chocolate brown, highlighted with rusty accents. They glistened under the water.
Damon moved in front of her, swishing his tail to glide forward. Phocas immediately abandoned her, swimming beside Damon. With a huff, she followed him.
“How is it that you swim with a monk seal? I was under the impression that they are nearing extinction.” Pythias appeared beside her.
She glanced over at him, sensing his interest. Looking ahead again, she answered him.
“Monk seals were placed under the protection of my father centuries ago. Poseidon favored them because of their love for the sea and the sun. I don’t think he knew how much they would be hunted and decimated. There are less than five hundred where there once used to be thousands. Father asked me to take care of them, and so I do.” She had another job, of course. Working with her computers let her live in the very modern world she’d been born into. But, this… being in the water surrounded by creatures that were so beloved by her father made her feel closer to her roots.
Pythias nodded, lost in thought. She glanced over at him, puzzled by the frown on his face.
“I may not be my sisters, but I’m still passionate about what happens under the sea.” And didn’t that make her sound like she was going to belt out a song from The Little Mermaid . Aella inwardly cringed. Gods, every second talking to them made her feel younger and more unsettled as a result. She bet her older siblings never had this problem. Of course, the children of Poseidon had all sorts of issues they had to deal with, but she was the baby of the family. The only one born in this century. It had given her a slight complex.
Pythias mumbled something under his breath. It kind of sounded like ‘I’ll give you something to be passionate about’ but she couldn’t be sure. Shaking her head, she swam for the surface, following the silvery black tail in front of her.
She knew her father would scold her if he found out she was swimming with two men she knew next to nothing about. He always said she acted before she thought everything out. Never mind that Poseidon knew both men. He was protective of her. Between Poseidon and her older brother, Triton, she worried she’d never get the chance to achieve her full potential with the two of them constantly looking over her shoulder.
They broke the surface, entering the small pool deep within the labyrinth of caves. It was highly unlikely that any human would be able to enter this pool unless they could breathe underwater, although it was still possible that they could enter it from above if they were exploring along the island. Of course, anyone with good diving gear could be out here so she knew better. Aella shook her head. She was taking a risk. It wasn’t the first time and truthfully, it probably wouldn’t be the last either. She had to be in the water. It was an itch that got worse the longer she stayed on land.
With that thought, she glanced above her, raising her face to the sun shining down on them. Phocas swam circles around her, dancing in the waters. In front of her, the two men stayed silent, floating with the help of their tails moving under the water.
“You never did answer my question,” she said. “What exactly are you doing here?”
“Technically, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. And it doesn’t matter what we are doing here, Aella,” Damon said with a smirk.
Pythias swum up behind her, pulling her into his arms again. She squirmed to get free. She would never admit it, but she loved the feel of his arms around her. Poseidon had seen to it that she had a sheltered upbringing so her experience of interacting with others was limited.
“But that does bring up a new question. Now that we are here, what are we to do with you, little one?” Pythias breathed in her ear.
Aella wriggled in place, attempting to dislodge the strong arms from around her waist. His hot breath blew in her ear, freezing her for a
Damon moved in front of her, swishing his tail to glide forward. Phocas immediately abandoned her, swimming beside Damon. With a huff, she followed him.
“How is it that you swim with a monk seal? I was under the impression that they are nearing extinction.” Pythias appeared beside her.
She glanced over at him, sensing his interest. Looking ahead again, she answered him.
“Monk seals were placed under the protection of my father centuries ago. Poseidon favored them because of their love for the sea and the sun. I don’t think he knew how much they would be hunted and decimated. There are less than five hundred where there once used to be thousands. Father asked me to take care of them, and so I do.” She had another job, of course. Working with her computers let her live in the very modern world she’d been born into. But, this… being in the water surrounded by creatures that were so beloved by her father made her feel closer to her roots.
Pythias nodded, lost in thought. She glanced over at him, puzzled by the frown on his face.
“I may not be my sisters, but I’m still passionate about what happens under the sea.” And didn’t that make her sound like she was going to belt out a song from The Little Mermaid . Aella inwardly cringed. Gods, every second talking to them made her feel younger and more unsettled as a result. She bet her older siblings never had this problem. Of course, the children of Poseidon had all sorts of issues they had to deal with, but she was the baby of the family. The only one born in this century. It had given her a slight complex.
Pythias mumbled something under his breath. It kind of sounded like ‘I’ll give you something to be passionate about’ but she couldn’t be sure. Shaking her head, she swam for the surface, following the silvery black tail in front of her.
She knew her father would scold her if he found out she was swimming with two men she knew next to nothing about. He always said she acted before she thought everything out. Never mind that Poseidon knew both men. He was protective of her. Between Poseidon and her older brother, Triton, she worried she’d never get the chance to achieve her full potential with the two of them constantly looking over her shoulder.
They broke the surface, entering the small pool deep within the labyrinth of caves. It was highly unlikely that any human would be able to enter this pool unless they could breathe underwater, although it was still possible that they could enter it from above if they were exploring along the island. Of course, anyone with good diving gear could be out here so she knew better. Aella shook her head. She was taking a risk. It wasn’t the first time and truthfully, it probably wouldn’t be the last either. She had to be in the water. It was an itch that got worse the longer she stayed on land.
With that thought, she glanced above her, raising her face to the sun shining down on them. Phocas swam circles around her, dancing in the waters. In front of her, the two men stayed silent, floating with the help of their tails moving under the water.
“You never did answer my question,” she said. “What exactly are you doing here?”
“Technically, it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. And it doesn’t matter what we are doing here, Aella,” Damon said with a smirk.
Pythias swum up behind her, pulling her into his arms again. She squirmed to get free. She would never admit it, but she loved the feel of his arms around her. Poseidon had seen to it that she had a sheltered upbringing so her experience of interacting with others was limited.
“But that does bring up a new question. Now that we are here, what are we to do with you, little one?” Pythias breathed in her ear.
Aella wriggled in place, attempting to dislodge the strong arms from around her waist. His hot breath blew in her ear, freezing her for a
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