~ Raging Sea ~

My birthday began with the water- / Birds and the birds of the winged trees flying my name.

Dylan Thomas, Poem on October

Julian:

I

It was the first time I got out of my mansion since Poseidon left me. I wasn’t able to go to the seashore, of course. I was still too weak from the wounds Saori’s... Athena’s Saints had left me, as a result of their encounter with the Emperor of the Seas. In any case, I didn’t care about that, at least not when the doctor had finally allowed me to breathe some fresh air at the porch.

I was surprised to find the sultry air and the sound of the breaking weaves as enticing as it had been during my childhood. I had feared that after all we’d been through, I would end up growing some kind of aversion to it, but I had been wrong. It seemed Poseidon’s blood run deep in my family. Or maybe I was too stubborn to give the old man a victory.

‘’ You are quiet today. Still thinking about Him? ‘’

I smiled, leaning against the low wall that circled my Spartan summer house, one of the many I owned all over Greece and Italy.

‘’ Perhaps. Tell me, Thetys, why did you stay with me? ‘’

The blonde mermaid looked at me with her ocean-blue eyes, and for a moment I believed she was going to answer, but she just sighed and walked to my side.

This had been part of a pointless game ever since I was able to speak once again. I knew neither her nor Sorrento, the only marines that had remained by my side after Poseidon’s defeat, where going to answer, but it didn’t really matter. It was a rhetoric question to which I already had the answer. They had stayed because they thought I was still He.

I returned my attention to the sea, to the endless waves of blue that stretched into the horizon. Somewhere, under that mass of water so full of power and strength, a whole kingdom had grown and flourished, unchanged and unaffected by the means of the world. Until something in me woke up and killed it. Until that something made it die...

‘’ It was beautiful, wasn’t it? ‘’

Thetys nodded, taking my hand to her lips and kissing it softly. ‘’ It still is. The sea is what it matters, and as long as it remains, the realm will do so also. And I doubt the ocean can go and hide somewhere ‘’

‘’ Maybe you are right, maybe Poseidon’s realm is still there, somewhere in the depths. But does that mean that its owner is there too? God, why do I have to find so many questions to every apparent answer I come across? ‘’

‘’ It could be that you ask too much ‘’, she added, holding her hair on one side to prevent the wind from messing it up.

‘’ It could ‘’ I finally answered, relenting. The time I had spent outside had been both a blessing and a curse, as my health started paying off the consequences.

‘’ Perhaps we should go inside, is getting chilly... ‘’

I shook my head, placing Thetys’ hand on my chest. She trembled at my touch, she always did, but still held my gaze with her mocking stare.

‘’ I need to see this, it makes me feel alive. After so many deaths in my... in his name, after all the lives Poseidon took in its search for vengeance, I need to find myself once again... I have to find myself once again‘’

She smiled that same beautiful smile she gave me every morning when we woke up, that smile that needed no words to show what it meant. She understood.

‘’ Thank you for letting me be a part of that, my wanderer Julian Solo ‘’

This time I was the one to smile. It was strange in me, I hadn’t had many reasons to smile lately, more after learning the dreadful consequences of the Flood, but she was one of them, the one that brought some kind of sanity into my life after all that mayhem I just couldn’t forget. Grateful, I took her hand to my lips and kissed it softly, allowing her to cuddle against me, her head resting on my shoulder.

I sighed involuntarily, drowned in the smell of sea-air of her hair, of her skin. Yes, as long as she stayed with me I still had hopes; I still had a chance for living.

‘’ I love you, you know that? ‘’

I nodded, stroking her check lovingly. Even though I cared about her deeply, and I certainly desired her – she was indeed the most beautiful woman I had ever lain my eyes on, and I had had my share of them -, I couldn’t say I loved her. Love was something I had only felt once, for a woman whose scorn still haunted my soul and heart, and I doubted I could feel something as strong for any other woman. Saori was always going to be my dream.

But Thetys knew that, or at least suspected it, she was too bright as not to notice. And still accepted it. A man with so many crimes on his back didn’t deserve such a woman. I didn’t deserve such a woman.

‘’ Ehem... ‘’

‘’ Sorrento, want to sit with us? ‘’ I muttered, trying to straighten myself as Thetys moved away from me and bowed to her superior. My... Poseidon’s General’s presence still took me aback, even now that he was wearing a plain white shirt and a pair of navy blue trousers- probably Armani or Hugo Boss- instead of his Scales. He had that something that inspired both respect and admiration. And combined with a humble and sensitive personality turned him into the perfect gentleman. Perhaps that was why I tried to look as strong as my body allowed me to in front of him: I didn’t want to disappoint him. Or perhaps I was simply too proud as to show or admit that he was a better man than I would ever be.

‘’ If you insist ‘’

The General’s uneasiness at Thetys presence was evident. Even though the two of them had grown together, he still didn’t approve of our relationship. At first I had thought he was interested in her, who wouldn’t being she every man’s fantasy, but now I knew he disliked it because I –in his eyes- was his Emperor, and she was nothing but a mermaid. In his eyes, she was the one who didn’t deserve me. God, he really was mistaken!

‘’ The sea is roaring ‘’, he stated, his fuchsia eyes fixed on the horizon.

‘’ A fight... a battle... two godly beings fighting each other, two more fighting the world itself ‘’, added Thetys.

I clenched my fists, cursing for having been born and awaken so many perils. I knew which beings were fighting, I loved one of them too well... and for the other two... one was just trying to heal the wounds I left her... and about the forth one... well, I wasn’t ready to face her yet.

‘’ She’ll be fine, my Lord, Athena is a strong woman ‘’

I nodded, knowing by my own experience how strong the Goddess of War could be if pushed to her limits. I had made her show me that power, not too long ago.

But still, her enemy was much more stronger and angrier than I... Poseidon had ever been. Because this enemy wasn’t looking for revenge, he was looking for dominion over Earth and annihilation of humanity, not caring about the just, or the evil. There was no search for establishing the utopia, which had been Poseidon’s dream, but just to implant chaos and death all over the land of the living.

And what pissed me off the more was that he had taken advantage of Poseidon’s actions, of the deaths I... –he!- had provoked.

But no, I didn’t have to feel like that, not yet, Saori was there to stop him, and I believed in her, I had to. If she was defeated, Earth wasn’t going to be given a second chance... none of us would...

‘’ I know she is, Sorrento... she’ll defeat him ‘’

‘’ She will, undoubtedly she deserves being call a Goddess, my Lord ‘’

I frowned at his words. They wouldn’t have disturbed me if he had said that to me in private, but not now, not when Thetys was standing by my side, listening to us speaking about the woman I loved. The woman I would give my life for. A woman that wasn’t her.

‘’ Yes, she does... ‘’ I muttered, not even caring about hiding my feelings. It was best for Thetys to know that I couldn’t love her back, that way perhaps she would stop loving me and then I would be free to fall into my own personal hell without hurting her anymore than I already had.

‘’ I can’t feel them, you know, not even the slightest shine of Cosmo. Hell, I can’t feel yours and you are standing next to me! ‘’ I went on, limping to Sorrento’s side. It was funny, some time ago I was an all mighty God, and now I was nothing but the shadow of a man who needed a damn cane to stand on his feet.

‘’ You will, my Lord. Your body must heal first, but in the end, your strength will return... ‘’

My strength... I didn’t want my strength! What would I do with it? Destroy the half of the population I couldn’t on my first attempt??! Destroy Saori?? Finish Hades’ work and turned Earth into an annex of the Land of the Dead?!! Utopia was just a dream, a stupidity, a foolish thought that was impossible to recreate, and even less now that the Lord of the Dead had risen from his grave. My strength would only turned me into another Hades, into another hungry shadow that feasted on the bodies of innocent men, women and children. I would be worst than a demon, worst than a vampire; I would be a leech! A worm in a world of corpses, a world of death!!!

Unnerved, I hit the wall with my cane; flicks of paint falling on the porch’s floor.

‘’ Stop it with the ‘my lord’, Sorrento, I am nothing of the sort!!! Your beloved Lord is trapped inside an amphora in the remains of his Sanctuary, with the company of five men who, in their blindness, accepted to follow a madman to hell!!! I am Julian Solo, leader of the greatest corporation to ever roam the Seven Seas, but nothing more, not a god, not an emperor, nor a murderer, just a damn mortal! Is it so hard to get?!! ‘’

I stopped myself, feeling weak and empty. My breath was ragged and my limbs felt heavy, as well as my soul. I noticed Thetys was looking at me, her eyes shinning with a mixture of concern and admiration, already walking to help me out, but then the world started to lose its shape and I couldn’t make out anything else.

‘’ Leave him ‘’, ordered Sorrento, grinning with satisfaction ‘’ He can stand by himself ‘’

Thetys doubted for a second, but then continued, her soft hands closing around my arm. I tried to smile, but I was unable too, and just shook my head, pulling her away. I might not be a warrior, but still had my pride.

‘’ I don’t know what’s so funny, Siren ‘’ I murmured, using his General name to address him.

‘’ Nothing ‘’ he answered running his fingers through his lilac hair ‘’ I was just seeing that we needn’t wait for your body to heal any more ... my Lord ‘’

‘’ What do you...? ‘’

I was about to tell him off once again, when I noticed I was standing on my own-trembling- legs The cane –or what was left of it- had ended on the floor after I smashed it against the walls, which where now covered by thousands of tiny cracks.

Fear... no, panic, ran through my limbs as I tried to understand what had just happened. Darkness surrounded me as the answer dawned on me, an answer that could only mean that the nightmare wasn’t over. That Poseidon was still around, lurking, hiding, waiting for the right moment to return, to take control of my body and soul. And even though I hated... no, I abhorred the idea of being a vessel for Poseidon’s power, a part of me felt happy for that, and was already opening to welcome Him. And that only made me hate myself even more....

II

Blood... I am drowning in a sea of blood, flowing from the slashed wrists of an angel with mauve hair and a pious stare. I try to escape, to swim my way up, or at least to search for the shore, for an end to this endless scarlet ocean, but a wall made with thousands of corpses with purple lips and rotting flesh doesn’t let me continue, trapping me, sinking me down and down...

Hate... I see a puppet coming towards me, driven by hate... It takes a sword and tries to stab me, but a mermaid comes and gets in the way. She is dying and I can’t help her.

Death... I am surrounded by death... A predator becomes a prey, a warrior heals its dead, Death itself trembles and vanishes away...

A cold hand closes around my neck and throws me back to the sea, to that deep crimson sea. The angel laughs at me, and so does the puppet, the predator and the warrior... the dead mermaid also laughs, a madman’s laughter coming from her twisted mouth. I want to run, to disappear, to be given the gift of death, but I just keep swimming, keep going towards the mermaid, enchanted by the song that comes from her bony throat... I look at her face, but I can’t really see her... All I can see are her insane eyes as she stretches her rotting hand and digs it into my chest, taking my heart out and showing me that after all, it still beats...

‘’ No!!! ‘’

‘’ Julian??! Julian!!! ‘’

I sat up like a bolt, sweat rolling down my icy skin. Warm arms were around my shoulders, holding me firmly, not letting me go.

‘’ I’ll call the doctor... ‘’

‘’ Don’t ‘’, I managed to say, ‘’ Just... stay with me ‘’

She nodded and embraced me, pressing her naked body against mine. She felt so alive, so safe compared to my trembling limbs. I sunk myself on her chest, babbling like a child as tears started to roll down my cheeks.

We stayed like that for about half an hour, Thetys’ warm body bringing me back slowly. When she was certain I could handle some minutes on my own without doing anything stupid, she went to look for some water and new blankets, the old ones being soaked by my sweat. Some lucid part of my brain told me she also went to tell Sorrento I was fine, but the thought didn’t last long as I saw her re-entering the room.

‘’ So... was it another nightmare? ‘’, she asked while she forced me into drinking some water.

I nodded. Ever since the cane thing I had started having those dreams, but none had been as terrible as tonight’s. The doctor had suggested seeing a psychiatrist, but we all knew how useless that would be. I couldn’t just go and say ‘ I was Poseidon, and as him I am responsible of the Flood and of the deaths of two thousand three hundred million people, almost half of the world population, you know ’.

‘’ Sometimes I wish I were the one with the dreams... ‘’, she whispered, running her fingers through my hair, ‘’ If only Sea Dragon hadn’t awaken you... him, sorry... ‘’

‘’ Poseidon would have awaken anyway, he is not the kind of God that takes lightly being trapped inside an amphora ‘’ I said, stopping her caresses to just look at her and admire her beauty.

‘’ And never, never, say that you would wish to have my dreams; you are the last person I want seeing those things. I’d rather being Sea Dragon’s puppet forever than seeing you suffer ‘’

She blushed as I kissed her, her hands on my chest. Despite my previous dream, we began to behave more passionately, enjoying our kisses, our caresses. Perhaps that was all I needed, to realise that I could still feel something, that I could still feel pleasure, and that my life wasn’t just a constant reminder of my sins.

With that thought in my mind, already anticipating her moves, her touch, I let her push me flat on the bed, as I pulled her over me. Her breath felt warm against my neck and her breasts were soft under my hands. As I enjoyed the feeling of her body, she started arousing my own, her hands travelling softly down my crotch...

It was then when I stopped her. Despite I longed for her, despite I wanted her, I couldn’t do it now, I couldn’t have sex with her when the images of my dreams still haunted me.

‘’ Thetys... I... I’m sorry... ‘’

She looked at me with her huge blue eyes and kissed my forehead, before resting her head on my chest, her golden hair cascading over us like a cover.

‘’ You are too good for me ‘’ I murmured, playing with a tress of her hair.

‘’ Stop saying gibberish like that and lets sleep ‘’, she whispered in my ear as she placed a finger on my mouth. I tried to bite it, but she took it off in time, grinning devilishly.

‘’ Bad shark! ‘’

‘’ Ooooh, yes, and you are a helpless little mermaid, aren’t you? ‘’

She nodded as she cuddled against me, her hands resting against my chest. I circled her body with my arms, feeling how her breath eased as dream slowly took her. I thought I wasn’t going to fall asleep again, not after the nightmare, but Thetys’ peacefulness slowly drowsed me and I finally relented, falling in a dreamless dream that soothed my soul’s wounds.

III

Sorrento told me about Hilda and Athena. Learning that the God Warriors were alive healed one of the many wounds my heart had, although learning that the Queen of the Hunt had been involved brought me a strange uneasiness I couldn’t quite explain. Her name brought me memories I couldn’t understand; memories that seemed a part of my life... and yet I hadn’t lived them.

It wasn’t as if I had something against her, no, it wasn’t fear not hate, but there was something there that bothered me greatly... On the other hand, the news from the Graude Foundation did make me lose my sanity, or at least threatened to. Sorrento had been wise by speaking to me while Thetys was gone buying some things for our trip to Crete, I couldn’t have been able to hold in with her around, Saori was too important to me. And founding out that she was in a catatonic state, completely oblivious to the world and just fading away helped me realise how much I loved her.

Sorrento kept talking, something about her saints being fine and Hades defeated, but I just didn’t care. All I cared for was the fact that my Saori was being pushed away from life once again.

‘’ I’m going to see her ‘’, I blurted out, looking for my bag on the pile of things we had left at the porch to load on my boat.

‘’ What? My lord... ‘’

I looked at Sorrento, looming over him as a shadow. I didn’t care that even if I was bigger and taller than he; he could still beat me up like a dog. All I wanted was to see Saori and I would get to her no matter who dared to stand on my way.

But Sorrento just shrugged, digging his hands into his sport trousers.

‘’ Ok... have it your way. Shall I call the pilots and tell them to get ready for tonight? ‘’

‘’ Tonight? She might be gone for tonight! Tell them I’m leaving for the airport right now, so they better be ready when I get there ‘’

I didn’t see Sorrento’s fist coming to my jaw, all I could notice was the throbbing pain of my cheek being tear in the inside and the taste of blood in my mouth.

How dares he, I heard myself thinking, how dares he touching his lord... I’ll show him now, I’ll give him the punishment he deserves...

Trying to forget about the pain, I hushed that voice away, a voice I had heard many times these days. Poseidon was always a bad timer.

‘’ Why on earth did you do that??!! ‘’ I finally asked, rubbing my hand against my battered cheek.

‘’ Thetys. She doesn’t deserve to be treated this way, and I won’t be left with the responsibility of telling her that you left to see the woman you love. That’s not fair ‘’

I looked at him, both hurt and confused. I had never thought he would stand up for her, least in a matter that concerned Athena. Perhaps I had been wrong about his attitude towards my relationship to Thetys; perhaps his not approving it laid on the fact that he knew someday it would come to this point, to a moment when I would have to make a choice. And he knew which would be my choice.

‘’ Tell the pilots to be ready for tonight ‘’ I finally muttered, accepting the hand he was offering.

‘’ Nice left you have, Siren, seems you haven’t lost your touch ‘’ I teased grimly, trying to sound spirited.

‘’ Leave that for Thetys. You’ll lose her today ‘’

I watched him go into the house without being able to say a word. Losing her. I hadn’t thought about that possibility. Yes, I knew Saori was the woman I wanted to spend my whole life with, but that was something more like a dream, while Thetys was real, real and too much in love with me as to be hurt... And I was about to hurt her deeply this time.

I stayed at the porch, waiting for her while I stared into the sea. Sorrento had been right, over the past few months it had turned wilder, much more violent. The waves weren’t perfect anymore, they were just angry giants crushing against the cliffs, their roars echoing all over the beach. It seemed that Poseidon was getting restless...

‘’ Hi ‘’

‘’ Oh, hi ‘’ I muttered, accepting Thetys’ fleeting kiss. She smiled at me and threw me a fluffy mermaid doll with a huge ribbon round her neck.

‘’ A little something I saw at the market. I just had to get it. Do you like it? ‘’

I nodded, still taken aback by the way things had developed. This wasn’t suppose to be difficult, I had broken up with tons of girls before meeting her, and she wasn’t but just one more conquest to add to the list. Still, I wasn’t ready to lose her, I didn’t want to, not the way I knew I would.

‘’ Thetys... I... ‘’

‘’ Yes? ‘’ she asked, her blue eyes drinking in mine. God, she really was beautiful.

‘’ Saori is in a shock and I... ‘’

‘’ No... ‘’ Her gaze left me, fixing on her trembling hands. I knew how was she feeling, in how much pain she was. I had felt the same way when Saori refused to be my wife.

‘’ I have to see her... ‘’

‘’ Please, don’t go on... ‘’ I heard her mutter, conscious that every word I said was another stab in her heart.

‘’ I have to be by her side, this could be my last chance... ‘’ I went on, trying to justify m actions ‘’ I’m leaving today. As a matter of fact I was waiting to see you so I could leave... Thetys, I... I’m sorry ‘’

I stopped when seeing tears in her eyes. This was the first time I saw her crying. The doctors that had healed my wounds told me she had cried the day she took me to them, but never again. She trusted in me recovering. She trusted in me.

I tried to say something, to change those tears into a smile, but she just shook her head, placing a finger on my lips to silence me.

‘’ Don’t. I knew this day would come, I just had this... this vain hope that somehow you would stop loving her... and start loving me instead. But it was naive of me to keep that kind of hope, more when I knew it was useless. Go to her, Julian Solo, and tell her that I envy her, she has the love of a great man ‘’

‘’ Thetys, please... ‘’ I murmured, a knot forming in my throat.

‘’Shh...go, my wanderer ‘’ she finally said, kissing me softly on the lips for what I knew was to be our last kiss.

I watched her helplessly as she entered the house, her pale hands covering her crying eyes when she thought I wasn’t looking.

A part of me wanted me to go after her, to stop behaving like a fool and beg for her forgiveness. But another part, a part of me I felt more comfortable with, a part I understood and knew too well; told me that I shouldn’t bother. She was nothing but another girl that had gone through my bed... she wasn’t worth the effort.

And I, as the fool and coward that I was, chose the latter.

I stayed at the porch waiting for the pilot’s call. Somehow I knew I was staying there with the hope that Thetys would come to me and try to stop me from going, but I was to proud to just go and talk to her.

And she had the right not to come.

Realising that all the waiting-and guilt-were disturbing me; I walked to the seashore, enjoying the sunset and the feeling of the warm sand under my feet. The sky had turned golden, just as Saori’s Cosmo... and Thetys cascading hair...

What a fool I was! Why I couldn’t just go and admit the truth? Why I was letting my last chance of happiness go off the board by a dream, by a woman I had idealised and turned into a challenge, just because she had scorned me? Damn, I had to talk to Thetys; I couldn’t let things the way they were, I had to explain...

‘’ Poseidon? ‘’

It had been centuries since the last time I had been called like that, or so they felt. I didn’t know the voice, though. But still... still made me feel I had to fear it, I had to get away from its reach...

‘’ No, Poseidon is trapped in an amphora under the sea. If you have business with him, go and see him ‘’, I said, trying to hide my fear under a mask of indifference.

A madman’s laughter echoed over the beach, making my hair stand on end. What was it? Who was it? I had never felt scared in my whole life; not even my nightmares brought me that kind of feeling. And yet, that simple voice had made my heart miss a beat.

‘’ A God trapped inside an amphora? You are kidding me, right? How can he be trapped when I’m seeing you here? ‘’

‘’... Athena... she trapped him... ‘’ I muttered, trying to convince myself the same way as I was trying to convince the stranger.

‘’ Don’t take me for a fool, Poseidon! ‘’

A wave crushed against the cliffs at the sides of the shore as Night slowly took her place on the starry sky. I knew I was in danger, I knew I had to run, to get away from the voice, but still I couldn’t move, I was charmed by that voice, by that feeling of being nothing but a prey...

‘’ For a moment you had me, you know... but it really doesn’t matter... my objective is plain enough. I’m here to kill you, Lord of the Seas, I’m here just... to take your breath away ‘’

The next thing I noticed was that I was lying flat on the sand, blood spilling from my mouth. I could already notice that some of my ribs where broken and my left arm was dislocated. The pain had been such that I couldn’t even feel it, and still I knew this was just the beginning. Leaning on my right arm I stood up, ignoring the throbbing pain in my head and the menacing feeling of numbness on my legs. It was the first time I saw my opponent and the sight surprised me.

The girl was about my age, tall and with knee-length, wavy red hair. Her eyes were also red, its colour enhanced by the black liner she was wearing and her long lashes. Her body was curvy, protected by a lilac armour, similar to the one Thetys or the female Saints wore, its surface carved with the shape of countless snakes..

‘’ ... A Tunic... ‘’ I whispered, suddenly remembering something. I knew what she was, deep inside of me I knew it, it was a similar feeling to the one I had had when hearing the name of the Queen of the Hunt... as if something from my past had been talking to me... or from Poseidon’s past?

‘’ So you stopped the charade? I’m glad, a God must die with honour ‘’

‘’ Wait! ‘’ I cried, as I saw her Cosmo raising... Perhaps I wasn’t able to sense it anymore, but seeing a deep purple light surrounding her body made it pretty obvious. And the shine it had also made obvious she was powerful. Very.

‘’ Don’t ask for mercy, Poseidon, both of us know I won’t give it. Just face the truth and die like a God ‘’

‘’ Chime of Night! ‘’

Her Cosmo exploded in a vision of storms and gales. Even when I was Poseidon I hadn’t witnessed such an aura, so violent and uncontrollable. Helpless, I tried to use my arms to protect me, although I knew how futile that was, I even doubted Poseidon’s Cosmo would have stopped her... But maybe this was right, this was how it was supposed to be... Death would be such an easy way to stop this madness, to pay for my sins, to end it all...

‘’ Coral Grave! ‘’

Thetys’ attack turned to dust as it faced that incredible mass of purple energy. Yes, it was surely how it was supposed to be, it was surely for the best... all I had to do now was wait for the attack to touch me, to take my soul away...

‘’ Aargh! ‘’

The shriek made me forget about my wish for death and look up. Thetys stood before me, a gentle smile on her trembling lips. I was able to catch her before she collapsed, her body falling limply into my arms.

‘’ No! ‘’ I cried, unable to understand what had happened. She shouldn’t have done something like that; it was unfair, unjust. I was the sinner, not her; she was an angel! Tears rolled down my cheek unwittingly, as I pressed her body tightly against mine, knowing she had little time left... why?... why?...

‘’ Thetys, you fool... ‘’

‘’ ... Don’t say that... I’m glad to die... for the one I love... ‘’

I kissed her softly, unwilling to let her go. For the first time I cursed myself for not being Poseidon, for not having the power to heal her, to take her away from death’s arms. Why was I cursed with such a life? Was I such a criminal in my other lives as to deserve this torture, this fate?

‘’ You won’t die, I won’t allow it ‘’

‘’ ... Julian... ‘’

Despite the pain my body was feeling, somehow I managed to make her stand, holding her by the waist. The house was just metres away, I had to take her there, to the doctor, to a hospital; I just had to do something...

‘’ It’s a shame she got in the way. She is a brave warrior, her death will be remembered ‘’

‘’ ... shut up, bitch... ‘’, murmured Thetys, pushing me away. I was surprised she could still stand by her own, that she had so much strength in her dying body.

‘’ ... My Lord... go... ‘’

‘’ Thetys, you are the one that’s supposed to leave! She wants me! ‘’

She glanced at me over her shoulder, her blue eyes shooting daggers at me.

‘’... Julian, you can say whatever you want to... but in the end, it’s my duty to protect you... It’s my duty to protect Poseidon ’’

With those last words, she summoned her scales, dark red embracing her body like a second skin. Her Cosmo shone bright crimson, although I knew she was pretending. She was no match for the stranger, and both of us knew it.

‘’ Listen to me, Guardian, I, Mermaid Thetys, will be your opponent. Fight me! ‘’

Guardian... that word... I knew the word, what it meant... Damn, the throbbing pain again, why I couldn’t remember? I had to... for Thetys’ sake... for what she meant to me...

‘’ Think it over, I don’t want to kill you. Honest. But still, if you insist, I will ‘’

Thetys smiled and kissed me, before grabbing me by the shirt and pushing me away. When I was able to recover, it was already too late.

‘’ Coral Grave! ‘’

‘’ I’ll make your death a swift one, Mermaid, you deserve it ‘’

‘’ Chime of Night! ‘’

I watched helplessly how the purple aura surrounded her body, engulfing it like a snake. The woman... Guardian... ran to her almost at ground level, before grabbing her by the neck and taking her into a swirl of purple fire. Finally, she threw her into the sea, a purple explosion silencing Thetys’ screams.

For an instant, I thought I caught a glimpse of her golden hair, but I was mistaken. All I could see was how the water dyed red at the place she had fallen.

‘’ Thetys!!! ‘’, I screamed, running towards the ocean, the waves stopping me from getting to her.

‘’ It’s too late, and a shame I must say, she was an honourable warrior... but don’t worry, you’ll join her soon enough ‘’

Her words where like a dream, like a faraway storm... all I cared for was reaching Thetys, reaching my love, no matter if I had to fight the entire ocean, the entire world.

‘’ I said it’s too late! Chime of Night! ‘’

Music started echoing over the shore, stopping her before releasing her attack against me.

‘’ Dead End Symphony ‘’, I heard Sorrento say, as I dived into the sea, desperately seeking her.

No sounds where heard under the sea... It was strange, the farther I went, the deeper I sank, the best I felt, surrounded by silence, by that peace that only the ocean could bring me. It was as if nothing had happened, as if the Guardian and Sorrento weren’t fighting, as if Thetys hadn’t died, as if the Flood had never happened. It was pure peace, heaven... My wounds didn’t hurt either in the depths. I was safe there. Perhaps that meant I was dying, that I was drowning... but my lounges weren’t in pain, they weren’t asking for air...

But I couldn’t die, not yet. I had to find her first, I had to get to her and save her. I wasn’t ready to let her die...

A glimpse of hope appeared in my soul as I saw the water turning red. That meant I was near, I had to be near... My lounges were hurting now, it seemed my time was also running out... but I couldn’t give up, I wouldn’t give up...

I finally found her. Her body had been caught between some seaweed and now floated, trapped and with no life to free itself. But she had to be alive. She had to come back.

Using the little strength I had left, I swam to her, embracing her softly. I tried searching for her pulse, but it was useless under water. Anyway, I hadn’t much time either. I knew my lounges were about to explode and soon my pulse would fade too. Not that it mattered. Dying by her side was much more than I deserved... The only thing I regretted was not being able to tell her how much I needed her... how much I loved her...

‘’ Julian Solo... ‘’

A bad timer indeed.

Leave me alone, Poseidon, I thought, Leave me die as I am, let me end this... Grant me death in her arms...

‘’ You can’t die... If you die, my kingdom will die... my people, my world, my future. Accept me, I can save you... I can save you both ‘’

If I weren’t under water I would have laughed. Save me, he said, save me, the same being that had condemned me, the being that turned my life into hell, the being that made me a sinner...

Let me go... let me die... I beg of you, and I never begged, to let me finish this... I deserve this... I deserve death... as well as you deserve it, as well as your kingdom deserves it...

‘’ I know that, I know I’ve sin... but I couldn’t do anything more... I was to do like Athena, I was to grant you my Cosmo and let you rule over my land in my name, with my power... ‘’

But you weren’t, you did as you pleased, you killed, you murdered, you destroyed... you destroyed me... a great gift you gave me... you gave me hell...

‘’ I didn’t mean to... I was under Sea Dragon’s spell, under his control... I had to do something... I had to free myself... I went mad, Julian Solo, the same way Hilda did when controlled by the Nibelung. My power is too great to be controlled... it drove me insane... it drove you insane... ‘’

You wanted utopia... you created hell... a watery grave for my soul, for your mariners... for the world... Now let me sleep... let me call it a day and die in peace...

‘’ I can’t let you die, not when my people are dying! Utopia wasn’t my dream; it was Sea Dragon’s, a place to rule; a place to control the Gods and turn himself into a being beyond imagination. But that’s not what I want. Give me another chance, a chance to make things as they should have been... you’ll have my memories, my powers, but still you will keep yours, your free will... Think of it as a chance to heal my sins... our sins...‘’

Liar... that’s all you are... you lied to me once, how can I know you won’t lie again? Your power gave me pain, your power gave me hate... your power made me try to destroy what I cared for... I love Earth, Poseidon, as much as I love the Ocean... I love Athena and her realm... as much as I love this mermaid...

‘’ And so will I, once I am one with you... as I’ve always been... I could take control over you right now, Julian Solo, I could do so anytime I please to... but I don’t want to... I want to redeem myself as much as you want to do so. So if you want to die, I’ll die with you... But remember, as long as your short life lasts, that you were, are, and will always be me, as much as I will be you... you can’t escape your destiny... you have refused it now, denied it, but it will always be there... always... ‘’

Always... redeem...refuse... escape... save us... save us both... Poseidon, I missed you....

IV

Sorrento looked at his shattered flute with amazement. He had never faced an opponent able of doing at, of stopping his attacks so easily and hitting him back at the same time. It was admirable.

‘’ Siren, your Lord is dead, don’t make me kill you too, go in peace ‘’

‘’ Peace? You took my best friends’ life, and you are speaking of peace? How dare you? ‘’

‘’ She dares because she is a Guardian, my faithful General. She dares because her Goddess is the Peacekeeper. She dares because I have crimes to pay for ‘’

The two warriors stopped their fight when seeing me. I had been watching from the depths while I healed both Thetys’ body and mine. The Guardian was indeed skilful. She had controlled my most powerful General, avoiding almost every one of his attacks, and just being scratched by others. And she had missed none of hers, her fists always reaching home. But I couldn’t allow her to go on. She could be able of facing a mortal, but she still had to prove herself against a God.

‘’ My... my Lord ‘’, muttered Sorrento, ignoring his pain to kneel at me.

‘’ Siren... Sorrento... ‘’ I said, helping him up, ‘’ Stop it with the Lord thing, I’m still Julian... as I am also Poseidon. You were right all the time, my friend, Poseidon is I, and I am he, it’s just a matter of me being able to shield his power or not. Now, take her to a safe place, I have something to finish ‘’

Sorrento nodded as he took Thetys’ unconscious body in his arms. She was badly wounded, but alive, and that was all I cared for.

After they where far enough as not to be in danger, I concentrated in my enemy. She hadn’t even attempted to stop them, which meant that she had finally got what she was waiting for. She had me.

I wasn’t surprise to find her grinning. All the time she had been waiting for me to accept the power of Poseidon that was shut off inside my mind. And now that I had finally done so, she was ready to end it all.

‘’ Back to the land of the living, Lord of the Seas? I’m glad. So, will you accept Ortygia’s judgement and just... die? ‘’

I shook my head, raising my Cosmo to I summon my Scales. The feeling of having them back was so... right. Reborned, I close my fingers around my trident, enjoying the power it gave me. Now I was ready to face her. Now I was whole again.

‘’ You know, Guardian, some days ago I would have said yes. Even some minutes ago, I would have agreed. But not now. I want to live. Thetys made me realise that ‘’

The woman frowned, raising her Cosmo once again. Yes, I could feel it now, as strong and fiery as I had expected. It was indeed like a gale, so... unpredictable. But it was still the Cosmo of a Mortal, and I was a God. Yes, I was a God.

‘’ As you wish, Poseidon ‘’

I nodded, pointing at her with my trident.

‘’ Chime of Night! ‘’, she cried, at the same time I released a ball of energy. One of us was meant to fall.

‘’ Aurora Execution!!! ‘’

‘’ What?! ‘’ we said at the unison, staring at the glacier that had formed around us. It couldn’t be? Could it? Cygnus Saint was supposed to be in Japan, by his Goddess, and still... I knew this was his attack, he had used it against me, while I was... insane... but this one was different, it was too powerful, it hadn’t the control his had had. It had been able to stop the attacks of a God and a Guardian, and few people could boast of doing something like that.

‘’ Serpens Atalanta, you have nothing to do here. Poseidon... Julian... has a right to live ‘’

The Guardian trembled when hearing that voice, and I could see the doubt in her eyes, wandering whether to obey it, or face it. The new comer had called her Serpens... the Serpent... It was the right Tunic for her indeed... Tunic... The Queen of the Hunt armours... her Guardians...

‘’ You are... no one to judge that ‘’hissed the Guardian, standing on her fighting stance.

‘’ I am the only one who can judge that!!! ‘’ A white, cold Cosmo shone on one of the cliffs, making Atalanta fall on her knees. The aura was as powerful as mine, covering every corner of the shore with a thick layer of ice.

‘’ I want you out of here. Now. And tell your Mistress that if she dares to use Ortygia’s name as a justification for her actions again, I will hunt her myself, no matter if I have to kill all nine of you first ‘’

‘’ Ortygia is hers ‘’, Atalanta muttered, ‘’ And we are hers! ‘’

‘’ Erpeto, ochi*!!! ‘’

The white Cosmo grew even stronger, making the sea roar at her presence.

‘’ Yes... we are ‘’, the Serpent whispered, vanquished by the newly arrived, before disappearing with a last purple shine.

V

‘’ Iá, theios** ‘’, said the young woman despite knowing that Sorrento was about to jump at her neck.

‘’ Artemis ‘’ I muttered, recognising her Cosmo.

‘’ I see you have finally accepted what you are, Julian, I was starting to think that I becoming a mortal had been a major mistake, all my relatives having problems with their hosts... ‘’

‘’ I have accepted it, yes, but is it fair? I took millions and millions of lives in my madness. I really deserve a second chance? ‘’

She nodded, walking towards me. Sorrento had already stood before me, ready to attack her, but she just looked at him, raising one of her delicate eyebrows.

‘’ I can wait all day long for you to move, or I can simply kill you and save some time, and I’m feeling attracted by the latest. It’s your call, so, what will it be? You are not match for me and you know it ‘’

Sorrento stood still, his eyes fixed on hers, but I stopped him from doing anything foolish. She was no threat to us... if we didn’t piss her off.

‘’ Take Thetys inside, I’ll be fine ‘’

‘’ But Po... Julian... ‘’, he begged, hiding the pain his wounds were causing him.

‘’ But nothing, it’s me, the good ol’ Emperor of the Seven Seas, so make us a favour and wait for me at the mansion ‘’, I teased, trying to reassure him. He frowned, as I had expected, but obeyed, leaving us by our own.

‘’ He cares for you, both of them, you should be grateful... ‘’ Her voice was low when saying that, and her eyes seemed to lost that wickedness that I suspected was usual in her.

‘’ Anyway ‘’, she continued, pretending she hadn’t spoken, ‘’ You do deserve a chance. I suppose uncle already told you that, but the Flood was the consequence of Kanon’s control over you. Sea Dragon made the mistake of thinking he could use you as he pleased without you going mad. Look at Hilda, you used her and she ended up sending all her God Warriors to their deaths. What else can be expected when you try to tame something you can’t control? It will defend itself, the only way it knows, by using its greatest power. Hilda let the ice melt, you flooded the world, there was nothing either of you could have done to stop yourselves ‘’

She must have noticed the pain remembering brought me, because she went on immediately, not giving me the time to think about my sins.

‘’ Tell me the truth, are you sorry about what happened? ‘’

‘’ I am... but what about Poseidon? ‘’

She laughed, holding my hands between hers. She was almost as tall as I was, and her ankle-length black hair and aquamarine eyes helped in giving her a strange beauty, enhanced by her pale skin.

‘’ Silly question, you know? ‘’

Yeah, I guessed it was silly. I was Poseidon, no more dividing myself to stop the pain. It was time I took responsibility over my actions.

‘’ I was weak ‘’

‘’ We all are. Maybe that’s the price for walking among mortals ‘’

I nodded, thinking about her words. She smiled and released my hands, walking to the shore to feel the water on her feet.

‘’ And what about your Guardians? I can’t allow them to threaten my Mariners ‘’

‘’ I see... Atalanta is strong, isn’t she? ‘’

I could see the pride for her warriors in her eyes. She knew Serpens could have taken my Mariners down. In fact, I believed she even thought her Guardian could have taken me down.

‘’ That wasn’t my question ‘’

She laughed once again, turning to face me.

‘’ They are not mine any longer and neither is Ortygia, Serpens was right about that. But still, I am the only peacekeeper, they won’t bother you... I’ll take care of that ‘’

‘’ Ortygia lost? What happened? ‘’

Artemis didn’t answer, just looked at her feet and played with the water. I knew her news where bad, Ortygia was her sacred island, and if someone had taken the home of the peacekeeper, that could only mean war. The image of the predator becoming the prey came back to my mind, but I shut it off, unwilling to accept any kind of relation between that and the mysterious young woman before me.

‘’ I must go now, Hilda is waiting for me ‘’

‘’ Artemis... what will happen if someone tries to... to use me again? ‘’

Her eyes were cold this time, as her Cosmo started growing around her.

‘’ You’ll notice and kill whoever it is. Or I’ll kill you. No more innocents will die. And don’t you ever, ever forget who and what you are, it helps when dealing with the pain... Poseidon ‘’

I sighed, accepting my fate. It wasn’t until I heard her say my name that I realise that that was the truth. I was the Lord of the Seas, and I had a second chance in life, what else could I ask for?

‘’ Efharisto*** ‘’, I said, bowing to her.

‘’ Never mind, in the end it all comes up to family, don’t you think? Oh, I’ve been to your Sanctuary a few days ago. It needs some rebuilding, you know ‘’, she said, winking an eye at me.

‘’ You’ve been there? I thought the pillars... ‘’

‘’ You spoke of a human pillar once, Poseidon. Your Generals ‘’

A cold feeling grasped my heart. My Mariners... they still watched over me. Artemis was right, I was lucky to have them.

‘’ It seems I keep owing you ‘’ I teased, running my hand through my hair.

‘’ There is a way for you to pay me. Build Isaac a mausoleum, make his life be remembered by your mariners as the life of one of your greatest Generals and the most just man the Gods have known. Do that for me and I’ll be the one owing you ‘’

‘’ Kraken will be remembered ‘’ I promised, not daring to ask her how she knew him.

She smiled and kissed me on the cheek before teleporting to Asgard, leaving me with the only company of the sea. No traces remained of her, or of her Guardian’s presence, but the thick layer of ice and the huge glacier... and the sudden feeling of hope in my heart.

VI

‘’ Hmm... Damn headache... ‘’

‘’ I am also glad to see you, Thetys ‘’

Her blue eyes were wide-open when seeing me sitting by her bed. I had feared so much that my power wouldn’t be enough to save her that I had remained by her side ever since Artemis left. Sorrento had also stayed with me, but I had finally been able to convince him to get some rest, his wounds where nothing to laugh at either.

So that left us by our own.

‘’ The... Guardian... ‘’ she muttered, trying to stand.

‘’ Shh, she’s gone, now you must only concentrate on recovering ‘’

She nodded, smiling when feeling my hand around hers. But suddenly became serious and let me go.

‘’ Sorry... ‘’ she muttered, ‘’ You must be wanting to go to Japan... ‘’

‘’ Stop the gibberish, mermaid, I’m just in the place I want to be... and with the woman I want to be with too ‘’

‘’ Wha...? ‘’

I shut her up with a gentle kiss as I ran my fingers through her golden hair.

‘’ I love you ‘’, I whispered in her ear, glad I was given the chance of telling her, glad that she was alive.

She answered me back before falling into a gentle sleep, her breathing comforting my soul. Tonight my world had taken shape once again, as a new opportunity opened before me, a chance to live again, to build a new Sanctuary and make up for all my mistakes. Later on I would tell her all of this, I would tell her about me being finally me, about our future, about it all... Now all I could do was wait, wait for the morning to come, wait for her to heal... wait by the raging sea... wait by my raging sea...

SE FINNI

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*Serpent, no! (Greek)

**Hello, uncle (Greek)

***Thank you (Greek)

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Saint Seiya is copyright of Masami Kurumada/SHUEISHA, Toei Animation CO., LTD, Shonen Jump. The rest of the characters and plot line are mine (Derrewyn Aensland/Varda/Paula Andrade -so many names for just one person ^-^) If you have any comments, suggestions, corrections, critics, etc,etc,etc, don't doubt to drop me a line at derrewyn@hotmail.com or at derrewyn@bolt.com. Please, if you are linking this page to yours, or taking the story to post it on your own site, do tell me about it, so I can add you to my 'links' page and also know where my things are (no, no, I am NOT an order freak, quite the opposite to be honest ^-^!)BTW, in case some of you didn't notice, I don't follow StS story line perfectly (always the rebellious one ^-^). Oh, and before I forget, if you find any horrid gramatical mistake, please, be kind enough to let me know where it is, writing in a language that is not my own is sometimes a pain in the... neck ^-^

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