Page 110 of Heart of the Deep

Chapter 25

Though The Watch was, like most every town on Halora, relatively small, its waterfront was bustling with activity. Fishermen hauled supplies to and from the boats moored along the gently bobbing dock. A few men seemed to be inspecting some sort of damage to one of the hulls, while others were securing a load to the crane that hauled goods to the warehouse atop the cliff.

Larkin recognized one of the boats — it had accompanied the large ship on its two-week hunt for the kraken. It was the vessel she’d been trying to reach when Neo first attacked her.

“That’s my father,” Macy said through the suit comm system, pointing toward a burly, bearded man at the end of the dock.

Larkin turned to look at Randall. He treaded water beside her, frowning. “Do you think Dad is there, too?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Part of me wants him to be, and the other part hopes he’s not.”

“The scouts said they didn’t see any ships nearby,” Aymee said. “There’s a good chance they all came back here.”

“As quick as storms come in during this time of year, they really shouldn’t be going too far from port,” Macy added.

“Practicality isn’t the sort of thing that’s been able to stop our father, lately.” Larkin’s eyes lingered on the dock for another moment before she dipped underwater. The kraken were gathered along the bottom, more than fifty of them, their skin changed to blend into their surroundings. They were nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

Dracchus reverted to his normal coloring as he rose from the seafloor, looking up at her.

Look for our signal,she signed, moving her hands slowly to ensure her gestures were accurate.

Dracchus nodded and signed with equal care, using the human language.See you soon.

Larkin smiled and returned to the surface. “They’ll be waiting.”

“Let’s get this over with,” Randall said.

The four humans swam toward the dock together, suits easing their movement through the calm water. Anticipation fluttered in Larkin’s chest with increasing strength as they neared their destination.

She didn’t know how this meeting would go. None of them did. The kraken and the townsfolk wouldn’t be armed, but any rangers in the vicinity would be carrying rifles. It would be up to Larkin, Randall, Aymee, and Macy to keep the villagers from panicking and the rangers from attacking.

They were only fifteen meters away when shouts rang out and people started grouping up on the dock. Randall was the first to reach it, pulling himself up and turning around to assist Larkin, Aymee, and Macy. They looked at one another, then removed their masks and pulled their hoods back.

“Macy?” someone asked gruffly.

Larkin looked at the man as he came forward, recognizing him as Breckett, Macy’s father.

Macy smiled wide. “Hi, Dad.”

They both ran forward, catching each other in an affectionate embrace.

Breckett lifted Macy off her feet. “Ah, Macy girl, we missed you.”

“Missed you, too, Dad.” Macy’s voice was strained, as though she were on the verge of crying.

“Macy! Aymee!” Another man joined them, his red hair tied back in a ponytail.

“Hi Cam,” Aymee replied with a grin.

“That’s all you got? Hi Cam? We didn’t know if you were dead or alive!” Camrin said, hugging her.

Larkin watched the reunion silently. She knew all too well how they felt. She looked up at her brother only to find his eyes, filled with uncertainty, upon her. She extended her hand and he took it, lacing his fingers with hers.

“We needeveryonehere,” Aymee said, withdrawing from Camrin’s embrace. “Can you get my parents?”

“You’re not leaving yet, are you?” he asked, frowning. “You just got here.”

“It’s important,” Macy said, giving him a quick hug.

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