The Forgotten Witch

8 ~ Lexi

Juniper nodded off on Lexi's chest as they waited for Poseidon's yacht to appear in port. Despite the infant's tender age and demanding eating schedule, the annual Lammas celebration could not wait, and the family prepared to make the obligatory trip to Olympus to honor the auspicious day.

While Elm and Ely entertained each other on the dock, Hades spoke with Ink about the spirits running amuck, a situation that had Hades pacing every time Juniper woke for a feeding.

"It's hard to keep track of everyone when we get a flood of newcomers," Ink explained. "I assure you, anyone seen wandering away from port is rounded up and brought to the boat by Hermes, Charon, or me."

Ink's jaw remained rigid as he made his case, a crease of frustration woven through his brow. Ink still fought internal battles about his godhood, and he tended to take things personally, which could have had something to do with his jail time and being yanked up to Mount Olympus into the custody of the gods.

"When was the last drifter sighted?" Hades asked, making his question sound less like an accusation and more like curiosity.

"Eight hours ago."

"In the Asphodel Meadow, you say?"

"Yes, but please don't cancel your party plans. I'm passing through there again on my way home, and I'll scout for rogues."

Hades patted Ink's shoulder. "Thank you, Ink. It's reassuring to know I can count on your commitment. How is Lisbon? I haven't seen her in several turns."

Ink sucked in a breath as if to rally himself. "She's with the herd today. She's been preoccupied with planning the minotaur parley."

Hades chuckled. "I can't remember her being this tenacious. She and my dear wife are excellent at championing causes on the behalf of the oppressed."

Hades turned to grace Lexi with a prince charming smile, while Ink let himself become distracted with an empty punt. Lexi took the opportunity to speak conspiratorially into Hades's ear.

"I believe you've touched on a sore subject. Maybe you should leave it, for now."

Hades raised his brows. "Am I that out of the loop here? I thought we had put the whole Lisbon and Cole debacle to rest."

"Not quite."

The deep bellow of a ship's horn echoed against the cavern walls, and Lexi turned to watch Poseidon's yacht approach. She had to chuckle at Poseidon's audacious vessel. It was so large it barely fit through the gaping maw of the cave, and she couldn't help thinking it matched his personality perfectly. Many hands waved from the deck of the ship, and Lexi recognized Alex, the son of Persephone and Eros. A young god with more spirit than sense, and one she was responsible for resurrecting after his harrowing birth.

Next to Alex stood Val, short for Valencia; a tall, waif of a girl with bleached white skin and sparkling blue eyes. Val turned up on Poseidon and Odessa's doorstep a few years after they were married, claiming to be Poseidon's daughter by a sea nymph named Wisteria. Being only nine-years-old at the time, Val was welcomed into their home, and since then she has filled the glass halls with her nymph-like energy.

Elm and Ely squealed and jumped around the dock like baby goats as the ship pulled up and the ropes were tied. A satyr and nymph team handled the job, lowering the gangplank just in time for Alex to bolt over it bare-chested. Feathery wings the color of beach sand fluttered at his back, inherited from his father, although Lexi felt that a ten-year-old was too young to be endowed with the gift of flight.

Val followed him off, her inky black ponytail trailing over a quiver of arrows at her back. The young archer was a protégé of Artemis and was rarely seen without her bow. When it was Odessa's turn to climb off the ship, Poseidon hurried to escort her down the plank, but she walked ahead of him as if determined to beat him to it. Was that playfulness or annoyance hiding beneath Odessa's practiced smile?

"May I hold the babe?" Odessa stretched her arms, and Lexi handed Juniper over just as a healthy belch rang out. "Oh, listen to that. It's music to my ears," Odessa gushed as she kissed each of Juniper's cheeks.

"You look lovely today, Odessa. That color suits you." Lexi had to squint her eyes to look at her friend as she gestured to Odessa's yellow dress with sunflower embroidery. But yellow was a huge improvement over the drab colors Odessa had put herself in recently. Six anniversaries had passed for Odessa and Poseidon, and they had not been blessed with offspring. So, Odessa's response was to dress like a widow.

"Thank you, Lexi. I thought it was fitting for Lammas. Besides, Poseidon said he was tired of seeing me in black." Odessa elbowed Poseidon, who shrugged sheepishly.

Lexi tried not to laugh as she watched Poseidon's reaction. He rarely did sheepish. "Did you two enjoy your trip to Belize?" she asked. "I heard about the hurricane. You didn't have anything to do with that, did you Poseidon?"

Painting on an ear to ear grin, Poseidon shone his brilliance on Odessa. "The waves were magnificent weren't they, my love? Matched the mood of our weekend perfectly."

Odessa's face flamed red and she elbowed him again. "You're going to hold that over my head for a century, aren't you?"

A large splash had everyone turning, and there was Ely, treading water as he held his sword above his head. Elm, Val, and Alex were standing on the dock watching him and laughing hysterically.

Ely spit water from his mouth to explain. "I'm good, Momma! I just slipped." As he reached for the dock, a wave of water lifted him up and dropped him onto the wooden planks like a freshly-caught fish.

"Splendid cannonball, Ely," Poseidon said, grabbing Ely by his collar and helping him to his feet. As he steadied Ely, Poseidon narrowed his gaze at Val. "Just because my back is turned Valencia, does not give you permission to forget your manners."

Val blinked innocently. "Ely slipped, just like he said. It had nothing to do with the arrow pointed at his chest."

She glanced down at the bow and arrow in her hands, and Alex stifled a laugh, which turned into a snort, which got Ely chuckling as he dripped like a melting popsicle. Lexi leaned over her son and brushed the wet hair out of his eyes.

"Should we send the nymph to fetch dry clothes?" she asked Hades over her shoulder.

"I have towels on the ship," Poseidon said. "And the palace will have something in his size."

"Alex has clothes, too," Ely said as he sloshed toward his friend. "C'mon, Alex. See if you can catch me."

Ely waved for Alex to follow him to the plank, and Alex hurried to get ahead of him. "You can wear my Lammas shirt!" Alex shouted out as he flapped his wings. "Dad says I don't have to wear a shirt to the party."

"I wish I didn't have to wear clothes to the party!" Ely announced. "I like being naked."

Alex laughed. "You're thinking of a different kind of party, Ely!"