Chapter 39

39

LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM RULES the cave was full of sharp rocks that were just as threatening. She swept right, dodging the one to her left.

The thrumming in her veins had kept her feet moving, despite regret weighing her down. Bypassing another pointed rock, she swooped left, not seeing the small ditch.

Thessa stumbled, but the serpent had not. Fangs as sharp as daggers plunged into her thigh.

She collapsed on impact, swearing loud enough to rattle the cave, and the beast. It unlatched, slithering back toward its nest. Had she known verbal abuse would work, she would’ve tried shouting sooner.

Her thigh stung like a thousand bee stings.

An inspection revealed two finger-length punctures in front, and two small ones in back. Something yellow oozed from each, paired with her own dribbling blood.

“Great,” she blurted, wondering why Soren had ever said this cave was safe.

Attempting to walk was a miserable failure. The pain was unbearable, and so incredibly hot. Using the slick wall for balance, Thessa hopped down the tunnel. The camp had a handful of healers, she just had to get there.

A cool blast shocked her foot as sea water puddled around her.

The tide.

She moved as fast as she could, gritting her teeth through the pain.

As the water swelled, Thessa was beginning to think the stairs had made a lot of sense. By the time she reached the end of the passage, the sea had risen to her chest. She would need to swim through the cavern and out the cave’s mouth, and fast.

Thessa took a deep breath and dove in, but one kick of her marred leg sent pain jolting through her. She stopped, hugging the wall to recover.

Breathe. Just breathe.

The shrinking entrance was so close.

She tried hopping again, but the water was too high, and too dark to see the boulder that sent her crashing underwater. Beneath the surface, there was nothing but frigid darkness and the silence of the sea. For a moment, it was like things were peaceful.

Popping back up, she gasped for air. The tide had risen to her chin; there was no choice but to swim. After cursing the Blood Moon for its role in this, Thessa took a deep breath and dove back in.

Every kick of her punctured leg was accompanied by shooting pain.

Knock, knock.

Panic was behind that door.

No.

She caught a breath and kept swimming, towards the light. The pain was excruciating, but the sea water was numbing it. She just had to move.

Kicking up for air, she was met with resistance. The top of her head smashed into stone as she pressed her palms into a surface that wouldn’t give. Treading farther made no difference. Desperate for a breath, she pushed, scratched, and shoved the rocks above her.

Despite the salt burning her eyes, the pain in her leg, and the fear gripping her, Thessa swam as fast as she could.

Knock, knock.

There had to be a different door … perhaps a window.

Her headmistress pointed her spindly finger toward the light. “ Yes, Thessa, you can open that little window there if you need some air .”

Living in an overstocked attic at the age of six hadn’t been all that bad. It was the first room she’d ever been assigned to that had a window. She’d sit before it for hours, wondering where the clouds went, and what the birds were saying. Thessa wasn’t sure what happened to that child—the one without a worry.

“ Go on, it may be a smidge jammed. ”

Thessa pushed, and the window cracked.There wasn’t a sky to see, instead it was some lucid dream. The first thing she noticed was Leora, smiling bright. Her true friend. Thessa smiled back, opening the window a little more.

Hades stormed through next, bucking in all her glory. Thanks to Hades, Thessa had learned what true freedom felt like.

Ares trotted in after her, with his fearless rider. Soren’s gaze softened on hers like a siege to her soul. Not only had he helped her recognize who she was, but he’d helped her appreciate it.

Then, an unfamiliar female approached her, with eyes that matched her own. She stepped up to the windowsill and whispered gently, “ Don’t be afraid my brave daughter. You may rest now.”

Thessa smiled softly, and let darkness sweep her out to sea.

A majestic voice boomed across her mind, or perhaps her soul. “He will not help. I tried.”

“Who?” Thessa asked.

“The god of the seas, of course.”

“What?”

“Poseidon, my child. He’ll let the water take you. He’s very much into the, the water decides and let the tides bring what may, rubbish. You know the difference between male and female rulers, Thessa? Action. Hekate was willing to help me—help stop the hysteria her kind started. Not stand idly by. She had no problem visiting that friend of yours for me. To guide her to you. To help you, find him. Well, she wove the messages indirectly, but it worked all the same. After all, that’s what the grimoire was for. I certainly tried. Let it all not be for nothing. ”

This had all been some constructed nonsense. “You lied too?”

The voice cut out.

Thessa shivered against a wet, jagged rock. Something acrid dribbled from her parted lips while what had to be death coursed through her veins.

Muttering sounded, then a sharp, “Get out of my way.”

She didn’t care beyond her own skin. Misery had seeped its way from her thigh, and into every crevice of her body. Clawing at the rocks for mercy, her body shook in agony.

Something pressed her down, popping her eyes open.

A familiar face, dark and golden from the sun, hovered above her. Soren had straddled her, bracing a flat palm atop her convulsing chest. His mouth was against his other wrist, tearing flesh away until a river of black-flecked blood rushed down his forearm.

“Drink,” he ordered her.

There was no room for protest. His arm smashed against her cold lips and the tang of metallic splashed on her tongue. When it pooled, she gulped. It tasted like a combination of copper and nutmeg, and her body solidified with each sip.

“More,” she mumbled before piercing her teeth into his flesh.

Warm, thick blood burst in her mouth. Every swallow was as satisfying and strengthening as the last. She fed for minutes before Soren drew back his arm.

“Alright, that should hold you over.”

Grasping his forearm, Thessa yanked him closer, drinking. She wondered, how long had the sea held her ?

“That’s enough for now, we need to get you back to camp.”

Hissing sounded from behind her.

“She’s had plenty,” he snapped. “And you need to go, you’ve done enough.”

More hissing.

“I said, go.”

Withdrawing his arm, her lips quivered. “What happened? Who are you talking to?”

“Thessa, just breathe. You’re safe now. I promise you’re safe.”

Safe .

He’d said that once before. “I don’t feel so?—”

Her eyelids fluttered before everything went dark.