The night was cold on the water yet Celia refused to go under the cover of the ship. It was small and Deo had made himself right at home there. No matter how hard her teeth clattered together or how many goose lumps rose on her flesh she refused to get that close to him. So instead she bunckered down on the deck where she could see everything around them. Poseidon was calm tonight for not a wave could be seen. It left long periods of nothing for her to think in. Celia beat herself for not being quick enough when they first took off. She had tried to leap from the boat, however Deo had quickly grabbed around her waist and held on. She had kicked and called out but no one was near the docks that late at night and they were too far away by the time he released her.
"What are you pouting for?" The slurred, tired voice came from the opening of the cover. Deo sat there now staring at her with gentle eyes. One would think he was a kind man if they were looking at him for the first time.
"Take me home." Her words were stained with the chattering of her teeth. "I can not help you on the mainland so you have no use for me."
"You are mistaken in your words." A sly smile danced across his lips as he stood and moved closer to her, moving so that was barely a whisper of air between them and forcing her to her feet as well. "I have many uses for you." His hand skimmed the flesh of her cheek and down her neck before he leaned towards it, forcing a gasp from her. Deo backed up laughing as Celia shook even harder. There was no reason for this man's ations. He did whatever he wanted and took joy in causing her panic. Once he was a decent pace away she wrapped her arms around herself and prayed silently to Artemis to protect her and her maidenhood.
"Do you think they really listen?" She jumped at the sound of his voice. Startled that he had heard her since he was sure she had said it just below a whisper. When she didn't respond he sighed. "The gods you and your family seem to charish so much. Do you think they listen to your prayers? Or that they even care for you at all? After all here you are. Kidnapped by a strange man and possibly going to be sold as a sex slave. Do you really think if they cared you'd be here?"
It took her a moment to answer. No one had ever asked or wondered such a thing. "Do they listen? Maybe not, but by chance they are. Do they care? About me? Probably not. But I do care for them. So it is alright if they don't care for me."
The man didn't look at her the entire time she spoke. And when she finished he sighed and moved to sit across from her, his arm crossed and placed on the side of the ship, his face turned towards the darkness. "Go sleep. In a few hours will be docking and I need you rested."
She stood for a moment, confused at his sudden act of kindnness. After that moment she bowed her head and went to rest in the warmth of the ship's cabin. She felt a bit uneasy as she rounded up a blanket her father kept on board and curled up in the far cornor just in case Deo did return while she slept.
When Celia woke she could hear the sounds of men outside. She stood and straightened herself as she made her way to the deck, still half awake. When she stepped into the dim light of dawn and spotted men about the deck she about screamed. Then she remembered what had happened the night before and straightened herself. If she were to get help now would be the time. She rushed towards one of the men hoping he would listen to her pleads, however as she got closer she noted Deo not far from the man. His eyes settled on her and his voice changed to what almost sounded loving.
"This is my beautiful wife I was telling you about." Her mouth fell agape at his words. The men he spoke to turned to face her with bright smiles on their faces. "Dearest these men are willing to trade some horses for the ship."
"Horses?... No! This ship-" She was cut off before she could finish by Deo stomping over to her and thristing his hand over her mouth. The look in his eyes were murderous and she had this horrid feeling he would act on that silent threat.
"Sorry men. This was her father's so it means a great deal." He turned away from her, however he stayed close and even wrapped his arm around her to keep her in check. Any move she made out of line would end with her body being dumped in the waves. Biting her tongue she followed his silent comands. No one would believe her story against his. They would just assume she had gone mad. Maybe pitty him for having a crazed bride and tell him to do away with her. No one would help her get home.
Hope slipped away fast as the men handed over two mares and Deo helped her on top of one. And as he lead them away from the shipyard she felt her heart tear apart. It was as if she would never see her home again and every step away from it was another memory torn from her.
Back on the island Orien was waking to the sounds of soft sobs. He followed the sound to his sister's room, expecting to find her sitting in bed with messed hair and tears in her eyes from a nightmare, like when they were kids. He expected to sit beside her and dry those tears then lounge around until their father forced them to face the day. However when he entered the room he was faced with none of them. Instead he saw his father tanding in the middle of the room and holding a robe his sister had recently made for herself. The sobbing sounds were coming from the man in front of him. Orien stood confused and dazed. He had not once heard thi man cry. Not even when his mother or Celiea's had passed away. The man before him was strong willed and iron fisted. He kept all emotions to himself. And yet now he wept. And over a robe?
"Father?" Orien's voice broke as he thought of what could bring this man to tears. "Where's Celia?"
The man turned to his son and placed his hand on his should. No words had to be said. And the next question seemed redunant yet he couldn't keep the words from his mouth. "Where's Deo?"