Maiden Voyage
Prologue.
"What mortal man will pity you, when your father has no mercy? Either sword or water shall receive you: if needs must, better to perish in the sea than by the sword." The prophetic voice resounded through her head rather than in her ear. "You alone shall be proud; you shall inhabit the mighty sea and settle in Poseidon's house; in the brine like Thetis, like Galatea, your name shall be Ino of the Waters."
She hesitated, gripped by fear but the voice continued talking, she leant forward over the cliff. The turquoise depths of the Aegean Sea met her gaze, harsh waves crashed wildly as if they would devour the rocky precipice to reach her. The wind blew from behind, encouraging her toward the sheer drop. The man chasing her; Athamas would be upon her soon, she knew that and she would be unable to stop him.
"Make haste! Escape from mad Athamas, and then you will not see the father who murdered his child, murder the mother." The faceless voice continued to sway her. She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply and with all the will she could muster, gathered her voice.
'Receive me you too, O sea! I have done with earth. Receive me with hospitable hand, O Nereus, as you received Perseus! Receive Ino, Here as she is."
She spoke, and with trembling feet sprang into the sea, swiftly diving with her son. Poseidon opened his arms to receive Leucothea, and took her into the divine company in the deep waters.