Chapter Four Zeklan

E ven as she fights me, I can't help but smile. She's alive. And by the grace of the gods, I'm alive. A sweeter day has never dawned.

I glance above me, watching as the smoke monster–no, Arthur –shelters us. Giving a quick look at the shore, I see why. Three men approach and I can tell full well who they are without having to see their faces. These are the same three men who tortured me and then ran when Arthur took the boat.

Not that he really did that but it's amazing what people will assume when their vessel is being shaken like a pod of lupins. I was amazed at how quickly they left me behind, cowering in fear. I had no idea what the next monster might be to attack me. But he had only spoken to me, explaining who he was, and reassuring me that everything was going to be alright as his smoke delved between my bindings and loosened them enough for me to escape.

I didn't question the beast after that, only followed blindly as he pushed me over the edge of the ship and into the water.

Oh, how the pain consumed me. And he gave me time to howl against the wretched torture. Even though we had Mabel to rescue, he still knew that I was no good to him unless I had absorbed enough water to fuel me again. Unfortunately, that had been an arduous process and I still grind my teeth against the memory of the agony.

But here I am, free from the clutches of the king and Reeve. Mabel may be fighting me but Fenn reaches out to grab her, Brugo not far behind as one long arm closes around Mabel and draws her to him. My tentacles are still stretched over her, making sure she doesn't slither back into the water and make for the shore. She must sense that the king is close and that is a threat to us all if she manages to slip out of our clutches.

Arthur is overhead and I watch as Brugo shoots wary glances in his direction. He probably doesn't know yet. Or maybe he can sense the connection already. I certainly could as soon as Arthur uttered his name. Something deep inside of me settled. There was a clicking into place as the reality of everything I have ever known somehow rushed into my consciousness. Arthur is the completion of our group. And, somehow, he is also the answer.

Regardless of what he told me briefly.

"I am Arthur, another of Mabel's monsters," he uttered as he rushed through the sky over my head. I was swimming at the time, still drawing the ocean into my pores and replenishing my body.

"You're our friend then," I returned.

"No," he replied. "I am the reason you are all like this."

There hadn't been time after that to ask further questions.

And, regardless of what he hastily told me, I believe he is the answer. That whatever he may think about himself is merely not true. I don't know how I know that, only that I do. It is the same sensation I had before Mabel turned up at my cave. It's a simple knowing that I can neither challenge nor question.

Arthur will help us and there is no need to bother with any other query surrounding that truth.

Although, judging by the expression on Brugo's face, he will have a multitude of questions. Also, I am only just realizing now that the boat we have is our actual boat. When Arthur said we had to return to the vessel, I just assumed we'd taken over Tomkin's or that they had somehow managed to sort out a new one.

However, there is no time to think about that, not when Reeve is approaching. While the king is just as vile–Tomkin too–it is Reeve that is the greatest danger here. He loves Mabel and he will do anything he can to get her back.

But I love her too–more than he ever could–so there's no way I will give her up without a fight.

Speaking of, Mabel manages to impart a final blow to my face with the heel of her foot as Brugo draws her up onto the boat. I feel the rush of blood from my nose but don't care a single bit. Not when I am slithering aboard myself.

"We need to go now!" I shout skyward and Arthur doesn't need to be told twice as he draws his body up into an enormous white cloud. The wind billows around him, his shape barely recognizable as he creates the perfect storm for us to escape.

I heave in jagged breaths as I regain my energy. Leaning against the mast, I watch as Reeve and the others hit the shore. He doesn't slow as he rushes into the water. Waves are quickly gathering in size as the choppy water sloshes against him.

Our vessel is moving so quickly that even the not quite human can't reach us. In fact, I have vertigo and my stomach lurches with how fast we are traveling thanks to the monstrous cloud overhead. Arthur expands out and drops down behind the boat, making us move even faster as we glide through the water.

Fighting back vomit, I hold on tightly to the mast with several of my tentacles, the others reaching out and securing Mabel once more. Fenn and Brugo still have a hold of her, but she knows she is losing sight of Reeve and the king,

And that makes her fight even harder.

I look over the boat, gazing through the fog of Arthur to see just how far we already are from the shore. We're traveling so quickly that even if Tomkin's ship had been manned and ready to sail, they would never reach us on their own steam alone.

"How long can you maintain this?" I ask of the giant monster who is racing us to safety across the water. I want to know if we have time to fuck Mabel's curse out of her.

There is a darkened patch that I think is Arthur's face. It has two small charcoal smudges that could be his eyes and a wider slash that seems to curl up into a smile as I speak.

"For as long as it takes to get us to safety–and to make sure Mabel remembers who we are."

That's all I need to hear.