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Demi sputtered as her head emerged then ducked under once more, her free arm flailing for a grip on the boat. She kicked, bracing Theseus's back against her chest as she swam for the ladder, fighting the downward pull of the moray. Her muscles ached and shook.

She gripped the wet ropes, wrestling Theseus's head and one arm through the ladder before scrambling up herself. In the event of an accident, secure, leverage, and pull. Pater's voice ran through her mind, as clear as if he were standing beside her barking the emergency orders himself. She spread her feet, gripped the top of the ladder, and heaved with everything she had.

The eel roiled and fought.

The opposite side of the boat rose up behind her, threatening to capsize. With a final burst of strength, she rolled Theseus inside. Demi fell back, landing on baskets of coral fragments and oyster shells. The boat rocked from side to side as she scrabbled through the mess, searching until her fingers gripped the extra knife. The eel curled and twisted. She threw herself on the slimy body, fighting it still as she hacked at the head. The eel never once loosed its grip on Theseus. It thrashed, even headless, as she flipped the tail to the end of the boat and dropped to her brother's side, the moray's jaws still clamped to his bleeding arm.

Lungs heaving, Demi flopped Theseus onto his back, dropping her whole weight against her fists on his wide chest.

"Wake up, Theseus." Her voice sounded strange to her ears. Strangled and choked. "Come on. Wake up!" She screamed the words into his still face, willing him to blink, willing his mouth to twist into that lazy grin of his that had won the heart of her best friend.

Theseus lay in a pool of brine and blood, droplets on his tanned chest gleaming like shards of red coral.

"Please, Theseus." Her voice dropped to a whimper. She stared at him, as if by sheer will and determination she could make him draw a breath. "Don't leave me here alone. Not you too."

Demi pumped at his chest again, tears rolling down her cheeks, movements jerky and weakening as the seconds scraped by. Nothing.

She couldn't go through it again. The loss, the fear, the terrible... loneliness.

"Where are You?" The question came on quivering lips. "Do You hear us? Do You see Your people anymore?"

Theseus lay still.

God was silent. And she shouldn't be surprised. Not after what she'd done.

Tears burned. She sank back against the side of the boat, chest aching, pressing the back of her hand against her teeth as sobs rolled up her throat.

Nydia would be devastated. Demi's best friend had set her heart on marrying Theseus since she was twelve years old.

Theseus lurched upright, spewing water. He twisted to his side, shoulders heaving as he vomited into the bottom of the boat.

Sobs strangled by a cry of relief, Demi scrambled to support him, unable to speak. Shells and coral fragments cut into her knees.

Theseus flopped back, staring at the sky. Coughing. Breathing. Alive.

Demi cradled his head, stroking the hair from his face like she'd done when he was hardly more than a baby and she, barely old enough to remember. His dark eyes connected with hers, then went distant as his body began to shake.

CHAPTER TWO

The man who'd sold him the boat was a liar. Early that morning, it hadn't mattered to Nikolas. He'd seen with his own eyes that the boat wasn't as seaworthy and sturdy as the man claimed, but he'd thought he could manage it. He'd spent two years at sea on his father's merchant ship, after all. Not that that had ended in great success either.

"Fool," Nikolas muttered, cupping his hands and scooping water over the side of the boat. The memories were easier to keep at bay if he was busy.

The wood wept. Saltwater snaking in through a maze of worm holes. After two hours it swirled over his ankles, soaking the crates and bundles stacked around him.