"Why are we at the harbour?" Trina asked the god with irritation in her voice.
"We need to get to the other side of the ocean," he grumpily answered. "We wasted enough time trying to heal and rest from the fights we had on the way."
"Y'know we could easily do that on another mountain," Indigo chipped in.
"And how long would you last on such mountain?" he asked, giving a smug look. He knew that without powers such as his or mine, there would be zero chances of anyone surviving alone.
I had used up so much power during the last demon invasion that we had to spend the rest of the week defending the mountain until I had healed up. We could not have two handicapped people in the group, it would only slow us down.
Petras condition was not getting any better. She had lost the use of her legs with her skin turning purple and we had to carry her on a stretcher. I kept thinking of a way to help her as I wondered if there was a solution somewhere around the ten temples we were headed for. I had some crazy ideas, it was risky but it was worth a shot.
Indigo cowered in fear at my father's fearful look. I could not blame her, the man could be impossible sometimes.
"That's what I thought," he said.
Olly returned from his scouting mission with Harry and without dropping his swords walked up to the general.
"General Roman, a word?" he asked, walking away from the group while leading my father away.
When they were a long way off from any of us eavesdropping on their conversation, Petra touched my arm.
"Are you thirsty?" I asked.
"No," she said. "I just want to know how you're holding up."
I sat on the ground with her amidst the busy harbour as Trina, Indigo and Harry shielded us.
"Everything is perfect. Is anything the matter?" I asked in concern. I could feel her pain and from the looks of things, she had less than a week to live.
"I know what you're trying to do Xerxes, it won't work," she said blatantly.
"I'm not trying to do anything," I lied.
"Xerxes, that power in you cannot heal. The ten temples is for sealing powers, not releasing it — "
"You won't know unless you try," I interrupted. "Even if there is the littlest chance of you surviving, I would take it."
"At the expense of the world?" she asked.
I bit my lip. I had lost enough friends already. I was not going to let anything happen to her, no matter what.
"I don't care what you have to say to me Petra. I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do."
"Xerxes," she sighed. "If you release even the slightest bit of power that monster has in you, you will not be able to control it."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I used it on the mountain, don't forget about that one, I had it under control."
"And it nearly killed you," she countered.
"Look, I'm fine. I can take care of my monster. I don't need to hide it, I need to control it."
She laughed at what I had said which made me furious.
"What's funny?" I angrily let out.
"You want to control the beast which lives inside you, that's what," she chuckled.
"And you think it is impossible?" I asked. She was really bringing down my confidence.
"We'll talk about this later. Your father is done with his conversation," she said, laying back on the stretcher.
I did not want to talk later, I wanted to talk about it now.
"Alright everybody, listen up," he let out when he and Olly regrouped with us. "You too stretchy," he croaked out, to which Petra gave a thumbs up sign.
"There is no ship headed for the ten temples," he announced, making everyone murmur with complaints.
"But there is one headed for the City of Ore. It is the closest city to the home of the dragons," he said with gusto. "And that is closer to the ten temples."
Everyone muttered at how great the idea was, but I didn't see any need to rejoice. It was still a long way off.
"Why can't we hijack a ship and go there?" I asked unimpressed, breaking the congratulatory mutters that was going round.
"Yeah," he said with a crazy smile on his face. "Thinking like a true demon that you are. You know, I thought of the same thing, but then I remembered that none of us had the power to fight off a thousand demons with dragons and magicians which we would surely meet on the way while they searched the waters for us. Oh, and let's not forget that your powers are still recharging, just like mine is. Ohhhhh, did I forget to bring up the most important thing, hmmmmm?" he went on amidst the snickers I was getting from the members of the group with Petra smacking her forehead.
"Which is?" I asked ignorantly.
"That no captain would risk their lives to take us there and none of us can pilot a fucking SHIP!" he screamed in anger, having Trina, Harry and Indigo burst out laughing.
I hung my head in embarrassment. I should have thought it through.
"Thought you were supposed to be the smartest one in the group, Xerxes. Hope that monster isn't making you stupid," he hissed.
I could not wait to end this war and leave him alone. I needed my sanity, but he was making it hard to get any, with his dumb remarks and nasty attitude.
"Anyway, it would take us two days by ship to get to the City of Ore and a days walk to the home of the dragons. From then on we would rest for a night and start our main journey to the ten temples, which if I am correct would take us eight days if we were to use the normal path."
"Eight days!" we all shouted in unison. Petra would be long gone before we reached the temple.
Olly whispered something into his ear as he raised a hand, silencing the wary group.
"Make that twelve," he sighed sadly, with the group shocked at the new development. "Just heard that the bridge connecting the Fern island to the light island was destroyed by heavy thunderstorms."
"Ummmm... King General Chief sir?" Indigo blurted out.
He sighed, "It's Roman. Call me Roman."
"Right, Roman," she tittered.
"Yes, what is it?"
"So, ummm, you said we would get to the ten temples in twelve days," her cracked voice croaked out.
"Yeah, twelve days. That's what I said," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Well... Petra won't last that long," she pointed out.
He looked at the Xaj then waved his arms around helplessly.
"Why does it need to be you?" he grumbled. "I guess we're going with your plan then."
I looked at him as he pointed to an empty ship. "We'll highjack that vessel and head for the ten temples."
"No you won't," a voice countered behind us. We turned around to see the old man that had won the bet money at the bar during the bar fight. He looked older and smaller as he stooped with age.
"That's my boat and none of you scallywags are getting on it," his voice started to get icy as he talked.
Roman walked up to the man, pulled back his wrist bracelet and held his hand out revealing a trident scar on his wrist. The old man widened his eyes in surprise before regaining his composure.
"Well, well, well," he snickered. "If it isn't the god of death himself, Mephistopheles."
Roman covered the scar with the wrist bracelet before dropping his hand on the old man's shoulder
"Hello brother," he greeted. "Would you help us?"