Page 114 of Of the Stars and Sea

“Who are you!” My shout rings through the space.

Pointing my dagger at the closest one, I take all three of them in. The two in the water have just their faces exposed, but I can see the long tendrils of white hair floating effortlessly around their bodies. They look to be twins, as they both have the same heart-shaped face with small opalescent jewels encrusting their skin along their foreheads and down the sides of the cheeks.

Both of them blink their large eyes at me simultaneously as I shift my dagger to point it at them, but neither of them make a move.

Water drips onto the stone as the third rises to her full height a few feet in front of Grayson.

Her voice is watery as she says, “I am Seraphina. Protector of this mountain and all that lies within it.” She flashes a mouth full of wickedly sharp teeth in what I think is a kind smile, but I can’t be sure. “We have waited millennia for this moment. It seems the time has finally come upon us.”

I see her dip her head and bow before standing straight again.

Grayson lowers his weapon, but I keep mine directed straight at the other two nymphs, who’ve seemed to shift their attention onto Grayson.

Long pointed ears poke through silver strands of wet hair on the one who stands on the stone. Pale blue silk drapes over the curves of her breasts and wraps around her right side, exposing pearlescent white skin that seems to shimmer in the dull light cast off the painting behind me. Her legs and arms are long and willowy and as my eyes trail down her forearms, I notice her fingers are webbed.

She’s stunning and she catches me staring at her as she turns toward me. “Have you found it?”

“What?” My brows pinch together as I finally lower my weapon. Instinct and years of chasing after dangerous pirates tells me she’s no threat. At least not to us.

“The key to unlock the stone door.” There’s an excitement to her voice, as if she truly has waited thousands of years for someone to make their way through these caves.

I steal a glance at Grayson and he nods. Reaching into my coat, I take the box out as I sheath my dagger.

When I reveal the golden trinket, all three of them gasp at once, muttering how beautiful it is in their watery voices. I make quick work of the puzzle and the top clicks open, revealing the luminous Serpent’s Key.

“She has the key,” says one.

“The key. Yes! The key,” says another.

The two water nymphs in the water swim closer to the edge, but do not rise onto the stone.

“We couldn’t find a keyhole,” Grayson mentions to the female standing before him.

“What does it say?” she gestures to the key in my hand, then to the wall behind us.

“‘Where the earth reaches for the heavens, secrets lie. Deep beyond, in darkness you shall see,’” I translate the inscription aloud.

“In darkness you shall see” all three of them repeat at once, the symphony of their voices echoing off the walls in a soothing melody.

I look down at the key again. Streams of fire opal inlaid within the gold give off vibrant orange, yellow, and blue hues. The colors dance. Almost as if the key is alive.

Looking back at the water nymph, her eyes seem to widen as she gestures her webbed hand from the key to the wall.

I shove the box back into my coat pocket. The column of Grayson’s neck works as I move past him with the key in my open palm. Those flecks of starlight turn to molten silver in his eyes, moving about like a serpent slinking just below the water’s surface, showing the shiny scales of its back now and again. He’s excited. I’ve waited a long time for this and he’s waited . . . forever.

This is it.

Raven’s death. Leaving my crew behind. The risk of Blythe’s vengeful rage.

All of it has led to this one moment.

Thaeto’s treasure—unimaginable wealth and the key to our freedom—may very well be locked behind this door.

Standing in front of it, I raise the key, letting its luminous jewels shine upon the onyx stone. The key’s light is so bright I can see the blurry image of my reflection in the stone as I movethe key up and down. I feel Grayson move to stand behind me, his large hand splays against the small of my back.

“I don’t see anything,” I whisper to him.

“It’s okay. Keep trying.” His words are calm. Steady. An anchor to my rising excitement.

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