The rippling of sails pulled my attention. Chumly and others hoisted them just right to catch the wild storm’s gust, lunging us straight for the rocks.
A light glimmering beneath the water caught my eye. My hands met the slick railing of the ship as I leaned to get a better look at the sea, dizzy from the height. Another light appeared, then another. They were surrounding us just beneath the sea. Light somehow swimming alongside the hull, like they were guiding us to those jagged outcroppings.
Rocks grew larger as we neared, waves crashing on their jagged teeth. Chumly passed by me, a mound of rope in his hands. “Chumly! Chumly!” I screamed desperately. “Stop the ship! There are rocks ahead. You must stop the ship!” But he only continued past me. They all ignored me. Walking phantoms headed to their deaths.
Unsettling grinding threw us all forward. The ship splintered and cracked as wood met rock, water whooshing into the belly of the ship. Quickly, the nose of the bow pitched down.
The music pierced my body, my mind, wild, sharp, and loud now, wailing in the rain.
Then the sailors all stopped in their tracks like pillars.
A heartbeat passed, and then they marched in unison. What thefuckwas happening? The captain passed me, still in a trance, heading straight for the nearest guardrail. His gaze was transfixed on the stormy horizon.
I ran before him, digging my heels into the deck and using all my might. I tried desperately to stop him. But it was useless. With ease, he pushed past me, put his hand on the guardrail, and to my horror, jumped into the dark, swirling waters.
One by one his men followed.
And I was helpless, left to watch every man jump off the ship, to their deaths.
The music stopped.
The rain eased to a patter, my ears left ringing from the absence of music, but the waves continued to crash against the boat with relentless force. Each impact threatened to send me tumbling into the frigid, dark waters that pulled the vessel ever closer into the sea’s embrace.
Fighting to hold on with a white-knuckled grip, I hauled myself, hand over hand, up the railing of the almost-vertical ship. Wiping water and red ribbons of hair from my eyes, my muscles seared with pain. I willed them to be strong as each surge of waves weakened my hold.
But where was there to go? There was no more climbing, no escaping, only the empty black sky above and the roiling blackness below. This is what I wished for—I guess. Maybe Nymphaea was real and she had heard my plea. Sent a storm to claim me instead of an unwanted man.
A bitter scoff fell from my lips. Guardians be, could she not think of a better fucking way of helping me that didn’t include dying?
Vega would wail when she heard the news. Sent away on my first trip without her and I wound up dead. But that was the only person I clung on for. Not me. Not anymore. Vega would find solace eventually and maybe she would understand that this was better. Death was better. This cold, watery grave was better than ten or twenty years trapped in some cold marriage bed. This was freedom, and this could be my choice.
Summoning the courage, I counted,One,two, and with a final long breath,three. Surrendering, I let go.
Chapter 8
My body cleaved through the waves, the impact stealing air from my lungs. Salt singed my eyes as my sodden dress weighed me down, down, down, pulling me into the dark depths.
I fought against the disorienting currents, but in the blackness, up was down and down was up. Death wound around me in the darkness. I would never see Vega again. Or Granger House. Or the mountains. Desperation had me sucking in water, briny and bitter as it burned down my throat.
Then, a dark-blue light glowed before me. No, around me. I could breathe. But how?
A hand penetrated the surrounding light and ensnared me, pulling me in tight against someone’s body. At first I fought against whatever it was that held onto me, the feeling of a hand clutching my waist distinct. But a sublime sound danced in and out of my mind.
You’re safe. Nymphaea has saved you.
Squinting my eyes, I saw a beautiful being glowing in a rose-colored aura. Perhaps even a Guardian. My muscles relaxed.
Just a little longer. We are almost there. You are safe.
I believed that voice, for whatever reason, and went limp in the water as we dove deeper.
Heaving up bellyfuls of water, I vomited onto stone ground.
Land. I was on sweet, blessed land.
“She’s over here.” A voice like bells rang. I knew that voice. It was the voice inside my mind just moments ago. No, that was insane.
Tired, I lay on my back, shivering. I was too exhausted to even stand, let alone thank my savior.
