by S. E. Akers
“You like the sea, DO YOU?” Lorelei snarled with a wicked curl of her lips. A tentacle worked its way around my neck and squeezed my throat into a breathless gag. “Let me show you how rough those tides can really be.” With my body basically cocooned, I was immobile with no foreseeable escape. She dove under the water and started dragging me down the river. Drowning didn’t concern me. What she had planned…now that was another story.
She torpedoed through the water with breakneck speed, squeezing my helpless frame. I couldn’t make heads-or-tails of anything for the rest of her tentacles whipping around me, but the sediment floating in the muddy water seemed coarser. I assumed we were reaching the mouth of the river, and undoubtedly headed for the wide-open sea. This was bad. Really bad. To add insult to injury, I replayed Padimae’s warning about Lorelei’s reach and staying out of the water, over and over in my stupid, stupid head!
The taste of the water turned briny, which wasn’t a good sign by any means. Lorelei’s tentacles uncoiled in a snap, only for her to spray a batch of some mysterious dark fluid at me. I couldn’t see a thing. I swam out of the cloudy mass, just in case it was poisonous, and made my way up to the surface.
The picture topside didn’t look any more promising. I’d never witnessed a scene so dark, so black. The buoyant bumps of the shadowy water awakened every one of my fears. And it was quiet — dead quiet. The only thing missing was the freakin’ theme from Jaws. I paddled around in a circle until I spotted what looked to be dry land. Even that sight was depressing. I had to be at least a good mile out in the Gulf.
Something bumped my leg. I shook off the shock only to feel a quick slice a few seconds later. A brutal pain shot through me like a thousand serrated blades. I bawled out a howl that rang for miles, though I knew no one but Lorelei had heard it. The familiarity of the gash alarmed me the most. It was the same wicked pain I’d felt when Federo used Tanner’s diamond to slice my throat.
She’s using the diamond she stole from Ty. My hunch was reconfirmed when I felt a something rip across my lower back. It hurt just as bad, possibly worse by her choice of locations. Salt water rushed into the wound, offering me only a twinge of relief. I felt another slash, this time down my right arm. Whether it was reflexes or my anger, I retaliated by carving my nails into the tail end of one of her tentacles before she swam off. That was met with some bitter vengeance when she returned the gesture and bombarded my legs with a countless number of lacerations. My mouth flew open, but my screams never came. Not only was the pain taking a bitter toll on my body, it had left me agonizingly breathless.
I thrashed about in a circle, trying to find any trace of the evil sea-bitch. I couldn’t let her hack me up into little pieces without doing anything. I waited for her next strike on pins and needles. As soon as I felt the initial prick of the diamond’s wicked tip, I thrust my body up and out of the water as far as I could, stretching my arm towards the sky. Once the bolt was firmly in my hand, I aimed it at a retreating swell a few feet away. An explosion rocked the surface, creating a sweeping wave. As it carried me away, I watched with a shattered awareness while the electric current dispersed across the top of the water. It did nothing…absolutely nothing to her. And it wouldn’t, not as long as she was well under the water’s protection.
I thought I’d spotted one of her ghastly limbs surfacing, so I reached to the sky again, only to be dragged under before I could fully extend my arm. Lorelei nailed me with a swift punch to my face. She reared back for another one, only to be greeted by my right hook. I didn’t hit her as hard as I thought, though I watched utterly astonished as the force carried her away several yards. The current seemed to have come to my aid. I looked at the moonstone glowing on my finger. Or something else did. If this thing could sway the tides, surely it could help quicken my swim to dry land. That was my only chance.
I swam up to the surface to spot a rocky reef that paralleled the shore. It was much closer. I could make it to that with a little help. As the approaching swell of water came charging at me, I summoned the moonstone to give my aching muscles a leg up as I swam. My start off the block may have been sluggish, but once the magical current had kicked in, I sped through the water faster than daggone Michael Phelps. And I didn’t look back.
Just when I thought I was home free, Lorelei grabbed one my legs, whirled me around, and tossed me down onto the jagged surface of the reef. The formation of coral was smaller than what I’d hoped, but its skimpy shore offered me a much-needed touch of hope. The beach was too far away to attempt another run. I rolled over and surveyed my injuries with a hissing wince. My legs were shredded with gashes and the rest of me didn’t fare much better. Though if it weren’t for the salt water flushing the residue from my wounds, I probably wouldn’t be able to move. This was honestly the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life. I’d take another one of Damiec’s bites, a freaking thousand times over, before I ever wanted to feel another slice from one of my own diamonds! I looked out across the water. I didn’t see her anywhere, but the bitch was out there, somewhere.
She didn’t plop me here out of mercy, that’s for sure.
My meager patch of land offered me something else — I could finally check my bag. It has to be in here, I prayed as I shoved my hand down inside it.
“I WANT MY MOONSTONE!” Lorelei’s voice growled from out of the sea. She followed her demand up with a crashing wave that broke the strap on my purse and knocked it out of my hand. I spotted it lying on the edge of the reef once the water had receded. I hurried over to get it, only to have something spiky grab a hold of my leg. I looked down to see a cluster of glowing red coral shackling my ankle. I stretched my arm out further to seize my bag. I couldn’t reach it, but I didn’t lack much. Just as the coral started to wrap around one of my hands, I smashed it with my fist and shattered it to pieces. Quickly, I turned and kicked my free-foot down onto the coral mound around my ankle. I broke free from its saw-toothed grasp and dove towards my purse. A shadow formed over me as I reached into my bag. The corners of my mouth lifted in sheer delight as I wrapped my hand around the cross-shaped handle and jerked it out of my purse. I didn’t even look at it as I turned around. Its silhouette had already offered me all the reassurance I needed.
Lorelei coiled back as soon as she saw the light from wand’s shimmery blade. I sliced off another one of her tentacles as she lunged back into the sea. She surfaced several yards away, huffing and seething with fury.
I hurled her limb towards her, splashing her in the face. “So how long does it take to grow one of these things back?” I yelled and flashed her my finest smile. I tapped my finger to my mouth. “Ya know…I think that makes three.”
With a violent sweep of her hand, Lorelei formed a massive wave. I started to summon up some wind when the charging water magically spilt into sections, each one growing in size the closer they came. My mouth fell open as I stared at the four gigantic tidal waves that now surrounded the reef. Without a second to lose, I tied the broken strap back onto my bag, threw it around me, and dove towards a rocky formation. I wrapped my arms around it just as soon as the waves hit, but their force knocked the wand out of my hand, despite my ironclad grip.
I whipped my head up in a panic once the water had receded. I had to find it. I looked all around, praying it was still on the reef. Where is it?
“This thing is a lot lighter than I thought,” Lorelei laughed. I spun around to see the monstrous Talisman eyeing my wand under the moonlight.
What a punch in the gut. Shit…
I spotted something else, something more promising, dangling from her human wrist. Gallia’s bracelet. And there was Katie’s salvation still fastened to it — the elusive fire opal she needed. As much as I hated to admit it, I had to get Lorelei to come closer, even with her now wielding the wand.
Maybe I can poison her with the lapis lazuli? She doesn’t know I claim it. She won’t be expecting that.
I sensed the red coral working its way around my limbs. I pretended
to struggle as I allowed its suppressive hold to tether me to the rocks. Once I was securely bound, Lorelei edged out of the water and climbed onto the rocks.
I tallied up her tentacles — five and three nubs. “I was right,” I grinned.
Lorelei gave her red mane an arrogant flip. “They’ll grow back,” she assured me with wink. She placed the wand above my shoulder as she leaned into my face. “Yours won’t.”
That was all I needed to hear. I took a deep breath and forced a stream of the poisonous blue mist straight at her nose. She turned away immediately, but to my surprise, she started laughing. Lorelei whipped her head back around and started taking several purposeful deep breaths.
“Is that a lapis lazuli I smell?” Lorelei let out a riotous cackle and clutched her chest. “You poor, ignorant girl. Its poison has no effect on me,” she laughed. “My own venom counters most any toxin’s effects. Oh, what a naïve little thing you truly are!” One of her tentacles turned into a snake and slithered up the side of my face. “I guess now we both know what card Lá Léo pulled from her deck,” she jeered with a grin.
Smart-ass.
“Now, here’s what I’m going to do…friend,” Lorelei added as she gave the wand a few flippant twirls. “I’m going to take your wand and drive it straight through that wildly beating heart of yours… And then, I’m going to slice off that finger and claim my moonstone.” She bent over and aimed her words at my ring. “DO YOU HEAR THAT SERAPHINA?” she bellowed. “AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME!” Lorelei ceased her laughter with one hasty breath. She eyed my bound hands and legs. “Nor you,” she whispered in a low growl.
The next thing I knew, Lorelei was arching her back with her hands wrapped around the base of the hilt like a dagger. With a lively thrust, she started the blade’s harrowing descent. Her strike came at me so swift, the base of the hilt was flush against my chest in an instant. I stared at the dreadful sight with the sound of her victorious laughs chaffing my ears.
That’s that, I thought in a crestfallen daze, thinking only of my best friend and the hellish purgatory her life would forever endure — all because of my costly mistake.
Chapter 26 — Twist of Fate
I stared at the hilt pressing flat against my heaving chest. Not a trace of the blade was visible anymore. As bad as what the diamond’s sting had felt, I thought the wand would be unbearable — excruciating at the least — but surprisingly it wasn’t. I wasn’t in any pain. None whatsoever. Not even a single drop of blood flowed from the spot.
When Lorelei went to pull out the blade, the hilt simply slid across my shirt. The diamond wasn’t extended — to both our disbelief. Somehow it was back inside the hilt. I didn’t have the slightest scratch on me. No wonder I hadn’t felt anything.
“NO!” Lorelei screamed as she eyed the bladeless handle. After several unsuccessful shakes, she scanned around in search of an answer. She found one soon enough. I followed her aghast expression to a drenched Tanner Grey who was standing on the rocks behind us, along with a glistening red haze that rose from a broken stone disintegrating at his feet.
Tanner pointed towards the water. “I’ve got more than that up my sleeve,” he vowed. An ominous roar howled across the ocean. The waves began crashing with an unparalleled fury intent on destroying whatever lay in its path. The stormy waters surged towards the reef like an army of solders charging into battle, and by the direction of their wrath and the panic-stricken look swarming in Lorelei’s eyes, I knew every last drop was gunning for the bitch-of-the-sea.
Tanner snatched the hilt out of her limp grasp and then jerked me into his arms to shield me from the water’s stinging blow. We watched as the waves coiled around her, restraining all of her appendages one by one. Once she was locked in their unbreakable hold, the watery arms dragged her under the surface in one dramatic swoop. A fiercely moving swell of water was the last trace we saw of her. It was towing my supernatural assailant off into the murky abyss.
Good freakin’ riddance!
With his arms wrapped around me, Tanner lowered my frail body into the sea. His grasp remained fierce as he guided me towards the shore. We were there, safe and sound on the beach within less than a minute, but his hold didn’t falter. Once Tanner had laid my ravaged body down gently on the sand, he slid the golden topaz back on my finger while I remained in the shelter his warm arms. It was another sight for sore eyes.
“Where’s Federo?” I mumbled.
“Back at the cave. Padimae is guarding him.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the sunstone. As I ran my finger over its dull surface, a shimmery warm light followed the flow of my touch. The sight was painfully bittersweet. OH, I had the stone back that I needed — but not Katie.
Never Katie, I thought dismally. The waters of The Gulf eventually calmed. Even the half moon’s reflection was able to dance fluidly in one single streak, like a shimmery trail leading into the horizon. All the evidence that remained of the brutal attack were my visible scars — well those, and the heart-wrenching fact about the red chalcedony, the one marked for Katie. Tanner had used it to save me and get rid of Lorelei. The cosmos heard his cry and granted him his wish. I was safe and she was gone…right along with the hope of getting the fire opal. Another chance had come and gone for Katie, and this time, it was truly to save my rear.
My twice-in-one-night savior cupped my face and tilted it up to his. “Tanner… You had to use the chalcedony…” I could barely form the words. “I’m so sorry.”
“No,” he urged. “Don’t be.”
“But if I had stayed in the cave—”
Tanner delicately shushed my lips with his fingers.
“You went through all that for Katie…and now you can’t get another one. This is all my fault,” I concluded in a hopeless daze. Tanner averted his stare. He was either looking at my wounds or thinking pensively about my latest screw-up. He finally lifted his gaze and took a hold my arms with a vehement grasp.
“Listen to me. Kamya was right. Fate knew what was lying around the bend. The stone wouldn’t have broken if that weren’t its intended purpose…and I wouldn’t have used it to save you if it weren’t mine.”
He truly meant it, but that did nothing to alleviate my guilt. Despite the way his violet eyes glistened while he soulfully stroked the curve of my jaw bore no hand in hoisting my spirits either. Katie’s chance was gone again — possibly her last — and there was no telling what unimaginable horrors he’d endured to get the chalcedony in the first place.
“That’s it,” I mumbled somberly. “I may as well face the fact… Katie’s never coming back.” I could already feel the tears welling. “Every time I think there’s a chance, fate ALWAYS shows up to yank the rug right out from under me.”
Tanner turned my pitiful frown his way. “You’re not giving up. I won’t let you.” He took a purposeful deep breath and shot the sea a dauntless glance. “Here. Hold on to this,” Tanner said as he placed the sunstone in the palm of my hand. With a fierce look, he pressed his head to mine and gazed into my eyes. “Know that what I’m doing, is only for YOU.” With that, Tanner removed my moonstone and slid it on his finger. He tossed me the hilt and dove off the rocks and into the sea before I could object. Her domain or not, he was going after Lorelei to get the fire opal back for me.
I watched the waves roll back and forth, hugging the shore. Every time they receded, my heart filled with more worry. Whether he got the stone or not, above all, I wanted him to return as quickly as he could and in one-piece.
Something caught my eye that had washed ashore a few yards from where I sat. It lay there, half-sunk in the wet sand while its surface sparkled under a few random beams of moonlight. Curiously, I crawled over to the strange object and scooped it out of the sludge. It was a crystal, a thick crystal, which looked a lot like the one Beatrix had shown me down in her vault. It had the same countless ghostly layers, but this one housed a dark light flowing freely inside it. Lorelei had to have dropped it.
&n
bsp; “That’s not yours,” a voice called out to me.
Damiec. I tucked the strange crystal under my leg and drew my sword. Damiec approached me with a cautious though commanding swagger. He stopped just short of the tip of my blade and dangled something in the air. The way my stomach flipped, I could have filled an ocean with what was about to come up. It was Katie’s diamond. He had my best friend. My mind raced wildly. When did he get that? How? I wasn’t sure if it was in my purse or not, or why he would even take it? The last time I saw it was back at Federo’s house, lying on the table. Did he take it then? Regardless of the whens, whys, and hows, I had to get it back.
“And this does not belong to me,” Damiec declared and placed it on the sand near my feet. My mouth fell open. With a guarded lock on my arm, I struggled to keep the wand level. I extended my foot and dragged it towards me as close as I could. Quickly, I leaned up and snatched it in an instant.
He was up to something. “How civil… Why?” I probed. I held up the crystal that had washed up on the beach. “Because of this?”
Damiec grinned as he edged closer. I stretched my arm out further, trying to keep the sword as true as I could. Damiec threw his arms up and stepped back. “Do you even know what that is you have in your hand?”
“A phantom crystal,” I popped off, hoping I was right.
Damiec’s stance relaxed. “Yes. It seems you do,” he remarked with a huff.
Thought so. “Your phantom crystal,” I stressed. “The one Lorelei took from you in New Orleans.”
The Bloodstone Talisman roused a curious grin. “I only want the crystal, Shiloh. Give it to me and I’ll leave.”
“I highly doubt that,” I challenged with a stout glare.
“I swear,” Damiec vowed. “That’s a generous offer…considering your current state,” he added as he surveyed my wounds.
My eyes narrowed. “And why should I believe you?”
“Because I returned your property…and let’s not forget, I saved your life.”
