Chapter 2

Derek POV

I made my way through the dense vines, trees, and shrubs, nearly tripping over every twig on the way. My mind was filled with only one thought, Abby. I knew she was the one my father was looking for, she had to be. That irritating Tim had to be a satyr and besides, her last name was Jackson.

I knew father would be proud of me but one tiny thought that kept nagging me was if I would be proud of myself. My thinking soon seized as the abandoned harbor emerged from between the trees. I placed my hand on my forehead to shade my eyes and scanned the murky waters till my father's demon cruise ship, Princess Andromeda, came into view. All thoughts of feelings for Abby halted as I smiled wickedly at the old ship.

I ran around the harbor on the wooden deck. It made screeches and whines every time I slammed my foot on it. Once I reached the ship, I was greeted by two ghostly humans with evil smiles shaping their faces. My father had told me they were arisen from the dead by him and the Titan Lord Atlas long ago when he was after Abby's father. Since then, they had served him well.

The two pale figures opened the doorway of the ship and let out a large wooden plank. Cautiously, I made my way over it and at last, I was on the safety of the ship.

"Master Luke is waiting for you on the top deck," screeched one of the humans grimly.

Without turning back to acknowledge them, I crossed my way over to the other end of the ship and climbed the stairs till I reached the deck where my amazing father stood, staring out into the sea with his hands held behind his back. As soon as I stepped foot onto the deck, he turned to me with his same blue eyes as mine and grinned. He had sandy hair and a small growing beard. Sleepless nights were marked by the purple circles under his eyes.

"Welcome back, my son," he announced steadily, "How was your first day at this school?"

"Fine, father."

"Is it her?" he asked with blazing curiosity in his eyes. I stood quiet for a second, knowing that if I told him yes, her life would be endangered. I pondered that thought for a moment but a fiercer voice inside of my head echoed: "Better safe than sorry."

"Yes," I breathed.

An evil smile slowly formed on my father's face and he began laughing happily. The purple circles seemed to disappear from beneath his eyes as this new news sunk in.

"That's my boy!" he laughed as he ruffled my head, something definitely new. "We shall have her by tomorrow!"

This statement took me aback and I stared at him with horror. "Tomorrow? Don't you think that's a little too soon?" I spoke, trying to keep my voice steady with not much luck. My father stopped chuckling and gazed at me curiously.

"I mean-," I corrected, trying hard not to break my trail of words, "That satyr, Tim, is already on to me. If I make a move too soon he'll realize the danger and then he'll take her to that camp you used to go to."

Memories of the camp seemed to flood back into him and he began shaking his head wildly.

"Your right," he huffed, defeated. "I will give you a week to befriend her so she can begin to trust you. After that, the plans will be in play. Understood?" He looked at me like he would when he wanted his commands to be fulfilled immediately. Not wanting to anger him, I nodded my head quickly. A new thought suddenly hit me as I remembered something else from school today. I kept throwing it around in my head, deciding if I should tell my father or not.

He noticed me wavering then asked, "What is it my son?" I only shook my head and he gave me a stern stare that seemed to penetrate through me. I uttered the words, hypnotized.

"There is one more thing," I began, "There may be two. The girl has another friend that the satyr seems to be protecting as well." My father's interest suddenly changed and he gazed at me intently.

"The name?" he questioned.

"Sonia," I whispered. My father's figure suddenly changed and he began trembling. My mouth opened ajar as I saw this new behavior of my father for the first time.

My father grabbed at the rail of the deck with his trembling fingers and began to cry. Not knowing what to do, I offered my hand. He shook it off and took his pose again, his eyes still moving unevenly.

"I want the two of them," he whispered.

"But how?" I questioned, remembering our devised plan was only made to capture one person.

"Do you have any classes with Sonia?" he asked, trembling at her name.

After pondering for a while, I nodded slowly. "Actually, yes I do. We have Science together after lunch."

"Then I want you to repeat the same plan with her after you finish with the first girl."

Knowing this would be the end of our conversation, I bowed my head in obedience and headed for my chambers on the bottom of the cruise ship. I stopped in my gait and turned to say one more thing to my dad.

"I have an English test I have to study for," I grinned.

He smiled at me kindly and joked, "There giving you tests already?" After giving him a smile, he waved me off and I descended the stairs with a satisfied grin on my face. Little did I know how much danger I was really putting Abby in.