Chapter IV:Polyphemus meet Outis

I sat on the school steps with Andromeda at my side, it was dark out but it was necessary for my ride to get me at this time. Andromeda was using shadow puppets to reinact stories, she was putting on a single woman production of The Odyssey. My favorite.

"Here you are, Polyphemus, Wine! Made from the finest grapes of the Greek world! Take this instead of our lives! We know the wrong we have done, and in accordance with the Thunder God we offer our apology!" Andromeda said, in an horrible Odysseus impression.

I watched as the puppets moved on their own, puppet Polyphemus drank the wine and a mighty voice called from behind us. It cut through the dark light a bright light.

"This wine is acceptable, but i know not your name! Tell it to me, so I may know who to thank! In accordance with your Thunder God!" The voice called as I heard steps behind me.

I turned quickly to see William, Legatus of Mars Legion. He wore legion armor with blood red clothing, and a blood red plume on his helmet to match. Andromeda didn't care who was helping her, she was smiling at the puppets, concentrating on her magic to make her play.

"Oh! You are right! I am…Outis! I am Outis, soldier of the MIGHTY King of Ithaka! Let us go now so we may make it home! It is only right!" Andromeda's smile widened, this was definitely her favorite part.

"Ah, Outis, for your gift I can only reply with one thing. You, Outis of Ithaka, shall be the last to die!" William replied, smiling at the puppet show as well.

The cyclops moved to strike the other puppets as the shadows leaped to battle, Shadow Odysseus signaling orders. Finally Polyphemus pulled his club out and struck a puppet, killing it. The rest froze in a fear as Polyphemus began to scoop up a handful of Odysseus' men and ate them, he went to strike again but quickly fell limp from the lotus wine Odysseus had given him.

"Captain, what do we do now? He's asleep and the boulder blocks our escape!" I answered, making my voice deeper.

"Grab his club. Sharpen the point, we will avenge those we lost," Andromeda answered bluntly.

The scene was shadowed over and opened back up to the puppets holding, what can only be described as, a very large stake. They ran forward and stabbed Polyphemus in his good eye.

William let out a howl of pain "OUTIS! YOU HAVE WRONGED ME! OUTIS HAS WRONGED ME!"

"Well if Nobody was wronged you, then Nobody is in the wrong!" I shouted, looking up at William who was covering his eyes.

"OUTIS HAS TRICKED ME! OUTIS HAS DECIEVED ME!" William roared once more.

"Well if Nobody has tricked you, Nobody has deceived you!" I shouted back.

Then shadow scene played before us, Odysseus and his remaining men held onto the bellies of sheep and snuck past the cyclops. I watched as the puppets climbed aboard a ship, the ship began to sail as Odysseus moved to the back to look at the cyclops.

"Polyphemus! I greeted and made my transgressions right to you by my custom! You killed us like the animal you are, put us to the slaughter like cattle! I am King Odysseus of Ithaka, remember me and what your actions have cost you!" Andromeda shouted, sitting up proudly.

"Curse you Odysseus! Curse you in the name of the Earthshaker! Neptune!" William roared again.

"Poseidon," I corrected him.

"Neptune's cooler," William replied.

"Poseidon came first," I shot back, looking up at William.

"So did Ares, and I still call my dad Mars," William smiled.

I sighed, looking back at the puppet show, "Damn Romans, what're you doing here anyway?"

"Forgive her Will, she's had a hard day at school today. Somebody sent herself to Lisa's clinic," Andromeda called out.

"Gods, you ok kid?" William turned professional quick, i watched as his stance tensed and his grip on his spear tightened.

"Yeah, I did some stupid obstacle course and hurt myself pretty bad trying to keep going" I said, watching as the shadows on the step vanished.

I heard William let out a low chuckle, "Ah, you beat Christina's record, she's been pissed about that all day today. They posted it over in New Rome right above hers."

I felt two severe emotions in one, both proud and guilt washed over me. I looked down trying to separate the two, losing myself in thought for a moment. On one hand, I had beat one of the best records in the legion and that was something to be proud about. Though on the other hand, I had pissed off one of the half-siblings I looked up to, her and Olivia were my idols. Those two were everything I strived to be, brave fighters who didn't take no as an answer and they both kept a close relationship to Poseidon I could only dream to have.

"Kid, you okay? Did I say something wrong?" William called from next to me.

My neck snapped up, to see his helmet was off. His brown hair and red eyes were out for me to see now, The Wolf of Roma a legion legend.

"You can never do anything wrong, William. Sara has a thing for Kids of Ares," Andromeda said through a giggle.

My whole face grew hot, it suddenly felt like I had the entire weight of the Atlantic Ocean on my chest. I went to defend myself but no words came out, Will was covering a smile on his face. Finally Selene came from the night sky, and Will put his helmet back on and knelt before her.

"Lady Luna," He said as Selene stepped from her chariot, guided by six black horses.

"William Boswell, I see you've been keeping these girls company. Thank you, but I would like a moment alone with them," Selene calmly stated,

Selene had on a black dress, pieces of silver outlined her hips and silver chains showed over her shoulder connecting at her neck. Her eyes were a beautiful silver color as her hair laid in a perfect half and half state of white and night sky.

I stood up and bowed, "Lady Selene."

"Please Sara," Selene tilted my head up, "You're like my daughter, please just call me mom" she smiled.

"Of course, Matèr," I smiled, standing up straight.

Selene's silver heels clicks on the steps as she boarded her chariot, the wood and metal were darker than the night sky with flecks of white while the railing was painted the same shiny silver that were carried in Selene's eyes. I boarded the chariot with Andromeda close behind.

"Whenever we land I need one of you two to tell me why Poseidon was yelling at me earlier," Selene said as we took off into the night sky.