Sabre's Quest

Kai I open my eyes and look at the clock. It’s three-fifty-seven a.m., and I just got to sleep a few hours ago. It had been a long day before, and I was still wired. I thought about just sleeping in, but Gramps needed help, and I never said no to him. Sighing, I throw back my covers and sit up. I turn off the alarm and get out of bed. I stumble into the bathroom and hear my uncle puttering around in the kitchen, no doubt making coffee. “Kai,” Gramps calls out as I step into the shower. “Yeah?” I call back. “Just making sure you are awake,” He responds. “I heard you up till after midnight.” I make a low grunting noise and continue my shower. My mind wanders to what kept me up. I had a dream or a nightmare about my mother and sister being kidnapped, and I had to go on a quest to find them. “Kai,” Uncle Vern pounds on the door. “Are you almost done?” I shake my head as I had spaced out, “I’ll be out in a minute.” “We have to get going,” My uncle says. Again, I say nothing as I turn off the faucet and dry myself. I wrap the towel around my hips and return to my tiny room. Well, it’s more like a closet, but it suits me. I live in a small house with my grandfather, mother, sister, and uncle. I quickly throw on my beat-up work jeans and a tattered work shirt and head to the kitchen. “Good morning, Kai,” Mom greets me with a cup of Uncle Vern’s black coffee. “Morning, Mom,” I smile at her. She returns her attention to the stove, where she is preparing breakfast for Gramps, Vernon, and me. We always head out to sea early every morning when it’s not storming. We are fishermen. I am a fourth-generation fisherman. My mother used to go out with us but now stays home to manage our store. My sister Serenity helps her after school. I sit at the table as Mom sets bacon and eggs before me. She runs her hand through my shaggy hair. “I wish you would let me cut your hair, Kai,” She sighs. I wiggle away from her, “I don’t need a haircut,” I mutter with a mouth full of bacon. “Yes, you do,” Gramps grumbles, stepping into the kitchen. I look at my grandfather. He has had almost no hair for as long as I can remember. “You just say that because you have no hair, Gramps.” Mom hands him a cup of coffee. “Morning, Dad.” “Good morning, sunshine,” He greets her and sits at the table. “Vernon!” He yells for my uncle. “I’m coming!” My uncle yells back. “Damn kids,” Gramps mutters as he sips his coffee. Mom sets a plate of burnt toast in front of him. “Thanks,” He smiles at her. I turn my attention back to my food. Uncle Vern shuffles into the kitchen. He sits in a huff at the table. “Good morning, Vernon,” Gramps greets him with a huff. Mom sets food and coffee, “What’s up with you, Vern?” “Don’t worry about it, Deb,” Vernon grumbles and digs into his food. “I was just asking,” Mom shrugs. “Well, it’s none of your goddamned business, Debra,” My uncle hisses. “Someone is a grumpy ass this morning,” Mom chuckles and sits by Gramps with a plate of food. “Not everything is for your information,” Vernon continues. “Vernon!” Gramps barks. “Don’t be an asshole to your sister.” “I’m a grown man, Dad,” Vernon grumbles. “Grown men don’t argue with their sisters like children,” Gramps shoots back. I finish my breakfast and set my plate in the sink. I sit in the living room until Gramps and Uncle Vern are ready to go. The sky is still dark as I ride to the docks in the back of Gramps’s old pickup. Our boat sits idly, waiting for us to start the day. “You two make sure the nets are ready while I fire her up,” Gramps orders. I head over to the nets and start the daily inspection. “I heard you m**********g last night,” My uncle jokes. I glare at him. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” “I heard you grunting,” My uncle laughs. “Grunting?” Orlando Lopez, one of our deckhands, laughs as he boards the boat with his brother, Miguel. “Yeah, Kai was having a good time with himself,” My uncle snarks. “Shut up,” I mutter as the brothers laugh. “What was her name, Kai?” Miguel teases. “I bet it was Sally,” Orlando counters. “You guys suck,” I snort. “Are you all working?” Gramps yells. “Yes, Dad,” Vernon rolls his eyes. The sun is starting to come up as we head out of the harbor. I sit on the bow of the boat, admiring the sea. I smile when I see a couple of familiar dolphins riding the wake. ‘Hello, Kai’ Meep greets me in my mind. ‘Kai,’ the other dolphin Jim says. ‘Hey guys,’ I respond. ‘Where are the fish hiding today?’ ‘We get some if we show you, right?’ Meep asks. ‘Of course. You know the deal,’ I reply. The two dolphins veer to the left. “Gramps, go left,” I yell and point. The boat immediately turns in the direction that the dolphins go. We have the nets out within an hour and are waiting for the catch. Meep and Jim circle the fish, herding them into our net. They get to pick off as many as they want for helping us. “Those dolphins come in handy,” Miguel states. “It’s like they read your mind.” I shrug. “Pull her up,” Uncle Vernon shouts. The winch starts to pull up the net. Everything goes fine for a few feet. Then the winch stops suddenly, almost capsizing the boat. “The net is caught on something,” Vernon says. “Kai?” I sigh and nod. I take off my shirt and dive over the side of the boat. Meep and Jim are immediately at my side as I dive beside the massive net. I find part of it caught up on a rock outcrop. ‘Can you two help?” I ask the dolphins. They do their best to help, but they must keep resurfacing for air while I don’t. Two more dolphins eventually join us, and we manage to get the net off the rocks. I resurface and hold my thumb up. The net starts to rise. ‘Do we get fish now?’ Meep asks. ‘Of course,’ I reply. “Come back onto the boat, Kai,” Gramps shouts. I tap the water, and it rises so I can step back onto the boat. Miguel and Orlando look at me wide-eyed. They have only been working for us for a few months. The two have witnessed some of my abilities and swear I am a witch. Orlando crosses his chest as I walk by him and grab my shirt. The fish pour out of the net into the holding tank below deck. I grab a handful and toss them back into the water for the dolphins. “Thanks, guys,” I say to the dolphins as they snatch the fish. I throw a couple more handfuls. “How did you train the delfines?” Orlando asks. “I didn’t,” I shrug. After a few more netfuls of fish, we head back to shore. Mom is waiting for us on the dock as we pull in. She has the truck we use to transport the fish to the market and our shop. “We need more of that fish spice,” Mom says to Gramps. “What?” Gramps snorts while stuffing more chew into his cheek. “That fish spice. You know, the one that I told you about. It’s sold out,” Mom explains. “We don’t need spices, Debra,” Gramps grumbles. “We run a fish store.” “But people like spices with their fish, Dad,” Mom argues. He grunts as he directs Uncle Vernon and me to unload the fish. “Dad,” Mom repeats. “Order the damn spice, Debra,” He grunts. She grins and starts helping us. “Did you see your friends?” She asks. “They helped me get the net loose,” I mention. “He was underwater for ten minutes,” Miguel says. “How does he do that?” “He always loved the water,” Mom replies while ruffling my black hair. “Mom,” I mutter and pull away from her. After unloading the fish, we all head to the store for lunch. Mom had ordered subs for everyone. I grab my sub and go back outside to sit on the dock. I put my feet in the water. “I just saw a shark,” Orlando says. I nod as a nurse shark nuzzles my feet. I toss parts of my sandwich into the water, and she snaps it up before swimming off. Another shark swims up, and I throw it some food as well. “You tame the sharks, too?” Miguel asks. I shrug, “I have a way with fish.” “It’s like you are the son of Po- “He trails before walking away. I smirk to myself and finish the sandwich. After lunch, we head back out onto the water to check our crab traps. The sea starts to become a little rough even though there are no clouds in the sky. I look into the water, and a man stares back at me. ‘Kai,’ He calls to me. Without words, I dive over the side of the boat. “Kai!” Uncle Vernon shouts. The man is waiting for me under the water. He has on a Greek-style chiton made of fish scales. Long grey hair floats around him in the water as he strokes his white beard. He watches me with the same deep blue eyes that I have. “Hello, son,” My father greets me. “Father,” I say as I float in front of him. “What’s up?” “Kai,” he reaches out to touch my hair. “You should cut your hair.” “You are one to talk,” I snort. A wry smile works its way onto his ancient face. “I have a quest for you.” I gulp. I knew the prospect of a quest was looming. As a demigod, I was required to walk a thin line between the human world and that of the supernatural. My father before me is Poseidon, the god of the sea. “W-w-hat quest?” I ask nervously. “You knew a quest was imminent, Kai Seabrooke,” Father’s voice booms through the water and my head. Meep and Jim swim around my father. He lovingly pets them as they squeak happily. “Your mother,” He frowns slightly. “What about my mother?” I almost growl. I am very protective of her. “Xaclos have taken your mother and sister Serenity,” He explains. “Who?” “Xaclos, he is the king of giants and has taken your mother and sister,” Father explains. “What?! When?” I yell. “I just saw Mom at lunch!” “King Xaclos took them,” Father continues. “You have to get them back.” “What?” I huff. “You must save them. They are human and will not last long in the land of giants,” Father explains. He holds out his hand, and a sword appears. “This will help you. You also have your powers and your wits. Make haste, son. You don’t have much time,” he says before disappearing. “Father? Father! FATHER!” I scream out as I rise to the surface. “Kai?” Gramps shouts from the boat. I swim over and get back onto the boat. I fall to the deck with the sword in my hands. “What happened? Was that your father?” Gramps asks. He is well aware of who my father is. I nod. “What did he want?” Gramps asks. “The King of Giants has taken Mom and Serenity, and I have to rescue them,” I mutter before passing out.