I roll my eyes. Calypso clears her throat, drawing our attention back. "If you two are quite finished," her voice like ice water down my spine. "Maybe we can get down to business, yes?"
"Just so you know, I can conjure a portal on a whim and leave this place anytime I want, so your whole 'keeping us here' bullshit? Yeah, that's not gonna fly, sister."
Calypso's eyes narrow into slits, her smile morphing into a predatory grin that makes the hairs on my neck stand up. "Oh, I wouldn’t be so certain about that, dear."
Smoky tendrils whip out from the shadows, wrapping around Lucian like a python coiling around its prey. He lets out a strangled cry as the tendrils slam him against the wall with a sickening thud, his body writhing in their grasp.
Lucian's face contorts in agony, his eyes bulging as he gasps for air, the tendrils tightening around his throat like a noose. "You see, little goddess," Calypso purrs, her voice oozing with malice, "Lucian's soul is untethered—I could easily siphon his soul, along with that Silver Fox you hold so precious."
How in the seven hells does she know about Erik? What, does she have some magical stalker globe or something?
My blood turns to ice in my veins, my heart seizing in my chest. The Soul-Tie thing. Shit. I can't lose Lucian or Erik—not after everything we've been through, not after all the shit we've survived. Lucian's eyes lock with mine, wide and desperate, as he struggles against the shadows, his fingers scrabbling uselessly at the tendrils around his neck.
I know those shadows too well, the icy cold touch of their despair, the whispers of hopelessness that seep into your very bones. They're the same shadows Azrael wielded, the same shadows that nearly broke me before.
"All it takes to end one of your precious vampires is a simple decapitation or ripping out their hearts, and then... their souls belong to me." Her words send an icy shiver, washing over me with a sickening sense of déjà vu.
My mind flashes back to that night in the alley behind Karma. Adrian's lifeless body, his heart torn from his chest, the light fading from his eyes. The scene plays out like a horror movie on repeat, a stark reminder of how I failed him. My guilt rises in my throat—burning bile.
And now, here I am, face to face with a bitch who seems hell-bent on proving she can do the same damn thing. The thought of her getting her slimy tentacles onLucian, Erik, and anyone I care about... it's enough to make my blood boil, and my stomach churn.
"Dani..." Lucian chokes out, his face turning an alarming shade of red as he struggles for air.
I surrender my hands, my voice shaking. "Alright, alright," I say, words rushing out. "Just let him go. Please."
Calypso stares at me, her eyes boring into mine like she's trying to read my soul. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the shadows retreat, melting back into the darkness.
Lucian drops to the floor in a heap, gasping for air. "Ahhh...you fucking psycho!" he croaks, his voice like he's been gargling with razor blades and whiskey. "That's it. I want a goddamn refund for this underwater shit show. I didn't sign up for the hentai tentacle version of Finding fucking Nemo!"
Calypso smiles, a cruel, twisted thing that makes my skin crawl. "Dani, is it? Consider that a warning. Cross me, and I won't hesitate to tear apart everything and everyone you hold dear."
She leans forward, her face inches from mine, her breath hot."You're in my world now, little girl. And in my world, there are no rules, no mercy. Only pain and suffering for those foolish enough to defy me."
I swallow hard, my throat dry as the desert. I know she's not bluffing—she has the power to make good on her threats. And the thought of losing Lucian, Erik, or anyone I care about... it's enough to make me want to vomit.
I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and meet her gaze head-on, my eyes blazing with defiance.
"I get it," my voice steady despite the terror churning in my gut. "You're the big bad sea witch, and we're all just pawns in your little game. But let's get one thing straight. You may have the power to hurt the people I care about, but that doesn't mean I'm going to roll over and play dead."
I take a step forward. Chin lifted in a silent challenge. "You want me to retrieve this thing for you? Fine. I'll do it. But not because I'm afraid of you, and not because I give a fuck about your little power trip. I'll do it because I care about my friends and because I'm not going to let you hurt them."
Calypso's eyes flash with something that might be respect or pure bloodlust."Bold words, Dani, but we'll see how long that bravado holds when you confront the horrors waiting for you."
She turns and glides away, her black robe billowing behind her like a cloud of ink in the water. "Rest now, little girl," she calls over her shoulder, her voice echoing through the chamber. "You will need your strength for what's coming."
And with that, she's gone, leaving me alone with Lucian and the sinking feeling that I've just signed my death warrant.
Danica
27
I'm in Lucian's face ina hot second, glaring at him. "You just had to go and follow me?" I snap.
The thought of Lucian being trapped down here with me, his soul at the mercy of this sea witch—It's bad enough that I'm tangled up in this mess, but the thought of Calypso being able to end his life with a snap of her fingers makes me sick to my stomach.
Lucian shrugs, his face sporting a grin so smug it could win awards. "Well, excuse me for trying to save your delicious ass—someone had to play hero before you became an all-you-can-eat buffet for Jaws and his fishy friends. Next time, I'll just let you audition for 'Titanic: The Sequel' all by yourself."
"Bravo, Lucian. Stellar performance. You only managed to drown yourself in the process. And let's not kid ourselves. It's not like we're any better off now. Your little stunt will get you killed—congrats on that one." I can feel the tears threatening to spill, so I quickly turn away, refusing to let him see me cry.
