Child of a Pirate, Raised at Sea

Chapter 8

I was startled when a blanket was draped over my shoulders. I had stood on the deck of the ship and watched until my father and the island had slowly disappeared. My tears had dried long ago. We traveled alone so as to not be so easily detected, with not even a crew to help. I looked out at the now vast ocean and wondered for the millionth time if I was strong enough to do what needed to be done. Was I capable of tricking a god? I shifted towards Hesiod and sighed. He put his arm around me. His extra warmth was a comfort. "This'll work. It has to. We'll do this together. You're ready." I nodded in reply but secretly wondered why I felt I wouldn't be seeing my Father for a very long time. I pulled away from him and took out the piece of jagged mirror wrapped in cloth in my pocket. Hesiod looked confused and then asked, "Is that-." I answered his unspoken question "The glass blade." I explained to him that before we left the island Clio had taken me aside privately and given it to me while making sure Hesiod and my father were otherwise occupied. She said whoever possessed it could look into their reflection and would see how to defeat their greatest enemy. She warned me that it was a powerful object and not to look into it unless I was in mortal peril. Hesiod wrapped his hands around mine and gazed at me. I could feel his breath brush against my cheek as he leaned closer. One mortal and one immortal in a vast ocean of nothingness on a dangerous mission. The kiss didn't come as a surprise. It was natural, like I had done it a thousand times. His breath was cool and I pushed up on my toes and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. We swayed together for a moment like that before he stepped back. He ran his thumb along my bottom lip and then hugged me tightly. "You're ready. We'll do this together." I hugged him tighter still and squeezed my eyes shut tight. "Together." I promised.