Chapter Three

Day bled into night.

The sun melted against the velvet background of onyx, speckled with freckles of shimmering stars and lit by the light of an almost full moon.

It cast a glacial glow over the trees and shores, the sand appearing cold, lacking the warm, yellow glow that it had in the daylight hours.

The trees appeared sinister. Stretching their shadows to weave together like a coven of whispering witches. They own voices, rustles and creaks, more eerie in the darkness.

Demetrius had lay awake, trying to concentrate on anything and everything that would keep him so. He abstained from alcohol that day, claiming it would make his pains worse if he should get a headache.

He felt a sense of trepidation as the moon indicated it was time to rise. The stillness and shadows made the normally quaint village seem cold and austere.

Nearby, he could hear the soft snoring of his friend, coupled with the odd scratch as the dog moved in its sleep. It lifted the weight of discontent just slightly.

The weight returned as he entered the forest, the trees opened like the maws of a giant beast.

His heart rate increased as the moonlight was shrouded behind reaching boughs, allowing only the tiniest chink of light through, mostly reflected from the glossy leaves.

'I'm not a child anymore!' He chided himself, quickening his step. 'I shouldn't be scared of monsters under the bed. Or in the trees. Most of them were just stories to keep us in line.'

Even so. He held his breath until the trees opened to reveal the glimmer of the smooth waters, barely a ripple as the wind was barely blowing.

Pasha and Ceto were waiting patiently, talking quietly. They laughed before turning to acknowledge him with knowing smiles.

"You're here, wonderful!" Pasha said with a touch of sarcasm. "Nice to see a human on time. From what I gather, people aren't normally that considerate."

"Father said to be on time or early," Demetrius answered crisply.

"Wise man."

"Perhaps we should get on with the task at hand?" Ceto interjected, noticing Demetrius bristle at the jibes. "The sooner we do, the sooner it's over."

"That would be best. I don't want to be wasting time and," Demetrius folded his arms. "Like any human or half-human, I would rather be in bed."

"Typical male!" Pasha winked, hurriedly continuing before Demetrius could retort. "We'll help you anyway, people might notice if you take a boat and try and stop you. Or think you're up to something sinister." She beckoned him to the water's edge and pointed out where the sea shone the brightest. "You must swim out to where the moonbeams are strongest, then dive." She plunged her hand down as if to demonstrate. "Follow the blade of light until it fades to darkness and you should see the gates. You might have to search, depending on where they have appeared."

"I thought you said I didn't have to dare them?" Demetrius frowned, taking an uneasy step away.

Ceto shook her head. "Only his realm. The treasures are beyond the gates, but you'll not need to go too far. The water will become cold. Icy even. But you'll see them. Take only those that don't shimmer. The trap is baited for greed, and a greedy hand will choose that which radiates more."

"And it's safe?"

"Safe enough. Just keep your eyes peeled. Lord Karanos doesn't have any patrols, but lost souls wander and look for ways to endear themselves."

Demetrius nodded, gazing with reticence over the waters that shimmered in eerie tranquillity. Unconsciously, he stepped close to the lapping waves, allowing them to caress his feet.

He felt a shiver run through him at the cool stroke, enhanced by excitement at the call. The nature of the water spirits still strong in his heart.

Pasha smiled as she watched him. "When you are done, follow the moon again. Remain within its silver cage and no harm will befall you."

"I see." Demetrius looked uncertain, but the blood of the sea flowed in his veins and that thought gave him some confidence. "Well, I have a lot to gain..."

The water was cool but not unpleasant as it rose past his ankles and soon up to his waist. He shuddered. After the heat of the fields that day, and the humidity of his room, it was heavenly.

The sensation enhanced as the waves closed over his head, the rich blues and purples of the sea filling his view, severed by the vivid ray of silver as the light of the moon plundered the depths.

'Enter the silver. Follow it down!'

Pasha's voice echoed. She oozed sensuality, even out of view, each syllable of longing and desire. It ignited longing in him, not for her curves and glorious body, but for what lay hidden. The longing for knowledge.

That lack of desire for the female wiles and pretty face bemused his neighbours, but they seldom said anything and, if they did, it was a gentle jibe.

Public displays of affection would have been frowned upon. When men had been lured from the unearthly, their lack of decorum and overtness was an embarrassment to everyone, even with the pity it entailed.

Down, down...deeper to where the light could not penetrate. But Demetrius could see, albeit not as well as the full-blood sea folk.

Several fish swam past, casting an expressionless look toward him.

Demetrius smiled, heading deeper. It seemed like hours, pushing through the thick darkness of the water. Then slowly, outlines of stone and debris came into sight, glowing eerily from the moonlight that dripped through the shadows like dew.

The sight caused ice to run up his spine. The algae-coated stones were makeshift graves and marked the resting place of the drowned. Their bones decaying under the grit and sand. Some peeked from the sparse cover. Shimmering ivory no trophy hunter would touch.

Several years ago, the church on the cliff had fallen into the ocean due to the storms that battered the islands. Some of the tombs now lay here, the wording still readable but the bodies long decayed or devoured by sea creatures.

'Look for the gateway,' Demetrius told himself, turning his eyes from the macabre scene. 'The quicker I do this, the quicker I can leave this accursed area.'

No human, should they survive the plunge, would have suspected the hollow near an algae-covered boulder was the route to the Gods.

None would think of exploring the tunnel, reaching endlessly down into the bowels of the earth. In their mortal minds, only hell could await such a dark and forbidding route.

They weren't far wrong, Demetrius could forgive them for thinking that as he swam over. The water was colder and there was no chance of any light penetrating the puce.

He closed his eyes briefly, bolstering himself. The oppressive atmosphere and weight of the water would act like a vice on his lungs, crushing and draining.

He felt it as he dived down, feeling as if the walls were closing in on him, clawing at his ribs and attempting to tear the saved air from his body.

He kept his eyes closed, focusing everything on the slow descent and pushing back against the forces that attacked him. How much time passed? A minute? An hour?

He didn't know. The next thing he knew was hitting the grainy floor with the palms of his hands.