Avenging (The Rising Series Book 3) (18 page)

“But you know I
did
have a child.”

“Yes, but my father doesn’t know. Consider that a gift from me. A gift you don’t deserve. Let’s just hope the human blood in your daughter weakens the blood she got from you enough for her to avoid detection. If Zeus finds her, he will kill her immediately.”

Those words hit Nicole like a blow to the chest. Ares thought Sara’s father was human. He didn’t know she was a daughter of Triton. Could the fact that Sara was his daughter be a danger to her?

“And if Sara’s blood is
not
weak enough?” she asked.

Ares frowned. “Zeus will find her and destroy her.”

“No,” she gasped. “Please, you can’t let him find her.”

“You don’t need to worry about it, Nicole.”

“I don’t? You’ll protect her?”

“No. I won’t. You just won’t remember her to care either way.”

“No, please don’t,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut, determined to keep her memories—the first time she held Sara, the first kiss she and Ty shared…

Ares laughed. “You can’t stop me, Nikoleta. It’s a pity that as much raw power as you have running through your immortal veins, that you have no power to wield it yourself. You have power unmatched by any god or goddess—yet here you are, as helpless as a human.”

Nicole screamed as Ares took her head in his hands and erased the memories she so desperately tried to hold on to.

Triton closed his eyes and attempted to reach Nicole. He wasn’t surprised when he came up against a wall. Ares had to be blocking him. It would be impossible to find her. Anger boiling, Triton reached out his hand. A wave swelled to about thirty feet high at his command. It came crashing down on him as he dove into the pounding surf, his legs changing to a fin immediately. He absorbed the wave, soaking up power from the sea. Closing his eyes, he attempted to empty his mind—an arduous task, given how it churned, brimming with regret and fury. He sank into the water and swam, with no destination in mind.

He had to make a plan. But how could he even begin to conceive one, when he was so hot with fury. Ares had Nicole. She could be in the hands of Zeus even now. Was Triton wasting time? Would she die because he hesitated to act? But if he rushed into Zeus’ palace and she wasn’t there, he would practically be giving Nicole to Zeus on a silver platter.

From what Baccus said, it seemed that Ares had a past with Nicole—an intimate one. Obviously, he was not her father; he simply played the part in order to convince her to abort her baby. Triton ground his teeth, thinking about Nicole with another god. It was bad enough thinking of her with Haikili, the god of thunder, and the nameless other humans she’d been with. But Ares… that was much worse. Triton hated the son of Zeus. He was arrogant, cruel, powerful, and his temper was legendary.

Despite any affection Ares might have for Nicole, he was first and foremost the son of Zeus. He wouldn’t dream of going against his father. And he killed much too easily—without remorse.

Triton entered brackish water, a nearby river emptied into the sea. The seaweed thickened and the water took on a green tint. Chattering and laughing voices hummed through the sea. Sounded like river Naiads.

Triton swam toward the open sea. He wasn’t up to dealing with the childishness of Nymphs. “I need to speak to you,” a voice called from afar. He sure hoped the Naiads weren’t following him. He didn’t answer. He wasn’t in the mood to speak to anyone.

“Triton!”

He stopped at the tone that someone dared used when calling his name. “Show yourself,” he ordered. “If you choose to make me retrieve you, I assure you it won’t be pleasant.”

Triton searched the waters and found no creature—capable of speech anyway—close to him.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you, Dad, but I was really worried about you.”

“Sara?” The anger fled, replaced by concern. “Where are you? Are you safe? No one is threatening you are they?”

“Not exactly.”

Triton flashed his daughter to his side. Her hands flew to her face and then her eyes darted around. His heart squeezed in his chest as he said, “I forget how much you look like your mother.”

“Oh Dad!” Her tail flicked through the water as she swam toward him. She wrapped her arms around him, and his heart warmed at his daughter’s embrace. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was worried when you didn’t answer my summons.”

“You summoned me?” he asked.

“Lots of times. Why didn’t you answer?”

“That’s a long story. So what happened?”

“There’s so much I need to tell you about.”

Your Majesty!
The voice summoning him was so loud that it pounded against Triton’s skull.
Sara’s gone. She disappeared from right in front of me!

She’s with me, Dagonian. I’ll return her shortly.

“Dad? Is something wrong?”

“Your husband was calling me.”

“Oh, um. He’s probably worried. I’m supposed to be listening to his lecture, but I’m afraid my mind wandered—a bit too far.”

“What was he lecturing you on?”

“He doesn’t like my new favorite pastime.”

“What is this pastime?”

Her whole face lit up. “Jogging.”

“You aren’t going out alone, are you?”

“It’s in a quiet neighborhood with nice families, and it’s a million times better than my last neighborhood.”

“Sara…” His tone expressed his disapproval.

“Yeah, I know. It’s just those Dagonians sleep so long, and I really like to watch the sunrise while I run.”

He continued to frown at her, but his anger was actually directed more toward the guards who were neglecting their job. He really needed to have a talk with them.

“I’ll try to do better,” Sara said.

“I know you will.”

“Now, Dad. I know you don’t like to talk about Mom, but… I need your help. I’m really worried about her.”

Triton tensed. “Have you seen her lately?”

“Not in person.” She paused, her brows pressing a dimple between them.

Triton’s heart dropped. “What does that mean?”

“Well… it’s probably just stress and worry. But I keep having these strange dreams.”

“What kind of dreams?”

“Most are dreams about the gods on Olympus. I’m in them, but I’m not myself. It’s like I’m some kind of…”

“Some kind of what?”

“For lack of a better word, I’m a spectator.”

“So did you see your mother in your dreams?”

“Yes. Actually, the dream with her was more of a vivid daydream.”

“When did you daydream about her?”

“Just a few minutes ago, right before I summoned you.”             

“What did you see?”

“She was on this farm, wearing this horrid dress she wouldn’t be caught dead in. She was living with this big guy who drives a semi-truck. Now I know you’re probably thinking it’s just a dream, but I swear there’s more to it.”

“Did you talk to her?”

“Uh, yeah. She completely freaked. She thought I was a ghost. I just… I just was wondering if you could check in on her—make sure she was okay.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Why? Dad… I know yours and Mom’s relationship didn’t end well—”

“She was just with me today,” he interrupted.

“What? You and Mom…?”

“We’ve reconciled and plan to get married.”

“Oh… wow. Um. That’s great.”

“But there’s more to it. I think we need to bring your husband here. I have a lot I need to tell you both.”

In that moment, Xanthus was floating in front of them.

“Sara…” Her name fell off Xanthus’ tongue with overwhelming relief written on his face. Triton smiled at the large warrior. Xanthus flicked his tail, shot through the water toward Sara, and wrapped his arms around her. He looked up at Triton. Triton could feel the anger clouded with lingering worry. Xanthus was not happy with him, but the Dagonian was smart enough not to voice it.

“We have a lot to talk about and plans to make,” Triton said. “But I don’t want to go to my palace, and even your home may not be safe.”

“What? Why isn’t it safe?” Sara asked.

“I’ll explain later,” he answered. “First, we need a safe place to go.”

“I know where we can go,” Sara said.

Both Triton and Xanthus turned to her.

“Where?” Triton asked.

“My mom owns a safe house, a place where no one could find us. I’d always chalked it up to her paranoia, but…”

“Are you sure nobody knows where it is?” Triton asked.

“Yeah, Mom was really careful. She even used fake names and identities. She keeps all the paperwork in a safety-deposit box, and the key to that box is buried near our house on the Big Island.”

“Where is this safe house?” Xanthus asked.

“Oregon, and it’s actually a cabin.”

“Have you been there before?” Triton asked.

“Yeah. She wanted to be sure I knew how to get there.”

Triton moved forward and touched his fingers gently to Sara’s temples. “I want you to close your eyes and picture the cabin. Think about all the details you can remember.”

Moments later, they were standing next to a two-story log cabin surrounded with lush foliage. The air around them was tinted green from the sunlight filtering through the forest, and the ground was covered in overgrown bushes, moss, and ferns.

“Wow, it’s been a while,” she said as she stepped toward the cabin. “Looks like it is being taken over by the forest.”

“It is isolated,” Xanthus said. “Being here feels like being in the thick of a kelp forest.”

“Sara…” Triton began. “Do you know what you just did?”

She looked up at him. “What did I do?”

“I didn’t bring us here.”

Her eyes widened. “Then who did?”

“You.”

“Me? But I…” She stopped talking and pressed her lips together. “I probably did. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I guess it has to do with me being a demigod.”

“You’re not a demigod.”

“What? I’m your daughter, right?”

“Yes, but your mother isn’t what you think she is.”

Sara was stunned at his words. “What is she?”

“She’s a goddess.”

Sara didn’t seem to grasp the significance of his statement—confusion radiated from her. Triton looked at her husband.

He recognized the full weight of what Triton was saying, as shock and awe radiated from him as he looked at his wife.

“But—” Sara began.

“Sara,” Xanthus said, drawing her attention. “You’re a goddess.”

Sara’s eyes darted to her husband. “What? No, I’m not.”

“Yes, yes, you are,” he answered.

“You realize what this means, Dagonian?” Triton asked Xanthus. “Her twenty-first birthday…”

“…is three days away,” Xanthus said, his eyes growing wide.

Triton nodded.

Sara looked from one to the other. “What does that mean? What’s so important about my birthday?”

Xanthus looked from Sara to Triton, his face falling. “You shouldn’t have bonded her to me. I’m not worthy—”

“You are more than worthy,” Triton interrupted. “If I had known she was a goddess, I wouldn’t have done any differently.”

“I don’t understand,” Sara said.

“I’ll tell you inside,” Triton said, leading the way into the house. Dust covered everything the sheets didn’t cover. They pulled the coverings off the couches and chairs, and Sara carried the dusty linen to the laundry room. They remained standing until she returned, and then they all sat.

There was silence for several moments. Triton waited for his daughter to ask questions. He didn’t have to wait long.

“I’m a goddess? Not a demigod or mermaid?”

“Well, since you’re my daughter, you were born with a tailfin and a siren’s voice. I’d still call you a mermaid, but you’re much more than that.”

“Don’t gods and goddesses have to be a god of something?” Sara asked. “Like Zeus is the god of lightning, Apollo is the god of the sun, and…”

“Your mother seems to be a goddess of… wishes, for lack of a better way to describe it.”