Poseidon's Secret Son

Chapter 2-- Where The White Roses Grow

Crash Splash Crash

The scent of salty seawater and sand filled my nose as my eyes fluttered open just in time to be pushed on shore further by another rolling wave. The gritty yellow substance scraped every inch of my body as I lay face down not knowing where I was.

‘’Daphney.’’ I hoarsely whispered to no one hoping to coax out the oracle.

The area was desolate, devoid of anything or anyone. I could see what I had been shown by Daphney as cars clattering and humming along the side of the beach, all rushing to get where they were going.

‘’Daphney where am I?’’ I pulled myself up, groaning as the sand fell from my furiously red body, taking with it a few drops of my blood.

‘’You’re on land Jackson.’’ Daphney’s soft hand slowly materialized on my right shoulder followed by the rest of her body.

‘’My father! He’ll kill me! He’ll kill you and Zeus only knows who else! Send me back Daphney!’’ I gripped her arms softly and pulled her towards the water again, only to have her stop and become completely motionless.

‘’You wanted this Jackson. You have been given a gift and it’s your fate to see it out. The heavens have smiled fortunately on you and you must do as they have foretold.’’ She moved her blood red lips to my ear as she continued in a soft voice.

‘’You’re free.’’

I walked along the beach for hours savouring the feeling of dry sand crunching beneath my feet. Daphney was long gone promising to visit me often enough to keep me company but not often enough to arouse suspicion in Poseidon’s realm.

I never thought that I’d ever have such a privilege of being on land. I walked from the grainy sand to soft green cut sprouts of grass. The feeling of the earth pressing and compacting beneath my feet felt amazing. In water you don’t have enough weight to press down on the sand to compact it, not that I was even given that luxury living on anything but the rock floor. It was such a surreal feeling.

‘’Sir, can I help you?’’ A young girl’s voice broke me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see a petite teenage girl with blonde curls falling over her shoulders and smiling brightly. My eyes drifted from her small baby face to her thin arms, her long legs, her perfectly curled hair and everything in between. I noticed the small green apron she wore and looked around to find myself outside a small flower shop.

The smell of all the different flowers assaulted my nose in magical ways. I had never smelt anything like them anywhere. Even under water, Daphney would bring me different things all the time to keep me in touch with the outside world.

The sweetness of all the colourful buds almost had my mouth watering and I felt almost ready to pass out as an open window blew all the smells to me at once.

‘’Sir?’’ The girl’s curious blue eyes fell to mine questioningly.

‘’Ah, Sorry. What’s this place called?’’ I smiled brightly and looked around at all the pale green walls and dark green trimmings that were lined with all the beautiful flowers.

‘’Lannie’s’’

‘’Lannie’s?’’Her bright smile seemed to grow a million times over as I questioned the name.

‘’It’s short for Lannelle’s. She was the owner but she died a few years back. The shop was left to her son but no one has ever seen him so my brother and I are taking care of it until he comes back or until someone finally tracks him down.’’ Her smile dimmed but it still held hope whereas my eyes grew wide and my heart stopped.