Page 21 of Heir of the Beast

“Explain before I strangle you, so help me God!” I am on an alien world in the middle of the black sea—you don’t just say that to someone.

Isn’t that like survival code or something?

She is visibly pale. That’s when I feel a hard bump on our little shit-raft. Something underneath just hit us with force, jolting me to the left. “What was that?!”

This is not happening.

“Something very large, I would say the size of a whale, but like a shark.” She was typing on her invisible computer. “And more snake-like. Confirming, but I think we are in trouble.

“We might need to use a lifeline. My scale shows they’re a seven on the danger scale. We probably have five minutes. It looks like it’s circling us.”

I just stare at her, mouth hanging open.

I can’t even.

“Give me a second, this is my first mission. I’m just getting used to this computer program.”

“This is your first mission?! Computer program?!” I scream so loud, my voice cracks.

Just then, like magic, the massive three-story ship is visible, cutting through the black waters like a silver blade. It takes my breath away like someone literally punched me in the gut.

It looks like a pirate ship, but it is made from silver metal and shiny bronze. This is a pirate ship on steroids and a little acid…and maybe some meth thrown in there too.

“Holy…” I trail off.

The vessel is terrifying. I can see figures on board running up and down the main deck. Apollo is supposedly on this ship. I might be the first to see him. I wonder if they saw me yet.

Then I remind myself I probably resemble a drowned rat, and my spirits fall.

“Viola!” Mort screams.

I look back and see a high dorsal fin circling us, and I gasp. “Oh, shit, that’s big!” I realize I have taken my potty mouth to a whole new level.

Both of us are trying to sit in the middle of the raft as if that will save us. I think I’m screaming, but I am not sure. My brain is misfiring at a very crucial time.

I glance back to the ship and notice men on board yelling something at us, but I can’t make it out. “What are they saying?!”

She blinks, then blinks again. “They are telling us not to move a muscle, or we will die—something like that. They are lowering a small boat to fetch us, I believe.”

It slithers like a giant anaconda, its enormous body becoming visible on top of the water.

Oh no. What a horrid way to die.

I need to think. I try to calm my breathing to ease my shaking body. I am always good at thinking under pressure when I can calm myself. I just need a moment’s clarity.

I really don’t want to use a lifeline. Not this early. That is as bad as being on ~Who Wants to Be a Millionaire~ and using a lifeline on the first question.

“Mort, can you give me a bow?”

“On it.” She is doing the typing and blinking thing again. “I will give you one with speed-enhancing arrows.”

I look at her, shocked. A smile spreads over my lips. “Mort, you just redeemed yourself!”

She glances at me and smirks back. Holy moly, I think we just bonded.

Hopefully no one notices, but I now have a black metal bow with deadly looking arrows strapped to my back. We are still a ways away, so I doubt it. I know what I must do, and I have to do it fast.

I stand up, rocking the raft to gain balance, and ignore the yells from the men trying to make their way to us. This is suddenly awesome. I don’t need Apollo’s men because I forgot that I’m a badass!

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