Chapter V:Silver Lining

Selene gripped the reins as we climbed, the wind ripped at my clothes with cold cutting to the bone. Andromeda propped me up as we climbed to the hardest part, the air grew thin. My lungs grew desperate but I couldn't give in to their demands, I took deep steady breaths, as I gripped the silver railing. Finally, we broke through the clouds and when I looked ahead I sat the night sky in its purest form. The stars dotted across the sky like little embers in an empty void.

Selene never took her eyes off the path ahead, but a hand had moved to mine strengthening my grip as I collected myself. I readjusted to the air and steadied my breathing, Andromeda slowly backed off a bit as I straightened my leg.

"Take offs are hard on you, but you're adjusting," Andromeda called from behind me.

"Don't listen to her like she's a natural expert, she struggled just as much," Selene, calmly stated as a smirk crept on her face.

"Hey! I've been flying since I was five!" Andromeda shouted.

"You broke your arm ten times at my house, and that was just walking," I looked back at her.

"And you're perfect in the ocean? You're scared of sharks!" Andromeda shouted.

Fuck she had me there, I am one of the chosen kids of Poseidon and most of the things in my element scare the hell out of me. Sharks were top of the list, my dad got me a pet shark to see if that would help. It kind of did, I'm no longer scared of nurse sharks, but great whites and black tips can stay 5 miles away from me at all times. I missed Aphrodite and Eros, I definitely needed to make sure they didn't eat any of the fish though. The amount of conversations I had to have with Eros about eating the live fish in the tank was an exhausting amount.

The other creatures on the list were Dolphins, they are fucking murderous and 90% of them are sadists. Giant squids, The Kraken is real and I've unfortunately seen his graveyard. And Sperm Whales, I read Moby Dick when I was little and had nightmares for months. A few others scared me or briefly inconvenienced my fear but those were the top three.

Selene tightened her grip as we went higher, the air started to press against my lungs. The air was thinning fast, but suddenly the railing on the chariot burst in a brilliant silver light and I could breathe normal again. The shield of pure moonlight encased us, as we flew faster than the mortal eye could perceive. The wind cut through the barrier like the wind spirits were biting at every inch of my body.

Soon, we had started to descend. We approached the ground like a meteor and dropped almost straight down, my nails dug into the hard wood that composed the chariot. I always hated the sharp descent, but at least it was over fast. In the blink of an eye we were on smooth pavement in front of my house.

The light blue paint mixed in with the white trim blended unnaturally with the dark sky, Selene released the reins for a moment and turned to me. Her eyes were soft but fierce, I felt her energy increase well beyond my fathers. I often forgot the Selene isn't a goddess of the moon, though that is the title she prefers, she is The Moon Titan.

"Now, why are you getting me in trouble with Poseidon?" Selene asked, as Andromeda tried to slip off. Selene gripped the back of her shirt and pulled her back.

"I love my home, but I crave adventure. The fun of fighting and the joy of being free, I hate being contained. I feel like a fish in a tank half the size I need," I looked away, back towards my house. It represented safety but also captivity to me, a symbol of everything I loved and hated in one.

"Your dad worries about you, that's all. Poor Dionysus had to sub when your dad got news of what you had done to get through that obstacle course," Selene turned my head to face her. "You are very brave Sara Pearl, and despite what Ares thinks, you deserve your spot in Neptune's blessed. You're the perfect balance of diplomacy and soldier, that's why you have the role you have. Olivia is too hot headed for politics and Christina is too invested with the legions, but you, Sara Pearl, find the right balance. Out of all of Poseidon's children, you stand above them all to be a senator and a leader."

A smile etched its way onto my face, "Thank you, Máter."

"Of course, now get inside before your father raises the tide," Selene helped Andromeda and me off of the chariot, the asphalt of the street felt foreign to my legs still. "Oh! And stay out of trouble, I will bring you back with ropes if I have to!"

Selene took off into the night sky, I watched as the chariot broke the cloud and a burst of silver erupted from the night sky. I walked into the house, Andromeda close behind, closing and locking the door. The lights were on, showing all the decorations I had brought home from Atlantis or the general abyss of the ocean.

"I think I'd like another Andromeda special, Ms.Rose," I said laying on the couch, not bothering taking off my bloodied uniform.

"You like seeing history through your eyes, huh?" Andromeda stood over me.

Awhile ago I, Andromeda saw the mark of Zagreus on my neck. The mark burned into my flesh, but has since scared over, when Andromeda noticed it. I have lived a lot of lives and Andromeda had the power to show me all of them in my dreams, I could relive every life every night. My soul must be ancient though had I met Zagreus or had known of him, The Son of Hades was long dead. As for why I had it I didn't know, it could've been a curse for a crime I committed against the gods or a gift. All I knew was that I couldn't mention it to anyone or it could mean losing my life.

Andromeda placed her hands on my head, the cold of her skin chilled me to the bone. I shivered and squirmed around, it felt like someone placed ice on my temple and was pressing it down hard.

"Ready?" Andromeda asked, her hands pressing down.

I nodded slowly, and immediately welcomed the darkness. The abyss had engulfed me as I drew in one last conscious breath, Morpheus guide me.