Page 105 of Whispered Warnings: Part Two

“Don’t worry, we’ll get him,” Reed assures me as he and Griff dive back off and straight down for the cliff.

I start to panic more as I see them circle near the waves instead of heading for the cave entrance.

“What’s happening? Why aren’t they going in?” I ask frantically.

River pulls me against his chest, holding on to me tightly, as Raiden and Ransom move either side of us, and Doc steps forward to get a closer look.

“I don’t think they can get back in the cave,” he says, his own panic distorting his voice.

“What!” I exclaim, as I try to move closer to the edge, River’s arms holding me tighter is the only thing that stops me and gives me a moment of clarity, there isn’t anything I can do.

“It’s okay, he’s a siren. It’s been a while since he’s been in these conditions, but he can’t drown,” Ransom says, although there’s panic in his voice as well.

“He’s not been in conditions quite like this,” Doc says, his eyes narrowed on the waves below.

I’m trying to control my initial panic, Ransom reminding me that Van is a siren, water is where they thrive. The worry in this situation is the rocks, he could easily get seriously hurt on the rocks, and then get pulled out to sea, or attacked by any number of supes that live in the waters here. Some of them take great pleasure in keeping or even eating people that are stupid enough to be in their waters.

Reed and Griff start to fly back up toward us, and as I’m about to lose control of my panic, I feel Evander’s magic. Strong, really fucking strong, and getting stronger.

“He’s okay. I can feel his magic,” I tell the others, saying it loudly enough that Reed and Griff can hear me as well, and there’s a collective sigh of relief.

“Where the hell is he then?” River demands.

“I don’t know,” I frown.

Evander

The sea consumes me, just like I knew it would when I sent them out of here. Sirens don’t have a great track record when it comes to the sea, and I know that Neith knows that because I saw the look of panic come over her features as Reed got her to safety. As soon as I knew that they were out, I let the water flood in, using my magic to help me avoid the currents and, more importantly, the sharp rocks that could not only break something but also make me bleed.

Bleeding in these waters is not a smart idea. There are creatures living in the oceans that are deadly to supernaturals. The humans think that they came over with us when we escaped Trieneliea, but they’re wrong. They have always been here and come from a time before, a time long forgotten and one that the humans aren’t even aware existed. Their memories don’t go that far back. We’re taught about them because of their liking for supernaturals in particular.

Never bleed in the ocean. You’ll call to them.

There have only been a few instances where supes have been consumed by them, but they were horrifying enough that no one wants to experience it.

I don’t want to bleed in these waters.

My magic is stronger than it should be. I never would have been able to control the waves before, and I have no idea why I suddenly can. The water wraps around me, trying to pull me in all directions and I try to steady myself. I get dragged across the cave floor as a particularly big wave crashes inside the cave, andit pulls me out, dumping me into the sea. If I thought it was bad in the cave it is nothing compared to what’s happening out here. Even though I can breathe underwater, the constant battering from all angles is knocking the breath out of me and making this situation become even more threatening.

I’m barely managing to control it when another huge swell turns me through the water again, making me lose track of which way is up. My back slams against a rock with force making me curse and knocking what little breath I had from my lungs. It’s not until I’ve managed to orientate myself and start swimming upward, using my magic to propel me faster, that I notice the stinging sensation in my back.

Shit, I’m bleeding.

My eyes scan my surroundings as I push upward as fast as possible. I start to let out a relieved breath when I spot the dark shape, moving fast and getting bigger by the second, it’s fucking huge and aiming straight for me.

Oh hell no, I am not being eaten by that thing, and I will not leave Neith just as I have finally fucking found her.

I concentrate harder, digging deeper and surprising myself when my magic comes easily, sensing the threat and coming to my aid. It builds around me with so much strength that it makes me slightly nervous. I don’t have time to focus on that though as the giant shape gets even bigger, and I start to see teeth, thousands of teeth as big as I am.

Fucking hell.

My magic forces me upward with such speed that it launches me straight out of the ocean, a stream of water lifting me all the way up to the top of the cliff. It’s a damn good job it has, and that Reed and Griff are nowhere to be seen because the terrifying creature that wants to take a bite out of me follows me out of the water snapping its giant jaws as it leaps into the air.

“What the fuck is that!” Reed exclaims as my feet touch the ground next to them.

Neith immediately throws herself at me, her arms wrapping around me and holding me tightly. Pain stings my back, but I don’t let go. I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

Raiden’s shocked voice answers Reed’s question, “It’s a Gruiaerty. They’ve lived in this realm for longer than the humans have and only retreated to the ocean when the humans appeared. They have a taste for supernaturals, but they only attack if they smell supernatural blood.”

---