Guardians of the Sea: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy
By Eva Pohler
()
About this ebook
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
After enduring Delphine's dangerous training regimen, the young gods and demigods embark on a mission to take down the corrupt shipping company once and for all, to liberate victimized communities up and down the Mediterranean and nearby seas.
But unforeseen conflicts cause the young gods and demigods to question the nature of their mission, their purpose, and their relationships with one another.
In the face of impossible choices, how important are love, loyalty, and friendship? Moreover, how far should one go to defend those who can't defend themselves? Should one sacrifice everything?
For lovers of Greek mythology, paranormal romance, and action adventure stories.
"Vampires and Greek Mythology combined in one fabulous adventure!"--Brie Strauss ★★★★★
"I absolutely cannot wait for more Adventures. I tried not to read so fast but honestly I couldn't be patient. This book blew me away and I honestly just need more."--Southernmermaid85, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
"Must read!! Anything this author writes is amazing to read. It's what got me into loving anything about the greek gods! And her vampire series is so interesting as well! This book combines both and draws you in!!"--Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
"Everything I've come to love and expect from Eva's book, was to be found in this latest episode, constant drama, intrigue and adventure, not forgetting the romance. Can't wait for more!"--Traceyann★★★★★
"I really liked the new characters that were introduced in this book. The story was interesting and had a lot of twists and turns."--Kathy E ★★★★★
If you like enemies-to-lovers romance and heart-breaking love triangles combined with fast-paced, high-stakes action, then this series is for you.
For lovers of Greek mythology, vampire romance, pirate romance, and action adventure stories.
Grab your copy to continue the exciting adventure today!
Eva Pohler
Eva Pohler is a USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels for teens and adults. She writes fantasy based on Greek mythology, supernatural suspense, and psychological thrillers. Her books have been described as "addictive" and "sure to thrill"--Kirkus Reviews.Whichever genre you read, you will find an adventure in Eva Pohler's stories. They blur the line between reality and fantasy, truth and delusion, and draw from Eva's personal philosophy that a reader must be lured and abducted into complete captivity in order to enjoy the reading experience.Visit Eva's website to learn more about her and her books: https://www.evapohler.com/.
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Guardians of the Sea - Eva Pohler
guardians of the sea
vampires and gods, book three
Eva Pohler
Copyright © 2022 by Eva Pohler.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator,
at the address below.
Eva Pohler Books
20011 Park Ranch
San Antonio, Texas 78259
www.evapohler.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Layout ©2017 BookDesignTemplates.com
Book Cover Design by B Rose Designz
Guardians of the Sea/ Eva Pohler. -- 1st ed.
I’ve dreaded this day.
―APHRODITE
Contents
Chapter One: Mount Olympus
Chapter Two: A Fractured Pantheon
Chapter Three: A Location Spell
Chapter Four: Unexpected Prisoners
Chapter Five: Suspicions
Chapter Six: The Furies
Chapter Seven: Orders
Chapter Eight: Under Attack
Chapter Nine: Undercover
Chapter Ten: The Search
Chapter Eleven: Another Blast
Chapter Twelve: An Emergency Meeting
Chapter Thirteen: The Goddess of Vampires
Chapter Fourteen: Reconnaissance
Chapter Fifteen: Words from the Heart
Chapter Sixteen: The Decoy
Chapter Seventeen: Iris’s Rainbow
Chapter Eighteen: A Complication
Chapter Nineteen: Remembrance
Chapter Twenty: Hector’s Challenge
Chapter Twenty-One: Ladon
Chapter Twenty-Two: Judgment
Chapter Twenty-Three: Guardians of the Sea
For the sailors of the Mediterranean Sea.
Chapter One
Mount Olympus
Gertie stood in the foyer of the great hall on Mount Olympus, waiting for Hector to finish his tour with Hephaestus. Hector had invited her to join him to see the magical forge, but she’d wanted him to have this chance to be alone with his father. She hadn’t thought about her own comfort—or lack of it—as she stood there with the Olympians on their thrones only a few yards away. Although she’d earned their respect in the battle with the old man of the sea and his entourage of monsters, and was about to become a goddess herself, she didn’t dare presume that she was free to speak with them.
She pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and glanced nervously at the gods before averting her eyes to her boots. Her stomach hurt, and her heart wouldn’t slow down no matter how deeply she breathed. An eternity seemed to pass before Hector finally emerged with his father.
Just seeing Hector’s face again made her less nervous. Although people often mistook them for brother and sister because they both had blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, fortunately for them, they weren’t, even though they were both descendants of gods.
Are you ready for the council meeting?
Hephaestus asked her.
Gertie took a deep breath. I think so.
Of course, she is,
Hector said. She hasn’t stopped talking about it for days. Have you, Gertie?
Are you sure you’re ready?
Hephaestus asked again.
Yes,
she answered, this time without hesitation. I’m just a little nervous about how it will feel and how I’ll adapt. There isn’t much written about apotheosis. I feel unprepared.
Hephaestus laughed. Preparation has its virtues, but surprises make life exciting.
I like that.
Hector beamed up at his dad.
Gertie would rather be prepared.
Good luck,
Hephaestus said as he turned to walk away.
Thanks again for showing me around, Father,
Hector called. I hope I’ll have the chance to see you again soon.
The god gave Hector a polite, if not distant, nod before taking a few strides to his throne, next to Apollo and across the white marble floor from Aphrodite.
How did it go?
Gertie whispered to Hector, who hadn’t stopped smiling since he’d emerged from the forge.
I’ve never felt happier,
he said, his blue eyes bright. My father has finally acknowledged me publicly and has given me more than a moment of his time. It’s a dream come true.
Oh, Hector.
Gertie squeezed his hand. I’m really happy for you.
Thanks. Being here has made it easy for me to make a decision.
Gertie tilted her head to one side. What decision?
I want to be a god, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to prove I’m worthy.
Gertie’s mouth dropped open, and she felt like jumping up and down with joy. What?
I know . . . I was against it before. I wanted a normal life so I could give my kids a better childhood than the one I had. Now I know things don’t have to be the way they were with my mom—I don’t have to be alienated from my father and from the other gods.
He circled his arm around Gertie’s waist. We can be a part of this life here on Mount Olympus. We can be gods together.
Gertie thew her arms around him. Really?
Really.
He leaned down and kissed her.
As much as Gertie enjoyed the kiss, she soon came to her senses and noticed that some of the Olympians were watching them. I’ll make my acceptance conditional. If they want me to become the goddess of vampires, they’ll have to make you a god, too.
Hector furrowed his brows. What if they refuse?
They won’t, especially if your father speaks up for you.
He kissed her once more, and, together, they made their way to his father’s side, to await the others.
Hermie scratched his head and gave Delphine a once-over on the front deck of the Marcella II beneath the predawn stars. Del had just returned from a night of shopping in Paris with his sister, Hestie, and best friend, Jinsoo, along with most of the vampires. Hermie had just returned to the ship, too, after helping with a blackout at a power plant in Dubai. Before that, he’d helped a group of college students in Kentucky retrieve their lost project from a computer that had crashed. As the god of technology, he made IT runs rather frequently and enjoyed them much more than being out on the sea. But he endured the sea life because he wanted to be close to Del.
Del was wearing a short dress and boots—looking simultaneously sweet and bad-ass. Her long, dark, curly hair fell past her shoulders, blowing in the gentle wind. Her dark eyes and dark skin shone in the waning moonlight.
Hermie was pleased when she greeted him with a kiss as she combed her fingers through his short, black hair.
Welcome back,
he said. You look great.
Thanks. I bought some new threads for you, too.
She handed him one of her bags.
Hermie tried to hide his annoyance as he looked inside the bag. He was particular about his clothes and didn’t like others picking them out. He’d fought Hestie and his mother on that front for most of his life. But when he turned the soft cotton over in his hands, he was pleasantly surprised. She’d bought him a t-shirt? He lifted the light blue shirt from the bag and read the front of it: I paused my game to be here.
You like it?
she asked. The color matches your eyes.
I do,
he said, and he meant it. Thanks.
Check it out.
Jinsoo walked across the deck in his new clothes—a tight-fitting gray shirt and skinny black jeans and boots. Do I look good enough for Mount Olympus?
Alastair laughed. The sandy-haired vampire was wearing a long-sleeved, button-down shirt unbuttoned over a white V-neck and loose-fitting jeans cinched at his hips with a thick leather belt. If the gods are grading you on sex appeal, you got this, boyfriend.
Jinsoo smiled as Chidori landed on his shoulder. Do you agree?
The yellow canary tweeted her praise.
Where’s Poros?
Hestie asked as she brushed her red curly hair from her eyes.
Hermie glanced at the upper deck. Isn’t he on the flybridge with Captain?
No one is on the flybridge,
Alastair pointed out.
The swooshing sound of wings overhead made everyone lift their eyes up to the sky. Pegasus was hovering above the ship with Poros and Prometheus astride him.
We’re late,
the captain said as he pulled his white captain’s hat more firmly over his black curly hair. Come on.
Hestie flew up and mounted the white horse behind Poros. To Hermie, she said, Sorry. No more room.
Prometheus turned to the vampires. I trust you’ll keep an eye on the ship?
We will have to do it from below deck.
Del pointed to the hint of dawn just beyond the mountains to the east.
Alastair gave an informal salute that ended with a snap of his fingers. We will reach out to you if we sense anything wrong.
Thanks.
Prometheus tipped his white captain’s hat.
See ya,
Hermie said to Del just before he kissed her cheek.
See ya,
she echoed with a smile.
Jinsoo winked at Alastair and then joined Hermie in the air beside Pegasus.
To Jinsoo, Hermie said, Mount Olympus, here we come.
Hestie wrapped her arms around Poros and leaned against his back as Pegasus soared over the Mediterranean Sea.
Miss me?
she whispered into Poros’s ear as his blond hair tickled her lips.
Poros glanced back at her with a grin, his gray eyes sparkling in the moonlight. Cute outfit.
She wore very short shorts with a white tank top. But the tank was no ordinary tank. The straps were embellished with layers of gathered fabric making thick, soft ruffles that she found divine. One of the perks of being a goddess unaffected by changing temperatures was that one could continue to wear summer fashions well into fall.
Thanks. You should see what I bought for you.
She felt him chuckle against her. He wouldn’t fight her, like Hermie did, when it came to her fashion choices for him, and she loved him for it.
The sun god, Helios, appeared in his golden cup on the horizon just as they reached Mount Olympus. The gates parted, and the young gods waited near the fountain while Prometheus took Pegasus to the stables. Then, together, they flew up the rainbow steps and into the temple, where the other gods were waiting.
Hestie followed Poros and Prometheus into the middle of the great hall, where the Olympians were already seated on their thrones. Aphrodite and Artemis gave the young gods a smile and a wave as they walked past, as did the three Charities sitting around Aphrodite. Hestie waved back. One of the Charities—Pasithia—dropped her handkerchief at Poros’s feet. When he picked it up and handed it back to her, she smiled up at him with a flirtatious gleam in her eyes that Hestie found irritating. What was even more irritating was the blush that crossed Poros’s face. Should Hestie be worried?
Across the room, the muses softly hummed a melody behind Apollo. Between Apollo and Hephaestus stood the demigods Gertie and Hector. Hestie gave them each a smile.
Hestie’s mom and grandparents, Hades and Persephone, were also there. Her grandparents were seated on the double throne between Artemis and Hestia, where Demeter usually sat. Demeter was probably at her winter cabin with Hecate, since it was late October, the time of year when Persephone lived in the Underworld, and Demeter moped.
Hestie’s mother flew over to greet her and her brother. It had only been a few days since they last saw her, but their meetings were usually few and far between.
You’ve been shopping,
her mother said with a smile and a hug. You look good.
Thanks,
Hestie said. Did you cut your hair again?
The last time Hestie had seen her mother, whose hair was red and curly like hers, it had reached her shoulders. But today, it was cut in a bob just below her ears.
It kept getting in my way.
It’s cute,
Hestie complimented, wondering if she should do the same with her hair.
I wish Dad could be here, too,
Hermie said as he hugged their mom.
Not while there are mortals,
their mother replied. You know the drill.
Hestie sighed. It wasn’t always convenient when your father was the god of death.
Persephone waved at them. Come stand over here with us.
As Prometheus followed the young gods to linger near the double throne shared by Hades and Persephone, Hestie noticed Athena watching him. But Prometheus seemed to make a point of not returning her gaze. He was still upset with her for the vampire Taavi’s death and for putting the rest of his crew in danger.
Poros seemed to notice, too. He squeezed Hestie’s hand before leaving her side to say hello to his sister.
Sit here beside me,
Athena said to him, offering him what was once Hera’s place on their father’s double throne. It was made of gold and was adorned with an eagle and three peacocks.
I’d rather stand with Hestie,
he said. If you don’t mind.
Hestie felt bad for worrying about Pasithia’s flirtations. Poros had never given Hestie any reason to doubt his feelings for her. She needed to snap out of it.
Athena, whose long, straight, black hair set off her striking gray eyes—eyes that looked exactly like Poros’s—frowned at Hestie. Not at all.
Ares scoffed as Poros left Athena. What was his problem? At least Hermes had a smile and a wink for her. That put Hestie at ease again. Poseidon, sitting between Hermes and Apollo, made no attempt at eye contact, and Apollo was busy talking to Hephaestus.
Hestie could tell that Gertie was bursting at the seams, anxious to join the ranks of the immortals. She wondered if Gertie would be just as annoying as a goddess, or if she’d settle down, no longer compelled to show off her book knowledge.
Athena stood up and cleared her throat. The muses stopped humming.
The goddess of wisdom began: Thank you all for coming to this historic moment on Mount Olympus. The young god, Jinsoo, will declare his purpose, and the demigod, Gertie, who has valiantly proven her mettle, will become one of us. These two events will require the consent of our majority. Once these rituals have ended, we will turn our attention to deciding what to do about Sailfish Trading and Shipping.
Hestie glanced at Jinsoo and then across the room at Gertie. They were equally pale and jittery.
Jinsoo Huang, please come forward,
Athena summoned.
Jinsoo left Prometheus’s side to stand before Athena in the center of the circle of thrones. To Hestie, he looked small, even as a god, probably because he was only fifteen when he underwent apotheosis.
Have you found your purpose?
Athena asked him.
Yes, goddess.
And?
Jinsoo swallowed hard and combed his short, black hair from his eyes. I will be the god of sailors.
Athena turned to the god of the sea. And this doesn’t encroach upon your realm?
There may be some overlap,
Poseidon grumbled. But, given my part in recent, tragic events, I’m determined to accept it.
Poseidon controls the sea, of course,
Jinsoo added. And all the things living in it. He controls the sailing vessels.
He doesn’t control all of the vessels,
Hermes interjected. Shipping crafts are my domain, as are pirates.
Not entirely,
Poseidon argued.
Brother, uncle, please,
Athena said. This argument has plagued us for centuries, and I doubt it will be settled today. Let us agree that Jinsoo will be the primary caretaker of sailors.
Hear, hear,
Hades cut in.
All in favor, say aye,
Athena said.
The great hall resounded with the gods’ assent.
All opposed?
Athena asked.
The hall was silent.
Jinsoo bowed to the other gods as applause erupted. Then, smiling, he returned to Prometheus’s side. Hestie couldn’t be happier for him. She only wished Alastair could have been here to see it. Even now, after all the vampires had done to help the gods and humanity, they still weren’t welcome on Mount Olympus.
Once the hall had become silent again, Athena called, Gertrude Morgan, please step forward.
Gertie glanced nervously at Hector before she released his hand and moved to the center of the hall. Hestie supposed that the two demigods were back together. She wondered if Gertie still thought about Taavi, or if she had blotted him from her mind.
Athena smiled at Gertie as she said, We have asked you here today to join us as the goddess of vampires, who have for too long been underserved by this pantheon. I can admit my own contribution to their mistreatment and neglect. But that is to be no longer.
I’m so happy to hear you say that,
Gertie replied.
"And your father,