18. Cassius

18

CASSIUS

I scan the horizon, my eyes catching the glint of sunlight on water. The coast. Finally. After days of trekking through this dense forest, we're close to our goal. I can feel the magic thrumming through my veins, pulling me forward like an invisible string.

"There it is, sweetheart," I say, nodding towards the shoreline. "Ready for a swim?"

Faye follows my gaze, her golden-brown eyes narrowing. "As ready as I'll ever be." Her voice lacks its usual spark, and I notice the dark circles under her eyes.

"We should keep moving," I suggest, fighting the urge to reach out and touch her. "The sooner we get there, the sooner we can figure out what this tablet's all about."

She nods, adjusting her pack. "Lead the way."

I almost tease her that I need her to go first so that I can protect my pretty face, but I can tell she is in no mood. She's been off since I held her two days ago, calming her until she fell asleep. And then yesterday, when we made camp, I curled around her and she said nothing as I pulled her tight against me.

So instead of taunting each other, we push on in silence, the forest gradually thinning as we near the coast. The salty air fills my lungs, a welcome change from the musty forest scent. Faye's footsteps are nearly silent beside me, her hunter's grace undiminished despite our long journey.

"You hungry?" I ask as we pause at the forest's edge. The beach stretches before us, empty save for a few scuttling crabs and wheeling seabirds.

Faye shrugs, dropping her pack. "I could eat."

I pull out some dried meat from our supplies, handing her a strip. She takes it without meeting my eyes, chewing mechanically. Something's off, but I can't put my finger on it.

"You okay?" I venture, surprising myself with the concern in my voice.

She looks up, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Just thinking."

I nod, not pushing further. Instead, I stalk off to feed while she eats, not going too far. The crash of waves fill the air, reminding me how close were are now.

The pull of magic is stronger now, an insistent tug towards the water. But as I watch Faye, her brow furrowed in thought, a new feeling creeps in. Worry.

"Faye," I start, my voice low. "You don't have to come with me, you know. If you want to stay here-"

Her head snaps up, eyes flashing. "Don't even think about it, Cassius. We're in this together."

I hold up my hands in surrender. It's so rare I hear my name come out of that pretty little mouth that I'm taken aback. "Alright, alright. We'll just... be careful, okay?"

She snorts, some of her old fire returning. "Worried about me, pretty boy?"

I roll my eyes, but can't hide my smirk. "Just don't want to have to save your ass again."

Faye punches my arm lightly, and for a moment, everything feels normal. But as we pack up and head towards the water, I can't shake the feeling that I'm leading her into danger. And for the first time in centuries, the thought of someone else getting hurt actually bothers me.

As we approach the water's edge, the magic intensifies, thrumming through my body. It's almost overwhelming, and I know without a doubt that we're not alone here.

"Faye," I say, grabbing her arm to stop her. "Wait."

She looks at me, brow furrowed. "What is it?"

I scan the seemingly calm waters, sensing the danger lurking beneath. "There are monsters down there. Guarding the gate, just like the tablet warned."

Her hand instinctively moves to her bow. "So what's the plan?"

I take a deep breath, knowing she won't like what I'm about to say. "I need you to stay here on the shore."

"What?" Her eyes flash with anger. "No way. We're in this together, remember?"

"I know, sweetheart, but hear me out," I say, holding up my hands. "I have the magic to go underwater, and let's face it, I can't die. I need to dive down there and see what we're up against. Then I'll come back, and we can make a plan together."

Faye's jaw clenches, her hands balling into fists. "So you're just going to leave me here? Useless?"

"I'm not leaving you out," I insist, fighting the urge to pull her close. To kiss her and tell her I can't let her get hurt, not again. "I just need to assess what kind of magic I'll need to use for both of us. It's reconnaissance, nothing more."

She glares at me for a long moment, and I can see the battle raging behind her eyes. Finally, she lets out a frustrated growl. "Fine. But if you're not back in an hour, I'm coming in after you, monsters be damned."

I can't help but smirk. "Wouldn't expect anything less from you, sweetheart."

Faye turns away, arms crossed. "Just go, pretty boy. And don't get all messed up. I only keep you around because you're nice to look at." But there's a bite to her voice that makes it less than teasing.

More like words meant to distract from worry.

I nod, even though she can't see it, and start walking towards the water. As the waves lap at my feet, I cast one last look back at Faye.

She's watching me, her expression a mix of anger and worry. Those golden-brown eyes of hers are practically burning holes into my back. For a moment, I consider staying, telling her it's not worth the risk. But the pull of the magic is too strong to ignore. It's like a siren's call, tugging at every fiber of my being.

Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for what's to come. The cold water laps at my feet, sending a shiver up my spine. With one last glance at Faye, I plunge into the sea, the icy waves enveloping me. As I dive deeper, leaving her alone on the shore, I can't shake the feeling that I'm making a mistake. But it's too late now. The magic calls, and I must answer.

I dive deeper into the murky depths, the magic pulsing stronger with each powerful stroke. I quickly use my magic to force air into my lungs, making sure that I can keep going without the limitations.

The water around me grows darker, colder, but my vrakken senses allow me to navigate with ease, my eyes piercing through the gloom like a predator in the night. Every movement feels fluid, effortless, as if the sea itself is guiding me deeper into its murky depths. The chill doesn't bother me. My flesh feels immune to such discomforts.

The pulse of the ancient power grows more intense, an irresistible pull guiding me towards our goal. It's intoxicating, this raw magic, and I can feel it seeping into my very bones. My entire body thrums with anticipation, every nerve ending alive with the promise of untapped power.

The further I descend, the stronger it becomes, pulsing through the water like a heartbeat. It's almost overwhelming, this primal energy, and for a moment I wonder if even I, an ancient vrakken, can truly control such force.

As I descend further into the murky depths, the seafloor finally comes into view, a barren expanse dotted with strange, bioluminescent creatures I've never encountered before. Their eerie glow casts dancing shadows across the ocean floor, creating an otherworldly landscape that both fascinates and unnerves me. The pressure at this depth would crush a normal being, but my vrakken body barely registers the discomfort.

And then I see it – the gate. It looms before me, a massive structure of twisted metal and stone, far larger than I had imagined in my wildest dreams. It's covered in pulsing runes that glow with an eerie, otherworldly light, each symbol seeming to whisper secrets of unimaginable power.

The sheer magnitude of the gate is overwhelming, dwarfing everything around it. I can feel the ancient magic radiating from it, calling to the power in my own blood. This, I realize with a mix of awe and trepidation, is what we've been searching for all along.

My heart races as I approach, the magic now thrumming through my entire being, setting every nerve ending on fire. I reach out, my pale fingers just inches from the surface of the gate, anticipation building to a fever pitch.

But just as I'm about to make contact, the water around me explodes into chaos. The sudden violence of it catches me off guard, and for a moment, I'm lost in a maelstrom of bubbles and debris.

A massive tentacle, easily as thick as my torso, whips out of the darkness, narrowly missing my head. I spin, barely dodging another strike as more tentacles emerge from the gloom. The creature reveals itself – a colossal, monstrous thing with a bulbous body and countless writhing arms.

Its single, massive eye fixes on me, glowing with malevolent intelligence. I try to swim away, but the beast is faster than I anticipated. A tentacle wraps around my leg, yanking me back with terrifying force.

And I know I'm fucked.