Chapter 12: Crete

The gang set sail for Crete the next day.

Marcus and Julius still shared a cabin as did Serena and Josh.

"Enlist or West Point?" The guys, no longer boys, but not men yet, debated. They each listed the merits of both.

Julius was more impulsive, ready to see combat and action. Marcus was an organizer, wanting to climb the ladder faster.

"What about you, Kassie?" Serena prompted Kassandra to join the conversation.

"What is there for me to do?" Kassandra had doubts.

"You could be a model, actress, or songstress," Nico answered.

"At worst, you would be a trophy wife," Marcus joked. He slapped Julius' back in a jovial manner.

Serena smiled with her own ideas. "You like designing clothes so you can start your own fashion line. Or you can make cosmetics that don't clog pores and keep skin acne free."

Sophie sat down, bone weary. She had aged 2 decades in 2 days. "My time is nearly done."

The Mediterranean Sea was dead still and the sails were empty, giving Percy another chance to practice his water control.

They reached Crete on Saturday at 5 pm.

Unfortunately, the funeral parlors were closed until Monday morning. They had to wait to get Sophie a casket.

Sophie's hair was white, but not thinning. Her hearing had diminished by 30 percent by Sunday.

The gang visited the cemetery where Sophie wanted to be buried by her family. They put her tombstone on the plot while the guys took turns digging the grave. They came up with a rhyme.

It was during Julius' turn that 4 slabs of stone stopped them from going any further.

All four males worked in pairs to remove what turned out to be tombstones.

"Ophelia Bellarious…born 952…died 1000. Mother to Sophie Sol & Darius Arelius II."

"Darius Arelius I…born 948…died 998. Father to D.A. II and husband to Ophelia. A proud member of the Elect."

"Darius Arelius II…born 971…died 995 in battle, serving his liege."

"Leda Arelius…born 973…died at 11 months old. Beloved daughter to Darius I."

Sophie frowned as she recalled Leda's conception. "I tried to warn them that Leda was not destined to reach adolescence, but my stepfather did not want to hear of Leda dying. He simply adored her. Leda's birth caused mom to never conceive, again."

Sophie got teary eyed as she recalled Darius' animosity towards her. "When Leda passed away, Darius made mom and my brother stop visiting me then he moved. I never got to see my family again."

Serena rubbed Sophie's back in a soothing pattern. She handed over an eco-friendly Kleenex so Sophie could blow her nose or wipe her eyes.

On Monday, the gang was the first to enter Sunset Funeral Home.

An elderly man in a button up peach shirt greeted them. "Hello. Are you looking for something in particular?"

Serena and Sophie stayed close. "Yes, I have need for a cedar casket with gold sun details."

"I have a plain black cedar casket that details can be added to," the elderly man with blue-eyes led them over to a 16 inch deep casket.

The females opened the casket lid to see cream cotton lining and a plush pillow headrest.

"How soon can the detailing be done?" Nico asked since he knew that Sophie aged a decade each day after being replaced as oracle.

"Two days. Why?" The funeral home owner didn't think Sophie looked particularly old or dying.

Serena decided to act like Sophie's granddaughter since they shared similar facial features. "The doctors gave Nana less than a week at her latest check-up."

The elderly male gave his heartfelt sympathy to them all. He didn't pry for more information. "I can probably get my specialist to work on it in an hour & finish it after closing."

"We would really appreciate that," Nico said, shaking the man's hand.

They picked up the 5 foot 11 inch casket at Sunset Funeral Home.

Sophie passed away at noon the next day. She was laid to rest in her casket next to her mother.

Her tombstone read:

'Sophie Cornelia Sol

962 to 2015

Gifted Oracle of Delphi.'