Casey grins and TJ waves before he tackles her. She explodes into a fit of giggles and the sound follows me out the door.
I walk across the courtyard, approach a turret of the castle and climb the seemingly endless staircase. Finally, I arrive at the library and I swing open the heavy wooden door. There are floors of bookshelves angling towards the peak in the ceiling. In between every bookshelf, there’s a wall-length window. Cozy lounge chairs and wood tables are spread around. In the center of the room, a perfectly round desk is the librarian’s domain.
“Maya Murphy, you again.” A loud, melodic voice sings from behind me.
I whip around to face the librarian. We’re apparently on a first name basis now. She’s a beautiful woman with pearly hair, dyed red at the roots. She carries a handful of books and has an unmistakably annoyed expression on her face. It is close to the library’s closing time.
“Yes,” I stutter hesitantly. “I was looking for a book.”
She sighs deeply. “As do many people who frequent libraries.”
“Miss Sphen,” I say cordially as she wanders to the round desk. “I’m wondering whether the Deep Cove library happens to have a book called “Eurybia’s Lost Prophecy?” It’s for… an assignment I’m doing.”
A note of sarcasm seeps into my tone and Miss Sphen looks at me sharply.
She opens one of the drawers that lines the interior of the desk. After a moment, she faces me, her expression singularly bored. “We have nothing of the sort at the Deep Cove library.”
“Nothing about Eurybia?” I ask, shooting her the best smile I can muster.
She rolls her eyes and sighs again before opening another drawer. She rifles through a few papers. “Section 1.B. Over there.”
She points to the side of the room and I follow her finger. Without waiting a beat, she returns to her task, sorting what appears to be a series of books.
I scan the bookshelves in Section 1.B for anything resembling a “Lost Prophecy.” It doesn’t take me long to realize, once again, that I won’t be finding any pertinent information at the Deep Cove library. The only book that might mention Eurybia is on the topic of modern siren fashion and the ancient Greek goddesses.
My hopes dashed, I turn to leave. Then, I notice an unassuming wooden door at the back of the library. The restricted section?
I look around surreptitiously. Miss Sphen has moved on to an upper level of the library, and there are no other students on the first floor. It’s clear.
I make my way towards the bookshelves at the back of the room. I peek around the corners for anyone who might approach. Then, I wander to the magazine stand next to the door. On the door, there’s a sign that reads, “Professors only. Students permitted with a pass.”
I look towards the librarian’s desk one more time, but Miss Sphen is nowhere to be seen. Without wasting a moment, I try the door for the restricted section. By some miracle, it’s unlocked.
I dive into the room and shut the door quietly behind me, my heart racing. This is it, I’ve done it. Reef would be so proud. I move my hands along the wall, looking for a light. I find a switch and I click it.
The room illuminates. Bookshelves fill the space, along with well-worn armchairs and couches. I wish I could stay and take it all in, but I have a mission.
I’m unsure where to start. I gaze over the bookshelves and my heart sinks. There’s no way I’ll have time to look at every title of every book.
I sigh deeply. I might as well start with the most obvious option — alphabetically. I walk to a bookshelf labeled “Er-Eu” and I browse the titles on the shelf.
Over the intercom, Miss Sphen announces that the library will be closing in 15 minutes. I have to hurry.
Finally, my eyes happen upon a welcome sight. Eurybia’s Lost Prophecy.
My heart pounds as I take the book off the shelf and rifle through the pages. It isn’t a big book by any means, but I suppose prophecies can’t be too wordy. The first few pages are an introduction by the author, followed by an in-depth analysis.
I reach the prophecy itself and my eyes devour the pages hungrily. I see one section that interests me.
From the world of Chaos comes light and order. Gaia, the mother of earth, rules the land, while Pontus, the god of the seas, rules the water. From Pontus, two opposing forces are born. The peace-bringer and the destroyer of worlds.
Eurybia and her followers will know land and bring peace to the earth. A secret daughter, born to bring together these two elements, will foretell the continuation of a harmonious world. The mighty ruler will honor peace by providing an all-powerful token — with a symbol ancient as the world itself.
However, the descendants of Ceto will return. Believing herself to be the rightful heir, the destroyer will not rest until the token is hers. Her followers will gain strength in numbers and peace will be disrupted.
The affinity of the peace-bringer will foretell the date of anarchy. The token will fall into the hands of either the heir of Ceto or the heir of Eurybia. The path of the world will be skewed and the fight will continue.
Fatum est enim vestra.
Shivers wash over my skin and my blood runs cold.
The final puzzle piece clicks into place and the devastating, tragic image is revealed.
I have to find Reef. Now.
46
I hammer on Reef’s door and a bleary-eyed TJ answers.
“Maya, what?” He grumbles and rubs his eyes. “I was trying to get some sleep before Night Sky.”
“Is Reef here?” I try to keep from barging in.
TJ’s eyes shoot open. “No. The others came back a while ago, but I assumed he was with you. When you left the common room, I figured you must’ve bumped into him. The others came in a few minutes later.”
“He wasn’t with me.” My voice is faint, distant.
TJ turns and yells into the room “Marlowe, where did Reef go when you guys came back from surfing earlier?”
Marlowe sits up in bed. “Reef wasn’t with us. I haven’t seen him all day.”
TJ turns to me but I don’t hear his next words. My stomach twists into a terrible knot. Reef’s missing.
Frantically I run to the lighthouse. He’s not there.
The common room. It’s empty.
I run to the beach and scan the stormy ocean for signs of a lone surfer in the distance. Nothing.
My lungs burn and my muscles ache. I look at my watch and my vision blurs. It’s 11:30pm. In just thirty minutes, November 20th and the Supermoon are upon us.
Black spots appear before my eyes and I think I might be sick. It’s happening, it’s really happening. Reef is missing, and I know in my heart where he is. He’s in the depth of my nightmare. I remember the terrifying hands grabbing him. I need to get to him before that hideous, evil thing does.
I run to my dorm at full speed, barely noticing that I’m desperately out of breath. The other girls are out of bed and dressing for class — Night Sky class.
Adrenaline floods my veins. That’s it, I need to get to Nerida, she’ll be able to help me. She’s my only hope.
Casey grabs my arm. “Maya, what the hell is going on? TJ came over a while ago. Is Reef really missing?”
I nod, terrified that if I open my mouth, I’ll burst into tears.
She stares at me incredulously. “What happened?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “He went surfing this morning and never came back.”
Casey pales. “Are you sure? Should we tell the teachers? Maybe send out a search party?”
“NO!” I blurt. I can’t risk explaining to everyone what my nightmares are saying. I just need to get to Nerida.
“But, if nobody’s seen him all day,” Casey muses, “surely we need to tell—”
“I saw him earlier.” A quiet voice interrupts Casey.
I whirl around to face Kendra. She’s standing, ashen-faced, in the middle of the room. Her eyes cloud with tears. “Is he really missing?”
Every
thing goes quiet and I set my sights on her. “Where did you see him?”
“In the castle,” she says tearfully. “I was dropping off an assignment, and I saw them walk into that weird hallway that loops around the edge of the castle.”
I freeze. It couldn’t be… The hallway to the hole in the floor.
“Them?” My voice is low and controlled. “He was with Professor Halloran?”
Kendra shakes her head. “No, that’s what was so weird.”
I blink, forcing a calm tone. “What was weird, Kendra?”
“He was with Professor Nerida.”
47
Professor Nerida?
My hands tingle and my heart races. Reef was with… Professor Nerida? This doesn’t make any sense. Professor Nerida was the only person I could talk to, the only person who knew about my trial. I trusted her. I can’t have got it wrong.
Without another word to Kendra, I turn and sprint. Fear grips my insides and my legs carry me to the castle. I hurtle through the strange perimeter hallway, feeling the pain and pleasure of memories there — of almost drowning, Reef saving me, Reef kissing me. It makes me run even faster. I dive down the stone staircase as fast as humanly possible, my heart beating in my mouth.
Finally, I find myself at the bottom, staring into the abyss. The ocean roars below, an angry black pit opening up to swallow me.
The massive waves rise and fall and my stomach churns violently. The black water looks like pure evil. It’s the water straight out of my nightmare. It must be relentlessly freezing, all-consuming. I hope I’m not too late.
Panic rises within me like fire as I brace myself on the edge. I can’t help but think back to my trial. The water has never looked less inviting.
Around the ledge, the siren motto tells me that I’ll find my Destiny within. I need to do this. For Reef.
I take a deep breath, and jump.
The cold water slaps my body and pain erupts in all of my muscles.
This time, nobody comes after me. I’m alone. The fear courses through my veins and I think I might pass out. My muscles unfreeze and I swim frantically to the surface. I breathe the icy air, somewhat thankful that the current isn’t as crazy tonight.
But then I open my eyes and my heart stops.
The castle is nowhere in sight and there’s no beach in the distance. No cliffs, no classrooms. No Deep Cove Academy.
I spin around in the water and my panic rises. In every direction, there’s open ocean, lit up by the huge, milky orb in the sky.
The Supermoon.
A meteor streaks across the sky, a glimmering line of white light.
I feel strangely calm.
I’ve been here before. In my nightmare. Which means that Reef is trapped in the depths below.
I take a deep breath, and then allow myself to sink beneath the surface. I paddle downwards and it isn’t long before my legs grow tired, barely making a dent in the water. The gashes elongate slowly into gills and I pull water in, struggling to breathe. If there was ever a time that I wished to have that skill, it’s now.
My human feet work hard to propel me, but I’m almost stopped. My clothes weigh me down, hold me back. I clumsily pull off my jeans and sweatshirt as I swim.
Free of the extra weight, I summon all of the strength I can and dive deep. I swim until I’m almost touching the ocean floor.
I turn and look around me, trying to situate myself in the depths. Murky depths.
Shivers run down my spine as I recognize this exact spot and I can’t stop my mouth from dropping open. Ahead, a deep trench cuts through the ocean floor. Perched precariously on the edge is a massive shipwreck, its mast swaying like it might break.
48
I gaze upon the destroyed ship and every fiber of my being screams at me to turn back, to get to safety. I blink, stupefied. There it is, the thing that I’ve only ever seen in my nightmares.
The broken mast swings menacingly in the current. The black mass of the ship threatens to fall into the trench.
Then, a burst of moonlight breaks through the dark surroundings. I make out the shape of a person tied to the ship. Wait… not a person. A siren.
My blood turns cold.
I swim frantically towards him but my human legs and feet aren’t fast enough. He looks at me and his eyes are silently pleading. Green eyes. They stare into my soul for a moment, before they disappear.
“Reef!” I try to scream, but my gurgling voice is lost in the water.
I swim to him and a haze of red surrounds his head, blood mingling with water. His eyes are closed, head slumped forward. He’s knocked out.
My heart beats through my chest and I frantically struggle to break the chains that bind him to the shipwreck. In a deep part of my mind, I register that my body is starting to burn with a need for oxygen. My gills simply aren’t working.
“Hello, Maya,” a light, melodic voice says from behind me.
Fear paralyzes me and my blood runs cold. I turn slowly and my stomach turns over.
“You.” The word is lost through a mouthful of bubbles.
Professor Nerida laughs wickedly, her milky eyes triumphant.
“Oh dear, this is quite the situation,” Nerida says as she approaches us. She swims past me and goes to Reef’s shackles. She lifts them and his arms hang lifelessly. “In your Transformation classes, did you happen to learn what happens to a siren who is unconscious for too long?”
I shake my head wordlessly, grappling with this reality. So it wasn’t Halloran after all… It was Nerida? Or are they working together? My mind spins as I struggle to understand.
“Of course you didn’t.” Nerida drops the shackles and Reef’s body jerks with the weight of the chains. Her sing-songy voice contrasts horrifyingly with the words coming out of her mouth. “Halloran has got to be one of the worst professors out there. Certainly the worst I’ve ever worked with. He’s just too involved, always sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Goosebumps rise over my skin. I got it all wrong.
“Let me educate you.” Nerida’s eyes meet mine and the blood drains from my face. I’ve never before seen a look of pure evil. “In a few moments, Mr. Fenner’s body will begin to change. Being deprived of oxygen puts your kind in a tough spot when you’re underwater. He’ll naturally transition to being a human.”
She reaches to him and dares to touch a lock of his hair. “And when he does, he’ll drown.”
I scream soundlessly, a visceral, primal reaction. How could I have gotten it so wrong?
“But, all of this can be avoided,” Nerida says sweetly, swimming towards me. “If you just tell me where to find the necklace.”
My mind screams in anger but I can’t open my mouth. My lungs are on fire, my gills failing by the second. I shake my head urgently, trying to communicate that I have no idea where the necklace is. I’d give her the necklace in a heartbeat if it means saving Reef.
But we’re here, living my nightmare — and the necklace is nowhere to be found.
Nerida’s eyes blaze into mine and a shock rolls through my system. Her irises are swirling. Like Mr. Seaver’s had. What is this? How is this possible?
“You seem a bit tongue-tied.” She floats to Reef’s other side. Her sugary voice sounds kind but there’s a dark undercurrent. “So, to pass the time while Mr. Fenner drowns, maybe I’ll explain to you just how I managed to get you both here.”
She picks up Reef’s hand and drops it. It falls limply, lifelessly, and my stomach turns.
“Didn’t you find it odd that Professor Halloran happened upon you two in the computer lab that evening and never said anything about it?”
Ice travels down my spine.
“You?” A mass of bubbles floats in front of my face.
“Of course it was me, silly girl. I was rifling through that stupid man’s office when I heard you sneak by. Very obviously, I might add. Halloran always seemed to know something. Out of every idiot professor at that school, and that imbecile
Muir, Halloran is the only one who seemed suspicious of me...”
She trails off, lost in thought before turning her horrid gaze back on me. So Nerida can’t have been working with Halloran. This plot is hers alone.
“From the moment you fell unconscious on the boat, I knew that you were the one I was searching for.”
I shake my head, eyes wide, as Nerida continues. “You spoke of drowning, and that’s when I knew what I had to do. I gave Casey the incorrect map, knowing you would both use it to get to your Transformation class. I expected you to jump alone to prove yourself oh-so-bravely after your failed trial.”
Nerida’s face darkens even more. She looks at the unconscious Reef and sneers in his direction. “But I hadn’t counted on Mr. Fenner so gallantly jumping in after you. That was an error in judgment on my part. It did teach me something, though. Mr. Fenner couldn’t stay away from you. So I started testing the waters. I saw him at the lighthouse, night after night, and it was too easy to tell you that your father used to go there.”
She lied to me. My hands curl into fists at my sides. I feel like I’m about to pass out.
“You played right into my hands.” Nerida giggles, a sickly sound. “That was all it took to get you to the lighthouse so I could listen to you two getting to know each other.”
“So, you didn’t know my dad?” My words are fuzzy through the bubbles escaping my mouth.
“Of course not, you idiot girl. But you took my word for it, didn’t you? And that boy you love so much is just like his stupid, interfering mother. And look where it got them both.”
I stare at her blankly. How does Nerida know about Reef’s mom?
“It was all too easy.” Nerida interrupts my panic-stricken thoughts. “Because of this idiotic rule surrounding Destinies, you had to find the necklace yourself. You had to lead me to it. And what better way to do it than to capture the very thing you love most. The stupid boy came with me most agreeably when I told him he could choose — his life or yours.”
The Destiny: A YA Paranormal Academy Romance (Deep Cove Academy Book 1) Page 17