Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  Dark clouds fill the blue sky. Lightning strikes the water. Thunder booms in the distance yet it feels all around them. The clouds descend to the water, covering it like a tarp. As if to keep the water from any harm.

  “That’s a mother of a storm,” Gerard says from the crow’s nest. He climbs down. “Captain, we must go around.”

  “Nah. We hit it head on.”

  Logan pats himself on the back.

  “Don’t congratulate yourself so soon,” Talen says.

  He grabs her and spins her around. “I miss our adventures.” He goes up into the crow’s nest.

  “I don’t,” Talen whispers.

  “What is that idiot doing up there? How many men must risk their lives for you?” Maria asks.

  Logan raises his hands above his head and makes a V shape with them. “Comadan. Renba. Saeith.”

  The storm stops a few feet in front of the ship. The lightning freezes in place.

  “I say you have a few minutes to pass through before the storm resumes.”

  “How did you do that?” Talen asks.

  “I have my ways.” He winks at her.

  The Seraphina blasts onwards. Talen is bedazzled by the way the lightning bolts are inside the water but there is no noise, no movement. The brightness from the strike reminds Talen of the explosion she saw from the Grecian boat when they attacked the Veiled Haven.

  The ship is surrounded by the dark clouds hovering over the surface of the water. It continues on, slicing through the clouds like they are bread.

  “We could have went around this,” Maria says.

  “No. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the storm comes after us when it returns to its motion. We have to hope we get to Jellyfish Cove before it does,” Logan says.

  “Should have known Morga would be causing this,” Buckman says.

  “What exactly is the Waking Ripple?” Talen asks Logan.

  “It’s part of the darkness that surrounds this world. When creation first happened, darkness was already there. Most of the time it keeps to itself, only letting part of itself roam the world. And most times it has no ill effect on anyone. But when something catastrophic happens, the darkness releases all of itself. That’s the Waking Ripple. When it comes, it’s like a ripple in the water. Small. Seemingly innocent and not noticeable right away. That’s how it invades and conquers. I do not know how many other cities and kingdoms have fallen under the darkness. I hope you seeing Morga helps your cause. She is like the daughter of the darkness.”

  The Seraphina comes out the tail of the storm and almost immediately the storm starts back up.

  “What effect will me destroying the elves have on the Waking Ripple?”

  Logan taps the side of his head. “Think about it.” He laughs. “You’ll find out.”

  The Seraphina slows down as they approach a part of the sea that looks like it’s filled with moving rocks. A little island all by itself sits in front of them. A rock arch acts as the grand entrance. The storm has not chased them. The sea is serene. The sky is blue.

  “Here we are,” Buckman says. “Drop anchor.”

  “This is Jellyfish Cove?” Talen asks.

  “Yup,” Logan says.

  Buckman comes down to Talen.

  Bobbing up and down just below the surface are thousands of jellyfish. All colors and sizes, but most of them are no bigger than a small dog. No one gets into the cove unless they permit it, and that’s only done when the sea witch queen invites someone.

  Buckman motions for Talen to jump in.

  “What about the jellyfish?” She asks

  “One sting is all it takes,” Logan says.

  Buckman shakes his finger at Logan. “The queen is expecting you. I'm sure she has instructed them to let you pass.”

  “You’re sure?” Talen says.

  “Don’t lie to her. Morga is unpredictable,” Maria says.

  “Do you have any advice for me since you are familiar with her?” Talen asks Buckman.

  Buckman scratches his head, runs a finger or two through his beard. “She knows what she wants and she knows what you want. It's better to be honest up front.”

  “I wish I could go with you,” Logan says.

  Talen takes a breath. Prepares herself to face the water full of slimy terrors. She closes her eyes and takes the plunge.

  Talen emerges from the water and the jellyfish are still patrolling around the cove. They've made no flinch or gesture towards her. As she swims for the rock arch, one jellyfish: a mammoth with long tendrils and a red head swims up to her. She doesn't bother introducing herself for it will not respond. It circles her a few times. She watches how it moves. Its head moving up and down, back and forth like its sucking the air between her and it. She can feel the tug under the water as it does its passes. It comes around one last time and stops in front of her. It sends out some signal to the others. She can’t see it or hear it or feel it. They scatter. The mammoth one bobs up and down in the water without taking a step towards her. Talen takes this as an invitation so she swims under the rock arch.

  She feels a prick. No, a sting. The damn jellyfish stung her. Her leg goes limp. Then numb. The jellyfish is gone before she can try and kill it. She swims as best as she can to the shore. There is a small cave but other than that she is surrounded by rock covered in trees and bushes. She drags her leg behind her until she can find the strength to stand. Not being able to feel one of her legs makes it difficult to stand for long. She goes inside the cave. She drags her leg along the rocky floor, stepping on cracked pieces of rock which fortunately her one foot can’t feel.

  She reaches the wide girth of the cave. It’s full of treasures, parts of wrecked ships, and a small circle pool of water surrounding all of it. She’d never steal from anyone but some of the jewels dripping out of the treasure chests is tempting. The cave floor is smooth and she is thankful for that. Easier to drag a limp, numb leg along. She gets down to her one knee. She has to rest.

  Morga rises from behind her without making a single sound. Her beauty radiates a bright gold light similar to the sun throughout the cave.

  Talen remains still.

  “Princess Kylie’s daughter.”

  “I am.”

  “Welcome to my home. It’s paradise, isn’t it?”

  “It’s nice.”

  “Why have you sought me out?” Morga comes around to face her.

  “Because this Waking Ripple has to stop.”

  “What makes you think that I command it?”

  “I know the darkness inside you feeds it. If you stop feeding it that may stop it or halt it.”

  Morga walks across the water to the treasure. She sits down on the bow of a ship that Talen recognizes.

  “The Aster.”

  “If you destroy the elves, I may do just that.”

  “Why do the elves have to be destroyed?”

  Morga gets up and trashes the treasures. “Because they have forgotten what their duty is. Punishment must come to those who seek an unbalanced life.” She flings a ship’s wheel at Talen. She ducks. “Your mother was the only good one. I should have killed Galaria when I had the chance.”

  “What makes you think I'm the one who will bring destruction to them?”

  She leaps over the water and lands in front of Talen. “Why is the human side of you so stupid? Because you love Remy. The love you have for Desmond is not as strong as you are trying to convince yourself of. Do you know why you were told you need Desmond by your side to destroy the elves?”

  “I am unsure of what I’ve been told.”

  She steps into the water. Baby jellyfish swim around her. “Because it's his druid powers that are needed to blend with your elf powers to create a child who will be sacrificed to the darkness and resurrect the elves.”

  “I’ve been a pawn?”

  “The darkness is being manipulated by Galaria. She has found a way to tempt it to her desires. That's why she's okay with you destroying the elves.”

  �
�Because she's going to live again.”

  “She has deceived even her own family. She killed your mother again. Did you think she wasn’t responsible for the first time? She wants the elves to become superior to all. To do that, they must die, and she needs you to do it. An elf that is a Master is a power unknown to this world. She knew what your mother was.”

  “My mother was a Master?”

  “She suppressed her abilities, but yes. Oh, how I miss her.”

  Talen could have killed her aunt at the South Port. She was weak then. She didn’t have the courage to kill her family.

  “Destroy the elves but do it alone. Break both of their visions. Do not be bound to any man.”

  “How?”

  “By not giving Desmond a child you are forever dismantling all that Galaria has planned.”

  She has seen herself pregnant with Desmond’s child. It was a vision, probably projected by Galaria. “I want to be with Remy.”

  “Oh, then have him. But don’t use him as a weapon.”

  “Everyone is saying this and that about these visions that my aunt and mother had. How am I supposed to know who is telling me the truth about them?”

  “I am telling you the truth. I want my darkness back. And this is the only way I’m getting it. You want the world to go back to being balanced? You’ll do as I say.”

  Talen wants the elves dead because they have caused a lot of trouble, but really she wants to see Galaria obliterated. There are always casualties in war. She’s not afraid to lose innocent people to get the job done. “What if I can save some of them?”

  “I understand that the part which is elf inside you wants to let them live. If you can save some and bring them to balance, then do it. But don’t fail.”

  Talen leaves the cave. She steps into the water and swims out. The jellyfish let her leave untouched. She is barely able to keep afloat with her one leg numb. She waves to Buckman and Logan who are bobbing up and down in a rowboat. Seeing her struggle with swimming, Logan jumps overboard and helps bring her into the boat.

  “What happened? We were getting worried. The jellyfish started swimming back and forth as if preparing for an attack. We started rowing out to get you.”

  “A jellyfish stung me. A big, fat red-headed one.”

  “That’s Kully. He is her pet. He must have not stung you deeply. His sting is meant to be fatal.”

  “Is there a healing spell to fix the pain?”

  “Not really, but let’s get you home.”

  On their way back to the Seraphina, they notice that Maria is sailing the ship away from them. Buckman yells out but Maria doesn’t pay attention. Storms are coming from all directions. The thunder rolls out. The lightning streaks across the water.

  “The Waking Ripple will soon consume the entire ocean. It won’t be safe to travel.”

  “At this point, I don’t care what happens to her. I only want my ship back.”

  Talen cuddles with Logan.

  “Oh, I have something for you.” Logan opens a large sack and pulls out a strange leather outfit.

  “What is it?” Talen asks.

  “It’s what Masters wear. It’s time you dressed like one.”

  She takes it and inhales the scent. It smells of animals. She holds it close to her as Buckman starts rowing against the impending doom coming at them from all sides.

  TO BE CONTINUED

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jennifer Ann Schlag lives on Long Island, New York. She finds her inspiration from all the dark and light things in life. She is the writer of The Divinity of Damien Calla, Goval, and The Twin Lands.