9. Tori

Avlyn and I were trying out a crack in the cliff to see if we could traverse it until the sight of Pallas waving her arms in my peripheral caught my attention. I snapped around to see what she was looking at, and my stomach sank at the sight of the Court of Flames vessel.

Islid down the cliff to Avlyn's side, and they pulled the dagger out of their belt.

"Don't love our odds with one dagger between us." I tried to make it sound lighthearted but failed.

Avlyn'slips were set in a thin line. "I'm more concerned about her," they were looking at Pallas, who had stopped trying to signal the ship, but it was too late. It was headed straight for us. "She's an unknown. I don't like unknowns."

"We can't let them find Abraxas. He is defenseless." I balled my hands into fists; they felt hollow without a sword.

Avlynnodded their head in agreement. It looked like fighting was our only option. "Got any good ideas, Princess?"

"No, but I do have a stupid one."

The ship had nearly reached the shore by the time I made it back to Pallas and Jun.

"What are we going to do, Tori?" My brother was shaking, and not from the cold.

Iknelt down in front of him but looked only at Pallas. "Jun says I can trust you. Prove it. Help us."

Shewas silent; we didn't have time for this. I was about to turn back to Avlyn when I heard Jun whisper, "I can't go back there, Pallas." I practically saw her resolve at his words.

"It's stupid to trust me. I could easily turn on you. Those are my men out there." She wasn't wrong. That's what made this a stupid idea. But she had helped us, helped me, already. I didn't understand her motives, but I thought back to when we were at that party in Xyr. For just a moment, I had seen her shell crack. Perhaps that was the person for whom Jun cared so deeply.

"I have a feeling those men don't belong to anyone but Hadeon. And the truth is, you don't." Something flashed so fast through her expression that I almost missed it. I stood and reached my hand out to her. "I'm asking. Help us."

Shereached out her hand, but I gripped her forearm the way I did every other soldier to help her rise. She met my eyes and nodded.

"Good. Besides, if you betray us, I'll make sure you don't leave this beach alive."

A small boat was launched to the shore with six fully armored soldiers, not good odds. I had to hope they weren't all fae. Who knew how many were still on the ship? I would worry about that later.

Iheld Pallas in front of me, my arm locked around her neck. Avlyn held Jun, dagger pressed to his throat.

"A little tight, Tori," she mumbled.

"I have to make it believable, Pallas." She grunted at that.

Thesoldiers disembarked, and one moved ahead of the others. Undoubtedly, he was the leader. He removed his helmet, revealing a shaved head. His long fae ears were clearly visible. Fuck.

Heraised an eyebrow. "What"s the meaning of this?"

Avlyn, their dagger still pressed against Jun"s throat, sneered, "A bit of leverage, soldier. You wouldn"t want harm to befall the prince, would you?"

Thesoldiers exchanged glances as their hands gripped the hilts of their weapons. I tightened my hold on Pallas until I felt her wheeze; I tried not to enjoy it. "We want safe passage back to the ship." I moved to the side.

Theleader's eyes followed me, and he stepped away from the others, who kept their eyes on Avlyn. "You think you are getting off this beach alive?" he chuckled.

Iglared at him. "We can make this easy or very, very messy. Your call."

Hewalked towards me again until we were only a sword's distance apart. Pallas was my only shield from his blade. He laughed again, and all the soldiers drew their weapons. We were outnumbered, so we had to play dirty.

Pallasslammed her elbow into my gut much harder than I thought she could. I released my grip, and she ran. "Help me! Save me!" The group all turned to track her, and it was just enough. I closed the distance between the enemy and me, cracking my fist against his bare cheek. He staggered, and I tried to wrestle the sword from his grip.

"Now, Jun!" I screamed.

Asingle, clear note rang out over the beach, echoing off the cove's walls. Everyone was caught in his song except for me. I pulled the sword from the leader's hand. Jun's voice broke, and with it, the spell was lifted. With my next breath, I sliced the fae's neck before he could recover. I had counted on more time. Avlyn was outnumbered.

Juncoughed in Avlyn's arms as the soldiers ran at them. Pallas threw herself onto the back of one, pulling him down. It was stupid, but I didn't have time to worry about her or be grateful. There was shouting coming from the boat. Avlyn threw Jun aside and blocked a strike as best they could with the small dagger. I closed the distance between us, striking the nearest soldier right at the seam of his armor at the back of the knee. It was not a lethal hit, but it was enough to incapacitate.

Weengaged the three standing men as best we could. Avlyn still had armor, so they used their body to block me, but I heard them grunt as the enemies' blades found their mark.

Thesoldier Pallas tackled hit her, and I cringed as she fell. She caught herself like someone trained in combat. Or someone trained in pain, the thought ran through my mind.

Hittingthe ground running, she dashed towards the ocean's edge with the soldier giving chase. There was no escape, and she stumbled on the wet sand. Pallas' legs were kicked out from under her, and she crumpled. I was too far away; I wouldn't make it in time. The soldier raised his sword. Her eyes widened. I had seen that look before, the fear laced with acceptance that there was no way out. She closed her eyes, but a great wave suddenly crashed over the man, knocking him to the ground. Before he could get his bearings and rise back up, Avlyn closed the distance and skewered him.

Idanced through the soldiers, landing strikes where I could on any exposed portion of their bodies. I grabbed the sword of the man whose knee I had struck and tossed it at Avlyn with my bad arm; pain radiated throughout my muscles. The sword flew too far to the left.

Avlynscrambled for the weapon, and a soldier raised a blade overhead. I ran into his body at full speed, knocking both of us over in a mess of limbs and swords. He rolled onto me, his armor cutting into my very unprotected body, and slammed his fist into my face until I tasted blood, scrambling for my sword, and grabbed it from the sandy beach.

Istruck the side of the soldier's helmet with the pommel. It shocked him enough to free myself and avoid another swing. Avlyn struck the man's back, and he went still. Avlyn helped me up, and I had just a second to see that we were very fucked. Three injured soldiers remained, but each drew their sword and took a fighting stance. Three more small boats were being lowered from the main ship, all full of reinforcements.

Avlynstepped in front of me, their sword at the ready. "I have these fuckers. HelpJun. Without him, we won't stand a chance."

Idashed to my brother's side as Avlyn's swords clashed with their opponents. Pallas had her hand on his back as he continued to cough.

"Tori, I'm sorry. I can't. It's like he still has me. The pain…" he coughed again; this time, it came out more ragged.

Iplaced my hand over his heart and stared into his dark slate eyes. It was like looking in a mirror. "It's always been you and me against the world. We do this together, Jun."

Ireached into the earth with my mind. The magic was waiting for me. But an even stronger pull came to me from the sea. The magic there was deep, primordial, and much more vicious. I pulled at just a thread and felt it sink into Jun. Immediately, his coughing stopped. I felt the shadow that still lay over his throat and sent the magic there to wash away the ghost of his collar. The ocean's power snapped it up in one great wave.

Butmore shadows remained. I analyzed his body with the magic, and when I reached his heart, pain laced through my soul at what I found. Shadows were etched into every nook. With every beat, his heart strained against their control. They had made themselves at home. This was not something I could wash away without destroying Jun. I didn't think any magic could.

Ipulled the ocean's magic back, trying to turn it from a vicious thing into a soft caress. It was impossible. The sea didn't want to be contained. So, I let it go, and instead reached for that same feeling inside my own heart. I pulled a small amount of my own life out, just a thread, but it left me weak. I wrapped it gently around Jun's heart. It didn't remove the shadows or even touch them, but I hoped it would make them easier to bear.

Heopened his mouth, and a pure note escaped. EvenI was entranced by its beauty. The soldiers on the beach fell to their knees, awe plastered on their faces. We had unlocked something, and Avlyn, Pallas, and I were still free. Avlyn, ever the soldier, didn't hesitate to end our enemies.

Ifinally took a breath, but it was stolen almost immediately. The soldiers on the boats still approached, unfazed.

"They plugged their ears; I watched them do it," Pallas said.

"And that would work? This is magic we're talking about." Avlyn was panting, but they still held their fighting stance.

"It seems so," I responded, gently releasing Jun. His face was pale as he stopped singing.

"What do we do now?" Pallas asked in a strained voice. A tiny smile crossed her lips. "Don't tell me I chose the losing side."

"Not the most appropriate time to reveal a sense of humor, Pallas."

"Seems like it might be the last chance I have."

Iplaced a hand on Avlyn's shoulder. "What about your magic? They are still on the water."

"I don't think splashing them is going to do much," they said with a huff.

"Everyone's so funny when they are about to die. I'll channel for you, just like Jun."

Avlyngave another grunt but didn't object. I placed my hands on them and reached for the magic again. The ocean seemed even more vicious and hungry. Its depths expanded beyond what I could fathom, and its dark heart pulsed, but a vast, dark shadow was coming straight for us. I could feel it extending tendrils, reaching for the surface. For a moment, I felt a huge yellow eye looking back at me.

"Any day now, Princess." Avlyn tightened their grip on their sword as the first boat reached the beach.

Theshadow arrived, and a great tentacle shot from the water, grabbing hold of the small boat and flinging it into the air. The soldiers' screams were cut short when their armor pulled them under the roiling surface. The sea looked like it was boiling as more tentacles writhed in the depths.

Beforethey could react, the remaining boats were crushed in the Leviathan's arms. Wood splintered, and the men aboard were pulled violently under.

Therewas shouting coming from the main ship, but the Leviathan wrapped itself around the vessel in a heartbeat. Its limbs climbed the sides like the hands of death itself, impervious to the swords and spears on deck. The attempt to harm the creature was futile as each tentacle wrapped around a soldier and pulled him into the grasp of the ocean.

Thevery last soldier tried to stand his ground, evading a large tentacle with his sword, but fell victim to a smaller one wrapped around his leg. As he was lifted over the ship's railing, his screams echoed across the crashing waves, laced with fear only prey can feel. The sea parted, and the great jaws of the Leviathan emerged, row after row of hideous fangs that descended into an endless black pit. It dropped the soldier, and the crunch of metal was audible as the Leviathan swallowed him whole.

Allof us on the beach were stock still. It had only taken the space of five breaths to destroy all the small boats and the soldiers. Content, the Leviathan sank beneath the waves.

Ireached out with my mind once again.

Now we are even, little beast. The voice that rang in my mind sounded deeper and colder than the most unknown trenches of the sea. I felt the Leviathan sink back into a world of silence and darkness.

Thank you. Despite my call, there was no reply.