“Take her. Go.” He said, just as softly. Demitri grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to the now visible cavern mouth and toward the almost Stygian darkness of the woods beyond. She tried to turn back to see what had happened, but Demitri’s pull on her arm was insistent and she had to pay attention to keep from stumbling as she followed. In the end she saw and heard nothing.
They paused just at the edge of the woods and waited. A few moments later he appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. She pulled from Demitri’s now much lighter grip and ran toward him. “Are you all right? What happened?”
He smiled thinly and accepted the arm she gave him when she arrived at his side. “Fine. I’m fine. And nothing happened. Never underestimate the power of a good bluff.”
She raised a brow at him, not quite willing to accept such an answer off hand.
“Where to now?” He asked. She decided to bite her tongue and leave it be, it was perhaps better she didn’t know.
“Come.” She led him to Demitri and together they made their way to the shore.
The moon was high and bright, and washed the shore in her pale light, illuminating two small ships, not much different from those they’d arrived on. A small boat waited on the shore.
“Two ships?” She asked, as they neared the water, hoping that this was not unexpected.
To her relief he nodded. “Got us covered. One way or another.” He explained, though somewhat enigmatically. Again… she’d probably rather not know, and decided it was wisdom not to press him further.
They were in the small boat, rowing toward the first of the two ships before anyone spoke again.
“Let’s split up then.” Phineas suggested, as if responding to some unheard comment, “better odds.”
Demitri, unfazed, nodded. “I’ll go north. You two go south.”
“Wait… we two?” She interrupted, fighting a new surge of fear.
“He can protect you.” Demitri explained.
She looked to Phineas who shrugged. “I do have a better chance.”
“And what about you? Who’s going to protect you?” She asked turning back to Demitri.
“I’m a big boy. I’ll manage.” Somehow she knew what that meant. Something in her chest tightened, crushing her from the inside.
She glared. “You’re lucky I’m pregnant.”
He raised a brow. “Why’s that?”
“I’d have some choice words for you if I wasn’t.” She raised a stalling hand when he looked like he was going to start wrangling with her. “I’m not going to fight you on it, but don’t think I don’t know damn well that you’re using yourself as bait. You’re heading home aren’t you… to draw them away.”
His jaw clenched, but he sighed and nodded. She was grateful he didn’t bother trying to deny it, but she couldn’t help the distress and anger she felt at the confirmation.
Her own jaw clenched. “Damn it. Idiot.” She cursed, not sure if it was directed at him or just at the world in general. She lurched forward, throwing her arms around his neck, swallowing back the urge to weep. “Don’t die.” She whispered fiercely against his neck. He released the oars and wrapped an arm around her back, patting her tentatively.
“I don’t intend to, girl.”
She pulled away and angrily wiped an errant drop from her cheek. They continued in silence. When Demitri rose to catch the ladder thrown down for him, they exchanged brusque nods. She didn’t trust her voice just then… perhaps he didn’t either. It was hard to tell with him.
Phineas said nothing as she took over the oars and sent them toward the second ship, praying to no one in particular that they were doing the right thing. An odd thought occurred to her as the little craft finally bumped the larger one and men above called and tossed out a ladder.
Maybe there was someone she should actually be praying to. She leaned along the side of the boat and dipped a hand into the cool, lapping waters as Phineas climbed the ropes and was hauled up.
“Thetis,” she whispered, “Silver footed Goddess of the calm sea, Goddess of protection and refuge… protect your child, and this child of his.” She placed her hand over her stomach, biting her lip, and watched the little waves flicker with moonlight, her chest sizing almost to the point of pain with a wave of fervent desire, of need.
A voice called to her, and she looked up, half-startled, and felt like a fool. Who was there to hear her after all? If what Thelios has said was true, his mother had withdrawn herself from the world. They were on their own.
With a sigh she rose and gripped the rope ladder, its fibers damp and rough against the palms of her hands. She cast a last look behind her into the glittering waters. Still…
“I would give anything.” She whispered, knowing she truly would.
**
Calliope watched the seas. It was pointless. She knew he was probably long gone, and in the opposite direction…. but still, she couldn’t seem to pull her eyes from it. Or from the other ship for that matter. It wasn’t close, and slowly it moved farther away, but it was near enough that she could see the faint figures of men on deck. She wondered if any of the them were Demitri. By this time he would have hauled her below deck and made her sleep, grumbling about staring at the water like an empty headed halfwit. The thought made her smile. It also made her both glad and sorry he was on the other ship.
She liked that Phineas had left her alone to her own devices… but she missed Demitri, and it frightened her to be alone. And she was alone. Phineas had proven pleasant enough… but she had met him only hours ago. She reassured herself that Thelios and Demitri wouldn’t have sent her off with him if they didn’t think he was trustworthy. Something which had honestly surprised her. After all this, she thought they’d be more circumspect about trusting him, even if they were inclined to. That unexpected trust did nothing to erase her qualms, and nothing at all to sooth the fear she felt for their sakes.
Then again perhaps they were not as trusting as they seemed and simply took the risk in order to get her out of their way. It wasn’t as if she could help, and was more likely to just be a nuisance. Still…
She knew she was useless to him, but it was horrible not knowing where Thelios was or if he was safe… and that there was nothing she could do but wait. So she would, and so she did. Waiting and watching in the night. What else was there to do?