick glance from Kai over his shoulder.

"And then there is my fiancé, Orm." I swear Kai's shoulders stiffened, and an evil thought blossomed in my mind. "He's so handsome and strong. Captain of the siren army." I forced my voice to become loving and dreamy sounding.

"A fine specimen, I'm sure." When Cael joined in, I was shocked. Stranger still was the smile that spread across his face and the anticipation in his eyes as he watched Kai.

"Quiet, both of you," Kai scolded. "I'm trying to focus on our bearings."

Cael doubled over with laughter. "Since when does talking disturb your navigation?"

"Since now," Kai grumbled.

Cael walked off, still laughing. I scrunched my brow in confusion as I watched Kai.

His gaze finally sought mine. "Tell me, sea demon, how do you plan on defeating Medusa? Anything of flesh is affected by her stare. You may have a better chance as a siren, but I wouldn't rely on that if I were you."

I paused. The thought hadn't crossed my mind. I honestly didn't think I would make it this far, but as the prospect loomed before me, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach.

Kai cocked a dark eyebrow at me. "And don't say your siren song. Medusa is a gorgon. It may not work on her. Do you even know how to defend yourself?"

A lump swelled in my throat, and I swallowed. "No. Princesses are not exactly trained in self-defense…" I bit my lip when he motioned for another man to take the wheel, and then Kai walked toward me.

His presence was suffocating. He was so close I could feel his body heat warm against my skin.

The hiss of metal rang through the air as he pulled his sword from the scabbard, and I cringed.

"Take it." He handed me the hilt, and I wrapped my fingers around it.

I had never held a sword before, and its weight astounded me. How did this man parade around with this and several other weapons strapped to his body at all times?

"Your stance is important. Spread your legs apart and bend your knees slightly." Using his booted foot, he maneuvered my feet until he was satisfied with my posture. "This way, if someone or something throws their body weight against you, they will be less likely to knock you over. Medusa will use her serpent tail to try to knock you off your feet. If she does, you will be dead."

I couldn't believe he was offering to help me, but I absorbed his words like a sea sponge.

"Hold the blade before your face. You have to protect your upper body at all costs. You have to watch your opponent and use all of your senses. Hear her muscles coil. Smell her skin and the musk it gives off when she is getting ready to strike." He repositioned my arm when the sword started to droop. "Even something as simple as a quiver of her muscles could give away where she intends to strike next." Kai positioned my arms and gripped my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "No matter what, do not take your eyes off your opponent."

I shook my head in understanding as my nerves began to break through the surface of my emotions. I angled my head toward his voice. "How did you survive?"

"I didn't." He breathed in my ear. "Some wounds are not visible to the naked eye."

My fingertips tingled as I tried to process his words. What wound did he speak of?

"Cael, help the sea demon out, will you?" he added before I had a chance to ask him anything further.

My stare shifted to Cael, who had stopped what he was doing to watch the show, along with several of the other men.

"My pleasure, Captain," Cael answered in a voice that was all too eager.

Cael pulled his sword from his waist, the shiny metal of the blade reflecting in my face. I hesitated as the massive man approached me. He struck out as quickly as an eel, striking my sword with such force that it flew from my hands and landed with a loud clang against the floorboards. Cael raised his blade, lightly brushing the tip along the hollow of my throat.

"He that wavers is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Kai's voice made me jump as he came up behind me, his warm breath caressing my neck.

"You're a poet now?" I asked as he picked up the blade, handed it to me, and repositioned my body.

"No, just speaking words of wisdom." Kai pressed his solid body to my back and placed his rough hand on top of mine, gripping the sword's hilt.

His scent engulfed me, flooding my senses and distracting me from the man with the blade in front of me. Cael struck out again. I would have been too late again, but Kai was in charge of this dance now. He parried and blocked Cael's attack, the blades echoing when steel met steel. The force of the swords coming together sent a vibrating tingle down my arm, but that was nothing compared to what Kai's closeness was doing to my body.

I tried to focus on Cael as he circled, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. When he did, I blocked it. Kai's hand was still on top of mine, but he was letting me make the decisions now.

"Good." His voice slithered through my ear and all the way down to my toes. "Again."

I could not keep the smile within when Cael attacked again, and I successfully blocked him. Cael's eyes sparkled, and his face shone with amusement.

"Watch his body language. See how his muscles just tensed," Kai whispered.

On cue, Cael's blade sliced through the air, aiming for my midsection. My reflexes were sluggish, and the blow would have cut through my skin, but Kai's arm snaked around my stomach and pulled me backward, just out of reach of the tip of the blade. My body slammed against his, knocking the wind from my lungs. My mind told me to push away from him, but my body had other intentions. My back and shoulders were flush against his rigid torso, my frame melding perfectly with his. I glanced over my shoulder, blinking up at him as his deep blue eyes consumed me and swallowed me whole.

"Land ho, Capitán." Rat's voice echoed from above, knocking me from my trance.

I wet my lips, which had suddenly gone dry. Kai's pupils dilated as he glanced down at my mouth.

Kai cleared his throat, pushing me at arm's length. "That's enough for today."

My back stiffened, and I was frozen in place as Kai walked off and started thundering orders.

"I'll take that." Cael reached down and plucked the sword from my hand. "Cap'n obviously got lost in his little training exercise and forgot where we were. He's going to need this." Cael motioned to the sword in his hand.

"Where exactly are we?"

"The island of Sarpedon, home of Medusa," Cael said without another glance in my direction.

I rushed to the bow of the boat, watching intently as a speck of land way off in the distance came into view. My nerves increased tenfold the closer we sailed to land. Kai instructed the men to adjust the sails, causing the ship to slow as we approached the island.

My eyes traced the side of a steep, jagged cliff, and my mouth fell open in disbelief. The sheer extent of the obstacle before us was intimidating, and doubt crept into my mind. There was no way we were making it up that cliff. A sense of isolation washed over me as I turned to survey the landscape. To the left and right, the treacherous cliff stretched as far as the eyes could see.

I walked over to Kai, who scanned the perimeter like a predator, muscles tensed, ready for anything.

"I take it she does not like company." I tried to sound lighthearted but could not seem to hide the tremor in my voice.

"That's an understatement," Kai muttered.

"Is it like this all the way around the island?" I held my breath, hoping there was nice beach access somewhere.

Kai's gaze shifted forward, and he motioned with his head. "Only way in is through that cove."

I followed the direction he indicated to a crack in the cliff. I would assume this would be good news, but something about Kai's stance and how his eyes contemplated every inch of the area had my fear blossoming.

"Lower the sails and get the quant poles!" Kai's voice echoed off the cliffs in the distance, making him sound even more menacing.

With the sails lowered, the ship came to a complete stop, and the heat from the sun instantly became suffering without the gentle breeze. We were nearly at the entrance of the crevice in the cliff, and I could see why Kai ordered the sails to be lowered. It was a tight fit, and the boat would have never fit through with the sails raised. The men hauled up long, skinny poles and used them to push the boat forward.

They expertly navigated the ship down the long, winding passageway with great ease and precision, but as the close quarters surrounded us, a sense of trepidation crept up my chest. A potent combination of anticipation, excitement, and fear heightened the intensity of the moment. I should have been scared stiff, but this was why I had left my home.

As daunting as the obstacle before us was, it also carried the promise of hope. The narrow passageway, though confining, represented a gateway to end the turmoil caused by the Dark Hydra.

The boat creaked and whined, wood scraping the rocks the further we ventured in. No one spoke; I wasn't sure if anyone was breathing at the moment. A gasp caught in my throat as the ship snared on a protruding boulder.

"Easy," Kai warned barely above a whisper. "The tide is low today. Push off the starboard."

The crew shifted to the right side of the boat, all the men pushing with the quant poles simultaneously. Finally, the ship squeezed by and continued down the narrowing slit in the island.

I eased toward the ship's bow, carefully watching for any signs of danger. Anticipation fluttered in my chest.

"Breathe." I sensed Kai's presence behind me. His thick baritone voice calmed my tattered nerves.

I sucked in a ragged breath and walked closer to the railing. Just ahead, the passageway widened, and with it came a glimmering current of hope.

The ship easily passed through the end of the cliff, giving way to a massive lagoon. My mouth tumbled open at the enchanting scene. A giant waterfall cascaded over the cliff, pouring into the deep aquamarine lagoon, providing perfect, peaceful harmony. Flowers and plants of greens, purples, and blues lined the edge of the water, painting a serene scene against the otherwise jade forest. Rocks broke through the surface of the lulling water covered with a velvety-looking green moss.

"It's beautiful," I whispered as elegant white birds sang, brushing past us and landing on the low-hanging branch of a tree.

I turned, eyes wide, when I heard the metal of Kai's blade hiss as he drew it from his scabbard. "Looks can be deceiving."