Chapter 35

The water burned.

I thought I knew what to expect when Laila dropped me into it. Pain stabbed every inch of my body. My limbs locked up. I couldn't move at first. I knew it would be cold, but I didn't realize it would hurt the way it did.

But it only took me seconds to snap back into reality.

I brought flames to my skin. Submerged in water, there was no way for them to stay lit, but it was enough to keep me warm. Knowing I would run out of breath, I yanked on the air above and pulled it into the water. A large bubble of it formed before me.

The salty water stung my eyes, but we needed that shield in place.

There was no use looking for the merrow with my eyes. They were fish. They were not stationary in one spot atop the ocean floor. All five of them were swimming circles around the perimeter. Laila had felt them, though, so I knew she dropped me close to the one I needed to protect.

Their energy signature was weak. Merrows were a type of Fae folk, but they possessed little external magic. As shape shifters, they barely had more energy than humans. That was more than a fish, though, so following that signal beneath the water wasn't difficult. It wasn't as easy as following the energy signatures of the people I knew well, but when I focused hard enough, I could feel her.

Eyes peeled open, prepared for an ambush, I swam toward her. We weren't far from the beach, so we couldn't have been more than a hundred and fifty feet below the surface level. The deeper I got, however, the heavier the weight of the water above became on top of me. Before long, swimming five feet was like trudging through a pond of mud.

Ever so slightly, I manipulated the water behind me. It worked into something of a propeller. Enough to boost me forward, but not enough to disrupt the merrow's path.

Even with the aid, it felt like hours before I reached her.

She was swimming forward at a speed I could never reach. Not without manipulating the water into a motor behind me. She was alone, however, which was a good sign.

Reaching the rocky ocean floor only a few feet away, I stretched out to touch her shoulder. Although she kept swimming, spiny scales erected on her back as a warning. A bit like the needles of a porcupine.

Despite the abrasion on my finger and the thin trail of blood we left behind us, I kept my hand there to form a telepathic connection. In her mind, I said, The other merrows are under attack. I was sent down here to protect you.

Protect me then.

Typical Fae woman.

Still, I did as she said. This time, at a more appropriate distance, I kept that fire atop my skin. It worked as a sort of paranormal wetsuit. Enough to keep me warm, but not enough to interfere with the ecosystem of the water.

For several minutes, we swam. The flickering of the green cage on our right ceased. I stayed just on the left of the merrow, watching the inside of the cage.

And then it came.

I couldn't tell if they were a man or woman, a fish or another merrow, but something about my size swam toward us like an freight train.

There were only a few inches between the bottom of the cage and the ocean floor. Surely they couldn't fit through it.

But they stretched a hand through anyway. Only then could I tell they were a man. Just enough to grab the merrow's arm, the one holding the crystal.

She yanked against him. Instead of freeing herself, she raised the bottom barrier of the shield. Just enough space for him to get through.

He tackled her to the ocean floor.

I swam over top of him, hooked an arm around his neck, and yanked.

But not before crimson spread through the water in a wave.

She fell limp against the rocky, sandy ground.

She dropped the crystal.

Grasping hold of the ocean waves, I shoved them up the man's nose. He squirmed and fought, but I only thrusted more liquid into his lungs. My blade was at my hip, but I couldn't get the leverage I needed to shove it through his chest or head.

Then I remembered what I had just done to keep up with the merrow.

Still launching water into the man's throat, I grabbed the blade. Once it was at head height, I brought another current behind me. The propeller gave me all the strength I needed to launch the blade into the man's skull.

Crimson blinded me. There was so much blood, I couldn't see to find the crystal.

I hooked an arm around the merrow's body.

Taking another gulp of air from my bubble, I created another current. It churned the water, spreading and dissolving the maroon. Debris and sand from the ocean floor mixed into it, turning everything a murky shade of brown.

Then it settled as quickly as it had come. Still holding the merrow, I searched for the glowing gem. It was a few feet behind me. Using the water, I rushed it into my palm.

With my free hand, I yanked furiously on my blade. It was lodged deeply in the man's skull. His whole body lurched when I grabbed it.

My foot against his upper back gave me the leverage I needed. The crackle of bone sounded and vibrated beneath my hand.

Holding the merrow under my left arm, I clutched the gem in my right. Again, I called on the water. It spun into a hurricane behind me, propelling me forward.

Save a few souls from the island,I said into the minds of the others. One of them got through and killed the merrow. I'm taking her place with the crystal.

Are you okay?Warren's voice.

I'm not hurt. But I don't want her to stay dead.

Neither do I,Jeremy's voice. Don't let her go. We don't want to lose her down there.

Got it.

We're almost done now,Luci's voice. Just hang in there a few moments longer. Rania, tell that to your merrows.

There's only one left,Rania's voice. I hope you plan to bring them back as well, Nix.