Descending (The Rising Series)

by Kelly, Holly

  Xanthus’s home came into view between mountains of surrounding coral. Kyros clenched his fists at the unusual sight. He’d been to his best friend’s home a thousand times, but it never looked like this. Normally, colorful fish abounded and surrounded the building, weaving in and out of the columns. Not anymore. Sharks of every shape, size, and species circled the structure.

  He shook his head and growled, “Mermaids.”

  Kyros swam toward the entrance. A great white shark cut him off and opened his jaws wide. A low, rumbling growl vibrated in the creature’s chest. Kyros reached for his sword just when Xanthus called out, “Amintah! Let him through.”

  The shark didn’t flinch; he didn’t even move an inch.

  “Please, Amintah, let my husband’s friend pass.” A sweet, melodious voice brushed Kyros like a caress.

  The shark snapped his jaw shut and turned, swimming around back toward the voice. Just as Kyros was about to move forward, the shark’s tailfin snapped back, flicking his nose, causing his eyes to sting. He rubbed his nose as he swam forward.

  The shark swam toward a blue-eyed mermaid with her arm locked around Xanthus’s arm. Her black hair floated around her head. Her face was beautiful, and her blue eyes striking. The small, intricate image of a conch shell glowed across her cheekbone. It was below her right eye—Triton’s mark, showing he’d claimed her as his child. Anyone who harmed this mermaid would feel the sea-god’s wrath.

  Reaching out, she brushed her hand over the shark’s side as he passed by. “I’m sorry, Kyros,” she said, speaking English. “Amintah is a bit protective of me.”

  Kyros narrowed his eyes, scowling at her. What audacity, speaking to a man as if she already knew him! Xanthus needed to teach his wife her proper place.

  The light in her eyes dimmed when she saw Kyros glaring at her. She looked back to her husband as her cheeks filled with color.

  “Sara,” Xanthus said. “Why don’t you go on in and get us some drinks?”

  Her brows pinched together as she bit her bottom lip. “You want… drinks?”

  “… in the kitchen, first cupboard on the left.” Sara nodded, turning to swim away. Xanthus snagged her back and pulled her in for a thorough kiss. With the light back in her eyes and a smile on her face, she swam toward the house. Although swim would be a gross overstatement. Kyros had never seen anyone swim quite like that. Actually, his friend, Timotheus, might have—after a rock slid off a cliff and struck him on the head. Kyros chuckled at the similarity.

  Xanthus frowned at him, but couldn’t quite hold it. The corners of his mouth pinched down, as he did his best to suppress his smile. “She’s still learning.”

  Kyros turned to Xanthus as realization dawned. “No,” he breathed. “She…?”

  Xanthus nodded. “… grew up on land.”

  “So… Hades. I wondered how you got mixed up with a mermaid when you were supposed to be capturing humans.”

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t believe how surprised I was to find her—a daughter of the sea, living on land, with a tail. Lucky for Sara, she hid it well. She didn’t even know what she was. She thought she was a malformed human. But now that she knows the truth, she’s really starting to blossom.”

  “How could she hide such a thing?”

  “She rode in a chair with wheels and covered her tail at all times. She was quite careful.”

  “Why didn’t Triton help her?”

  “He wasn’t aware of her existence until recently. But now that he knows of her, he’s extremely protective. Which brings me to the reason I brought you here.”

  Kyros shook his head as they swam inside and went into the library.

  “Listen, I know you don’t want to help.” Xanthus spoke to him in Atlantian. He obviously didn’t want his wife to hear this conversation.

  Kyros scowled. “No, I don’t.” He didn’t say more, having no reason to make this easy for Xanthus.

  “But you are the only Dagonian in the sea I trust completely. Besides…” Xanthus paused.

  “Oh no.” Kyros whipped his head around. “You are not going to bring that up.”

  Xanthus raised an eyebrow.

  “I just knew you would.”

  “But I didn’t…”

  “You were going to. Don’t deny it.”

  Xanthus pressed his lips together.

  “Okay, so you saved my life. I owe you.” Kyros drifted over to a large book on the desk and read the title, “The Mer—A complete history”. Figures.

  Kyros sighed. “So, what do you need me to do?”

  “Right now, I’m recruiting soldiers to guard Sara.”

  Good luck with that. “And you want my help.”

  “Yes, I want you to accompany me to Panthon Prison.”

  “What?” Kyros jerked around, knocking a stone figure off the desk. “Now, I had to have heard you wrong. After what happened, do you really think any of those guards will help you?”

  “Not guards…”

  “Not…?” Kyros scowled, and then the light went on in his head. “You mean Pallas?”

  “He’s one of them.”

  Kyros had to admit, Xanthus’s plan was bold. “I never did think a husband should have to pay for his wife’s crime. This will not sit well with the council. I expect they will be angry when they find out you’ve released prisoners.”

  “The council is too busy arguing amongst themselves to be of any worth anyway.”

  Kyros smiled. “This might not be such a bad idea. Who knew the great and honorable Xanthus would ever side against the council? There may be hope for you yet, my friend.”

  Xanthus laughed. “Falling in love with a mermaid has made me reexamine my whole honor system. So, you’ll come?”

  Kyros spotted Sara peeking into the room. She approached when Xanthus smiled gently at her. She grinned back, handed him two purple tubes, and left.

  “I’ll come.” Kyros frowned, looking at the tubes in Xanthus’s hands. “You really need to teach your mermaid the difference between pod juice and sea-slug repellant.”

  Xanthus sighed. “Yeah.”

  Rocky spires towered over Panthon Prison. Sharp-eyed guards armed with harpoons circled each point, guarding the giant, stone structure. The building stood imposing and impenetrable. Incarceration here was a death sentence. Starvation—the executioner. The most heinous and dangerous criminals were sent here, which was why this was the only prison Kyros and Xanthus would need to visit. Xanthus insisted only the most capable of warriors were fit to guard his mermaid. And a skilled warrior was never sent elsewhere—no place else was formidable enough to house a lethal soldier.

  Kyros followed behind Xanthus as they approached the prison. Two guards at the front door drew their swords. Kyros knew them by name and reputation. Titus was the one with a barracuda-sized bite out of his tailfin. He was a sneaky little backstabber. The other guard, Bemus, was a follower who was always looking to get on the good side of the most powerful men around. He was loyal only to himself. Both of them sneered at Xanthus. Kyros glanced at his friend, wondering how he felt about this animosity. Just weeks ago, these guards would have been stumbling over their words in an attempt to speak to Xanthus—the legendary Nightmare of the Deep.

  Not anymore.

  Xanthus had married a mermaid. He had become the enemy, and Kyros...Well, after today, he’d be considered one as well. Great, just what he needed—more enemies.

  “We’ve been ordered not to let you pass.” Titus clutched his sword and swam just above them in a show of intimidation. Kyros nearly laughed at the attempt.

  “I have orders for you of my own.” Xanthus ignored the posturing and passed them a scroll. “King Triton has signed for the release of these men for a special mission.”

  Titus snatched the scroll from Xanthus’s grip. “We’ll see.”

  His eyes flew back and forth across the paper, growing wide. “But these men are prisoners—here ‘til death. Their crimes are of the most serious nature.”

  �
�You mean their wives’ and daughter’s crimes.”

  “No, their crimes. It was their responsibility to prevent the actions of their wards.”

  “I didn’t come here to argue with you,” Xanthus said. “I came to collect these men.”

  Titus turned and whispered to Bemus. Bemus nodded and entered the prison. What in Hades are they up to?

  “I’ll need to speak to the warden first,” Titus said.

  “No, you need to let…” Xanthus began. Kyros rushed Titus before he finished. Titus thrust his blade toward him at his approach, but he deflected, circled around him, and had his dagger at the guard’s throat before he could even blink.

  “Xanthus,” Kyros yelled.

  Xanthus had already rushed through the door. “Yeah, I know,” he called back.

  Kyros could feel Titus trembling in his grasp. “So you think you could order their deaths while we wait?”

  “I don’t know what you’re…”

  Kyros increased his grip, cutting off Titus’s airway. “Don’t lie to me. If I hear one more word come out of your mouth, I’ll silence you forever.”

  Kyros loosened his grip to let him breathe. Titus squirmed, groaning, “You cannot have the prisoners.”

  “You think you can defy King Triton?”

  Kyros could feel Titus reaching for his belt. Oh please, don’t be stupid.

  “I won’t need to defy him,” Titus said. He raised his dagger in one hand, pulling on Kyros’s arm with his other as he turned. Anticipating the move, Kyros jerked against the guard’s arm, slicing his jugular vein in the process. Titus stiffened for a moment as blood clouded the water. Kyros could almost feel the horror emanating from him—he knew he was going to die.

  When he went limp, Kyros felt a twinge of regret. To die because of stupidity, now that was a tragedy. “You just had to do it,” Kyros said, shaking his head. He pushed his body away, swimming into the prison. Holding his sword up, he was ready for more resistance.

  The guards looked up at his entrance. They glared at him, but made no move to intercept. Kyros raced toward the cells, passing by Bemus, who was being pulled along, unconscious, by another guard. Kyros tasted the rot and filth of the prison. It got stronger and fouler as he swam into the heart of the building. Despite the decaying conditions, he smiled in anticipation of freeing the prisoners on the list. Xanthus had trained Kyros alongside these men.

  The first one they’d retrieve would be Amar. It was a dark day when they were ordered to bring him in. His wife had committed adultery—a crime punishable by a lifetime in prison. Amar was blamed for not keeping a tighter rein on her and for shaming his family. And of course, because of the idiotic law, his wife remained free.

  Kyros smiled as he saw his old friend’s face.

  “I will not go,” Amar said.

  What in Hades?

  Xanthus turned to Kyros. “He refuses to come with us. He says he’ll not shame his family further.”

  “So you would rather refuse the order of a god? That brings its own shame, you know.”

  “I must serve out my sentence. That is the only way to restore honor to my family.”

  Kyros scowled. Amar’s family came from the Persian Gulf—a more radical group of Dagonians inhabited that sea. Kyros had never understood the culture. But he had an idea how to get around his reluctance.

  “How about we agree to return you to the prison as soon as the mission is fulfilled?”

  Xanthus frowned at him, but Amar seemed to take heart. “Will you give me your word?”

  Kyros would rather not, but he knew it was the only way. “Yes, I give my word. But do you give your word to see this mission through?”

  “I do,” Amar said.

  “Okay,” Kyros replied. “Who’s next?”

  “Pallas,” Xanthus answered.

  “Good choice.”

  “Why don’t you retrieve him?” Xanthus asked. “I’ll go after Drakōn.”

  “Drakōn? Good luck with that. Pallas will be—”

  “Did someone just call my name?” A voice came from down the dark hallway.

  Kyros swam forward. “Now why would anyone want to talk to an eel like you?” he asked as he swam up to the bars.

  Pallas grabbed the bars and pulled hard, slamming the door against the lock. “Come in here, and I’ll show you who the eel is.”

  Kyros approached the cell door. Pallas’s haggard face appeared in the barred window.

  “Why don’t you come out here?” Kyros asked.

  Pallas’s eyes narrowed at his words, while his glare filled with enough venom to stun a whale. “Is that a joke?” he growled.

  Kyros smiled. “Not at all. You have a mission to perform. Xanthus has secured your release.”

  The anger melted away as he sank to the floor. Kyros was sad to see Pallas’s condition. Darkness circled his hollow eyes. He had lost weight, and his red hair and beard floated in clumps around his head. He looked defeated. Kyros much preferred him angry.

  “No one leaves Panthon,” he whispered.

  “Today, four of you are. Triton’s orders.”

  A hint of a smile lightened Pallas’s face, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He wouldn’t believe he was being released until they were in the open sea with Panthon Prison at their backs.

  The building shook as thundering crashes and angry bellows echoed from down the corridor—sounded like things were going better that expected with Drakōn. Kyros had expected him to put up more of a fight.

  “Is that Drakōn?” Pallas’s voice rose.

  “Yeah, Xanthus is releasing him.”

  “Wow, what kind of mission are we going on?”

  “I’ll let Xanthus explain. We need to get Straton.”

  Straton had only been at the prison a month. But from the looks of him, you’d guess he’d been there years. His daughter had killed a council member’s son. Straton was paying for her crime.

  In the end, Xanthus had five seasoned warriors—Amar, Pallas, Straton, Drakōn and of course, Kyros.

  They swam toward Xanthus’s home, over the rugged Calibrian Rise. Being that the former prisoners were all on the brink of starvation, they immediately took to hunting. They circled an entire school of barracudas—decimating their numbers in minutes.

  Pallas took his last bite and pushed the fish carcass away. “So, Xanthus, what kind of mission requires the help of convicted criminals?”

  The others gathered to hear the answer.

  Xanthus hesitated a moment before speaking. “I need you to guard my wife.”

  “Why does your wife need a guard?” Straton asked.

  Kyros folded his arms across his chest. This is gonna be good.

  “She’s a mermaid.” Voices erupted in surprised confusion.

  “Tell them where this assignment will take place,” Kyros said, smiling.

  All eyes were turned to Xanthus. “On land.”

  “No,” Drakōn gasped.

  “How?” Pallas asked.

  “Triton,” Xanthus said. “My wife’s father is willing to give you all you need, including human legs—”

  “No!” Drakōn interrupted. “There’s no way. I’d rather go back to prison.”

  Kyros raised an eyebrow.

  “How long is this assignment?” Pallas asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Triton has given me as much time as I need to accomplish my goal,” Xanthus said.

  “What goal?” Straton asked.

  “I’m attempting to convince the humans to stop poisoning our seas.”

  “And how do you expect to accomplish that?” Drakōn inquired, narrowing his eyes.

  “Anyway I can,” Xanthus answered.

  “After this impossible assignment, are we to return to Panthon?” Drakōn asked.

  “Triton ordered your release,” Xanthus said. “There was no mention of returning.”

  “The council will want us back,” Pallas said. “When your mission is over and we return to the sea, they�
�ll send soldiers to hunt us again.”

  “We’ll worry about that when it happens,” Xanthus said. “For now, you’re free.”

  “Yes, it appears we are, but what a price for freedom.” Pallas shook his head, looking over to Kyros. “I’m confused as to why you’d agree to such a… vile assignment. You weren’t a prisoner.”

  “My reasons are my own, Pallas.”

  “Xanthus,” Drakōn said, “you should have told us before we left what we were expected to do.”

  “Do you truly think to go back to Panthon?” Xanthus asked, looking around. “Do any of you want to return?”

  No one spoke.

  “Okay, so you all accept this assignment,” Xanthus said. “I’ll hear no more complaints, and I’ll tolerate no insubordination. Under no circumstances will I tolerate any unpleasantness toward my wife. And if any of you do not protect her to the best of your ability, I will send you back to Panthon in the most painful way possible. If you are negligent and she’s harmed, I’ll send you to her father.”

  Kyros sickened at that thought. Triton had lived many millennia. If anyone knew how to inflict eternal misery, it was he. And the Dagonian who was sent to Triton for punishment would likely suffer not just for Sara, but for all his children killed by Dagonian hands. Kyros glanced around at the others. They looked as terrified at the prospect as he did.

  Darkness descended on them as they approached Xanthus’s castle. Kyros looked up. Sharks—thousands more than before—circled the building. There were so many that their shadows nearly blackened out the sun. His blood chilled at several monstrous forms swimming among the sharks. He moved in close to Xanthus.

  “Are those…?” Kyros couldn’t finish his question.

  Xanthus’s eyes widened. “Yes. Megalodons.” His voice rasped like dry sand.

  “How did her father coax them from the depths?” Kyros asked.

  Xanthus raised an eyebrow. “He can be persuasive when he wants to be.”

  “Suddenly,” Pallas whispered in Kyros’s ear, “life among humans doesn’t seem quite so unappealing.”

  Kyros looked around. The soldiers pressed in closer to Xanthus.

  “Looks like you’ve got an infestation,” Drakōn said.

  “Hades, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Straton said.