Triton frowned, pulling at the chains around his wrists. The human fools chained him to a stone wall in a dungeon. The room was empty, except for a ragged cot and an old, rickety table. Hector hefted a bowl of brown water onto the table, pulled a dripping rag from the fluid, and rung it out.
“That water is filthy,” Triton said.
“It’s not filthy; it’s infused with herbs.”
Hector ripped open Triton’s shirt and slopped the rag over his wound. The pain took his breath away. It hurt worse than when he actually got shot. He clenched his fists and ground his teeth as Hector thoroughly cleaned the injury. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Hector placed the rag in the bowl and towel dried his hands.
“How about we start off with an easy question,” the human said, dropping the towel on the table. “What’s your name?”
Easy question? That was a loaded question. The man just didn’t know it. Still, Triton stuck to his plan to tell the truth.
“My name is Triton, king of the Atlantic and guardian of the sea.”
The man frowned, his eyes colored with worry. “Do you want to die?”
“I can’t die. At least, I don’t think I can. My powers are being siphoned from me, so death may be possible.”
No, death is not possible—at least not by human hands.
Good to know.
Now, being thrust down to Tartarus and left forever in a pit, that is possible.
I really hate you, Sypher.
Hector shook his head in disbelief. “You are making unbelievable claims.”
“Unbelievable! You don’t believe in the gods?”
“I believe in them alright. I just don’t think you are one. You look like you’re about to pass out from pain and loss of blood. A sea-god should have been able to handle a gunshot without any problem.”
“Are you deaf? I told you my powers are being siphoned. I’m weak and powerless. I came here for your help.”
“How did you find us?”
“I’ve been here several times before.”
“I’ve been a member of the Pelagi for fifty years. I’ve never seen you.”
“The last time I visited was two hundred and sixty-five years ago.”
“What was the name of our leader?”
Without missing a beat, Triton answered, “His name was Euphemios, and he was a pompous know-it-all.”
Hector’s eyes widened before he relaxed. “You had me there. I’m sure you memorized that answer. How about giving me the name of our leader three hundred and… seventy-two years ago?”
“Hades, I don’t know. I don’t visit often. I have much more important things to do than entertain a bunch of human worshipers.”
“So, you don’t watch us from below?”
“Of course not.”
“You’re not being very convincing. You think a bit of arrogance and conceit would convince me you are a god? You’re wrong. I happen to know the sea-gods are well aware of what we do. They bless us with safety, security, and power over our enemies.”
Triton’s jaw dropped. These people were delusional. The sea-gods didn’t give humans a second thought, except for the rare occasions—when the humans stuck their noses where they didn’t belong. Usually, that ended with a dead human.
“And what have you done to gain our affections?” Triton asked. “You pollute our seas, you kill our sea creatures, and you have the galling notion that you are the center of the universe. You are nothing but ignorant plankton in a sea of intelligent beings.”
“You… you’re wrong. We Pelagi dedicate our lives to serving Poseidon. Surely, he is mindful of us?”
Triton laughed. “My father? He’s only mindful of two things, the sea and himself. He couldn’t care less about humans.”
“You’re a liar… or a fool. We’ll see if you change your tune after a night chained here in this room.”
Hector taped a bandage over the wound and turned to leave.
“Human!” Triton pulled on his chains.
Hector turned back.
“I can’t reach the cot.”
“I know.”
“What about Nicole? I trust that you’re treating a woman better than you’re treating me. She’d better be well cared for.”
“And if she isn’t?” Hector raised an eyebrow and smirked.
Triton narrowed his eyes. “Then I will grant each of you immortality.”
Confusion flashed across Hector’s face, and he barked out a laugh, “Why would you do that? Immortality is a gift, not a curse.”
“For the Pelagi, it would be a curse. For after I grant you immortality, I will chain each of you to the walls of this dungeon and leave you to suffer for all eternity. I’d imagine after the first week, your stomach will scream for food and your lips will crack and bleed from lack of moisture. You can’t imagine the desperation you’ll feel to have even a drop of water touch your tongue.
“But that’s not the worst of it. I’ve seen a few rats around here. Do you know what will happen to you when the rats realize you are helpless to defend against them?”
Hector frowned.
“They’ll begin to eat you. They’ll start with your toes, stripping them down to the bones. Then they will climb up your body, biting away chunks of flesh along the way. I imagine the thing they will enjoy most will be your moist, juicy eyes: eating away at them until they are nothing but empty, bloody sockets. You will feel each bite slice through your skin, each tug as they pull at the muscle and wrench the tendons away from your bones. Your suffering will be tremendous, but you will be helpless to stop them. And then, once they’ve had their fill, the rats may leave for a time. As an immortal, your flesh will re-grow. The pain of your open wounds will fade; you will be whole once more—until the rats come to feed again.
“And again. And again.”
Hector’s face drained of color. Horror reflected in his eyes.
“Think on this as you decide how to treat the woman I love.”
Hector’s skin took on a green pallor, and he fled out the door. If there was one thing Triton learned over the years, it was how to instill fear in those who threatened the ones he loved. Hector better hope he was fearful enough to make sure Nicole didn’t suffer this night or any other night, or they would learn what it meant to incur the wrath of a god.
***
Nicole was led down a dark tunnel to an open room. Firelight flickered against the stone walls, coming from an immense fireplace standing against the far side of the room. The scent of burning olive wood hung in the air. There was a round, burgundy rug covering most of the stone floor. It looked old and worn, but of high quality. In the center of the rug stood a bed adorned with fine linen. She was shoved into the room and stumbled, falling to the floor.
“Stupid, brainless idiot!” she screeched and glared at the man. Rasmus stood above her. “You’re going to regret what you do,” she said.
Locking the door, he turned toward her, smirking. He knelt down nose to nose with her. “I’ve never regretted anything I’ve ever done.”
Nicole scoffed. “You’re not only brainless, you’re a liar. Everyone regrets something. And from the looks of you, you have reason to regret more than most. I mean, that overbite of yours is atrocious! You have to regret not seeing an orthodontist. “
He raised his hand, preparing to strike.
She glared at him—daring him to follow through on his threat. “Remember what the great Hector said. You can’t put a mark on me.” She stood and dusted herself off. “Now, I’m ready to answer your questions.”
He grabbed her arm and roughly shoved her onto the bed. “I’ll question you when I’m good and ready. Right now, I have something much more enjoyable in mind.”
Her eyes lit with fury as she prepared to claw his eyes out. “You do, and I’ll see you skinned alive and dropped in lye,” she hissed and stood back up.
“Right,” Rasmus said. “And who’s going to do the skinning. You?”
“Gladly.”
“You’ve got a big mouth for someone completely at my mercy.”
“I’m not at your mercy. You can’t even lay a hand on me.”
A wicked grin spread across his face. “I can hurt you without putting a mark on you.”
“Oh really?”
He stepped toward her, causing her to stumble back onto the bed. The glint in his eye unnerved her. There was no crack in his confidence. This man was not bluffing.
He gently took her arm. She was preparing to slap him when he jabbed his thumb into her bicep. Blinding pain shot through her. She screamed as the agony continued. It seemed like forever before he let go. She sagged in relief as the pain subsided. She wanted to cry, but she refused to give him the satisfaction. Instead, she lifted her chin and glared. A telltale tear leaked down her cheek.
“Nerves are a beautiful thing, aren’t they?” he asked. “They can cause an insane amount of pain, but they leave no permanent damage. Or mark. The nerve I squeezed is called the radial nerve. There are many more nerves in the human body. I’ll be happy to show you each of them, one by one.
“However, that can wait. I’m ready to ask you my questions.” He leaned forward, his rancid breath brushing her face as he spoke. “And you, my dear, will answer them truthfully.”
“You know what?” Nicole said, straightening up. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to answer a single question.”
His eyes sparkled as he said, “Oh really?”
“Yes, really.”
This time, she knew what was coming as he grabbed her leg and dug his fingers into her inner thigh. This pain was even greater as she clenched her teeth together and forced herself not to cry out. Tears sprung up and spilled down her cheek, but she didn’t make a sound. She did, however, feel sick. It’d serve him right if I threw up all over him.
A half an hour later, she did vomit. But by that time, she didn’t care where it fell. She was too sick and delirious from pain.
It was a point of pride that he didn’t get a single answer from her, though.
“You insufferable woman. You could give lessons to the Pelagi on how to withstand interrogations.”
Through a haze of lingering pain, she saw him wipe vomit off his cloak. She would have smiled at the sight if she weren’t still in agony. At first, the pain would leave when he let go. But after a dozen or so times, the pain began to linger. And then it radiated. Now she was one large bundle of raw nerves, lying on a vomit-soaked bed. Her whole body throbbed in pain with the beating of her heart, and she was passing in and out of consciousness.
Someone pounded at the door, and then there were angry words. Rasmus assured someone that he was causing no permanent damage. He actually said she was fine.
Right, I’m far from fine.
Minutes later, Rasmus’ face came into focus. He was laughing. “You reek. Are you ready to answer my questions, or should we start again?”
“I’m ready to answer one question,” her voice rasped, barely audible.
He shook his head at her continued resistance. “And what question is that?”
“You want to know who the man with me is? His name is Triton. You might have heard about him.”
He laughed. “Right. Since you continue to defy me, how about we start again from the beginning?” He cupped his hand over her arm.
“I wish Triton had just five minutes to show you his power,” Nicole whispered, bracing herself for the oncoming pain. “You’d be sorry you ever touched me.”
“Yeah, I wish he did too, sweetheart. Perhaps he could get you to talk,” he said, just before the cursed agony returned.
***
Triton awoke to the wailing of an injured seal. No, that wasn’t right. Pain radiated from his chest and wrists. Memories flooded back into his mind. He wasn’t in the sea at all, but in a human dungeon. And a woman was screaming.
Nicole!
He stood, fear and anger awaking his mind and body.
Something is different, sea-god. I’m not siphoning anymore. This is impossible!
Even as Sypher spoke, power flooded into his body—the blessed power of a god. He healed his wound as his muscles bulged, brimming with strength. Pulling at his chains, they broke as easily as tissue paper. He reached his hand toward the door and it exploded, wood and stone crashing against the far wall.
The tunnel shook with each step as he ran, following the cries of agony. The room wasn’t far. He could hear Nicole sobbing. She sounded weak. What did these humans do to her?
He blasted the door apart and stepped in the room. A human, the man they called Rasmus, backed slowly away from him. “You…” Surprise and fear stole his breath as he dropped, trembling to his knees.
“I tried to warn you. I told Hector what would happen to you if you harmed her.”
He looked onto the bed. Nicole lay, now unconscious, her clothes and the bed below her slick with vomit. He searched her body and found no wounds. Yet, he could feel the agony she had suffered. An unfathomable fury erupted in him.
His limbs stretched and his teeth sharpened and elongated. The fire that lit his eyes outshone the flames from the hearth. The beast had taken over.
“Please, have mercy,” Rasmus said, lifting his hand and lowering his head. “I am your faithful servant!”
“My faithful servant?” His voice roared like the sound of a thousand waves. He circled his prey, getting ready to attack. “You tortured the woman I love! I have no mercy for such as you. But, I have one question to ask. Are you alone in this treachery?”
“I… they… it wasn’t my idea. I told them we shouldn’t hurt her! It was all Hector’s doing!”
The lies poured from the human’s lips, stinking up the air like rotting, putrid flesh. Triton leapt at the human and slammed him against the floor. He blasted his way into his mind, searching out the truth. Rasmus did work alone. Though Hector was not blameless, as he had not conveyed Triton’s warning. And a human called Baccus had tried to help Nicole, but he was overpowered by Rasmus. He then fled to get help.
“You lie, Rasmus. And soon you will know what it means to incur the wrath of a powerful sea-god.”
Rasmus screamed and continued to scream. But soon enough, there were none but the rats to hear his cries.
***
Nicole awoke in the arms of Ty—her throat raw and her body weak. The scent of fresh soap and clean linens filled her with comfort. She peeled her eyes open and raised a shaky hand to Ty’s bearded face. “Where did the beard come from?” Her voice scratched, and she could barely manage a whisper.
He shook his head and cracked a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Of all the things you should be concerned about, facial hair is the most important? Huh?”
“And your hair is longer too,” she whispered. “It looks good on you.”
“How are you feeling?” a tenor voice asked. Nicole turned her head to see a man, the one called Baccus. He brought her a glass of water. Worry was etched in his face.
She took the cup, and sipped the water—her throat cooled. “You’re Baccus, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop Rasmus.”
At the mention of his name, panic gripped her heart, and she clenched Ty’s arm in a death grip.
“Enough!” Ty’s voice boomed as he looked at Baccus. “Leave us.”
“I’m sorry, Majesty,” Baccus said as he placed the glass of water on a bedside table and slipped out the door.
“Where’s Rasmus?” she asked, searching her surroundings. “Is he gone?”
“Yes. He’ll never harm you or anyone else ever again.”
“But how?”
“My powers returned.”
“What? You have your powers back?”
He shook his head. “Not anymore, unfortunately. But my show of power convinced the Pelagi that I am Triton. They’ve vowed to help us. I do have a question to ask you, sweetheart.” He looked at her intently, concerned creases forming at the corner of his blue eyes. “I believe it was you that gave me my powers back for a short time. I need you to help me figure out how.”
She took another swallow of water and said, “I don’t know. I… I remember telling Rasmus that I wished you had your powers back for just five minutes. Then he would be sorry.”
“Nicole, I did have my powers back. And it lasted about five minutes. Are you saying you wished for it?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you also wish clothes for me? That time they appeared in my hands?”
“I… yes, I think I did.”
“And what about the fruit?”
“I… no, actually. I think that Hanna wished for that.”
“But all of these happened when someone made a wish?”
Nicole sat up—happily stunned to finally have a mystery solved. “So that’s it! Someone needs to make a wish?” she said. A smile stretched over her face, and she felt like shouting for joy.
Triton didn’t look pleased, though.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Aren’t you happy?”
“I’m not sure. I’m more worried for you than happy. How much power do you have? How far does it extend? Could the world be destroyed with a single wish?”
Nicole’s shoulders drooped. “I sure hope not. Maybe Zeus had a good reason to siphon my powers. Maybe I’m too much of threat.”
“No! Siphoning your powers and altering your memories is not the answer.”
“We’re not even sure exactly how my powers work. I do think I know what we need to do to test it out. You need to wish to get your powers back.”
“Wait, not so fast. I also want Sypher out of my head.”
“But I don’t want her dead.”
“Do you trust Sypher?”
“Of course.”
“No, really. Do you completely and implicitly trust her?”
Nicole thought about all the times Sypher protected her, comforted her, and finally saved her life, fully expecting to die because of it. “Yes,” she answered firmly.
“Then I wish for Sypher’s freedom to come and go from any mind she pleases without threat of death.”
Nicole waited, wondering if she’d see Sypher when she left. Would she look the same? “Is she gone?”
Triton scowled and shook his head. “No, she’s still here.”
Nicole sighed and racked her brains trying to remember the exact circumstances surrounding each of the times her power showed itself. “Wait, maybe you need to be touching me.”
“Right.” His eyes lit up as if he remembered. He took Nicole’s hand in his and repeated his wish.
She waited for several moments.
The light extinguished in his eyes, and he shook his head.
Nicole’s shoulder’s sagged. “I really thought we’d figured it out.”
“I think we’re almost there. There’s just something we’re missing.”
Nicole yawned, her eyes heavy.
Ty kissed her forehead. “You look exhausted, love. You’re safe now. Why don’t you get some more sleep? We’ll figure it out later.”
Nicole nodded, and that was the last thing she remembered before she found herself in the great hall on Olympus.