I tuned my senses beyond the wreckage. Past the serpent, undulating away from us at high speed, the floor rose.
There was a bump on the horizon, like a wart.
A wild mix of terror and elation and shock rose inside me. Had we found the place Adaro went to transition?
It pained me to know Meela was right. Every moment we waited before making a peace treaty, the more danger we were all in. We had to split up.
“Lysi, if you’re going to be our bait, now’s the time,” said Spio, squinting in that direction.
Meela grabbed my hand. “Once you’ve diverted the serpent, keep going. I’ll meet you at Eriana Kwai, okay? Tomorrow night.”
I glanced to the sun, descending to the horizon. We could do this. By the time king tide receded, Adaro would be dead. Our new queen would be ready to take the throne, and peace would be restored to the Pacific.
I nodded. Then we were kissing, Meela’s face between my hands, her fingers knotted in my hair. For a few, blissful seconds, I forgot the fear pressing in on us. I knew only the feel of her body.
Too soon, we broke apart. Neither of us said anything. I couldn’t get the words out if I’d tried.
I wanted to refuse to leave her.
Instead, I swam after the serpent as fast as I could.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Meela
The Secret Island
Hot flames and that toxic sting crept towards us. In unison, Spio and I dove.
My senses were more honed than ever as we swam. Every ripple told me the exact state of the wreckage, where the serpent was, how fast the chemicals were spreading. I felt the iron in the ship, the overpowering aura of the serpent, and when I focused, even the carbon in the oil slicks.
I gritted my teeth against the fresh wave of pain in my lower back as the iron-tainted water washed over the burn.
We retrieved the net and pulled it away from the smouldering ship.
It was hard to stop myself worrying about Lysi.
“Listen, buddy,” said Spio. “We’ll only be able to keep the serpent chasing us for so long. Once Adaro commands her back, there’ll be nothing we can do.”
“I know.”
“Don’t overthink it. Do it quickly.”
Did he know how nervous I was? Did he think I would hesitate at the final moment? I wasn’t offended, because it was true: I was terrified. After spending so long waiting for this, I thought I would be less anxious. But the reality of how this could end pressed against my ribs. What if that was the last time I saw Lysi? I regretted not saying a better goodbye.
“Thanks for all your help, Spio.”
We pulled the net along in silence. It was heavier now with just two of us pulling. But would it be heavy enough? It was our only chance at slowing down the serpent. If it didn’t work, I didn’t want to think what would happen to Lysi and Spio. And once the serpent turned and came back, would I have enough time to get out of there?
“Did Lysi ever tell you about the time she and I messed with a Kodiak bear?” said Spio.
I tried to say, “No,” but the word got caught in my throat. I shook my head.
“He was as big as a whale, I swear. He was on the beach on one of the Aleutians, and he’d caught a deer and was getting ready to rip in.”
We stopped at a boulder.
“I’d always wanted to try deer. We don’t get to eat it much, obviously, but anyone who has says it’s really good. And I’m all about expanding my palate.”
We wrapped the end of the net around the boulder several times. Spio secured it with the most intense set of knots I’d ever seen.
