by Linsey Hall
“There is one remedy,” the queen said. “The sacred Oak Heart. It exists on the Isle of Forgotten Souls, in the middle of the Earie Sea. You must cross this sea, which is the territory of the Sea Hag.”
“She sounds like a delight,” I said.
“Oh, she is.” The queen smiled, and it wasn’t kind. “You likely won’t survive. No one has reached the Isle of Forgotten Souls in centuries.”
“We will,” Tarron said.
She inclined her head. “Perhaps.”
“We have no magic,” I said. “And our weapons couldn’t hurt Ankou’s minions. Surely we should be armed.”
“That is your second problem,” the king said. “Once you have healed yourselves, you must retrieve your magic.”
“But until then,” the queen said. “We will give you each a sword that can wound a creature of our realm. Not steel, of course. Never steel. And an amulet that will allow you to use one of your magical powers—but for just a short while. So choose well.”
Thank fates. That would help.
“How do we get our magic back?” Tarron asked.
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” the queen said. “If we come to it.”
I bit my tongue, knowing there was no point in rushing her. The false queen was still healing, but our time was limited. This queen wouldn’t care about that, however. And arguments would only delay us.
“Can we start now?” I asked.
The queen inclined her head. “Indeed, the royal stags will carry you to your doom.”
“That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
“Have a bit more faith, Your Highness.” I smiled. “I’ve faced doom many times. Even death couldn’t take me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
5
The stags met us at the castle stairs. Unlike the day before, the courtyard was now full of Fae. Most were dressed in jewel-toned clothing, their wings fluttering behind them. They watched us keenly as we descended the stairs toward the noble beasts who awaited us.
Silence was heavy in the air.
“They look like they’re watching us walk to our deaths,” Tarron murmured.
“I know,” I whispered. “It’s freaking weird.”
The stags snuffled lightly as we stopped in front of them. Somehow, if possible, the silence grew even deeper.
I glanced back and spotted the king and queen standing at the top of the stairs, right in front of the massive doors. I brushed my hand over the blade that they’d given me, which was now holstered at my side, and nodded.
When I turned back to the stag, it was already kneeling in front of me.
I mounted, gripping tight with my thighs as the huge beast rose to its full height. Tarron leapt onto his mount, and the two creatures turned and trotted through the crowd. I could feel their gazes burning me as we rode. Normally, I didn’t mind the attention.
This, however, was too weird.
Something about their interest was strange. Unpleasant.
As we neared the edge of the crystal dome, the crowd thinned. The gates ahead of us rose silently as we approached, the white forest beyond.
“I sure hope the queen was right about these stags knowing the way,” I muttered, rubbing my arm. The last thing I wanted was to run into more of Ankou’s minions.
Tarron said nothing as we rode out into the white forest. His attention was riveted to the trees around us. I fingered the new amulet at my throat. Which of my magics would I use with this?
I had no idea.
As soon as we reached the tree line, the stags picked up the pace to a gallop. Their breaths heaved as they ran with steady focus.
“They don’t like it here,” Tarron murmured.
“Reapers.” I could smell their fetid magic. “There are a lot of them. Hiding.”
“Enough to attack.”
I nodded, remembering that the reapers would only attack the stags if they had enough of their creepy fellows at their side.
I could feel the unease of my mount. He galloped through the woods, darting around trees and leaping over logs. I crouched low over his back, clinging to him.
When three dark shadows appeared to the right, I tapped the stag on that side of his neck. As if he could read my thoughts, he veered away from the shadow. Tension tightened my muscles as we rode. More and more shadows appeared in the distance.
When the first one hurled a blast of dark magic at us, I ducked. Another threw a blast at Tarron, and his stag leapt clean over it.
I didn’t know where we were going, or I could use my transport magic to try to get there. But maybe I shouldn’t waste it.
The stags darted and leapt, avoiding the blasts of dark magic that flew through the air. My heart thundered as I swiveled my head, searching for attackers so I could duck and dodge from where I sat. In the distance, I caught sight of a gleaming white lake. There was the faintest gray-blue tinge to the water.
“Nearly there!” I shouted.
The stags raced toward the lake, their sides heaving with exertion.
Right at the shore, a small dock led out to a fairly large boat. It looked like an older sailing craft, at least forty feet long with one mast and a square pilothouse sitting behind it.
The stags skidded to a halt next to the dock. I leapt off of mine. Tarron did the same.
“Thanks, pal.” I raced down the dock, glancing back over my shoulder to spot the reapers floating toward us. They hovered eerily above the ground, looking like they were standing on air as their black wings fluttered.
I scrambled onto the wooden deck, leaning over to slice the lines with my sword. Tarron did the same, cutting the boat free at the stern.
As if taking a cue, ghostly figures rose up from the deck. They were shaped roughly like people, but they were so transparent that I couldn’t make out any features at all.
Immediately, they moved for the mast, unfurling the sail so it caught the wind. The boat pulled away from the dock.
A blast of black magic flew toward us, slamming into the stern. I ducked behind the railing. Tarron joined me. I peeked up to see Ankou’s minions standing at the edge of the dock, vibrating with anger.
“They won’t cross over the water,” I murmured. “There’s something about it they don’t like.”
“The Sea Hag.” Tarron’s tone was dire.
Of course. “The only thing scarier than a monster is a bigger monster.”
I turned to face the mast and watched the shadowy white figures pull the ropes and position the sail. I smiled slightly. “We have a crew.”
“Thank fates,” Tarron said. “Because I’ve got no idea how to sail.”
“Me neither.” I climbed to my feet and moved to the railing at the middle of the ship.
The water rushed alongside the boat, swishes of white and blue and gray. It smelled faintly of sewage, and I wrinkled my nose.
The waves picked up as we lost sight of shore.
“Do you hear that?” Tarron asked.
I tilted my head so the wind didn’t sound quite so loud, and caught a bit of what he was hearing.
A faint singing carried across the wind.
“It’s her,” I murmured. The tone of the song was so eerie that it had to be her.
I spun in a circle, inspecting the horizon.
“I see nothing.” I frowned, gripping the boat railing as it rose and dipped on the waves.
A strange sensation prickled the back of my neck, and on instinct, I turned and looked down into the water. A face appeared, rising up from the depths. Fear pierced me. Greenish skin with pointed fangs and burning black eyes.
“Holy fates!” I drew my blade from the sheath at my side just as the creature shot from the depths.
The Sea Hag launched herself into the air, riding on a wave that nearly capsized the boat. Tarron and I fell hard to the deck and slid until we slammed into the railing on the far side.
The Sea Hag rode in the
surf at the top of the wave, following alongside the boat. She was beautiful despite the green skin and sharp fangs. Beautiful and horrible. Long green and black hair flowed behind her, and her ragged dress made of weeds fluttered in the wind. She shrieked and laughed, a gust of wind seeming to blast from her mouth. It tore at the sails, which flapped wildly.
From her perch at the top of the wave, she reached for me with one horribly long arm. It extended out, tipped with green claws that gleamed in the faint light of the white sun.
I scrambled to my feet, Tarron at my side. We both drew our swords. His reach was longer, and swiped out with his blade, slicing her forearm and drawing green blood.
Blood poured and splashed to the deck, where it sizzled and burned, sinking through the wood and leaving a hole behind.
She shrieked and lashed out with her arm, clawing at our sails. Her nails raked down the white fabric, shredding it.
Our shadowy crew leapt from the boat, diving into the water and disappearing.
The Sea Hag howled again, and the wave upon which she rode surged higher, crashing over the deck. It swept my feet out from under me, and I crashed back against the railing.
“She’ll sink us!” I shouted.
“I’ve got it.” Tarron’s magic surged on the air, the fresh scent of autumn competing with the Sea Hag’s stench.
I dragged myself to my feet as his magic swirled around us. The waves calmed, and the Sea Hag howled her rage. The boat righted itself. The Sea Hag’s waves disappeared back toward the surface of the sea, and she sank back into the water.
“That’s not the last we’ll see of that bitch.” I lunged toward the railing where I’d last seen her.
A clawed green hand appeared, wrapped around the wooden rail.
“Get us to the island!” I shouted to Tarron. We were dead in the water without our sail or crew. “I’ll take care of her.”
As the Sea Hag dragged herself onto the boat, Tarron’s magic swirled in the air. The water surged around our vessel, pushing us forward.
“You dare to control my sea?” The hag hissed through her fangs, staggering toward me across the deck.
“There’s no limit to what I dare.” I lunged for her, swiping out with my blade.
The steel sliced across her shoulder, but she was fast, darting out of the way before I could sever the limb. Droplets of green blood dripped onto the deck, then burned their way through, leaving behind a golf ball-sized hole.
Shit.
Could they burn all the way through the hull and leave holes in the boat? She’d already bled on another part of the boat.
The Sea Hag cackled at the sight. “Soon, your ship will be mine!”
I’d take that as a yes.
“Faster!” I shouted at Tarron. “We’ll lose the boat soon.”
“On it.” The boat surged forward as the current pushed it.
The Sea Hag lunged for me, swiping out with her long arms, claws glinting. I ducked low, narrowly avoiding the blow, then lashed out, smacking the flat of my sword blade against her arm. I put all of my Dragon Blood strength into the blow, and she howled, stumbling to the side.
I lunged backward, grateful to see none of her blood drip to the deck.
She recovered quickly, darting for me again. She was wickedly fast, and her arms could lengthen in the blink of an eye. Her nails raked over my arm, and I screamed, the pain like burning acid.
I struck out with my blade, smacking the side of it against her hip. She yowled and stumbled sideways, but didn’t go down. Instead, she moved faster than ever, lashing out again. I ducked, but her second blow came even faster, slicing across my side.
Her nails left four gouges deep in my skin, and tears burned my eyes.
I couldn't fight her like this. There was just no way I could do enough damage.
As if he’d heard me, Tarron’s magic swept in. A massive weave reached up and plowed over the deck, catching the Sea Hag and carrying her overboard. She howled and clawed at the deck.
Tarron lunged for her, grabbing her up by her ragged dress and landing a devastating punch to her face. She sagged, unconscious, her nose bleeding. He threw her overboard before the blood could drip to the deck.
Panting, I stumbled back. “Hurry with the current. Our hull is probably flooding with water from the damaged done by her blood.”
“It is. I can feel the drag against the water.”
I raced to the front of the boat and leaned over to search for land. The white gray sea gleamed dully under the sun, but a darker speck appeared on the horizon.
“There!” I pointed into the distance. “I can see it. Just barely.”
Tarron’s magic swelled, and the boat picked up speed.
An eerie song floated on the wind, this time louder and more frantic. My skin chilled. I turned back to Tarron, just in time to see the Sea Hag shoot from the sea, a jet of water carrying her high.
“Behind you!” I screamed, pointing.
This bitch wasn’t going to go down easy.
Tarron whirled, raising his hand to shoot a jet of water at her. The pillar of white liquid rose from the surface of the sea, shooting toward the hag. It slammed into her and knocked her back into the water.
But she rose again, faster than ever. Rage twisted her features and her green-black hair waved in the wind. Tarron hit her again—a blast of water right to the chest.
But the boat slowed.
Tarron couldn’t fight her and control the boat at the same time.
We would sink out here.
Again, the Sea Hag rose on a pillar of water, her screech of rage filling the air.
“I’ll take care of her!” I shouted. “Get us to land!”
Frustration flashed on his face, but he knew I was right. The boat surged forward, the current pushing it.
“Come and get me, you bitch!” I shouted.
She hissed and shot straight for me, her claws outstretched.
There was no way I could fight her on this boat. Killing her—even if I beat her to death—would break the skin and she would bleed.
I gripped my sword tight and sprinted for her, then leapt onto the railing and collided with her in midair.
Tarron’s shout was the last thing I heard before we plunged into the cold water. I wrapped my hand around her arm, determined not to lose her. This was her domain. She could kill me in seconds down here.
I’d have to get her first.
She thrashed and struggled, her nails raking across my skin. Despite the cold water, I could feel that they left deep gashes that burned like acid. Pain made me nauseous, but I fought it back.
I raised my sword arm, which was slowed by the water, and stabbed her through the middle. Her shriek was loud underwater, making my eardrums ache. I withdrew the blade and stabbed again, going for her belly. She scratched and clawed, but her attacks weakened.
Finally, they ceased.
I kicked away from her and tried to swim to the surface, but I was too deep. Too weak. Blood loss made my head swim, and all I could feel was the cold seeping into my veins. I gripped my sword, determined not to lose it.
Icy dread filled me as I struggled to reach the air above. But I was too weak.
When warmth shot through my arm, I opened my eyes.
Tarron.
He swam next to me, his ghostly hand attempting to grip my arm. He couldn’t, and frustration twisted his features. Then the water forced me upward, a current controlled by him.
It thrust me to the surface, and I sucked in air, desperate, lungs burning.
“I can’t believe you did that!” he shouted.
I coughed on water. “Can’t you?”
He grunted, then the current picked us up and pushed us toward the boat. He manipulated the water to help me climb up and shove me over the railing. I tossed my sword onto the deck and flopped onto the hard surface, every inch of me aching.
I was covered in deep gouges. The hag’s nails had been more like daggers.
Tarron cli
mbed quickly onto the deck. He knelt over me, concern darkening his eyes. “How are you?”
“Shitty. Is the boat moving? I don’t think I actually killed her, so she could come after us again. Though she should be out for a while.”
“It’s moving as fast as I can make it.” He leaned low to inspect my wounds. “Lie still.”
“They burn.”
“Poison.” Worry twisted his voice.
Weakly, I raised my arm to look at a particularly nasty gash. It had stopped bleeding, but it still seeped green liquid. Black shadows extended out from the cut. “Shit.”
“Let me try to heal you.”
I nodded.
His magic flared on the air, but the pain remained.
He cursed. “Because I used the amulet to control the water, my healing power won’t work.”
“Hopefully this Oak Heart will do double duty.” I grimaced, trying to sit up. “Help me up.”
“You should rest.”
“I should keep a lookout for the hag.”
“I can do that.”
I scowled at him, but he was right. I was too weak.
“Stay here. Rest.” His voice was rough. “I can’t lose you.”
I swallowed hard, emotion tightening my throat. Before I could say anything, he climbed to his feet and took up watch. I lay back, staring at the sky. Tattered sails fluttered in the light breeze, and I closed my eyes, trying not to focus on the pain.
No wonder people had chosen not to attempt this. No way I’d tangle with the Sea Hag if I didn't have to. I gripped the hilt of my sword like it was some kind of pointy security blanket.
“Nearly there,” Tarron said.
Deep breaths gave me a bit of strength, and I finally managed to drag myself upright using the railing. Every inch of me ached, but the sight of land ahead gave me hope.
The island itself was as white and boring as everything else here. But just like the rest of the realm, it echoed with threat.
We were about twenty feet from the shore when the boat hit the bottom and ground to a halt.
Tarron joined me, hovering protectively. “Let me help you. We’ll have to wade to shore.”
I managed to clamber over the railing and into the water. It rose cold and wet up to my chest. The hull sat deep in the sea, its insides no doubt filled with seawater.
