Eudoxia was deep in her thought. Maybe the sailor was just that, spooked. But if Helene could heal people, could she also hurt people? Maybe her gift was more complex than any of us had thought. Arachnos had said they needed soldiers. A healer and a warrior in the same being? I need to discuss this with him. We have not exchanged a word since Parnassos, and it is odd that he just sits silently with Helene.

Far from silent, Arachnos was whispering. Helene felt scared and she needed the guidance and comfort her mother couldn’t give her at this time, with all the eyes on board.

”Helene. Everything is fine. You did good,” a barely audible voice said in Helene’s ear.

”But...”

”Hush child. You mustn’t speak. Do not attract attention. Listen to me. You are my daughter, and as my daughter you possess great power. But you need to control it. If you’re not careful, you could kill everyone on this boat- No, no, damned. That came out wrong.” Helene raised her shaking hands over her mouth, and managed to muffle a whimper.

”Dear daughter. Do not be afraid of your power. It is yours to do as you wish. Do you wish to harm your mother? Of course not. Do you wish to kill these men? You do not, even if you dislike them. Your power acts only how you wish it to act. Try to calm yourself, relax. Start from your toes.”

Helene lowered her hands slowly, and did as her father told her. Little by little, her mind began to settle.

”Now, close your eyes. Imagine yourself floating underwater, just below the ship.”

At first, Helene saw nothing. Then, a shimmering turquoise blur. She pictured herself as Arachnos told. She saw the dark wooden boards of the ship, casting shadows deep down. Rays of sunlight pierced the water and shed light to a variety of colourful corals. A small sharp pain, and a dab of blood mixed into the blue of the gulf. She turned her gaze towards the direction of the pain and saw the tiniest octopus, struggling and shaking in the fishermens’ net, getting more tangled by the moment.

”Do you see the little larva? Good. Set it free, just try it.”

Helene moved her hand closer to the octopus, but drew it back fast when she realized her material hand had also moved. She tried again, this time only imagining reaching out to the little creature. It sensed her and panicked, struggling even more. Carefully Helene moved it one tentacle at a time, until the larva was free. It curled one of its tiny tentacles around Helene’s pinky, and she pictured its wounds close. The tiny larva head off in short spurts, out of her sight. Helene’s heart felt warm and yellow, as she slowly opened her eyes.

”Well done, my Helene. Your power is as you use it. With it you will save so many innocents, and do so much good that you will forever be remembered by it. Be at peace.”

Helene looked at her mother and saw her worried expression, directed away from the crew. Helene wished she could reach out to Eudoxia and tell her that everything is fine. Maybe she could just walk over by her, and touch her hand slightly. As Helene stood up, Nereus grabbed the top of her head.

”Good. You feel like working. Go below the deck with the boy and get us something to eat. We’re starving out here. And remember, if you steal anything, even the smallest crumb of bread, I’ll know. You will get your part, after we get our dinner.” Again Nereus pushed Helene’s back, but this time she didn’t topple.

”As you wish.” Helene’s voice was calm as she and took the stairs to the hold. On the way she managed so graze Eudoxia’s arm. Small crinkles appeared into the corners of Eudoxia’s eyes as her face softened.

The slave boy showed Helene the way to the hull. In the dusty corner was a small table. Under it were barrels and over it knives.

”We can talk here, right?”

”Yes but quietly, and we have to make the dinner.”

”I’ve never made a dinner,” Helene said. The boy frowned at her and lit three candles.

”You’re that new? It’s alright, we just have to put together some ingredients.”

”Um, yes. So what is your name? I’m Helene.”

”I’m called Nerites,” boy answered as he tied his curled hair into a knot. ”Here, lets get three flagons of water and one of wine.”

”That’s a beautiful name,” Helene said as she held the flagons while Nerites poured the water.

”I don’t like it. It’s too similar to Nereus. He was my father. If you get the maza bread from that big sack, I’ll get the dried meat.”

”Nereus? The owner of this ship? Was?” Helene quickly apologized: ”I’m being nosey. You don’t have to tell.”

He sighed: ”My dad, he had it pretty bad and had to sell me into slavery. I was no good with physical work. A rich mistress bought me and I-,” he paused to think ”He got better, had this ship and all. But one day he saw me escorting my masters, the patterened linen I was clothed in, and figured that my position was that much better than his. He got jealous, and bought me back with half of his fortune. So I’m no longer his son, but his house slave.”

”I’m sorry. That sounds awful.” Helene observed him in the candlelight. His movements were graceful and light. She turned her gaze back to clay trays when she got caught. Nerites had beautiful brown eyes.

”It really is better than it sounds. Master just pretends to be rough around the crew. He treats me well. I don’t have to do anything too rough or unpleasant. Besides that he’s old and probably won’t be around for much longer.” Nerites smiled.

They assembled bread, chopped roots and dried meat in silence. When all was on the trays, they took two rounds and served dinner for the crew and Eudoxia. They got to eat the left over maza and roots. Eudoxia tried to leave some of the meat too, but the Nereus snatched it at the last moment from the trays.

That night Eudoxia dreamed of a splendid golden palace. She walked the tall hallways and admired the statues of the Twelve Olympians when she felt a burning tinge in her lower abdomen. She was back in the cave of Parnassos. Between her legs was a crouched old man, his hair green and tangled up like moss. He was wearing sea-shells on his shoulders and when Eudoxia noticed that he did not actually crouch, but had a shark tail as his lower body, she recognized him.

”Triton.”

Sharp blue eyes locked in hers. With a voice roughened by the gills in his neck the man spoke:

”What have you done, what have you done… I feel the stir, we all feel it.”

His last sentence echoed as if a thousand souls had said it. He pulled out a thing from inside Eudoxia, and gave it to be nursed.

”Protect it from the taint, keep it safe,” the thousand voices echoed.

Eudoxia looked at the small thing on her arms. It’s fur was soft, and it sang to her. No, it howled. It began as a sweet cry, but then it turned deeper and sadder as the creature grew larger. Then it opened its eyes, and Eudoxia was standing on the empty gray battle field. Soot was floating in the air. Eudoxia turned to look for the beast, and the sharp teeth sank on her neck.

Eudoxia woke up with a gasp. Helene was staring at her. Other than them, the hull was empty.

”Mother, we’ve landed.”