The Messenger - Daerin

Chapter 7 - Poseidon

Shaking and taking deep breaths, Haerin slowly bent down and tugged off the sandals. As the wings fluttered furiously, she threw the shoes towards Cronus, landing at his feet.

Cronus smiled, displaying his sickening canines. "Bring out the others." From the sea of Titans, Minji, Hanni, and Hyein were pushed forward. "Pleasure doing business with you, Haerin," the Titan declared. His hand forcibly shoved Danielle, and Haerin ran forward to catch the girl in her arms.

"Haeri–"

"Dani, are you okay?" Haerin asked, her fingers wrapped tightly around the girl as the Titans marched away in the distance.

"But, your sandals—" Danielle's words were interrupted.

"I don't care about some stupid sandals," Haerin firmly said. "I care about you, Dani." Haerin's fingers wiped the crimson liquid that dribbled from the tiny cut on Danielle's cheek while the wavy-haired girl stared into her shining, feline eyes, which drooped from the weight of fatigue.

"So," Minji reminded, crossing her arms. "What the fuck happens now?" A silence fell over the five girls.

Haerin pondered, staring off into the distance. Cronus was going to be back in the mortal world, sending the last of the Titans up, but she would be stuck in the mortal world if she went back without her winged sandals.

She carefully pulled herself and Danielle up and started hesitantly, "I'm not sure. But–"

"Wait, who is—" Hyein was interrupted.

"Haerin." The feline girl immediately froze, a wave of memories crashing over her as she recognized that voice that was knitted with a slight rasp to each consonant. The gaze of the girls lingered on Haerin while silence swallowed her mind.

"Haerin. I wanted–"

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Haerin sharply said, her back still turned away from the deity while her lip almost bled from how hard she was biting it.

"Can you look at me? Please?" Hermes asked, desperation sprinkled over his words like a hazy mist. The daughter listened and turned to face her father. He still had the blue, musty eyes and strawberry blond hair which was cleanly cut on the sides but had grown out a little. Hermes spoke, his eyes scanning the other girls and bowing his head, "Nice to meet you all. Especially you, Danielle."

Haerin's eyes narrowed, her foot taking a tiny step back and her hands magnetizing towards Danielle's, and accused, "How do you know her name?"

"It will take time before I get to that." Hermes started, putting his hands out. "Haerin, look, I need to explain and–"

"Explain what?" Haerin asked, chuckling while tilting her head. "I think I've heard enough."

"I just need to–"

"27," Haerin interrupted expressionless, startling Hermes a little. "Every time you said something to me, I would write a tally mark in my notebook." She paused. "There are 27 tally marks." Hermes was silent, and Haerin looked at the ground, not wanting to try to decipher what was twisted on her father's face. "We're leaving," Haerin said, turning away.

Haerin began to speed-walk, and the four other girls remained silent on their journey as they tried to catch up with the feline girl.

"Are you okay, man?" Minji asked.

"I'm fine," Haerin said, still staring at the ground. And it was true.

She was fine.

She was completely fine.

. . .