The once empty, blue sky took a wild turn the longer she sank deeper into the sea. In just a matter of seconds, he was now seeing dark, ominous clouds. Drops of rain suddenly touched the back of his neck. The looks of the water was also taking a drastic transformation with coarse, undulating waves thrashing against the ship.
He was just enjoying the fearful expressions that played on his men when the ship suddenly stopped. It was as if the vessel crashed on land and yet here they were stranded in the midst of an ocean. His heart stopped. Each side of the ship was surrounded now with oncoming waves of water aiming their way. Some of them went as tall as the ship itself. Every man, including Luke, braced himself.
The water, an aggressive animal, attacked the ship with incredible strength. Cries of men could be heard plunging into the sea and never reemerging. Luke watched as a man next to him was whisked away by the arm of water. The air became so foggy then that no one knew where else to turn or hide. Silence emerged with the foggy atmosphere. Everyone was blinded by the weather.
But Luke and the army could hear the rippling water still. The flow of undulating water below soon transferred in a single crash of water in the front of the vessel. A loud bump vibrated across the platform as if something had landed on board.
The fog slowly cleared and Luke witnessed who it was.
Standing there, drenched in sea water, she took several steps forward. The air was getting clearer and the men watched in fear as the girl emerged from the sea. Even Luke could feel their hearts catch cold once seeing the green blaze in her eyes. They watched with awe the white liquid melting off her hair and cascading down the back of her body onto the platform in tracks.
When she halted, there was not a single strand of silver remaining. Her soaked hair was now black as night. Gritting her teeth, her large irises burned a dramatic green.
"I AM Daughter of Poseidon!" She declared, countering the many doubts said after her fall.
The unclaimed demigod, TJ, came forward. He was a fairly muscular guy around Luke's age. In an ice cold glare, he charged toward her sword ready.
Not making a single movement, Audrey held his position in sight. Luke tensed, finding her weaponless. Then to his surprise, a surge of water as thick as a giant tentacle erupted from the water and seized her attacker before he could strike her. In just a matter of seconds, the water disappeared into the murky sea along with TJ's screams.
She had finally proven herself. He figured this was the end. Everything would go through now smoothly and positively. He was greatly mistaken.
He just triggered the domino effect, a thought whispered.
A batch of watery tentacles suddenly erupted from the sea and was surrounding the ship. Men ran for cover while others tried to fight off what could not be killed. Massive tentacles took turns in smashing stairways, platforms, emergency boats, etc. Men by the dozens were being picked off in just a matter of seconds. Meanwhile, only a single person was shielded from this madness that unveiled as she remained standing rigidly with both fists knotted beside her. Whirls of cold rain and wind whipped back her long black hair.
When it was over, she was heaving heavily. Her feet were frozen on the wet platform. Unlike the falling rain, the wind had stopped and left her wet mane resting against her back.
Silence took over the nasty tragedy.
Unrattled by her wrath, Luke's body walked over slain bodies, potholes, and shatters of glass. Not a single ounce of fear was present when he approached her. He could hear her wild heart pumping recklessly. He could feel her bottled torture screaming to escape. Hidden under the cold rain, he could see the warm tears drizzling down her cheeks.
"Very good," he said.
Kronos lifted her chin. Her green eyes were struggling to resurface whatever strength lingered inside.
"You may rest now."
Heavier tears clouded her green eyes. Nothing sounded more right now than sleep. Her restless body was finally grasping a sense of peace and fatigue.
Before the invasion of blackness emerged, Audrey's weak body collapsed. A pair of broad arms caught the fall in time. And underneath this darkness and rain, she could feel his steps moving them below the deck.
The touch of cold water padding her forehead woke her up. She found herself tucked in her bed on the ship. Above her knelt a daughter of Demeter, attempting to check her on Kronos's orders. After seeing that she was alright, she directed the girl upstairs on deck. He wanted to see her.
The first of the sores that emerged made Audrey question what the demigod's idea of alright was. The girl helped put on a red silk robe over her shredded and filthy wardrobe. She never got a chance to change. On her way upstairs, Audrey was rushed by Ethan who, apparently, was expecting her. The flashback to the night before never surfaced until she arrived on deck.
Men and monsters stood by in the hundreds. She found some raising posts back to their original spots, several repairing the badly damaged wooden platform, and many trying to recover lost materials. A majority, however, sat and stood cloaked in towels and blankets. She passed by the sight of bandages and lost limbs along the way. He, along with every other man and monster on board, was watching her. A sense of appreciation arose for Ethan's presence.
Kronos greeted her with open arms. He stood on the upper deck gazing out over the lively waters under the fresh blue sky. Smiling, he admired the new hair and complimented on her splendid performance the past night.
Somewhat still disoriented from the experience, Audrey thanked him properly. But, the Titan noticed this. With pleasant eyes, he snatched her arm and pulled her out onto the balcony. It was before many faces that all blended into one. He whispered into her ear, "You have done well." The cool touch of his hand entwined with hers and his pleased attitude made her forget all about her under-dressed appearance before the men. She looked out in awe over the massive body. "Now show them who you really are."
Kronos cried, "Miss. Corleone has proven herself to not only me but to us all! You have witnessed with your own eyes her incredible power!" Her green eyes began to stumble over an array of men stepping down. "With Daughter of Poseidon we will be unstoppable!" All of a sudden the entire front row of men had bowed down. "With Daughter of Poseidon, we will CONQUER!" Her heart sunk at the sight of all men in the fleet kneeling down before her.
"We will take Olympus down by force and smear the blood of those who defy us!"
