He was filled with a nervous energy he recognized. It was exactly as he felt the first time he had seen Violencia.
Fifteen Years Ago – Catastro Sea – Off the Coast of Violencia
The sun washot—hotter and muggier than he had ever felt it before. He was sweating. He had been for the last day. No matter where he went, it wastoomuch. The air was thick as if he were sitting in soup and not his bed pallet.
This is miserable. Why does anyone choose to live in this?
“Here, take this.” Drago threw down clothes for him. “Change into that and then it’s time to get up here. We are landing and need to walk you through the last steps.”
Viktor and Niko were already up top, helping Drago.
Griffin’s gut buzzed with nervous energy as he tugged on the light linen clothes. It was material he wouldn’t have dared to wear back home when it was cold nearly the entire year, but here it was breathable. Light and flowy, allowing necessary breeze to coast across his sweat soaked skin.
Taking the steps up to the dock, his mouth opened in surprise. They were approaching an island, and from a distance, all he could really see was a large stone wall that wrapped around it with a singular, sizable industrial building that they were heading towards directly.
But it wasn’t that which drew his attention. It was the beach, filled with a white sediment. Even the color of the sea hadsoftened, shifting to a gentle teal. Back home, it was always a dark navy, stirring with waves and the cold.
Griffin gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
Drago’s hand landed on his shoulder, steering him to the edge of the boat, closest to Violencia. “I’m glad you think so, brother. The land has its positives, but don’t let it fool you. The most decorative creatures hold the deadliest venoms.”
“And you must remember, only those at the gate know where we are from. Past that, you must keep our origins a secret. Most of the people of Violencia are ignorant to our infiltration.” Viktor grunted from the helm. “They don’t know much of anything of the Sacred Trinity, just that they should hate it.”
Niko laughed. “You learned that the hard way. Nearly got us killed.”
“How was I supposed to know?” Viktor grumbled, stepping back from the wheel.
“They don’t know where we come from?” Griffin mulled the words. “But how? We are all sent here in adulthood! How does that make any sense?”
By the age of twenty-five, every man had set foot in Violencia.
Most times they returned, sometimes with a wife. But every so often, theydidn’t.
It was a part of their upbringing. It was their rite of passage. The goal was to foster relationships, but how was that the case if the people of Violencia didn’t even know they were coming from a different country?
“Their land is spread out, and there is a deep hatred towards us. Rightfully so,” Drago advised.
That didn’t answer all of Griffin’s questions, but Drago’s eyes narrowed, and he knew better than to press further.
Drago lifted his lips, but he wasn’t smiling. “However, if you suspect you encounter someone from our country, you can ask what their favorite bird is.”
“Griffin!” Viktor and Niko cheered together, both stripping off their shirts before undoing their shoes and tugging off their socks. They threw it all into a bag and tossed it overboard.
Griffin watched in confusion as his stomach rolled. His nation’s symbol was also his name, and he had hated it since his youth.
A loud horn came from the shore. Three long honks in succession.
“That’s your signal, men.” Drago tugged Griffin into his arms. “I will come find you, I promise. Viktor, Niko, keep my brother alive. You must.” Drago squeezed him tighter. “It’s time to free your wings, brother.”
Griffin returned the hug. Just as he released Drago and stepped back, his brother pushed himhard, causing him to stagger over the banister behind him and tumble into the water below.
He sank down deep, and panic clawed at him immediately as he desperately thrashed his way to the surface. But then he heard two other splashes, and the realization that he wasn’t alone incited his courage.
He wanted to scream at his brother, to demand him to answer more questions.
He still didn’t know anything, and he was about to be in a new—and apparently volatile—country.
But the water was rough, crashing over his head, and by the time he was able to get above it and catch his breath, his brother and the boat were already making their quick escape.
