I went to the small bathroom and brushed my teeth, splashed my face with water, and put my hair in a puff high on top of my head. In my rush to pack I抎 neglected to bring a bonnet. I laughed to myself. I still needed to take care of my hair even if I was on a collision course with a bunch of gods and possibly killer mermaids. When I came out Marie was waiting right outside the door. She slung her arm around my shoulder and kissed me gently on the cheek.
Circe picked up her bag. 揥e already loaded everything onto the boat. I brought your bag in case you wanted to change. I thought you抎 want to get moving.?She handed me my backpack.
揟hanks,?I said. 揝o we got the boat, then? That抯 good.?
?態oat?is kind of the wrong word, don抰 you think??Marie asked, glancing at Circe, who only shrugged. 揅抦on,?said Marie. 揥ait till you see this.?
I tossed my bag on the table and followed Marie and Circe up the staircase to the top of the lighthouse. The Great Eye was dim and it hovered in the center of the glass-enclosed upper room. I looked out over the bluff and caught sight of the boat. Marie was right. 揃oat?wasn抰 exactly the right word.
A sailing vessel rocked lazily in the water. Black sails flapped in the stiff breeze as Hermes and Persephone stood on the deck talking amongst themselves.
I turned to Circe and Marie. 揑 don抰 know who we think we are but this is some Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-level stuff.?
揥ho抯 gonna handle that thing??Marie asked, grinning. 揃ecause I抦 low-key interested in being Captain Hook. I know some sea shanties.?
揂nd why do you know pirate songs??I asked.
揕ong story,?Marie said. 揗y favorite one goes like this.?She cleared her throat and puffed out her chest like she was about to belt out an entire song at the top of her lungs.
揇o not start,?Circe said. 揑 will kick you off the ship if you start singing.?
Marie grinned devilishly. 揧ou mean, make me walk the plank??
Circe rolled her eyes.
Persephone waved as she caught sight of us from the ship抯 deck.
揥e抣l be ready to go in fifteen minutes,?Circe said. 揚ersephone has some sailing experience. We should be able to manage it.?She started back down the stairs, then paused. 揗arie, could you pull the car around the side of the lighthouse? I抣l make sure we didn抰 leave anything behind and meet y抋ll out there.?
Marie squeezed my hand, and she and Circe left. I lingered for a minute, looking out over the water as it broke against the ship抯 belly. There was nothing for as far as I could see. I began to think of Mom in that far-off place. She抎 been looking at the sky, too, and I hoped she knew that I was coming for her, that no matter what I had to do or what I had to face, I would find her and bring her home梠r die trying. I quickly turned and went back downstairs.
I tossed my bag over my shoulder, readjusted my glasses, and stepped toward the door when suddenly, my ears popped like they had when we抎 taken off from the airport in Red Hook. Hermes was seated in the chair by the fireplace like he抎 been there all along. My heart almost jumped out of my chest.
He stared into the hearth. 揧ou said you were friends with the boy. Karter.?
I held on to the wall to steady myself. 揧eah. I桰 was.?
揇o you believe he is beyond redemption??He didn抰 look at me as he spoke.
揌e set me up,?I said. 揌e helped his mom manipulate me and my parents. He knew what she was doing and he let it happen.?
揟hat抯 not what I asked.?Hermes finally turned to look at me. His brown eyes, wide and searching, held none of the smugness or indifference he抎 shown the night before. 揇o you think he can be forgiven??
揑桰 don抰 think棓 I stopped. 揥hy does it matter to you??
He stood and closed the gap between us in two steps. My pulse shot up. Towering over me I realized how much he had in common with Hecate. The tall frame, the large hands, the long arms. And somehow, he was smaller than she had been.
He rested his hand on my shoulder, and the weight of it almost made my knees buckle. He drew it back. 揑 sometimes forget how fragile mortals are. Forgive me.?He straightened up. 揧ou have a perilous journey ahead of you. I do wish you the best.?
It was a hollow gesture. He didn抰 believe we抎 make it, so wishing us the best was kind of ridiculous. 揥hat did you say to Marie??I asked. 揝he was really upset.?
揑 was under the impression that she抎 accepted her fate.?
揌er fate? What抯 that supposed to mean??
He was quiet for a moment before answering. 揑 think it抯 best not to say.?He moved toward the stairs. 揟he sirens do not take prisoners,?he said, changing the subject. 揟hey do not compromise. They will lure you to the water抯 edge and drag you to a watery grave without hesitation.?