"Down boy," Edward snapped as if speaking to a yappy dog that would not behave. Much to my surprise, Poseidon obeyed, slinking down into the sea like a chastised child. As he did, the sea began to calm, the wind died down, and the clouds began to part.
I stared at Edward in surprise as a ray of sun found its way through the clouds, shining directly onto my friend. Who was he that the god of the sea obeyed him?
I woke with a start to find myself not on the prow of the ship, but still safely on a plane headed home. If one can call a tin can flying through the air at several thousand feet safe.
How fun. I had another crazy dream to add to my collection. As if there wasn't enough crazy in my life already.
What was really strange was that this time it wasn't about some dead ancient Atlantean Priest or high Priestess. It wasn't about a Fire Bearer throwing herself from a cliff. No, this was about someone I actually knew. This was about Eddie, and Eddie had bossed around Poseidon like he was a recalcitrant child. My suspicions about Eddie were growing deeper by the minute. Who exactly was he? We were going to have a talk when I got home to Portland. This time he wasn't going to blow me off.
Since time was of the essence, I went straight from the Portland International Airport to Eddie's shop, Majick and Potions. It was late in the day, but I knew he would be there. It seemed Eddie was always there when he wasn't on a steampunk cruise being attacked by vampires.
The parking lot was empty when I arrived, except for a lime green Vespa parked near the front steps: Eddie's preferred mode of transportation. The little bell above the door jangled as I pushed it open, and a wall of incense hit me full in the face, making my nose itch. The sneeze hit so hard, it doubled me over. Eddie really needed to open a window or something.
I wandered down the aisles, paying special attention to the gemstones as I went. A gorgeous chunk of raw aquamarine caught my eye, and I wrapped my hand around it, feeling the power flowing within. They always called to me, the gemstones. And I always reached out to them, soaking in their warmth and energy. I wasn't sure if it was one of my Powers, or if it was a Hunter thing. Or maybe I'd just lost my mind. Anything was possible.
Eddie poked his head out between the orange and gold striped curtains that blocked off the back room. "Morgan," he called cheerfully, "you made it. Tea?"
I couldn't help the smile. "Sure. Thanks." I heard rattling from the small kitchenette behind the curtain. "You and Kabita couldn't find anything out from the book, huh?"
"'Fraid not," Eddie replied, his voice muffled by the curtain. "It was most frustrating, I admit. I wish the book was more cooperative. But you know what they say about wishes and Hippocampi." There was more banging and rustling, and the sound of water filling a teapot.
"I think you mean horses, Eddie."
His head popped between the curtains again, and he frowned at me. "Do I? Are you certain?"
"Pretty sure. Yeah."
He disappeared again. "Well, that makes no sense. There are plenty of horses around. Not so many Hippocampi. In any case, we're out of luck where that book is concerned."
"Maybe it will show me something," I suggested. I doubted it, but there were other things I wanted the book to show me.
"Go ahead and try. Maybe the fickle thing will give you something it wouldn't give us."
I wandered casually behind the register and pulled out Eddie's sentient book. Laying it carefully on the counter, I glanced behind me to make sure Eddie was still busy with the tea, then I carefully flipped open the cover. I had no intention of looking for anything regarding Alister or his little book: the key to the Key, whatever that meant. At least not yet. I mean, I knew I was the "Key" in question, but what the book from France had to do with anything was a big, fat question mark. I wanted to find out what the sentient book had to say about Eddie. I felt a little bit guilty about spying on my friend, but I needed answers. Something about him wasn't adding up, and he'd been rather vague about answering questions. Not to mention that crazy dream I'd had.
As the sentient book began flipping through pages all by itself, I focused on Eddie and my dream about Poseidon. The pages finally riffled to a stop, and the book lay open to a page decorated with swirling blue and aqua waves around the edges. At the top of the page swooping gold letters spelled out "Nereus." Baffled, I quickly scanned the page. According to the book, Nereus was a figure in ancient Green mythology. He'd been a Titan, the only one who'd avoided getting sent off to where the gods had sent the Titans after the war. He was the father of the Nereids and some dude called Nerites, who looked suspiciously like a Hippocampus. He was a shape shifter with the power of prophecy, who'd aided heroes such as Hercules. He was known for his truthfulness, virtue, and passion for what was right. He was supposedly trustworthy and gentle. And as, according to Greek mythology, Poseidon was married to Nereus's granddaughter, Amphitrite, 'he was technically the grandfather-in- law of Poseidon, the god of the sea.