CHAPTER 4: The Portal

THE PORTAL to Poseidon's domain was monstrous. It towered over my head as I stepped forward, towards the gate and the two temple guards on either side of it. We were in one of the gate-keeper's rooms in the temple. These portals were only unveiled and used on this particular day each year.

Why were my palms sweaty? My hands shaking?

I had to get myself under control.

We'd rejoined the boys after dressing. A short one in front of me swayed from foot to foot. Maybe he was anxious too?

Demure, I reminded myself, swallowing and closing my eyes just long enough to attempt to get myself together.

Being selected as an Icon was a level up.

...Now, if I could only breathe.

I swatted a strand of hair out of my eyes. My head felt light as the portal grew larger with every step forward on the cold, marble floor. They hadn't given us shoes, and my feet, under the swishing hem of my dress, ached from the hard material after standing so long.

When I looked up, the boy in front of me stood as the last silhouette before the enormous, sapphire-rimmed portal. The magic moving there pulled at me—magnetic and strong—like it's glowing, twisting lightening veins might just yank me in of no accord of my own.

"Where does this go?" the boy shouted to the guards, over the sizzling crackle of the lightening. The wind from the portal kicked back the auburn tuft of hair above his forehead.

But the guards didn't answer his brave query.

One grabbed him by the front of the shirt and threw him into the portal.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I'd been right.

This wasn't an honor; this was a prison.

Just like being Demure.

I had to get out of here—

My eyes darted past the guards to the shadowy corners behind the room's columns.

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Was there anywhere to run? To hide—

"Next, come on, girl," the first guard bellowed at me.

And I was stuck.

Trapped.

Because, if I didn't comply, they'd throw me in too.

And, if I did comply, I'd have to walk in.

Either way, ended with me entering the giant portal...and being taken even further away from home.

I bit the inside of my lip.

And made my choice; honestly, it wasn't much of one.

I put one foot.

In front of the other.

And, holding my breath like my action just might deprive me of it, I stepped.

Into the portal.

My toes hit wet sand and ocean water.

Warm.

Welcoming.

Up to my ankles.

I opened my eyes, unaware that I'd closed them, and saw that my feet glowed blue underneath the magic of the portal.

"All the way in!" the second, temple guard warned.

And I stepped again.

And the balmy water rose...

To my knees.

Another step...

To my waist.

Tingling strangely on my covered limbs.

Like I was wading into a deep part of the ocean that was charged with electricity and, yet, hadn't killed me yet.

And, for a second, I panicked—

What would happen when the water was over my head???

"Move it!" the guard urged.

"She's holding up the line," the other insisted.

And, someone shoved me.

And I fell—flailing.

Into the unknown.

***

White magic raced by my face.

Roaring filled my ears—deafening.

Was I standing still and the world rushing around me, or was I racing through a giant tube that was stationary around me? I couldn't tell.

I couldn't even scream.

My hair streamed back from my face.

My dress plastered to my legs.

The skin of my cheeks rippled.

I froze.

There was no way to move with the air rushing past me.

Like a weight pressing on my lungs.

Holding me like a giant glove.

In place.

In—

I hit something.

Careening forward.

My hands smacked into—was this coral? The floor was bumpy and bristling like something alive; it bit into the flesh of my palms. I yanked my hands away, scrambling to my feet amid piles of the fabric of my dress. The spikey ground pinched at the soles of my feet as I stood but—

I looked up.

And I was in a massive, circular, underwater room.

Evenly spaced columns held platform after platform over my head like a colosseum, filled with bustling, chatting people.

And, before me, smooth, white steps extended upward.

...And it made my breath hitch.

Because it was like all the rumors said: the god really was here to greet Icons—one of the only times they said you'd see them in their citadel without official notice.

Poseidon stood, robes and beard flowing—stern eyes glowering from the top step.

And he was looking directly at me.