by Sarah Noffke
“King Rudolf,” Bermuda corrected, obviously very much about names that day. “Regardless, the bottom of the ocean is a very dark and confusing place. Heathcliff will have no problem finding what you’re seeking. If you take him to the spot, all you must do is wait until he retrieves it. Then simply send him back to me, and he will fly in this direction.”
“Great,” Liv said with relief. “Is the theme of this week’s circus winged creatures?”
“No, why?” Bermuda asked, quite seriously.
Liv tilted her head and gave the giantess a speculative glare. “Seriously, you’re not sensing the theme here?”
“No,” the giantess answered. “What am I missing?”
“Every punch line I’ve ever told, ever.” Liv knelt and looked at the adorable otter. “So you’re going to be my little pal and help me find the genie’s lamp, right?”
Heathcliff waddled forward, his body low to the ground, and his head affectionately brushed Liv’s side. He was so cute it kind of hurt.
Liv looked up, obviously overwhelmed by his adorableness, and grinned. “Maybe I can keep him when we finish,” she said, her tone expectant.
“You can send him straight back here,” Bermuda answered at once. “He’s part of the show. You know how the phrase goes.”
“The show must go on,” Liv guessed.
The giantess narrowed her eyes. “I’ve never heard that one.”
“How is that possible?” Liv asked.
Bermuda sighed. “I meant the phrase, ‘there is no show without a winged otter.’”
Liv gave Sophia a look of surprise. “I think I missed that one…”
Chapter Eighty-One
King Rudolf Sweetwater had loaned his boat for the expedition as he did when Liv and Stefan used it to sail to the elves’ homeland in the South Pacific.
He’d offered to be their captain, but they declined, Liv stating that she wanted to get there without a migraine. The king of the fae had also delivered the map which gave them so many details about the coordinates, where the genie’s lamp was located at the bottom of the ocean and even places of interest to stop along the way. Most didn’t seem that interesting to Sophia, but she realized that she and Rudolf had different definitions of entertaining. To her, a rock shaped like a naked woman wasn’t worth a detour.
The Serena sailed through the choppy Arctic waters toward their destination. Heathcliff and Beatrix both flew above the ship in the frigid air. Rudolf had thrown Stan’s lamp into the nearly freezing waters off Greenland. He’d mentioned that if sinking it to the bottom of the ocean didn’t work then maybe he could freeze the genie, thereby keeping him from killing him.
That was the concern with becoming a genie’s master. When in someone’s service, they had to fulfill the three wishes. However, once the master made their last wish, the genie would then do whatever they could to off the person so that they were no longer a slave and finally had their freedom.
That’s why people usually put the genie in the lamp and “lost” it, getting as far from it as possible after the last wish. The trapped genie couldn’t kill them and had to wait until some unsuspecting person happened across the lamp again, restarting the entire process. Successfully killing their master freed them, but that rarely happened.
Sophia and Liv weren’t going to take a chance. Once they’d “fixed” the baby, they’d toss the genie’s lamp back into the frigid Arctic depths and sail away. That was another reason Liv used for why Rudolf couldn’t accompany them. He was Stan’s last master, and if they were reunited, the genie would go after the fae and try to kill him for his freedom.
“It’s sort of sad that they’re slaves,” Sophia said, referring to Stan and other genies, as the ship sailed itself on course for the location of the genie’s lamp.
“Again, having a lot of alone time doesn’t sound like such a bad idea,” Liv muttered while pulling up her cloak against the cutting wind.
“You okay?” Sophia gave her sister a sideways look. “You seem a little more distant and like you want space from the world.”
“I would usually answer that with ‘I’m fine,’ but I’m not, and it’s you asking,” Liv replied. “The truth is, I’m having such a hard time processing this baby thing. I’ve not gotten the chance to celebrate or feel excited because from the beginning we suspected it would have demon blood. Then I found out that it did and that’s been a whole other set of problems. Like, oh no, I’m going to bring a demon into this world. Then I was like, oh and the demon could turn me into a monster.” She shook her head, looking overwhelmed. “The whole thing has been very frustrating.”
Sophia offered her sister a sympathetic look. “I don’t think frustrating covers it, but that’s my perspective.”
“The thing is,” Liv went on, looking out at the gray ocean waters and icebergs in the distance, making it all feel even colder. “When I get past this whole demon aspect, I feel like the real hurdle begins. I never saw myself as a mother. I’ve always been such a loner and to think that someone is going to rely on me for…well, just about everything is such a weird notion. Like, what if I don’t love my child or I don’t know how to take care of him or her? What if I do put this baby in danger by being a Warrior? I have so many doubts about my abilities to be a good parent that I’m almost glad that all I can think about is whether the baby will be a demon or not.”
Sophia took a long moment to consider what her sister had said, also looking out at the choppy waters but not really seeing them. She hadn’t considered all these concerns, but they made perfect sense to her now. Finally, she reached out and put a comforting hand on her sister’s arm and smiled. “You never saw yourself as a Warrior for the House of Fourteen, and you’re by far the best one it has ever had. You’re like a mother to me, whether you know it or not. You’re the most loving person anyone in your life knows. It’s just that you’re not packaged like one would expect that kind of person to be. You don’t smile when you mean to frown. You don’t compliment unless it’s genuine. You always say things like they are. More than anything, you make everyone and everything better by being a part of our lives. I understand you have doubts about being a mother. I think that’s totally understandable. I think all new mothers face that. But I have zero doubts because you’re the Unstoppable Liv Beaufont and there’s no way that you’re not going to be the best mother to your baby. You’ll love it as you love Stefan and me and everyone in your life and it will come as naturally as slaying a bad-tempered troll.”
Liv laughed, seemingly grateful for the joke thrown in at the end. “I appreciate the vote of confidence. I wish I felt that for myself. You’re probably right. I have to let it happen, and it will all unfold as it did with my Warrior role for the House of Fourteen.”
Liv didn’t look confident or sure about this, but she did seem to be trying to convince herself. Sophia would have offered her more words of motivation, but right then the boat slowed and the anchor magically rattled over The Serena’s side. They’d reached their destination. They were right on top of Stan’s genie lamp.
Chapter Eighty-Two
“Well, Heathcliff,” Liv called, looking up at where the winged sea otter hovered in the sky. “Looks like it’s time for you to do your job. You know what to do?”
Heathcliff had seen the map that Rudolf had created, showing where Stan’s lamp was on the ocean floor. Sand, rock, and shells covered it, so getting to it would be a challenge. However, Bermuda had reassured the sisters that Heathcliff was right for the job. Evan could have also done it with Coral, but in the frigid water, it would be much more difficult for them. Heathcliff, the winged otter, made much more sense.
Something sparked in the magical creature’s eyes before it dove for the surface of the water like a missile, entering the Arctic Ocean without hesitation.
Liv shivered. “Man, I’m glad I don’t have to go in that water. Of course, Ru had to toss the genie’s lamp in the Arctic.”
Sophia laughed and agreed with a nod, looking over the si
de of the anchored boat. “Now what do we do?”
Liv looked around as Beatrix landed on the mainmast, folding her wings in and bracing herself against the gust of icy winds.
“I’ve meant to watch the latest season of the Great British Baking Show,” Liv offered, pulling out her phone. “I should be able to get reception out here.”
“Because you can create a hot spot?” Sophia questioned, impressed that Liv would have WiFi in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.
“Because my phone has so much magitech in it that it can get reception in the middle of the planet if I want it to,” Liv answered with a laugh.
“I can’t remember the last time that I could sit back and relax and watch a show,” Sophia said, getting excited. “But I think we should stay on the main deck for when Heathcliff returns.”
“I agree,” Liv stated, creating a fireball in her hand with ease. She’d been given fire magic by Papa Creola, making it easy for her to create a flame when it would normally tax another magician. Not Sophia, because she had the chi of the dragon. The fire instantly made the sisters warmer.
Liv pulled the show up on her phone while leaning on the ship’s railing. A moment later, something heavy landed on the deck behind them. It made The Serena tilt dangerously to the side before righting itself.
Both sisters whipped around, pulling their swords in a flash. Instantly, Sophia relaxed and took in the unexpected guest.
“Lunis, what are you doing here?” Sophia laughed at the blue dragon now taking up a majority of the ship’s deck.
He lifted his head regally and glared down at the two magicians. “You were seriously going to watch the new season of the Great British Baking Show without me? I’ve been waiting for you for ages to watch that.”
Sophia continued to chuckle. “Sorry. I would’ve watched it with you too. How did you get here so quickly?”
He harrumphed. “When I heard about this treachery brought on by that booger-face, I had Wilder open a portal for me outside the Barrier so I could get here pronto.”
“Wow, that was fast,” Sophia admitted, impressed by the timing.
“It’s important,” Lunis replied.
“Did a supposed know-it-all majestic dragon just call me a booger-face?” Liv asked, amused.
“In my head, I called you something much worse,” Lunis stated.
Sophia glanced at her sister, amused. “Don’t worry. He treats Wilder equally bad.”
“He must like the abuse if he diligently made you a portal so quickly,” Liv offered.
“Okay, well, let’s watch the latest season,” Lunis ordered and settled down, making the ship rock again. “I hope you brought snacks, Soph.”
“I didn’t,” she said with a laugh.
“I was told there would be snacks at this viewing party,” the blue dragon complained.
Liv pursed her lips. “You weren’t invited to this viewing party, Bruce.”
Lunis ignored her. “Use a projector spell to make the screen bigger. I want to see every pore on host Noel’s face. Whatever that guy uses for his skincare, I need to know.”
Liv gave Sophia a sideways look. “Wow, your dragon is so very strange.”
“So is your face,” Lunis quipped. “Now, more show and less talk. The secret of good writing.”
“That’s not how that phrase goes,” Liv joked and pulled her phone back up. She didn’t get too far before Beatrix hooted loudly overhead, her call carrying a warning of sorts. Then, a second later, something large knocked into the side of the ship.
Chapter Eighty-Three
“Liv, did you fart?” Lunis asked as the sisters whipped around, looking over The Serena's side where the commotion came from.
Sophia expected to see something to do with Heathcliff, although whatever was knocking into the ship's side was much larger than the winged otter. The choppy waters of the Arctic Ocean made it hard to see what was causing the disturbance. The sea bubbled and splashed, but something large was causing the uproar and making the ship tip dangerously back and forth.
“What is it?” Sophia squinted to see what was under the water’s surface.
Lunis’ head lowered right next to hers, and he also studied the scene. “It’s a whale.”
“That can’t be good.” Liv straightened with sudden enhanced tension.
“Settle down, Sally,” Lunis commented. “It’s not a huge blue whale. It’s a tiny little narwhal.”
Sophia leaned further over the side of the ship, as Lunis was able to do thanks to his long neck, granting him a better view of what was happening. When she began to slip over the side, the blue dragon secured her in place with his arm. “Watch it there, missy. If you fall in, I’m going to have to take an ice bath and me no likey the cold.”
Sophia nodded, catching her breath from the sudden excitement. It was a narwhal. She realized that as she finally spied what was knocking into the ship.
“They aren’t usually aggressive whales,” Sophia related, having read about them in Bermuda’s Magical Creatures book. Most didn’t know that narwhals were magical animals with a few unique properties. They were always ninety-eight degrees no matter the temperature, and the male’s tusk could transmit a telepathic signal across great distances, serving as a communication device. For those reasons, evil poachers wanting their hide and tusks often hunted the narwhal.
“I think she’s simply trying to get our attention,” Lunis offered as the narwhal swam away from the ship several yards and turned around, looking at them intently from the surface of the water.
“How do you know it’s a girl?” Liv asked.
“Because she’s wearing an apron and looks peeved about something small and trivial,” Lunis joked.
“Because she doesn’t have a tusk,” Sophia answered with a laugh.
Liv nodded. “Oh, yeah, that unicorn horn that the funny whales often have.”
“The males do,” Lunis corrected. “They aren’t unicorn horns, genius.”
“I think she wants us to follow her,” Sophia observed, watching as the narwhal swam off several more yards and turned, looking at them with an intense expression of fear in her eyes.
“Well, we’re sort of waiting for Heathcliff to arrive, but I guess he’ll find us.” Liv twirled her finger and brought up the anchor. The Serena sailed through the waters and followed the narwhal, who swam in the opposite direction at great speed.
When they neared a beautiful bluish-white glacier that rose out of the Arctic waters, the whale turned and paused, her snout indicating the block of ice.
Liv leaned over the side of the ship, then stated, “There’s something down there.”
Thankfully, the waters were so clean next to the glacier that it was easier to see through them. When the ship had anchored again, the water's surface became still once more, and they could make out what was causing the narwhal so much stress.
Trapped with his tusk firmly embedded in the glacier was another narwhal. He was stuck, and it seemed the only way he would be freed was if someone, or somebodies, helped him.
Chapter Eighty-Four
“Oh, that poor whale,” Sophia exclaimed, seeing the stress on the stuck narwhal as he tried to maneuver out of the predicament.
“It’s like the time that Liv licked a frosty telephone pole,” Lunis teased.
Liv shook her head. “Not the time for jokes, Carl. This is serious.”
He grimaced. “It’s always time for jokes. That’s how I keep Sophia calm in high-intensity situations.”
Sophia nodded. “It’s true.”
“Plus, it’s not like I’m not going to swoop in and save the day,” Lunis stated with a huff. He backed up several feet as he unfolded his wings.
Nimbly and without rocking the boat, the blue dragon sprang into the air, flapping his wings and sending icy wind onto the magicians below.
“Wow, that was quite the takeoff,” Liv said, sounding impressed.
“I heard that,” Lunis called from the air. “You compl
imented me. That’s going in the scrapbook.”
“You’re reading into it,” Liv teased as Lunis dove for the waters where the narwhal was trapped. He plummeted neatly into the ocean, disappearing as the waters swelled from his displacement.
Sophia and Liv couldn’t make out what was happening due to the bubbling water and waves. However, Sophia could see from Lunis’ mind and spied as he gently but firmly secured his grasp around the narwhal. Then he yanked the whale in the opposite direction, pulling him back. The stuck tusk popped free of the ice, and as soon as he’d untangled the narwhal, Lunis released him and swam up from the waters, flying at once. He landed on the deck of the ship, shaking. Even the short stint in the water was almost too much for the blue dragon. Temperatures like those in the Arctic Ocean were too much for a dragon whose element wasn’t water.
While his teeth chattered, Sophia and Liv went to work using a warming spell to thaw the icy dragon. The process was swift with both magicians working on it, and Sophia was grateful when relief flooded Lunis’ eyes.
“Thank you,” he said, returning to his previous relaxed appearance.
“You made quick work of that situation,” Liv said, again sounding impressed.
The light expression dropped from Lunis’ face. “That was only the beginning. I saw why the narwhal was stuck, and we have a major ordeal on our hands.”
Chapter Eighty-Five
“Poachers,” Liv seethed after Lunis explained what he thought was going on.
“Yeah, from what I could tell,” Lunis began, “they’ve created a narrow opening in the glacier that’s big enough for a baby narwhal to get through but not a grown-up. It’s constructed so the narwhals can get in but not out of the container area. It looks like they’ve carved out the glacier to create a cage of sorts. It’s thin enough that I could see dozens of baby narwhals trapped on the other side.”