by S. M. Welles
“Thank you, Captain.” He turned back to land, to home.
“Thanking me is the last thing you should be doing. This is all my fault.”
“I beg to differ. If you knew your choices would lead to this, you would’ve done different.”
I appreciated his loyalty and liked his logic but I wasn’t going to argue right now. I left him be and took over for Rammus in the wheelhouse, but I couldn’t keep still in my chair. I checked a drawer for my nautical charts, which were all present and accounted for, then stood at the tiller, drumming my fingers and tapping a foot. I didn’t see any smoke rising in the distance, which I hoped was a good thing. And once we were less than a mile from Newport’s southern tip, it was clear that nothing was on fire, much less harmed. I sailed into the harbor, around Goat Island, and docked at Wyndham Wharf, which had changed so much over the decades. The harbor had been teeming with private boats before the Purge. Now just a lucky few were proud owners of steam or bio-fueled vessels no more powerful than my kernels. The rest were bigger deep sea fishing boats for either commercial or recreational use. And now the port was a minor trade checkpoint since the Big Apple was now the Big Core.
I flipped on the sound system. “Everyone get on deck and throw the lines. We’re here. Everything looks intact so far.” Newport splayed out behind my stern in all its patched-up lack of glory. People meandered up and down the dirt streets, going stall-to-stall shopping, or whatever they were doing. “We need to evacuate the town. I need a few of you to head to the naval base north of here and convince them to help us evacuate Newport. Tell them whatever you think’ll convince them to believe you. I want as little collat—” I had a sudden urge to stop talking look out over my bow. There was only calm water but I felt like I was being watched by unfriendly eyes. “Hurry up and arm yourselves with everything you can and get ashore. Stay together. Protect yourselves and the landies, but don’t throw your lives away. If at any point running seems like the best idea, do it. Don’t hesitate; just run. The bottom line is to stay alive.” As much as I wanted to save innocent lives, my crew was the most important to me. They weren’t replaceable or reconstructable, like a house or a town. I switched off the sound system, unbuttoned my trench coat, and downed the rest of my coffee. Once I had the Pertinacious lined up with the pier and we were tied down, I cut the engine and headed to the stern. I didn’t bother arming myself with anything. I already had my demon form, which I had a feeling I was going to need real soon.
My crew joined me at the stern, armed with belts of grenades, sharpened swords, and a few crossbows and stuffed quivers. Jessie wore her studded gloves. Eleven people to protect one town from a supernatural invasion… it wasn’t enough. Too bad O’Toole wasn’t secretly able to scare off sea monsters like he could quasi-children. He was still hiding in the cargo hold. I took a quick head count, just to double check, then waved for everyone to follow me down the ladder.
Part of me didn’t want to leave my ship. It was like a security blanket. However, my feet touched the wooden dock and carried me down the pier. I kept glancing at the water as the rest of my crew followed, one by one. They formed a loose semi-circle on the dock and I faced them with my back to the water. The landies eyed us curiously, and with some trepidation. A couple loudly complained about my return before going on about their business. I mentally winced. These people hated me because trouble followed me every time I visited. After today, they were going to despise me for the rest of my unnaturally long life.
“Everyone work in at least pairs to get the landies to evacuate.” Mido’s and Jessie’s hands found each other, as did Ed’s and Ted’s. Scully and Sam nodded to each other. “When the attack starts, expect to see things bigger than my demon form to make their way ashore. Don’t pick a fight you can’t win. Just—” There was that haunting feeling of being watched again, watched by something that intended harm. Cold fear gripped my chest. I turned around. Again, there was nothing there, but I kept my eyes on the water. “Just tell people I’m back. Trouble’s followed me again. They all better run inland if they want to see another day.”
“Sounds a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” Ed said.
“Word it however you—” Something made a “v” in the water, something big enough to be spotted from over one hundred feet away, beyond the end of the pier running parallel to my ship. The water swelled and something burst through the surface and landed on the deck. On two feet. It… looked like a man, a tall, burly man. He purposefully strode over, heading right for me.
It was Tethys.
“No way,” Mido said. A ripple of shock ran through my crew as my stomach dropped to my feet.
Tethys halted before me, his massive frame towering over me. He wore a big grin and dripped water everywhere. “Well look who’s returned from the grave as well,” he said nonchalantly.
“How?” I breathed. I could barely speak. He’d fired my gun. The quasis had killed him, no doubt about it. And now I’d just watched him use a power similar to my own to leap onto the pier.
“I’m a certain sea goddess’s latest plaything. I’ve been sent to break you.” His skin turned a dark grey. He seized my my shirt and coat with both hands.
I reflexively grabbed his wrists and tried to break free, but he had me in an iron grip. His wrists swelled in my hands and my feet lost contact with the ground. Oh, shit. “Run!” Human me soared into the air as claws punctured my shirt and coat, grazing my chest. Tethys’s clothes ripped away, and his body swelled into a demon form with a broad, flat head, a bulging throat like a bullfrog’s, and fangs that stuck out like a croc’s. Wind whooshed in my ears as he soared to full height. He held me level with his beady eyes crowned by horned brows. His entire form looked like a mix of toad and bearded dragon on two massive legs, complete with an armored tail. Good god, I was very high off the ground. My crew stared up at us, swords drawn and mouths ajar. “Run, you morons!”
Tethys took me in one clawed hand as big as my body and cocked his fist back. I was held upside down over my ship’s deck. “Time to break,” he said in a booming voice. He threw me like a baseball out over Newport. My neck and limbs jerked from whiplash from the force of the throw, snapping me out of concentrating on going ketos. I caught snippets of land and fog as I somersaulted through the air, and by the time I started my downward arc, I collected enough mental faculties to concentrate. I triggered the transformation and willed myself to grow to full size as fast as possible. I squinted my eyes shut as my body tingled and burst out of my clothes. I braced for impact and hoped I’d survive the landing.
My armored back hit the ground first. I bounced and skidded and grew until I rolled into a two-story house. Glass shattered and the house let out a wooden moan. I lay still a moment, then gingerly rolled away, crushing a bike in the process, and pushed to my demon feet. I hadn’t finished transforming until after the first bounce, but at least my scales had formed. That was an adrenaline rush I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. I arched my back and rolled my shoulders, then looked at the house I’d almost steamrolled. It was this box-shaped thing with a squat roof, and still standing. Just needed new windows now.
Tethys had thrown me a good few blocks. He loomed above the trees and neighborhood, waiting. He was barrel-chested and had arms half as big as his torso. I was lean and sleek. There was no way I was equal to his brute strength. How was I going to beat him?
He gave me a taunting wave, then started stomping on the stalls lining the wharf, one at a time. My sensitive hearing picked up screams, and several cries cut short. I launched into a sprint and charged into him like a football player sacking a quarterback. Our armored bodies connected with a crack and the dock shattered beneath our combined weight. I began punching and raking him with my claws. He head-butted me so hard it sounded like the crack from a lightning strike, and I saw stars. Dazed, I splashed into the water next to my ship.
The sudden need to switch from lungs to gills snapped me to. I lurched to my feet in water that went up to my k
nees. Tethys reached over and tore the Harpy off my ship’s bow, making the vessel rock and bounce off the buoys cushioning it from the dock, and pissing me off. That was my ship he just vandalized. He pelted the machine at me and I took it in the head before I could lift my arms. I staggered backwards, tripping over the next pier and crushing it as I fell.
“And since you were so kind to put holes in my ship, let’s make yours smile.”
I sat up as the giant bastard tore a gaping hole in the Pertinacious’s hull. He bore his weight down on the bow, sending water gushing into the cargo hold. I got up and blasted him with a wave of water. He went flying and splashed a few piers down. I willed the water out of the hold and pushed the hull back up with water so the ship floated again. I glanced at the shore. People were running to and fro as they gathered loved ones and started heading inland. My crew was somewhere among them. Hopefully all the landies would have the sense to flee deep inland.
Tethys surged to his feet and sloshed over, bursting through two piers without slowing. I blasted him with another waver of water but he answered it with a thought and swing of his arm. A second wave met mine with a slap and the two reached into the air before falling back into the harbor.
“Looks like I finally get my duel for the port.” Tethys reached towards the ocean and threw a wave ashore, washing away the stalls he’d pulverized a minute ago.
Using water to propel myself, I rocketed into Tethys and tackled him into the water, then shifted into aquatic form and wrapped my tail around him as I clawed at his face. He thrashed and flailed, then I felt him shift forms as well, slipping out of my grip. I joined him above the surface and shifted back into having legs.
“So the bastard can fight after all. Too bad you fight alone.” He gestured to the harbor.
All over the surface sea monsters and nymphs rose out of the water like a pod of dolphins breaking the surface to grab some air. They were visible for as far as I could see. My crew couldn’t fight every last one of them, much less a quarter of them. I flung my arms out, washing away as many as I could. There had to be thousands teeming the harbor. My nightmare was becoming a reality.
“Oh, no you don’t. Your fight’s with me.” He sent a wave of water at me.
If that was the case, then I needed to draw him away from the densely-populated parts of town. I rode the wave and tackled him into the water. We somersaulted several times, churning up the water and crushing a pier. I ended under him, then tossed him off and leapt after him. He whipped me with his tail with a crack, making my side sting, but I raked his throat and landed next to him.
We continued our fight as I slowly drew him south, matching him blow for blow and occasionally swiping the milieu of invaders with water. But they were reaching land faster than I could handle. They began tearing down houses and buildings, and killing anyone who couldn’t run fast enough. I was going to have no crew and no home by the end of the day. There was no way Amphitrite would spare my crew because she felt like it.
I began fighting harder. We exchanged blows like boxers, bit and clawed like beasts, tackled each other at any opening, and threw waves of water in attempts to knock each other off balance. The only thread linking me to my sanity was that we were working our way south. The houses thinned out, giving way to sparse trees, low brush, and castle-like homes older than me. More monsters took those ancient houses down and I watched history begin its eternal dirt nap. The watching opened me up for several blows to the head. I staggered onto the dirt road. Tethys pounced and pinned me to the ground by my shoulders.
“Fine. Stop fighting back. I’ll take the easy victory.” He leaned in to bite my head off.
I buried my claws in his barrel chest like I was digging for his lungs and heart, and squeezed. He let out a roar. I flexed my fingers and dug into him as far as could pierce his armored hide. He head-butted me again and I ripped my claws free, getting another roar out of him. He slashed at my neck and a fiery pain erupted below my jaw. I heaved him off with my feet and gave him a good push with water, then lurched to my feet, holding my neck.
He and I were covered in cuts and bites. I was beginning to look as bad as they day I’d fled Poseidon’s palace, but at least so was Tethys. He was down to one eye and looking quite pissed, both hands over his chest. I looked at my fingers, which were covered in blood from my neck wound. I didn’t feel any blood trickling down my throat, but I was sure more fighting would make that happen.
Tethys charged me. I ran to meet him, leapt into the air and came at him, claws first. He suddenly stopped, grabbing one of my feet as he ducked under my claws, then spun and threw me into the ocean. I skipped once, then started cartwheeling the moment one of my limbs caught on the surface. A wave of water pushed me down and I shifted forms as the salt water stung my wounds. Tethys swam after me, looking like a bull shark charging with his jaw wide.
I put on a burst of speed, then circled back and hand-to-hand combat began anew, but with more attempts to bite and strangle each other as we rolled and twisted, churning up the water and scuffing up the rocky bottom. How was I going to end this fight and protect my home? My crew needed me. Newport needed me, yet I was locked in a battle with something evenly matched against me. I was smarter and faster, but he was stronger and able to absorb my blows. I was tactful; he was ruthless. The water began to redden with our blood.
* * *
Seeing Tethys walk down the pier had made Jessie’s blood run cold. Watching him explode into a demon form of his own… she almost passed out. It was like a horrible nightmare. She’d watched him pull the trigger, watched the quasis apply their deadly touch, watched him die. And now here he was, battling Dyne as a water demon. When he’d thrown Dyne out of sight, she’d thought that was it for him until next lockdown. But when he returned, transformed and fists flying, her hopes rose, only to be dashed by the sight of thousands of nereids, naiads, water serpents, and nymphs in the harbor. And when all those things made their way onto the wharf, everyone scattered, including the crew.
When Tethys had thrown Dyne out of sight, she’d thought that was it for him until next lockdown. But when he returned, transformed and fists flying, her hopes rose, only to be dashed by the sight of thousands of nereids, naiads, water serpents, and nymphs in the harbor. And when all those things made their way onto the wharf, everyone scattered, including the crew.
Jessie and Mido ran side by said. They tried to follow Ed and Ted, but too many people filled the streets as monsters gave chase. She and Mido took cover behind a fish stall, until a water serpent rammed its head repeatedly into the building behind them. They fled inland, weaving among the locals, who called out for friends and family. The monsters spilled inland with them, demolishing everything that stood. They acted like they were more interested in razing Newport, but didn’t hesitate to attack if anyone got too close to them.
“We’ve gotta get to the naval station,” Mido said. He tugged her northward and they began running parallel to shore.
“But they’ll just die for getting involved.” So many monsters ran rampant ahead of them, big and small. They ignored the locals between bouts of razing. When they ran out of buildings to flatten, they turned to pick off the stragglers.
“More people will die if we don’t find a way to fight back.” He lashed out with his sword, killing a nereid they passed with a blow to the head. Several other nereids broke away from tearing down a shop and charged Mido, bounding on all-fours. Jessie and Mido stopped, she giving him room to swing, then intercepted the last one and punched it in the head. “Leave him alone!” The creature fell in a heap at her feet, shook its head out, then crouched and looked at her.
“We destroy. Mistress’s orders.”
“I’m ordering you to stop!”
The nereid tilted its head. “But… you still want destroy. I confused.”
And with that comment, so was she. Mido fought off three nereids, taking them down one after the other. The last one latched onto his back and bit his shoulder, but a
thrust between its eyes and the thing fell dead. Clutching his shoulder, he closed in on the one facing Jessie. She held up a gloved hand. “Wait!”
He skidded to a halt without lowering his sword, and looked at her expectantly.
Jessie faced the nereid. “I’m telling you to stop destroying and killing. Why are you so confused?”
It pointed to a curved hole in the side of its head. “I hear you, but I also hear you saying destroy. I confused.”
Jessie’s eyes widened. “I know!” Do you hear me?
Yes, avatar.
Stop destroying. Stop the killing. Go back into the ocean and go home, and tell the others to do the same.
I go home but can’t tell others. No power. You must. Or mistress.
Jessie’s heart sank. How many of you are there?
Thousands. Farewell. The nereid scurried off.
“What did you just do?” Mido said.
“I telepathically told it to leave. I can commune with them, remember?”
“I do, but I didn’t think they’d listen any better than last time.” He gestured to a group of monsters invading a shop with patched siding.
Even with her ability to override Amphitrite’s commands, she wasn’t certain she could keep herself alive. Her against thousands? Was there even a way to overcome that? “I didn’t know about the telepathy thing until after Rhode sent us those creatures that helped me rescue Dyne. They listen to that better than spoken words, apparently.”
“Well then let’s go. I’ll protect you while you get them to leave.” Mido took her hand and led her to the nereids trashing a plaza. Red brickwork, big glass windows, and faded lettering—all of it being torn apart from the inside out. Newport was already in poor shape. This was one of many places that must’ve been too frightened to apply repairs. In the past, so many people had died to quasi-children as humanity discovered what forms of energy were against Mother Nature’s new rules. Most minor towns and cities simply patched up with scraps, afraid to die for so much as chopping down a tree. Now an army of sea monsters was tearing down what had survived all these years after the Purge.
