Page 96 of Jewel of the Sea

A faint light in the gloom was the first sign of the place Captain Wright had calledPontus Alphaand the kraken called the Facility.

“We’re here,” Macy said.

Aymee’s gaze swept over the Facility. It had been here for hundreds of years, and no one on land had known.

“What the hell is this place?” Randall asked with wonder in his voice.

“Their home,” Macy replied, turning her head to look at him. “Our home. It was built by humans before the first colonist ship arrived. It’s where they made the kraken.”

“They? You mean humans... Wemadethem?”

“As slaves.”

“They revolted against the humans,” Aymee said, swimming alongside Dracchus to watch Arkon. His eyes remained closed, and he was limp in the larger male’s hold. “Humans were the villains of kraken history. It’s why they’ve kept to themselves all this time.”

Macy led them past a pair of freestanding lights and to a door on the front of the large central building. There was a red light over the doorframe.

“Do you require entry?” Sam asked.

“Yes, Sam,” Macy replied.

The light over the door turned green, and it slid open.

“How many of them live here?” Randall asked.

“I don’t know,” Macy said, swimming into the open chamber. “A lot.”

Aymee hurried in after, turning as Dracchus carefully entered with Arkon.

Macy pressed a button once everyone was inside, and the door closed.

“Re-pressurization sequence initiated,” Sam said.

The room seemed to hum around them. The water level steadily dropped, and Aymee’s feet settled on the floor. Her awareness of her own weight returned slowly. It was an odd sensation. When the water was gone, the light over the interior door turned green.

“Pressurization complete,” said a feminine voice from somewhere overhead. “Welcome back, divers two-zero-five, five-nine-one, and eight-six-six.”

Macy, Aymee, and Randall removed their masks. The air was surprisingly clean, with only a faint seawater smell.

Together, Aymee and Macy moved into position to support Randall while Jax helped Dracchus lift Arkon, whose head lolled gently from side to side. Aymee looked at him with worry; he’d been unconscious for most of the journey.

Macy reached forward and activated the door switch, opening the way into a long, metal corridor.

“Melaina!” a female voice called.

A small kraken turned the corner and hurried toward them. “Macy! I saw you coming through a window!” she called, face bright. She held an even smaller kraken in her arms.

Aymee’s eyes shifted to the baby. “Is that…?”

“Sarina,” Macy said.

Melaina stopped suddenly, eyes widening as she looked from Aymee to Randall. She clutched Sarina closer. “Who… Are you...Aymee?” she asked, then her gaze shifted to Arkon, and her eyes rounded further. “Arkon’s hurt!”

“Melaina!” A larger kraken turned into the hall. Bare breasts, delicate features, and lighter build marked her as a female. Several more kraken followed behind, all with similarly feminine traits.

“Holy shit,” Randall said breathlessly.

“We cannot stand here forever,” Dracchus grumbled.

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