Eva grabbed his arm and stabbed down with the dagger, an unearthly scream seeming to vibrate the water. The creature let go of Ollie. Eva tugged him to his feet, pushing him toward the shore. "We need to get back on land."
Before they could move, another water creature was there, her—because that's what she felt like in Eva mind—arms outstretched, sharp, bony fingers grasping Eva's arm.
An arrow, fire licking its tip suddenly sprouted from the creature's chest. A wail, harsh enough to make ears bleed, came from the water creature as her mouth dropped open, exposing teeth pointed backwards like a fish's.
Another fiery arrow landed in its eye.
"Run," Caden shouted at Eva as the creature sank beneath the waves to douse the fire.
Ollie tugged her in his wake, struggling for the shore, but it was too late. More of the water creatures faced her, their other prey momentarily forgotten as they focused on Eva.
On the cliff above, more figures had amassed, preparing to descend.
They were trapped. Strange water creatures at their back, all too human monsters at their front.
Grasping fingers wrapped around her ankle, jerking her beneath the surface. Ollie's hand was ripped from her grasp. She opened her mouth to scream but got a lungful of water instead. She choked, even as she stabbed back and down with the dagger she still held.
The hand released her, and she erupted coughing and gasping from the water.
She rubbed it out of her eyes, gaining her feet to stand in waist-high water. In the few moments she'd been underneath, the battle scene had shifted, becoming even more chaotic.
They were losing, Eva realized.
Ripples in the water headed toward her, forcing her further away from the shore. She'd never reach it like this.
Sebastian landed with a splash next to her. Urgency beat at her mind.
He bobbed his head and flared his wings.
He wanted her to get on his back.
Those ripples swam closer. In seconds, the creatures below the surface would pull her under again. She wouldn't get lucky this time.
For once, she cursed her inability to properly wield a blade or a sword. Instead, she was good with animals. And totally useless in a situation like this.
The noose was tightening. It was ride or die.
She chose to ride.
She clambered toward Sebastian, the water slowing her pace down to a crawl. Reaching him, she forced her way onto his back in one of the most ungraceful mounts she'd ever attempted. He barely let her settle before he reared, his front hooves punching through the chest of another of the water creatures.
His muscles bunched under Eva as they launched into the air, fierce satisfaction coursing through them both as they left everyone, even the people she’d planned to save, behind.
