Daughter of Poseidon: Chapter Nine

Cover illustration and design © Gabrielle Ragusi

Syrena has a chance to make a difference, and so long as there's a chance, she has to try.

Five hundred years after the Greek gods destroyed the modern world, Syrena, Daughter of Poseidon, lives under the gods' tyrannical rule. However, a centuries-old prophecy says a war will be waged on them. And if that means there's a possibility to help those the Olympians have hurt, a possibility to change things for the better, Syrena will do anything to bring this prediction to life.

Even if it means losing everything she loves.

"Daughter of Poseidon" is a short story that serves as a prequel to War on the Gods, a completed series perfect for fans of Greek mythology and dark YA fantasy. Binge it today!

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Missed chapter eight? Read it here, or go back to chapter one here.

CHAPTER NINE

FATES

When the light faded Syrena blinked hard, trying to return her vision to normal as little spheres danced before her burning, watery eyes. She couldn’t see or hear much; all she could tell was that this place smelled wonderful, like grass after a rain, and cool moisture hung in the air. What felt like whole minutes passed before her sight finally cleared, and she glanced around.

She appeared to be outside, with dewy turf beneath her sandaled feet and tall walls of vines and white-petaled flowers on her every side. However, there was no sky above her, only dark ridges like those of a cave ceiling. “Your pegasi will be waiting for you outside of the cave,” Hecate had said. “But before retrieving them, you will speak with the Fates.”

So that’s where we are, she thought. Hecate transported us to the lair of the Fates.

As Syrena observed the chamber further, she noticed that in the center, dimly lit candles were spread around a wooden spinning wheel. And strangest of all, blue strings, what appeared to be an infinite number of them, wove and tangled through the walls and over the grass. Beside Syrena, Diana gasped as she gazed upon the strings. “Those are life threads. The ones the Fates spin so that mortals can be born.”

“You’re right,” Syrena replied, her stomach turning as she recalled that when it was time for someone to die, the Fates cut that person’s thread. Where was her own string, and how much longer did she have until it would be cut, considering she’d chosen the path leading to her death?

Tendrils of smoke began curling up from the turf before them. They grew and grew, taller and wider, until finally they formed into three old women draped in long robes, deep groves of wrinkles etched into their skin. Their eyes were void of pupils, glowing the same shade as the life threads all around the room.

“Hello,” one said, reaching out a liver-spotted hand in welcome. “We are—”

“The Fates, we know,” Diana interrupted. “Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos.” She pointed at each of them as she recited their names. “We’re here to discuss the Prophecy, the one about the mortals from the Before Time leading a war on the gods. We want to know what we have to do to help fulfill it, and how the mortals are ever going to be able to fight gods in the first place.”

The Fate who’d spoken before, Lachesis, simply stared at Diana in stunned silence. The other two burst into chortles. Afraid Diana might have offended the first immortal, Syrena stepped forward, resting a gentle hand on the demigod’s shoulder. “Is there any way you can help us? Please?”

“But of course,” Clotho said with a chuckle.

Atropos pulled a pair of scissors from her robes, knelt, and began cutting some of the strings at her feet. “We’ve been expecting you for quite some time now.”

This is the end of "Daughter of Poseidon," but not the War on the Gods series. Meet the mortals from Syrena's vision and find out what happens next in the first book, The Helm of Darkness, which you can learn more about here.