Page 40 of Call of the Fathoms

There was so much for him to be proud of, and his wife deserved to know what an incredible being their son had become.

But she was gone, and there was only him now. Lingering in the sulfur vents where there were few answers and only more questions.

He sighed, readying himself to leave. Shaking out his fluke, he tried to understand why the sea had sent his wife. Was it because the sea wanted him to remember why he was doing what he was doing? He remembered. His family and his... friends needed him.

A low, echoing chuckle rocked through the vents. Quite literally through the vents. It was like the depths of the sea rumbled with the sound, echoing with that ancient voice who had called him deep into the abyss not all that long ago.

“You aren’t very good at listening,” that god-like voice boomed. The vents bubbled with the force of it. Giant lava bubbles erupted from within the vents, disturbing the sulfur and sending more of it cascading out toward him until he expelled it all from his gills because it was too much, even for a depthstrider.

Was he hallucinating? The sea floor could notspeak.

“I listen well,” he said. “I hearyou.”

“As you must. But you speak with the dead and you do not listen. What an interesting depthstrider you are, Fortis. I am greatly enjoying watching your journey.”

The spines along his back and arms rose. “Who are you?”

“I did not tell you then, and I will not tell you now.”

“Why are you hiding yourself? You were in that tomb, were you not?”

“I am everywhere and nowhere. I am part of the sea and part of the land. I am beyond your understanding.”

Who was this voice? Fortis had spoken with the ancients before, but this was different. This creature did not sound the same as those lingering giants in the depths.

His guts twisted with fear. He hadn’t felt like this in very many years. Fear wasn’t something a depthstrider often felt in the sea, and even when he had discovered his son had been captured by those in Alpha, all he had felt was rage. It was rare for Fortis to lose control like this.

But the creature who now spoke to him was unlike anything he had met before.

“Oh Fortis,” the voice chuckled. A few lava bubbles popped with the laugh, spraying out sizzling molten pieces into the sea. “You think too much. I can feel those thoughts rumbling in your head. I’m not going to ask you to do much.”

“What are you going to ask me to do?”

“That thick skull of yours is impeding my plan. I need you to take the woman out of her ship. Look through her mind again. There has to be some information that will get you and your people inside of Tau.”

“I do not wish to force her.” He hated that it was the truth. Even saying the words felt like a betrayal to his wife, who had just been right in front of him. “If she has information toshare with me, then I would have her tell me through her own volition.”

It was the least he could do. After everything Alexia had shared, and after everything he had seen himself, he didn’t want to force her. Not when there was still a chance she could make the right choice.

A low hum echoed through the water, and the lava stilled. “You believe you can win her over.”

“I do.”

“You believe she will choose to help us.”

He hesitated only a brief moment before sighing, “I do.”

Another low hum. “If that is so, then you need to do it faster than you are now. She said she has never seen kindness, Fortis. Show her kindness.”

What a terrible idea. She was a warrior woman, a creature who responded only to violence and fighting. She wouldn’t care if he was kind. But the more he thought about it, the more he thought perhaps this strange, unknown voice was right. Maybe Alexia did need to see a different side of him.

Seventeen

Fortis

What a fool Fortis was for even believing a voice under the sea that had absolutely no reason to help him. He didn’t even know who the suspicious voice was, but that was a fear for another day. Right now, he had a plan.

A plan that would help her open up to him. Because the voice was right. She had never seen kindness, not from anyone in her life. If he could show her that, or perhaps convince her that kindness was worthwhile, then he could push her in the right direction. A nudge. That’s all she needed.

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