Page 20 of Heir of the Beast

“Mort!” I swallow some water, making my throat burn from the salt. “You’re pushing me off, you idiot!” I yell as a big wave brings us almost vertical.

I gasp as the water crashes upon us like a Water World ride on Crash Mountain. How I didn’t fall off is a mystery. My little body is still clinging on for dear life. I impress myself sometimes.

Mort screeches and claws the splintery wood. “I H-HATE WATER!”

“Are you kidding me, agent Mort?!” I look at her in disdain, then violently push her to scoot over. “I’m not about to use my lifeline in the first t-ten minutes we are h-here!”

More waves crash on us, forcing an alarming amount of seawater up my nose. “Mother of Mike, that burns!” I gasp. “Where is this Apollo ship?! Screw you, Pierce!”

Great, I’m sure I look like a washed-up rat! Water is coming out of my nose, and my eyes are most likely bloodshot.

Perhaps Pierce thought I was immune to crashing waves and saltwater being violently forced up my nostrils.

But by pure luck, the waves die down after ten minutes, and I can shakily go on my knees to scan the dark sea around me. This is the first time my thoughts are not ~I’M GOING TO DIE!~

A couple of steady breaths and I can process coherent thoughts.

This is real.

This is happening.

I don’t trust this sudden calm water, and the thought that I could die at any point scares the hell out of me.

My thigh-high, soft leather boots do nothing for traction, and my torn skirt is making me slip like a baby deer on ice. Worst case scenario times TEN.

I slowly sit up on shaking limbs and try not to freak out. Mort does the same, probably embarrassed of her un-agent-y antics.

The sky is stormy, swirls of black and gray with flickers of lighting. It is not raining yet, but I bet it’s about to pour hellfire. My adrenaline is pumping, making me forget the bitter cold of being soaked.

I’m on a different planet, I remind myself.

“Big, d-deep breaths, Viola,” Mort commands through chattering teeth.

I just look at her.

“Thanks, I feel much better,” I respond with sarcasm. I can feel my teeth start to chatter too, and my muscles are shaking.

Mort looks like she is typing on an invisible computer with one hand and blinking her eyes like she has computer contacts.

Really though, she looks like she has mental issues. Perhaps dropped on the head as a baby.

She glances at me and nods out in front of us. “They already see us.”

“What?”

“Their ship is invisible.”

My gaze jerks to stare in front of me, my heart pounding. “Where? Can you see them?”

“Yes, just the negative outline of it. They’re about a hundred feet to our left, trying to see who we are most likely before they show themselves and offer help.”

“That’s close,” I whisper, seeing nothing but endless sea. ~Wild.~

“Uh-oh.”

My head jerks toward her. “What does ‘uh-oh’ mean, Mort?” I yell, glaring at her. I am starting to shiver uncontrollably now—the wind is like ice.

“I am getting a red alert.”

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