27. Tori

The beach was exactly as I remembered; Avlyn had steered us true. The small cove was much calmer than the surrounding sea, and we moored as close to the beach as possible. After everyone had settled, I made my way to the back of the cove and found the small opening we had emerged from before. Jun pressed against my side, lacing his fingers through mine. I felt my heartbeat slow down. He was with me; they were all with me.

Thesun was setting. Our journey had taken longer than expected due to the rough seas. I wouldn't be waiting. The soldiers lit torches, most staying on the beach as reinforcements. I looked at the huddling masses to see Kaleos striding towards me with the rest of my cohort.

Weheaded down the tunnel. It was perfectly round and smooth, just as I remembered. I let my fingers trace over the eerily flawless surface to help guide me in the dim light. It hadn't taken us more than half an hour to escape the cavern, so I expected a short journey.

Iwas wrong. Not five hundred feet from the entrance, the way forward was blocked. A perpendicular path cut through the tunnel, heading in a new direction. Whatever had created this new tunnel had pushed up enough rock that our original way forward was blocked.

Kaleoslet out a whistle at my side. "DoI want to know what made this?" Whatever it was, it bore a perfectly round, smooth tunnel through almost solid rock. I shivered and stepped down into the new opening. I pried at the rock that blocked my path. It was compacted, but I could pull away a few smaller pieces.

Kaleosstepped up beside me and did the same. "Let's get a crew of men in here tonight; we could probably have this cleared by the morning if it's not too thick."

Mystomach churned again. Another day of waiting. I didn't have time for this. I could feel the weakness of our bond; it was stretched thin to the point of snapping.

"Yes, get the men in here. I will head down this way and see what I can find."

"Like hell you are, Princess," Avlyn's voice chimed behind me. "Whatever made this, nature or creature, is still about. I won't have you wandering around making yourself a snack. Back to camp with you."

Imade to argue, but Avlyn shook their head and gave me a look that said, back to camp. I grunted but pushed past them out of the tunnel.

The soldiers on the beach had set up a few tents to protect themselves from the wind and huddled between them around a fire. Noki and Raula patrolled the borders of the camp on guard duty. I waved to them, ducked inside a tent, and was unsurprised to find Pallas and Jun huddled together. Jun was reading, and Pallas listlessly poked at some coals that were placed in a hole to keep the tent warm.

Junpopped his head up from the pallet and gave me a concerned look. "Back already?"

"Unexpected delays," I muttered, flopping down next to them.

Pallasfrowned. "We don't have time for this, especially with your bond in the state it is."

"Yes, thank you, Pallas. I hadn't considered that at all." I dropped my head into my hands, willing the tears away. I felt an arm around my shoulder. I thought Avlyn had come in without me noticing, but I looked up to find Pallas next to me.

"Sorry…" she mumbled. I was too shocked to say anything.

Junsat up straighter than an arrow. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You didn't hear—" He jolted again, hearing something none of the rest of us were privy to. "Tori, someone's in danger." Jun stood and went to the flap of the tent. I followed.

WhenPallas rose, I snapped, "Stay here." To my surprise, she listened, sitting down with a hand on Spinner's back.

Ifollowed Jun to the edge of light created by the campfire. Our elongated shadows were all I could see against the twilight blackness of the beach. Jun peered off towards the ocean, squinting to try and see anything. I looked around and saw a single torch bobbing in the opposite direction. I called out to Noki, who ran over to us.

"You see anything out there?" Noki shook his head.

"Did you hear anything?" Noki raised his eyebrow at Jun's question.

"No, nothing out of the ordinary; all is quiet." He looked over Jun's shoulder, and a frown crossed his face. "Where is Raula?"

Weall spun, and I scanned the beach for any sign of her torch but saw nothing. I felt Jun stiffen, and he pointed out into the dark.

"There, we have to go now!"

Igripped his hand in mine and nodded to Noki. Without saying a word, we all took off at a sprint for the ocean.

Whenwe neared the waves, Noki's torch illuminated Raula's back. She stood calf-deep in the swell, and her deep, raspy voice was mumbling a word I didn't understand. "Faruk, Faruk."

"Raula, what are you—" I moved to grab her when Noki's hand came down on my shoulder. He was shaking violently and pointed to the surf.

Barelyvisible under the reflections of the torch light on the churning waves was a pair of glowing red eyes. They hid just below the surface, fixed on Raula. She took another step forward and I tried to stop her. But she was an orc and stronger than me. Noki and I yanked at her, but it was hopeless.

"Raula, stop it! Raula!"

Shedidn't hear me; her eyes were fixed on whatever it was that haunted beneath the waves. "I'm coming. Faruk. I'll be home soon." Her face looked serene, not an ounce of fear to be seen, as she walked further into the waves.

"For fuck's sake." Noki kept tugging at Raula, but I let go and drew my sword, raising it above whatever was hiding away.

Itshellish gaze snapped to me, and I saw the water break as it rose out of the surf. Long glistening tendrils of hair clung to an elongated, horse-like face. Its skin was pitch black and glossy, like oil spread over the surface of the water. A huge mouth full of sharpened teeth grinned at me, and I swung. Its face shifted, and I froze.

Theblack tendrils of hair turned to a shimmering silver, and the smile turned mischievous and filled with gleaming white teeth. Red glowing eyes turned emerald green, crinkling at the corners as they stared at me. I froze mid-swing.

"Abraxas?"

"Yes, my love. It's me. Come with me; let's go home." He held out a beautiful, strong hand. He smiled in that devastating way. "Come to me, my love." I dropped my sword and reached out for his extended hand. Every fiber of my being begged me to run to him, but each movement was an effort like someone was holding me back.

"Yes, just a bit further, Princess. Then we can be together again." Something was wrong; I knew it. My legs were unbelievably cold, and I could hear… something. This isn't right. But all I could see was his face and how I wished to hold him in my arms as tears streamed down my cheeks. Please, please, just let me make it in time.

Myfingers finally touched his, and his grin spread into something wicked, expanding across his face until it split unnaturally. His teeth grew into needles, and his eyes turned back into those glowing red orbs. I tried to lurch away, but he had me tight within his grasp, and I couldn't breathe.