Page 62 of Of Song and Darkness

The sea witch sharply veered to the right, yanking the ship along like a mere bobber skimming across the water. She began to spin in the water at such speed I feared the ship would lift from the very sea. In seconds, she created a massive whirlpool that swirled with her evil vengeance. The sea witch dove, snapping the line taut as she began to pull us under.

“She’s going to drag us to the bottom!” Cael cautioned as he clung onto the mast to keep upright.

Rhea glanced at me over her shoulder, a flicker of fear in her irises. I scanned the condition of the ship. The moan of the boat told me that the pressure was too great and it would be crushed in a matter of minutes if I didn’t do something. My crew dangled from ropes they had secured around their waists, swaying like spiders tossed in the wind.

I yelled at Rhea over the commotion. “Keep the rudder straight. If it turns, we will fall bow-first into the center of the whirlpool and be sucked down.”

She nodded once in understanding and reached trembling hands to the wheel. Once she had control of the ship, I released the wheel and rushed to the ropes that anchored us to the sea witch. The boat jerked, causing me to nearly lose my footing. I glanced back, picking up speed, when I saw Rhea throwing everything she had into keeping the ship from slipping into the abyss.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as I pulled my sword from the scabbard on my hip. I sliced through the ropes one by one, each line popping and whizzing by my face as the tension released. I reached the last tether, my sword cutting through it like a hot knife through butter. The ship lurched, throwing me and the entire crew to the deck as it popped out of the whirlpool like a cork on a bottle of ale.

My head buzzed as it collided roughly with the deck, sending a jolt of pain through me. I struggled to regain my footing, but the dizzying throb in my skull made everything blur into double vision. The sea witch rose from the depths, a sinister grin pulling on her wicked lips. I forced myself to stand, but the pounding in my head and the pain in my poisoned black heart were nearly too much to bear.

My gaze cut to the helm, desperate for one last glance of Rhea before the sea witch put an end to my miserable life. I needed to see her perfect face, run my fingers through her long copper hair, and press my lips to hers—lips that seemed to be made just for me. Rhea rushed to my side, but she wouldn’t make it. The sea witch polluted the salty sea air with her magic. It popped and hissed as it encompassed the ship. The water rose over the sides, entrapping us in a bubble.

The sea witch’s magic reached for me, wrapping around me and squeezing. I tried to call on my sea powers, but it was useless. The Dark Water that swirled through my veins weakened me, preventing my ability to rise from the depths.

“No!” Rhea screamed as the rippling magic lifted me from the deck.

“Rhea! Stay back,” I roared, thrashing against the sorcery that held me in place as she rushed to the side of the ship closest to the sea witch.

“I’ll make a trade,” Rhea yelled, demanding the sea witch’s attention.

The sea witch threw her head back and laughed, the sound vibrating through my bones. “You have nothing I want.”

Rhea stepped closer. “I offer you my father’s trident!”

Everything stood still after the words left her mouth. The sea witch ceased her laughing and pinned Rhea with her harsh gaze. I crashed to the deck as the sea witch recalled her magic. Quickly, I regained my footing as Rhea rushed to my side. I plastered her body to mine as the sea witch shrank to her normal size and crawled over the railing. My trepidation rose the closer she stalked.

The sea witch rose taller in an effort to intimate Rhea. “No one can get the trident from Manta.”

Rhea stepped out of my arms, closing the distance between her and the sea witch. “Have you so quickly forgotten how I got the information about the locket in the first place and where to find you?”

Something flashed across the sea witch’s expression before an eerie smile settled upon her lips. “Maybe you can get me the trident.”

“Oh, I can get it. The question is, are you powerful enough to meet my part of the bargain?”

The sea witch scoffed. “Your part of the bargain is that I will spare your life.”

The mischievous tilt to Rhea’s mouth had me momentarily awestruck. “Not for the trident. That trident is the essence of Aquarius. For something that precious, I want more.”

The sea witch seemed to be considering Rhea’s request. She raked her fingers through her mass of white hair, flipping it over her shoulder. “What is it you want?”

I wanted to hear this myself. Rhea had saved us once again with her quick wit and bravery. Now, I was enthralled, trying to figure out the workings of her devious little mind.

Rhea walked back over to me, placing her hand on my chest. My blood heated as her skin touched mine, but at the moment, it was not from want.

“Rhea…” I warned as my muscles pulled taut.

Rhea ignored me, never meeting my eyes. She gripped my shirt and ripped it open, exposing my black-veined chest.

Suspicion crept into the sea witch’s dark eyes, and I knew she was trying to figure out why I was still alive.

Rhea turned back toward the sea witch. “Can you remove the Dark Water?”

“You care for this pirate enough to risk your kingdom’s trident?” The sea witch gawked.

Rhea turned to me with unshed tears glistening in her eyes. A calm fierceness settled over her expression as she locked her gaze with mine. “Yes.”

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