I don't even know why I'm bothering to negotiate with this asshat. It's not like reasoning with a Kraken is high on my bucket list, but hey, I'm feeling generous.
The slimy bastard slithers back into my mind, its presence as welcome as an oil spill in a pristine ocean."I will never surrender again,"it hisses, its voice like nails on a chalkboard in my brain.
Fine, then. Have it your way, you colossal piece of shit.
I let out a primal scream, unleashing every last ounce of power within me. Light and fire explode from my hands, eyes—my very being, engulfing the Kraken in a blaze of holy retribution. It's like I'm channeling the sun, a supernova of righteous fury that engulfs the Kraken in a blaze of holy hellfire.
By some miracle (or maybe just my incredible aim), my power targets the Kraken like a heat-seeking missile, leaving the ship unscathed.
The monster shrieks in agony, its tentacles flailing as it tries to escape the inferno. But there's no escape from my wrath. I pour everything I have into the attack: everyshred of pain, every ounce of grief for Finn, for the brave souls lost to this monster's rampage.
And then, as suddenly as it began, it's over. The Kraken sinks beneath the waves, its charred and smoking remains disappearing like a bad dream. The ship is battered and broken, but somehow, it's still afloat. We're alive, but the cost...the cost is too damn high.
I hear a faint whisper as the adrenaline fades:"Thank you."—a final message that makes my blood run cold.
Thank you? What the ever-loving fuck?
Did this overgrown calamari want to die? Was it so far gone, so broken from centuries of imprisonment, that death was its only release?
I sink to my knees, my body trembling with exhaustion and a sickening sense of understanding. No creature, no matter how monstrous, should suffer like that. And in the end, I gave it the only mercy it could comprehend.
But the bitter taste of victory turns to ashes in my mouth as I survey the destruction around me. The deck is slick with blood and seawater, the bodies of fallen crewmen scattered like broken dolls. And Finn...brave, sweet Finn...he's gone. Lost to the depths, never to see another sunrise.
I feel Rhyland's arms around me; his strength keeps me from shattering into a million pieces. I bury my face in his chest, my tears soaking his shirt as the weight of it all comes crashing down on me.
This is the price of being a savior—the burden I must bear. But in moments like this, when the cost is measured in lives cut short and dreams unfulfilled, I can't help but wonder...
Is it worth it?
After our much-needed detour to Driftwood Market, we're squeaky clean, freshly clothed, and loaded with enough supplies to survive the end of the world—or at least another Kraken attack. Our ship's been patched up (which looked like it had gone ten rounds with a cheese grater); we're all set to play "Where in the World is Carmen San-Calypso?"
Of course, I'm mentally kicking myself for torching that tracking device. Way to go, Dani. You just had to play the rebellious heroine, didn't you? That little gadget probably would've led us straight to Calypso's underwater hideout, complete with turn-by-turn directions and a "You have arrived at your destination" announcement.
But no, we're doing this the old-fashioned way: sailing aimlessly and hoping we stumble upon Calypso. It's like trying to find a specific fish in the ocean—Oh, wait.
We've been lounging around for two weeks, letting our batteries recharge and our sea legs recover. Now, we're all suited up and ready to set sail on this wild goose chase... or should I say, wild fish chase?
At this rate, I might need to invest in a waterproof GPS. Do they make those for mythical underwater kingdoms? Asking for a friend.
As I'm strutting towards the ship, feeling like a brand new woman, a familiar figure catches my eye. Tucked away inside a small, unassuming building, I spot none other than Nixie herself, shuffling her tarot cards with an air of mysterious knowing.
I practically sprint inside, my curiosity burning. "Hello, Dani," Nixie greets me, her voice as smooth as sea glass. "It's good to see you thriving and on the right path."
I plop down in the seat across from her, the words tumbling out of my mouth. "Why didn't you just tell me everything from the start?" I blurt out, my frustration as clear as the crystal waters of Aquaria. "It would've saved me a lot of trouble and confusion."
Nixie continues to shuffle her cards, the rhythmic motion seeming to soothe her. "If I had revealed to you from the beginning that Calypso was innocent and laid bare all of Cordelia's misdeeds, would you have truly believed me?" she asks, her eyes piercing into my soul.
I open my mouth to protest, to insist that I would have believed her, but then I pause.
Would I have?
When we first met, I was skeptical of her fortune-telling and cryptic messages, but everything she said had been spot-on. "Yes," I finally say, my voice quieter now. "I would have believed you."
Nixie sighs, a sound as ancient as the sea itself. "It's not that simple, Dani," she explains, her voice tinged with regret. "You see, I was once a part of Cordelia's court, a trusted advisor and confidante. But as her heart grew darker and her actions more twisted, I knew I could no longer stand by her side."
She sets down her cards, her eyes distant with memory. "I made a choice, a sacrifice. To escape the curse and retain my voice, I traded my fins for legs, my home in the sea, for a life on land. But in doing so, I also bound myself to a sacred oath, a promise not to interfere directly in the realm's affairs."
I lean forward, my brow furrowed in confusion. "But why? Why make that kind of promise?"
