Page 47 of Rebel in the Deep

It courses northwest, faster and faster. Siobhan watches the movement with narrowed eyes. “You’re almost there. A little farther and then you can release it.”

I don’t ask her how she can possibly see that far. Her eyesight is better than anyone else’s I’ve ever met, courtesy of her heritage. I trust her word. Apparently Bowen does, too, because when she says, “Now!” the acid falls from the sky in a waterfall of death.

I don’t know if I believe in gods, ancient or dead or otherwise, but I almost pray right then and there that no one is in the location Siobhan has directed Bowen to deposit the acid. If theyare, they’re not long for this world or any other. The thought makes me sick.

But not as much as the realization that washes over me when I look up. Because, although Bowen has deposited a large lake’s worth of acid away from us, it’s not over.

It’s still raining.

Chapter24

Siobhan

Acid rain. On an entirefucking city. I stare into the sky through Evelyn’s shield and wonder where it all went so wrong. My sister isn’t a fool; she wouldn’t have successfully joined the Council if she was. This kind of attack would never be sanctioned. How can you pretend you’re hunting monsters and protecting people when you send out a damn storm that will kill anyone caught in it?

“We have to stop her.” Even as I say the words, the realization of what Morrigan is attempting to accomplish with this reckless move rolls over me. Of course we have to stop her. Of course she’s using extreme violence to draw me out. She’s tired of chasing me and wants me to come to her. “That bitch,” I breathe.

Bowen is on his knees, all color bleached from his face. The fact that he’s still conscious after that display of power boggles the mind. I knew he was powerful, but I had no idea the depth of it. “It’s still raining,” he rasps.

“Yes, but not as hard.” Evelyn doesn’t look too good, either.Her hands shake where they dig into the earth at our feet. Her spells truly are something to be coveted. It’s a good thing the Council isn’t aware of her, or they would have sent someone to haul her to Lyari to work directly for them.

Bastian squints at the sky. “I think it’s stopping.”

“It is.” Dia has her head tilted back and is fully relaxed, trusting us to ensure she makes it out of this. Or at least trusting Bowen. “If you send some of that wind now, Nox, it will disperse the remainder of it. He’s not feeding energy into the storm any longer.” She huffs out a breath that’s almost a laugh. “No stamina, that boy.”

I haven’t spent much time among the elderly. Life on the streets of Lyari is hard, and the privilege of growing old isn’t given to many. Even after leaving Lyari, my experience has been limited. The sea isn’t the kindest mistress. If sailors and fishermen live long enough to reach old age, they shift to a life spent with their feet planted firmly on the ground, rather than at the whim of the waves.

Even so, surely Dia is…different…from other people her age—and not simply because she’s still sailing.

Bowen staggers to his feet. “I can—”

“I’ve got it.” Nox sounds more tired than I’ve ever heard them. I want to tell them not to do this, not to drain any more magic from their depleted reserves, but I already know they won’t listen. And the people of Kanghri don’t deserve to suffer because my sister wants me dead.

I exchange an agonized look with Bastian, understanding blooming between us. It will always be like this. If not Nox, then it will be one of us, putting ourselves in danger in service of the greater good. “Be quick,” I finally say.

I go and stand behind them, bracing them with my body and my strength as they send their magic out in the form of air streams. Within moments, the clouds overhead break apart as if a giant reached up and swiped them away. The acid rain eases and then stops altogether.

Nox slumps back against me. “I’m tapped.” Their words slur a little. “Well isn’t as deep as it used to be.”

Fear slashes me, but I work to keep it out of my voice. We don’t have time for me to have an emotional reaction. “I know.”

“They did so much damage,” they murmur. “Any crops they managed to drag from the earth here will be destroyed. Fishing might be a problem, too.”

“Not to mention they have a brand-new acid lake.” Bastian scrubs a hand over his face. “How many people will die there before they realize what it is? How many kids will die after, ignoring the warnings of their elders about the danger?”

Evelyn frowns. “With a few earth-users, maybe they could cover it up and bury it away.”

“And have it resurface later, even worse than before?” Nox shakes their head. “I’ll send word—”

“How?” I guide them down to sit on the ground. “Your communication with the Council has been destroyed.”

They set their jaw. “There are other ways.”

“Those ways are going to have to wait.” Bowen stumbles a little as he makes his way to us. “I think we’re about to have company.”

I look over his shoulder and, sure enough, a small group of people are following the same path we took out of Kanghri. The distance is too great to pick out their features, even for me, buttheir movement is intent enough that I have no doubt they’re tracking us. “We need to move.”

Which is a damned problem because most of our party is dead on their feet. Nox can barely stand up on their own. Bowen is leaning heavily on Evelyn, Bastian has deep circles beneath his eyes, and Dia, while spry enough, is as old as dirt. With how fast the other group is moving, they’ll be on us well before we reach the beach, let alone manage to row out to the ship.

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