Chapter 3

Later in the day, just before the passengers gathered for supper, Raphael came down to get Athena. "Most of the others aren't exactly in favor of your joining us," he explained as she pulled on her boots. "But they'll just have to live with it. I make the decisions, and we need another skilled fighter. Anyway, I'm sure most of them will change their minds once they've met you."

She looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure? I don't want to have to watch my back for daggers this whole trip."

"Oh, I can assure you that this group is not like that. They may not like it, but they will see it as mere inconvenience. Except…" He trailed off, and she raised an eyebrow. "Just watch out for Ivy. You'll meet her at supper. She wasn't opposed to you in the first place, but she's quick to name enemies. Just be wary of her, and you'll be safe."

She laughed, and they walked through the ship to the table where the rest of the group waited. Raphael went around the table introducing everyone.

At the head of the table was the captain, with two crew members on his right. Also on his right was a tall, proud woman with purple-white hair, whom Athena assumed to be Ivy. She ate in silence, glaring at anyone who looked her way. To the left of the captain were two young men, whom Raphael introduced as Kilik and Yunsung. The former had chocolate brown eyes and wavy brown hair, with a muscled build. The latter was smaller, with dyed-red hair and a cocky grin. Sitting in between the two was a petite girl with big eyes and a bubbly personality. Athena grimaced, because she figured this girl would get annoying, and they had only just met. Talim, as Raphael introduced her, barely even acknowledged the introduction, as she was prattling on about who knows what to the two uninterested young men sitting beside her.

Kilik pulled out the empty seat beside him and motioned for Athena to sit as Raphael introduced the last member of the team, who was sitting directly across from her. Nightmare, or Seigfried, as Raphael introduced him, was tall and big-built, with long blonde hair and sad eyes. He looked up as Raphael made the introductions, and when he saw Athena for the first time, a flicker of recognition, mixed with shock and remorse, came into his eyes. There was something familiar about him, though Athena couldn't place it. She tried to ignore it as Raphael sat at the end of the table, and Kilik started making light conversation while she ate.

After lunch, Raphael, Athena, and the captain went down to familiarize Athena with the details of the mission. Ivy, with eyes as sharp as her tongue, climbed up to the crow's nest and remained there the rest of the afternoon. Nightmare, as usual, spent his time gazing out into the sea, lost in his sad, mysterious thoughts. Talim flirtatiously tried to get Kilik and Yunsung to spar with her, but she gave up soon and retreated below deck, probably to pout. This left the two young men virtually alone, discussing the newcomer to the group.

"What do we know about her?" Kilik asked in hushed tones.

"She's hot."

"No way, man. I saw her first."

"No you didn't! I'm the one that saw the ship anyway! If it weren't for me, we'd all be dead!" Yunsung shook his head. "Don't even think about it. I got dibs."

Kilik shrugged. "Not if she has anything to do with it. There is no way she's gonna pass me up for you. You can just forget it. "

Yunsung flashed a cocky grin. "Uh-uh. You've got it backwards, man. I-"

"Well it doesn't matter anyway. I think she's into Nightmare," Kilik interrupted.

"So? That can be changed." Yunsung strutted across the deck. "What's that old monster got to offer anyway? I mean, when she could have me…"

Their little word-war didn't end until shortly before she, the captain, and Raphael came out of their meeting, and even then they only shut up because Talim, obviously recovered from their rejection, came up and started trying again.

As Athena made her way to the deck, she found herself thinking about Nightmare. He seemed so familiar, yet she didn't think she'd ever seen him before in her life. His sad eyes haunted her, and she wondered what painful secrets he was hoarding behind them. When she got up on the deck, she saw him gazing out into the ocean, saying not a word to anyone. She joined him at the rail in silence.

He looked over at her, and their eyes met. Suddenly his turned cold, and he looked away. She didn't quite know how to respond to this, but she began speaking softly. "Have we met somewhere before? You…look familiar."

His jaw clenched. "No."

She didn't miss the cold edge in his voice, but she also detected a hint of…was it regret? She saw the way he withdrew whenever he looked at her, as though she brought him pain somehow. Maybe she reminded him of someone? She cast one last look in his direction, then headed down below the deck.