I let the warmth of my power pulse into Edward’s cold hand, and from my other side, Aarna’s energy flowed through him to meet mine. Pisceongrunted, as our magic merged—peace, love, the cold icy power of the Arctic, monsoon tides of the Indian Ocean, and the might of the Atlantic.
As warm power cascaded through my body, my wings pressed against my back, their desire to break free so great it felt as if a hot poker was stabbing my skin. A cry tore from my lips, tears leaking from my eyes as I fought to keep those shameful things hidden. With a final jab, they retreated, the sensation like fiery coals crumbling through my insides.
I squinted as the tunnel was lit a brilliant silver white, our shared power threading upward in a spiral of elemental force. The darkness reeled, the serpent hissing and striking as if it had been engulfed in flames.
Finn drew a sharp breath and raised his arm. Lightning surged up it this time, flooding the corridor with more blinding radiance. The shadows cracked and scattered, recoiling into the walls like smoke being blown by the wind.
Light again exploded outward in a sudden blaze as Pisceon’s lightning joined Finn’s, a great lance of brilliance arcing through the shadows. Apep recoiled, once more becoming a moving mural on the wall, its body writhing and shuddering as if burned by the memory of the sun.
“Was that a god?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“I don’t know.” Aarna shook her head, her webbed hand still clasped tight in mine. “Perhaps it was some essence of one. As Manannán’s presence grows and evil spreads through the waters, we shouldn’t be surprised if more long-forgotten things rise from shadows.”
51
Morgana
The tunnel returned to silence, and the mural on the wall remained still. Only our ragged breaths permeated the watery darkness.
Aarna rekindled her orb, and her face blanched behind its pearly glow.
“Let’s get out of here. I’ll carry the Drowned Boy,” Pisceon muttered, scooping Edward up under his arm. Edward didn’t complain. His face remained pale, his freckles stark against his skin.
We picked up speed, swimming in tight formation through the tunnel. Pháos led the way, his pale belly moving through the dark like a guiding light. My legs were still trembling, and goosebumps prickled beneath the fur on my forearms, but the water felt lighter, and my senses told me we would soon emerge in the Red Sea.
An agonizing cry cut through the darkness, and Finn doubled over at my side, his tail flicking sharply. Dread curled within me—the Shadow.He had been using too much magic, and it was growing.
“Finn,” I said softly, placing a hand on his back, hoping to soothe him before the others noticed, as he didn’t seem to want them to know.
His muscles clenched, veins pulsing in his neck as he fought to steady his breath and mask the pain, but another tortured cry tore free, and Pisceon spun around.
“Cousin?” Pisceon’s eyes were filled with fear.
Finn grunted again, and he clasped his silver-cuffed right wrist to his chest. His body shook with effort, and a trickle of blood leaked from his nose before the ocean cleaned it.
“I know those cries. I hear them in my nightmares,” Pisceon said. His tail swished as devastation, anger, and pain all exploded on his face, and his fingers curled at his sides. “Fuck!” He swung his fist at the tunnel wall.
The others had stopped. Skye’s and Edward’s faces were etched with confusion, but Aarna and Glacies were taut with worry.
Pháos swam to Finn’s side, nuzzling him gently with his snout.
“You go ahead.” Finn waved a hand. “I need a moment, and we shouldn’t linger.”
“We will stay,” Glacies said gently, and Aarna nodded.
Finn grunted again, his hair sweeping across his forehead with the movement. “Look on the bright side—you’ll be free of our engagement sooner than expected.” He managed a grin at Glacies between ragged breaths.
There was a pained look in her eyes, as if she were trying to hold back tears. “Don’t for a moment think I’m not truly sorry this has happened to you.”
“Fuck,” Pisceon said again through gritted teeth, his muscles all standing at attention as his hand tugged into his hair.
“Let’s carry on.” Finn managed to glide forward, still clutching his wrist to his chest.
The rest of us moved after him. Pháos led the way, clicking softly beside Finn, who reached out to pat the dolphin.
We moved quickly, the tunnel walls blurring. A heavy silence had settled upon us, and my mind wandered into dark thoughts. The Shadow was taking its toll on Finn, and Proteus must be suffering the same agony.While the disease spreads and the Mer weaken, Manannán’s strength grows.
But the prophecy in the box Edward was carrying could end all this. A flicker of unease curled in my chest. No one knew what was written in the second half of the prophecy.
