Page 146 of A Storm in Every Heart
I plunge deeper into the shadowy ocean, the water cool and heavy around me. My head swivels from side to side as I squint against the sting of salt that nips at my eyes, making my vision blur.
He must be here somewhere.He has to be.
I propel myself further down, my webbed fingers slicing through the water. It’s strange and unsettling to look at, but I can’t afford to think about it right now. I can’t think about howmonstrous I must look, or the frightening “rightness” of the ocean around me.
I dive deeper, the unfamiliar pressure building in my ears, until a sudden glint catches my eye.
There, far below me, I finally spot a tattooed forearm and the sleeve of a black shirt billowing like a ghostly flag.
My heart races and I kick my tail, propelling myself deeper into the dark.Down, down, down.
Along the sandy ocean floor, hundreds of fish of every size and color dart out of my way. Crabs scuttle beneath rocks, and squids blend seamlessly into the swaying seaweed. I ignore them, concentrating on the unconscious prince bobbing just above the sand.
Kastian's body is limp, his dark curly hair forming a weightless halo around him. His eyes are shut, and bubbles drift from his parted lips. A heavy iron chain, anchored at the end, is fastened around his ankle.
My eyes widen. I didn’t even see the masked man attach the chain, and I don’t know how I’m going to break it.
A spark of panicked anger shoots through me as I grip the chain in both hands, pulling with all my strength.
To my utter shock, the iron links snap as easily as twine, and I drop them onto the sand.
My heart races with hope as I wrap my webbed fingers around Kastian’s arms and pull upward toward the surface. I’m amazed at how he’s not heavy, and how fast I can swim. Only moments ago, I couldn’t have dragged Kastian across the deck if my life depended on it, but now, when his life really hangs in the balance, I’m different. I’m stronger.
Without warning, something moves out of the corner of my vision.
I jerk as a creeping dread crawls up my spine, and I turn toward the feeling of eyes boring into my back.
Out of the swirling water, three ethereal figures emerge, and I recoil, as the hope in my chest stutters and dies.
The sirens look nothing like the beautiful woman from the beach. They have the torsos of women and the bottom half of ocean predators. Each of their faces is angular with enormous pupil-less eyes and tight, greenish-gray skin that appears to be pulled tight over their skulls with no flesh between skin and bone. Their hair flows like ropes of swaying seaweed, and rows of needle-like teeth fill their wide mouths. The two in the back have sleek and powerful fish tails, while the leader’s hip bones end above a mass of writhing black tentacles.
A whirlwind of fear and fascination churns within me. I open my own mouth and run my tongue over my teeth, and jolt at the sharp prick of fangs. Looking down, I see my own powerful, glittering tail.
Absurdly, the only thought that passes through my numb mind is that at least I don’t have tentacles.
Like she somehow read my mind, the squid-like siren floats toward me, her tentacles undulating. She opens her horrific jaws and gives me something like a smile. My eyes land on a familiar crown of coral and pearls atop her green hair.
I open my mouth to try to speak. I’m not sure what I mean to say, but it doesn’t matter because no words escape me. The water distorts my voice into a chilling blend of melody and anguish, echoing like a song entwined with a scream.
The tentacled queen stiffens at the sound of my voice rippling through the water. She raises a hand to her companions, and they fall back, swimming in wide circles around us like sharks stalking prey.
The queen glides through the water with effortless grace. Her mesmerizing, fathomless eyes lock onto me with unsettling intensity. Her lips don’t move, but her ghostly voice whispers in the back of my mind:You’re back far sooner than I expected.
I shake my head vigorously and try once again to speak.No, I’m not. I’m not here for you.
She looks at Kastian’s floating body, and in my head her tone is slightly sarcastic. Mocking.What’s this? Another man, lost to a siren’s lure. Unfortunate…and tragically predictable.
I shake my head.No, that’s not what this is. I’ve already seen that happen once. I won’t let it happen again.
The queen drifts closer, and her voice in my mind answers as if she can hear my thoughts. She sounds almost amused.You already let it happen. He’s already dead. I warned you this would happen. You don’t belong on land, and the longer you stay the more people you’ll destroy.
No!I try to shout, even as I know she’s right. The bubbles have stopped rising from Kastian’s mouth, and his body feels heavier in the water.I can still help him.
The siren responds as if the thought was intended for her.You can’t. You won’t reach the surface in time.
I can’t keep my thoughts from leaking out for the siren to hear.Please, help me.
The siren’s expression does not change. She doesn’t blink, or even open her mouth, but somehow I know she’s laughing at me.Help you? Why would you assume I can do anything?
