Poseidon (Contemporary Mythos Book 5)

The Port of San Diego, California. Home to the ship Sea Urchin when it wasn’t defending the seas from the surface, stopping whalers. According to Poseidon, the ship my son Triton manned disguised as a mortal for the past decade. I stood on the dock, watching crew members exit the massive ship after roping off. Despite the weather reaching a balmy eighty-five degrees, I shivered from bubbling nerves.

What if he was still angry with me? What if he wanted nothing to do with me?

And I couldn’t blame him for feeling any of it.

A tall man with ash blonde hair to his collar bone and a light beard hopped to the dock, swinging a duffel bag over his shoulder.

“See you next week, Tim,” another man called out to him.

Tim was Triton. He had to be.

When we locked eyes from across the dock…I was sure of it. He was the spitting image of Poseidon with his blonde hair and eyes the same color as the stone on my ring. And he had my nose and sharp jawline. My. Son.

Triton froze, staring at me, a wrinkle in his brow. I’d gone over this scenario a dozen times, weighing out all the possibilities. Hope fluttered in my stomach, but the scowl on his face had me reeling.

“Triton,” I whispered, knowing he could hear me despite the distance between us.

The scowl disappeared, and he dropped the bag on the dock with a thud. He power-walked toward me, and I met him halfway, clapping my hands over my nose to keep from crying.

“Mom?” He searched my eyes as if trying to remember my look—trying to remember a face from when he was a child.

“Hey Turtle,” I choked out his nickname I’d given him as a boy, making my scales flash on my skin so quickly the human eye would miss them. But he wouldn’t.

And now I knew why my entire mortal life as Cordelia I was always so drawn to sea turtles. My subconscious had been throwing me hints at every turn. The only life I led that it ever had. Did fate know I’d finally meet Poseidon?

His black T-shirt hugged his muscular, tanned arms. Not bulky like Poseidon but lean like the body of a swimmer. “I don’t understand. How is this—how is this possible?” Without warning, he hugged me, sniffling.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I wrapped my arms tightly around him. “I can explain everything, but not out in the open like this.”

“Right. Yeah. Um. I know somewhere we can go.” He peeled back, quickly turning his face away from me and wiping his cheek.

After trotting to his abandoned bag on the dock, he ran back to me, curling his arm around my shoulders with a wide grin and leading me away.

“So, let me see if I have this straight. You’ve been reincarnated an insurmountable number of times thanks to Aphrodite’s spell, but you never remembered who you were? And even if Dad saw you, he wouldn’t have recognized you if he hadn’t changed because of Athena’s curse?” Triton sat across from me with that same quizzical squint Poseidon did when confused.

He’d taken us to the boathouse he stayed in when docked in San Diego. It was quaint, masculine, and surprisingly well kept.

I tapped my fingers on the tackle table between us. “I gave you the short version, but yeah. Once your dad recognized me, little by little, I started to remember.”

“And you two are back together? Happy? And I mean genuinely happy, not just pretending to save face?” Triton cocked his head to the side, staring at my expression.

No doubt trying to catch me in a lie.

“We’ve both changed. And yes. What we are now is all I’ve ever wanted.” I sucked in a breath. “Him…and my family.”

Triton licked his lips, smiling only with his eyes before he sulked in his chair. “Did he tell you about Rhode?”

I pressed my elbows against the table. “Yes. We’re going after her.”

Triton’s bright eyes snapped to mine. “You know where she is?”

“Not yet. But Zeus, of all people, gave us a lead.”

“I’m going with you once you figure it out.” His jaw tightened.

“Triton, I—”

He held his hand up, halting my words. “And I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. She’s my little sister, and I want to help. I’m not a guppy anymore, Mom.” A small smile crept over his lips.

Tears filled my eyes, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “No, you’re certainly not.” I bent forward, sliding my hand over his that rested on the table. “I’m so, so sorry I wasn’t there to watch you grow up.”

He placed his other hand over mine. “I know you are. Honestly, it’s been so long I’m not even mad about it anymore. During my teenage years? Oh, I was so angry, I’d make mini typhoons in the middle of the ocean, but—I eventually accepted it. And Dad. He really stepped up.”

“I’m so glad to hear it.” I squeezed his hand with a warm smile before sitting back.

“Besides, the memories I had of you when I was a kid—Mom, you were the best. I cherished those times the three of us spent together. The games. The laughing. The swimming. It was enough because I never thought you were coming back.” He scratched the back of his head, revealing the small trident tattoo on the inside of his bicep. “I’m sorry. Did you want anything to drink or eat or—I don’t have much, but I could conjure us something?”

I waved my hand. “I’m fine. But I do want to hear more about the Sea Urchin. How did that all start?”

“It actually started from me almost getting caught.” He smirked, beating his fist against the table. “These whalers, Mom. They’re horrible news. They disguise themselves as ‘Science Vessels,’ but all they’re doing is slaughtering thousands of whales. I attacked a ship using my powers, and one of the crew took a photo with his cell phone.”

“Olympus. What did you do?”

“Made a wave crash on deck, swept the damn thing into the depths.” Triton shook his head, folding his arms with a sigh.

“Quick thinking.” Pride swelled in my chest over the man my son had become. “And that’s why you started the Sea Urchin as a mortal.”

“Yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I still use my powers, but not to the full extent I’d like to. Hopefully, now that you’re Queen again, some of the whaling will stop.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“So, tell me, Cordelia—what have you been doing all this time in this life? Marine biology? Surfing like dad?” Triton chuckled, crinkling the skin at the corners of his eyes.

“Marine biology? Yeah, I don’t think in any of my lifetimes I could’ve lasted through that amount of schooling.” I laughed, interlacing my fingers in front of me. “I’m an oceanographer and run an ocean conservation charity with my friend, Meg.”

“Not surprising in the least.” He bumped my hand with a knuckle and a grin.

“I’m also a pro gamer who streams on Glitch every week.” I moved my gaze to my palms, squinting.

“Did you just say you’re a pro gamer? What game?” Triton pressed his forearms on the table, his eyes brightening.

“Tides of Atlantis.”

Triton slapped the table. “Holy shit. Mom, that’s amazing. Not to mention incredibly cool.”

“Yeah? I thought you’d think I was a dork or something.”

“Are you kidding? It makes total sense, too, with how much I remember you loving games. It’s great you found something to make you happy besides the ocean.”

“Oh, you mean the video game about the ocean?” I laughed, resting my chin in my hand.

“Hey.” Triton threw his hands up. “It doesn’t involve getting wet.”

I sighed, staring at my handsome son, putting his face to memory. “I’m so proud of you, Triton.”

His cheeks turned crimson, and he scratched the back of his head—another gesture he inherited from his dad. “Wow. I never thought I’d hear that from my mother again.”

“Well, get used to it. I have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

“As long as it doesn’t involve spankings or embarrassing me in front of my friends, I’m game.” He winked at me with a wide grin.

“Ah, I see. So, you’re saying the next time I make a surprise visit to the docks, I should give you a big fat wet kiss on your cheek in front of your crew?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Hey now.” He pointed at me. “The jokes on you. They’d be jealous their own hot moms aren’t there.”

My cheeks warmed, and I shook my head, snickering. “Oh, stop, Triton.”

“I’m glad you’re back, Mom. I really am. And once we find Rhode…we’ll all be together again.”

I sighed, closing my eyes and envisioning it. “It’s all I dreamed about since the moment I remembered who I was, honestly.”

“We’ll find her. You don’t back down on anything once you set your mind to it.”

“You remember that do you?” I grinned.

A laugh swelled from his chest. “Dad certainly does.”

I joined in the laughter, and it continued for a solid minute until we both dabbed tears from the corners of her eyes as it died down. “This has been nice, but I should get out of your hair. I know I showed up out of the blue and—” I stood but cut my sentence short once Triton appeared in front of me.

“Out of my hair? Mom, I haven’t seen you in hundreds of years. The only place I want to be right now is right here with you getting reacquainted.” He squeezed my shoulders before pulling me in for another hug. “And probably at least a dozen more of these.”

Laughing, I hugged him back, positively beaming inside. “Alright. Deal.”

We spent hours talking, reminiscing, laughing, and the reunion was everything I could hope for. We were in the middle of a game of Red Hands, trying to out-slap the other, when Poseidon appeared, sending a sea spray throughout the cabin.

“I had a lot of things in mind that I’d walk in the middle of, but my wife trying to slap the top of my son’s hands was not one of them.” Poseidon quirked a brow.

Grinning, I leaped from the table, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen it, and it’s still as gross as I remember,” Triton teased.

Poseidon chuckled. “How you doing, son?”

Triton threw his hand out for a shake, and the two manly gods proceeded to do what I’d dubbed the “bro hug.”

“I was doing great before, but now—” Triton flashed me a smile. “Even better.”

My word. He was so much like his father.

“Glad to see the reunion is going well.” Poseidon wrapped one arm around Triton’s shoulders and the other around my hips, pulling us both to his sides. “I have some news.”

“Oh?” I peered up at him.

“I tracked down Kairos.”

Gasping, I turned to look at him. “You have?”

“Yeah. We can go whenever you’re ready, but I don’t want to rush you both.”

Triton gave a hearty slap on Poseidon’s back. “If this is about Rhode, you two should go. Mom and I have plenty of time to catch up.”

I squeezed Triton’s hand.

“You ready then, Starfish?” Poseidon trailed his fingers down my arm.

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Mom. When you go after Rhode, I am going with you. I don’t care where or when. I’m going to be there.” Triton rolled his shoulders back, standing the same height as Poseidon.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, my boy.” Poseidon clapped his hand against Triton’s shoulder before holding his hand out to me.

I pressed my hands together and fluttered to Triton, raising on the balls of my feet to kiss his cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I know, Mom. Now go.” He gave a reassuring smile.

I didn’t take my eyes off my son as Poseidon wrapped his arms around me and ported us away.

We appeared in a front tiled courtyard of a white-washed building with green roofing. Iron lamp fixtures hung from the walls between every rounded archway opening leading inside.

“Where are we?” I asked as Poseidon led me inside.

“Morocco.”

Inside, the archways continued, and a stone fountain stood in the center of the next room, surrounded by rounded pillars and benches. Further in, the tiled walking path turned into a vibrant red carpet with intricate mosaic designs. Rounding a corner, I gasped at the floor-to-ceiling shelves of books—rows and rows of them.

“A library?” I whispered, even though there wasn’t another soul in sight.

“The oldest in the modern world.” Poseidon squeezed my hand, leading us into a room filled with wooden tables and chairs.

“And Kairos is here?”

We moved into a room with a singular large desk at the front of the room. “He’s the curator.” Poseidon spun in circles, searching, and still holding my hand, bringing me with him. “Kairos?”

A man appeared with a withered red book in his hands from the shadows. There was very little hair on his head, but what remained was stark white along with the long beard that hung to his stomach. He squinted at us through his monocle.

“How do you know that name?” The man asked, slamming the book shut, sending dust flying.

“Are we alone?” Poseidon twirled his finger in the air.

The man rested his fists on his hips. “Yes.”

“I’m Poseidon.”

“Uncle Poseidon. Not sure we’ve ever met.” The man smiled, and in a swirl of torn paper and glowing numbers, he transformed into a young man with a single lock of hair draping from his forehead to his hips.

Poseidon looked down at me with a smirk before moving his gaze back to Kairos. “You’ll have to excuse me if I’ve lost track of my brother’s children.”

“No offense taken in the slightest.” Kairos waved his hand. “How can I help you?”

“We were hoping—” I stepped forward and paused. “Sorry, that was rude. I’m Cordelia. Formerly known as…Amphitrite.”

Kairos grinned wide and pressed his fingertips together. “The King and Queen of the Seas reunited at last. How delicious. I tracked you through all your lifetimes, you know. My, my, did you have some lives.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “You’re telling me. But we were hoping you could help us find our daughter. She got pulled through a portal in Atlantis, and we think it may have been to another time.”

“It is Rhode you speak of, I presume?”

“Yes,” Poseidon replied with a frown.

Kairos nodded, steepling his fingers. “I can see what the universe says to me, but I’d need something of hers.”

“Something—but how could we possibly—” I started, feeling my body as if I actually had an item from her possession.

“Here,” Poseidon’s voice boomed, removing one of the bracelets from his wrist. A simple one made of twine with a singular cowrie shell in the center.

I touched the crook of his arm with a crinkled brow.

“When she was eight, she made us friendship bracelets, and she gave me this one saying it was hers. We’ve never taken them off.” He smiled, but forlornness muddied it.

“Oh, Poseidon.” I gulped and shoved my face against his shoulder.

“This will work nicely. Thank you,” Kairos said, curling the bracelet into his palm and closing his eyes.

A circular band of glowing sparks curled around him, forming a helix before settling as a halo circling his chest. Shooting stars arched over his head followed by flaming rocks, geysers of volcanic lava, and descending numbers—they spun and spun until abruptly, they stopped.

Kairos’s eyes flew open, glowing red. “1719. The Caribbean.”

“That’s still the golden age of piracy,” Poseidon mumbled.

Fear burned down my spine. “By Olympus.”

“And she’s alive,” Kairos added before he exhaled and his eyes returned to normal.

“I’ve told you all I can. And unfortunately, I have no means of transporting you there, nor do I know of any such god with the power to do so.” Kairos steepled his fingers again after handing the bracelet to Poseidon.

“There has to be someone.” I slapped a hand on my forehead.

“I do know of one person, but I’m not too keen on the risk we’d take releasing the raging asshole.” Poseidon tied the bracelet back to his wrist, nestling it in with the others.

“Kronos? Tartarus no. I just found you again. Last thing I need is you getting eaten.”

Poseidon grabbed one of my belt loops and pulled me to him. “We’ll figure it out. Now that we know where she is, it’ll make things that much easier.”

“Can I help you two with anything else?” Kairos clasped his hands behind his back.

“You’ve been a great help, Kairos. Thank you.” I slipped my hand into Poseidon’s.

“Any time.” Kairos bowed, morphing into the older man before walking away.

“Do you think she’s mixed herself in with pirates?” Poseidon rubbed his chin, glaring daggers into the red carpet.

“Nah. There’s far more in the Caribbean in that time other than piracy. Surely she’s a merchant or scholar or…”

Poseidon locked gazes with me, and we both knew, given her powers, the likelihood of what would make an ideal cover for herself, but neither of us wanted to say it out loud.

Piracy.