by Linsey Hall
Holy fates!
An octopus.
I grabbed the thing up, wincing at the slimy feel of its skin, and ran for the wall of water. I thrust the octopus into it. Immediately, the creature poofed up, regaining its proper form now that it was submerged. I released it and yanked my hand back out. The octopus darted away.
“What the hell is happening?” Cade asked.
I stepped away from the wall of water—and the Hammerhead who was looking at me like I was a tasty snack—and joined Cade in the middle of our air-filled cylinder.
“I have no idea.” I couldn’t take my gaze off the sea around us. Or the sky above.
“Do you have any idea how to get us out of it?”
“Our options aren’t great.” We couldn’t climb the walls of water. Nor did I want to walk into the water and try to swim my way up. It’d be fifty feet to the surface, and the sharks could get us. Not to mention, if this water collapsed, we were screwed.
“You’re holding it back,” he said. “Can you clear another path toward the shore?”
“Maybe?” I could feel the water—like it was part of me. It took hardly any effort at all to hold it like this. “But which way is shore?”
“Bree. Turn around.” His voice had the calm steadiness of someone who knew something was going wrong.
I turned to face the direction he was pointing. The water shimmered on that side. Figures walked toward us along the bottom of the sea. Nine of them. Women.
They stepped out of the wall of water, entering our air bubble. Each was made of shimmering blue water, but their features and hair and clothes were so detailed that they looked real.
My head spun.
“They are not the Fae,” Cade said.
I’d seen some crazy shit in the magical world, but this was beyond.
Awkwardly, I raised a hand and waved. “Hi.”
Fortunately, Cade didn’t draw his sword from the ether. Not like it’d do much good against an army of water women.
They approached gracefully, the sun gleaming off their shimmery water surfaces, and stopped in front of us, forming a semicircle.
All their eyes were on me.
“Who are you?” one asked.
“Um, Bree Blackwood.” I hiked a thumb toward Cade. “And this is Cade, the Celtic god of war.”
They didn’t look at him, just crowded closer. I could see confusion on their faces, which was a bit weird considering I could also see through their faces.
“Who are you?” I asked. “Why are we here?”
“We brought you here,” said the leader.
“We wanted to know more.” The one to her left leaned closer, squinting at my face. Then she turned to the leader. “I think you’re right, Hefring. I can sense Rán in her.”
“Rán?” I asked.
“Our mother.” The leader nodded. “It is finally time.”
The others began to chatter in an unknown language, voices rising over top of each other.
“Time for what?” I asked.
“Only you can determine that. But you must leave here to do so.” Hefring raised her arms.
Sloshing water sounded from behind me. My heart leapt into my throat and I turned. The water parted, forming an air channel back to shore.
I spun back to Hefring. “Who is Rán? What’s happening to me?”
“You must go,” Helga said. “The passage won’t stay open long.”
“But—”
“Come, sisters.” Hefring stepped back toward the ocean. Her eight siblings followed, joining her in the water. They walked off, accompanied by a procession of sharks.
“Come on.” Cade grabbed my hand and tugged me along.
I gave one last longing look after Hefring and her sisters, then turned and ran. We sprinted down the channel, between the tall walls of water that housed fish who watched our progress.
My lungs burned as we ran, but I pushed myself harder, not wanting to get caught if the sea slammed back down upon us. I could control it—yes. But I didn’t fully trust myself.
As if on cue, the water began to crash down behind us, driving us on.
Hefring encouraging me to get a move on? I could almost feel her presence as I sprinted, lungs burning.
We sprinted onto the dry beach—the real beach—as the sea splashed down, returning to normal. I stumbled, going to my knees in the sand, and barely caught myself with my hands.
I hung my head, panting, wet hair hanging in my face.
Holy fates. This was nuts.
I flopped onto my back, staring up at the blue sky. Cade lay next to me, arm thrown above his head as his big chest heaved up and down.
“That was wild,” I finally said.
“That was insane.” He rolled over to look at me, propping himself on an elbow so he leaned overtop of me. “Are you all right?”
Concern glinted in his gaze. His wet sweater clung to the muscles of his chest and arms, while his dark hair glittered with water droplets that gleamed in the sun. Worse, his full lips were damp.
My gaze went straight to them.
Oh, fates.
That near-death experience should have killed any desire I had lurking inside me.
As if.
I was a danger junkie. Fear fueled me. And so did Cade.
The combo? Explosive.
I licked my lips and drew in an unsteady breath. Cade’s hot gaze dropped to my mouth. The heat in his eyes made me burn.
Yes.
I wanted to lean up. Press my lips to his. But no matter how much I wanted him—and damn it, I knew he wanted me too—there was no way I was going to kiss him.
Memory of my last attempt kept me pinned to the ground.
“Um, I—” My mind scrambled for any words.
Shutters fell over Cade’s eyes. He leaned back and sat up, resting his arms over his knees. I heaved myself up beside him, staring out at the now calm sea.
“I don’t know why I can control the water,” I said. “But the power is new.”
He nodded. “We’ll sort it out.”
I hoped so.
Cade pulled the pack off his back, opened it, and riffled through the contents. “Well, the food is mostly shot. I hope you like salty apples and granola bars, because that’s all that wasn’t ruined.”
“How long will that last us?”
“It’ll get unpleasant after a day. But we may find food. Or help.”
“Here’s hoping.” I struggled to my feet, muscles aching and chest still on fire. Gingerly, I reached into my pocket and found the wet map. I unfolded it, grateful for the sturdy paper. Still in pretty good condition. “Let’s get a move on. There’s still a long way to go.”
We started down the beach again, our clothes drying in the warm sun.
“You have more control over the water than you do your sonic boom power,” Cade said.
“I know.” It’d been worrying me. “And it’s weird. The changes have been happening fast. I had good control when you created that creepy monster, but other times it’s shot.” I looked at him. “I know you trust me in a pinch. But I honestly don’t know if my magic can stand up to the challenge anymore.”
“You’re more than just your magic, Bree. That challenge was meant to prove you can do it. But if your gift changes, you’ll adapt.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. Why did he have to be so great?
I turned and quickened my pace. Finally, we reached the end of the beach. It butted up to a dark forest. I sniffed, nose wrinkling. “Still stinks.”
“Rotten eggs and something else…” Cade’s brow wrinkled as he thought. “Blood?”
“Ugh.” I searched the forest. The trees were closely spaced, and their bark was black. Whether it was natural or a disease, I couldn’t tell.
I dug out the map and carefully unfolded it. “We’re nearly halfway there. We go through the forest, then the Fae city is in the clearing beyond that.”
Cade nodded and stepped into the forest.
I
followed.
Immediately, it was quieter. There was no gentle roar of the ocean waves, and the temperature dropped considerably without the sun.
I looked up. Frowned. “There are no leaves on these trees.”
“Yet it’s still dark.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I. Stay close.” He drew his sword from the ether.
I followed suit. I could try my sonic boom here, but my blade was always handy. And there was no water other than the ocean. Soon, it’d be too far away to call upon.
We walked as silently as we could, cutting between the trees and avoiding the bark that looked sharp-edged. There was no path from what I could tell.
Did the Fae ever use this forest?
Not from what I could see.
A rustling sounded at my left. My heart jumped, and I glanced over, searching between the trees.
“I see nothing,” Cade murmured.
“Neither do I.” But it definitely sounded like something was there.
Cade picked up the pace and I followed. We’d gone about two miles in when the smell began to change. It was more coppery. More—
“Blood.” I gazed in horror at the tree nearest me.
Crimson liquid was dripping down the blackened bark, pooling on the ground below. It smelled like blood.
“Don’t touch it.” Cade jumped over a puddle of shining red liquid that had seeped onto the forest floor. I followed, sticking close by his side.
I kept my grip loose on my sword, ready to swing.
The forest grew darker as we got deeper in, the trees closer and the rustling sounds more distinct. There were rock outcroppings here and there, large granite boulders that cast shadows on the ground.
My hair stood on end and my senses were as alert as a cat burglar’s.
“Duck!” a strange voice shouted.
It was so intense, so serious, that I followed instinctually. Cade did too.
We ducked low as a man made of rocks hurtled toward us, then leapt over our heads.
Chapter Six
My heart thundered as I whirled around to see what the hell had just happened.
A man—at least, I thought he was a man, since he was made entirely of rough stone—fought a giant hairy winged thing.
I stumbled back, side to side with Cade.
“What the hell?” I asked.
“I think the rock man is on our side.” Cade winced as the rock swung his heavy fist at the creature’s head and removed half its skull.
The hairy winged thing flew to the side and slammed against a tree. Dead.
The rock stepped back, dusting his hands together in a move that said job well done.
I peered at the creature, realizing it was a giant bat-like thing. Huge fangs protruded from its mouth. Blood began to seep from every inch of its skin, flowing into the ground, which drank it up like a sponge. The bat shrank down to nothing.
“Ew!” I grimaced.
“Yeah, not pretty, those VDBs.” The rock man sounded like a teenager with a slightly strange accent. New Zealand-ish almost. “Murderous pests, is what they are.”
“VDBs?” I asked.
Rock man turned to us and smiled. He was about the size of Cade. But yeah, he looked like a kid. Or at least, as much as a rock figure could look like a kid.
“Vampire Demon Bats, the scourge of this fair land.” He swept out his arm to indicate the creepy forest. “You’ve never seen one before?”
“No,” Cade said. “We’re not from around here.”
“Well, I coulda told you that. Ain’t nothing but rocks from here to the abandoned city. The VDBs saw to that.”
I stepped forward and held out my hand. This kid was going to be our ally, if I had anything to say about it. “I’m Bree Blackwood. Thanks for taking out the VDB.”
He nodded and smiled, then stuck his hand toward mine. He gripped it gently, as if consciously trying not to pulverize my bones. “I’m Rocky. Good to meet ya.”
Rocky. How fitting.
“I’m Cade.” He stepped forward and shook Rocky’s hand.
“So, what are you two doing here? Haven’t seen a Breather in a couple hundred years, at least.”
“Breathers are humans?” I asked.
“And Fae. Anyone not made of rock that walks on two legs. And breathes.”
“Where are the Fae?” Cade asked. “Isn’t this their land?”
“Was their land.” Rocky hiked a thumb toward the withered corpse of the VDB. “Until those bastards showed up. Drove the Fae off about three hundred years ago. Nothing but outcasts living in their city now.”
I glanced at Cade. Three hundred years was about the time that the Fae portal had closed. And if there were only outcasts left, we didn’t have to worry about inciting a war, at least.
“Is that why they closed their portal to the Undercover Protectorate?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t know nothing about that.” Rocky shrugged. “I’m only two hundred years old. Just a kid, according to me mum. But yeah, safe to assume they didn’t want the VDB to get through to you. Did you a favor right before they ran for it.”
Cade rubbed a hand over his jaw. “So they just disappeared.”
“Ran off. Those that weren’t killed, at least. Can’t kill me though. I’m a rock. Ain’t got nothing the VDBs want.”
I looked around at the miserable forest. “Isn’t it lonely out here?”
“Nah. I got my family. They’re rocks, too, so they made it out okay. Can’t kill rocks.”
Right. Of course. He had a way of stating the obvious that was somehow charming. “Do the VDBs have anything to do with the dark curse that’s spreading from this world and out through the portal into ours? And the oily black monster that was near the portal?”
Rocky shook his head. “Don’t think so. This blackness came after the VDB. A while.”
“How much later?” Cade asked.
“Don’t know. Not so good with time. I’m a rock. Rocks can’t tell time.”
I chuckled softly. Rocky liked to be precise, that I could tell. But at least we knew the two were separate—and this new problem hadn’t destroyed the Fae.
“We’re looking for the source of the new dark magic,” I said. “Do you know where it’s coming from?”
“Not a clue. Just showed up one day. But the people in the old Fae city might know.”
“Can you take us there?” Cade asked. “Show us the lay of the land, so we don’t run into any more VDBs?”
Rocky grinned wide, clearly delighted to be asked. “Not a problem. Long as I’m home for dinner.”
“Wait—what do rocks eat?” I asked.
“Nothing.” Rocky shrugged. “But me mum learned it from the Fae before they left. She likes the tradition. So we all sit around the log and look at each other.”
“All right, then. Back by dinner, it is.” I clapped my hands once. “Let’s go.”
“This way.” Rocky started off through the trees in the direction we’d been headed.
While we would probably eventually find the city on our own, it was much better to have a guide.
“Good job getting us an escort,” I whispered to Cade.
“I like the kid.”
“Me too.”
As we walked, Rocky rambled on about the dangers in the forest—which he seemed to regard as something like his own personal video game.
“So, you like it here?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, love it. The VDBs may have made life a nightmare for the Fae, but they’re downright entertaining for us.”
“Everyone needs a hobby.” I jumped over a puddle of blood, trying not to look too closely at it.
“Did the new poisonous oil make the trees bleed?” I asked.
“No, that’s the VDBs. They become one with the forest when they die, giving it their blood. Not much I can tell you about that oil stuff. Hasn’t been around long.”
“For a rock, long could mean anything from weeks to a few years, ri
ght?”
Rocky nodded, smiling. “Now you’re getting it.”
I pointed to a bubbling yellow river ahead. It was about a hundred feet across and stank like sewage. “What’s that?”
“The bubbly pit. Don’t want to get that stuff on you,” Rocky said. “Melt right through your clothes.”
“Through rock, too?”
“Yep. Through granite. My Uncle Al lost a finger that way. Uncle Al never was the smartest.” He stopped at the edge of the pool and pointed to the rocks dotting the way across. “But you can jump on those fellas. They’re my buddies. They don’t mind.”
“Why aren’t they dissolved?” I asked.
“Different kind of rock. This is like a steam bath to them.” Rocky waved. “Hey, fellas! We’re just gonna cross, all right?”
One of the rocks rose up slightly. It was a head. “Sure thing, Rocky.” The rock creature’s gaze landed on me. “You hanging out with Breathers?”
“Visitors. Ain’t it the thing?”
The rock grunted, then slipped back below the water.
“He’s not going to throw me off, is he?” I asked.
“Ha!” Rocky slapped his knee, as if that had been a hilarious joke. “Nah, Boulder liked you. That was friendly, for him.”
I glanced at Cade, who shrugged and nodded. “I’ll go first.”
“Nope. Me, my good man. Follow my lead.” Rocky stepped onto the first rock, then began to hop his way across.
We followed, Cade going before me.
The stench was eye-watering as we leapt from stone to stone. My muscles ached from the strain of maintaining my balance. By the time we reached the other side, sweat was dripping down my temples.
“Not bad, eh?” Rocky grinned. “My best time is forty-five seconds, but you weren’t too slow.”
“Thanks.” I saluted.
“This way.” Rocky turned and set off through the forest.
We followed. This side didn’t look any better than the other—same bleeding trees and dark sky. By the time the growls and hisses started up in the distance, I was almost relieved. I’d been on edge, waiting for another monster.
“Oh, this is a treat!” Rocky said.
Sure, Rocky. I didn’t know what was making that noise, but I sure as heck wanted my sword. Cade seemed to agree, because he drew his at the same time.