The Son of Hades - Born of Fire

William Chapter 7

William remained patiently on the boat, waiting for Mackenzie to resurface. As he sat quietly and calmly, he notices the clouds had turned from a darkish grey to black; the sea from choppy to intensely rough. Along came a strong silent wind, followed by a mountain of a wave, approaching the boat. When it struck, the boat began drifting afar, spinning in circles. When the second wave came, William was flung side to side. He was tossed from one end to the other. He lay on his back, holding on to both side of the boat, with the waves carrying him afar. After several minutes, the sun showed its face once again, beaming with joy. The sea was smoother than it ever was, and the wind blew as gentle as a women's touch.

He lay motionless on the boat for a couple of seconds and afterward he sat up quickly, pushing his head to the outside as his body rejected everything he ate on the morning. He then got on his feet, looking around himself to find he was much further away from his new friend. There was not a shoreline in sight, not even a ship. There were no paddles on the boat, nor food or water. All he saw was a hollow boat that held a useless man, surrounded by an endless supply of water.

He sat quietly for hours. When he grew bored he laid on his back humming an old tune he once heard when he was still a child. He looked at the sky, watching as the sun faded away, and darkness fell upon him. His lips turned dry, and his eyes weary. He leans over the boat passing his left hand through the water, watching the beauty of the stars that reflected back. He ducks his head down into the water, holding it there for a moment. He came back up a minute later, gasping for air as he shook the water off from his hair.

"Ahhhhh," he bawled out, followed with a cry, then some tears. "Is this my life?" he stood up shouting, staring into the sky. "Zeus," he called out. "Are you even real?" he asked. When he asked the question, he saw four bolts of lightning flashing before him, hitting the water around the boat. He then heard the sound of a roaring thunder before falling down on his arse, hitting the back of his head against the seat. He groaned as he felt the pain behind his neck. He touches his head and saw blood leaking out.

"So you are real," he muttered. "If I die today, you'll be a bastard who broke his promise. After everything my ancestor did for this country, you should be the one worshiping me." Another lightning struck near him on the other side of the boat. "It's good to know you're listening to me," he said closing his eyes.

The next morning arrived with William still asleep with the sun rising above him. A shadow fell upon him quickly after, shading him from the light of the world. He was curled up when they found him, with the stain of blood drench in the collar of his shirt. A bucket of water was then thrown toward his face, waking him from his tight slumber. When he awoke he saw, the face of a man he hoped he'd never see again. It was his former captor Victor. The grim pirate stood inside the small boat, staring at his lost prisoner while being pulled up onto a much larger ship than the one he owned before. William noticed a red flag hung with a crow drawn in the middle. He knew the red was a symbol of blood and the crow, a symbol of death. Victor smiles while looking down at William's condition. When the boat had reached near the deck, one of Victor's men grabs William out by his shirt, dragging him onto the centre of the deck. They placed his hands and feet in chains, and then they took turns beating him, from his shoulders down to his toes. When they saw he was too weak to even stand on his own, they stopped and placed him on his knees with Victor standing before him. William gazes at his surroundings, staring at strange faces he had never seen before. He knew that all the men that surrounded him, were either thieves or pirates.

"You were better off when you were my prisoner," Victor told him. "Now look at you. You're a free man who looks better off dead."

"Then do it, kill me. End me of my misery," responded William.

"No, I have far bigger plans for you," said Victor with a sly smile across his face. He then punches William on the jaws knocking him to the ground.