If he got close enough to her, he would undoubtedly be able to detect my scent upon her. And with how most of my people feel about krakens dallying with humans, especially Malachar…
I don’t let myself finish the thought; I just tear through the water with every ounce of speed I possess.
When I break through the waves near the mooring buoy, my blood runs cold at the sight. There he is with a tentacle wrapped around Rose’s waist, pulling her toward him. She’s struggling, fighting against his hold, but he doesn’t flinch. His eyes are fixed on her with a dark, assessing gaze, like he’s studying an object, not a person.
Without hesitation, I launch myself at him, wrapping my tentacles around the thick appendage holding Rose, tearing it off her waist, and shoving her kayak away with a force that sends it skidding across the water. Even if I could roar out a warning, her human ears would never understand the language of my kind– the deep frequencies that travel through water. All I can do is desperately hope she understands my actions. I pray that she gets as far from here as possible. Malachar’s gaze shifts to me, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then it fades, replaced with a cold, mocking look. He curls his tentacles, preparing to strike.
No waiting for him to strike first, I attack, coiling my body around his, wrapping my tentacles around his body and squeezing as I sink my beak into his thick hide. He thrashes, but I tighten my grip, feeling the satisfying tear of flesh beneath my bite. His tentacles lash out, wrapping around me, crushing down with relentless strength, but I grit my beak, digging it deeper into his flesh, and refuse to let go. The water churns white with our battle, our bodies rolling through the depths like a living maelstrom.
Malachar lets out a deafening roar, his grip on me vice-like. I ignore the pain and tighten my coils. I heave my muscles, determined to rip him apart piece by piece if I must. His tentacles strike out, their suckers biting into my skin as he tries to pull me off of him, but I refuse to let go.
He twists violently, slamming me against the rocky sea floor. My vision blurs from the impact, but Rose’s lingering scent in the water above is a reminder of why I must keep fighting.
“Get out of my waters!” I roar, forcing every ounce of strength into my voice.
Malachar’s gaze hardens, his eyes narrowing with disdain as he thrashes again, attempting to free himself. I dig my tentacles deeper, wrapping myself tighter around him, my beak snapping close to his face as I go for another strike.
We twist and spin, our massive bodies locked in a deadly embrace as we struggle for dominance. His tentacles wrap around mine, their pressure relentless, but I focus on one thought: I need to protect Rose.
Drawing on my last reserves of strength, I slam him down against the rocks, my tentacles coiled tight around his thrashing form. I adjust my grip, wrapping my largest tentacles around his mantle, positioning myself to crush the life from him with one powerful squeeze. But before I can finish him, Malachar’s voice cuts through the water between us, strained and bitter. “The Kraken King sent me to bring you back, Levistus.” His eyes lock onto mine as he twists in my grip. “Though I should have known you’d sink so low as to rut with a human.” His tone turns viciously mocking, even as my hold tightens. “I could smell you all over that little creature. Your stench clings to her like a disease.”
At his words, something primal and dark unfurls inside me. Watching his sneering face, I make my decision with crystal clarity – Malachar will not be leaving my waters alive. I can’t risk him speaking to others about my Rose.
Suddenly, a booming female voice cuts through the depths, as clear as if we were standing on land. “You dare attack one of my people in my territory?”
Malachar’s tentacles go slack with shock. “I… impossible. A human voice under—” He stammers, then quickly regains his composure. “I attacked no one! Levistus assaulted me without provocation.”
Koko’s scoff reverberates through the water. “You were touching his female.”
Malachar’s tentacles coil and uncoil, showing his irritation. “The female caught my curiosity. She was calling out for a kraken – I thought she was calling to me. Then, when I got near her, I could scent Levistus upon her skin.”
“Why are you here?” Koko’s voice booms through the water, making Malachar wrap his tentacles around himself protectively.
“I merely came to deliver an invitation for his return to the kraken kingdom.”
“Why now?” I demand, my tentacles coiling with tension. “After all these years, why does the king suddenly want me back?”
Malachar’s posture shifts, becoming almost diplomatic. “The king has issued a new decree. All mixed-blood krakens are to be treated as equals to pure-blooded krakens. He said that times are changing for our people. Not everyone agrees, but what the king says goes.” His voice carries a hint of bitterness at those last words.
“Tell the king I appreciate the invitation,” I reply firmly, “but Lublin Harbor is my home now. I’m not coming back.”
Koko’s invisible presence ripples through the air around me, a warmth that pulses with delight at my words.
“You’d better retreat before I obliterate you from existence,” Koko says, her voice dripping with disdain. “And trust me, I’ll be having words with Thalassor about his people’s deplorable manners.”
Malachar’s body goes slack, the last dregs of fury draining from his eyes. He turns away, his tentacles pulling close as he glides into deeper water. With Koko’s overwhelming presence surrounding us, I know he no longer poses a threat. I release my battle-ready stance, my form aching with exhaustion.
I turn my attention back toward the surface, my mind immediately shifting to Rose.
“Are you alright, Levi?” Koko’s disembodied voice drifts through the water, gentler now.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry my people brought trouble to your harbor.”
“That’s not your fault. I’m sorry about Malachar,” she says, regret coloring her tone. “I should have noticed him crossing myborders. Too many things have been distracting me lately, but that’s no excuse. It won’t happen again.”
Already turning, I start swimming toward where I can see the kayak. My thoughts are fixed on Rose, and Koko adds softly, “She’s unharmed.”
“I need to see for myself.”
