A woman whose destiny was forged with his. A partner who would fight by his side through all of hell itself.
That one kind hand that touched him with comfort when he needed it, and gave him strength when he was weak. Someone who would mourn for him when he was dead and gone.
Devyl grabbed him by the shirtfront in one meaty fist and jerked him forward. “Save the crew, Mr. Dupree. Do whatever you must! I will trust you.”
Knowing that those words weren’t spoken lightly, Kalder inclined his head to him, then turned to Chthamalus. “Open the portal.”
Reluctance flared in the demon’s eyes before he nodded. “Aye, my prince. Your doom is my command.”
And it seemed to be his ever quest. At least that was what everyone had always said of him. Self-destructive from the moment he’d taken his first breath to his last.
Kalder felt the primordial surge in the aether the momentChthamalus opened the portal to the deep ocean floor where their home lay. It was forbidden for any of them to bring outsiders in. Their father used to gut anyone who dared such.
And your mother gutted you for less.
Or perhaps more, given that his failure to arrive on time had resulted in Muerig’s brutal death. Kalder tried never to think of that day, when he’d made the mistake of going home to seek solace over what he’d caused to happen.
Instead, his mother had buried a dagger in his heart. Literally.
I hope you go to hell and rot for all you’ve done.
Those words still rang in his ears. But then what had he really expected? He’d never had any memories of her tender embrace. Why had he believed for even a single delusional moment that she might welcome him home?
Because I’m an idiot.
No doubt, today he’d be an even bigger one.
As the portal opened, the ship began taking on water. Kalder started to lead the way into his homeland for the others, but Bane stopped him.
“I’ll go through first… with your brother in tow to clear the way and make sure it’s safe on arrival for everyone.”
Having just joined them on deck, Muerig widened his eyes at that comment. He was also confused to find them all scrambling about to evacuate. “Beg pardon? Where are we going?” He glanced out at the dark seas that were attacking them. “There’s no land out there! No safe place to go!”
Bane glanced to Kalder before he answered Muerig’s question. “Wyñeria.”
Muerig’s jaw dropped. “It still stands?”
The captain ignored the shocked question. His features grim, he clapped Kalder on the shoulder. “Make sure everyone clears the ship, Mr. Dupree.”
“I will.”
Bane grabbed Muerig and began the departures, with Muerig protesting every step of the way into the darkness.
The rest of the crew proved to be easy until Cameron planted herself firmly in front of him and refused to follow after the others, into the portal. “I’ll wait until you go. You need someone at your back, watching for treachery.”
Kalder arched a brow at her stubbornness. And her loyalty as he began to rethink his ideas about having someone who would be by his side.
Of course, that wouldn’t last long. Especially given where they were headed. Experience had taught him better. Friends today made for enemies tomorrow.
He only prayed that she wouldn’t learn to hate him, too. He couldn’t stand the thought of seeing hatred in her eyes.
For that matter, he couldn’t stand the thought of what would most likely be waiting for him on the other side of that greenish-blue light.
“Cameron… should I be a different man where we’re heading, I want you to remember me as you’ve known me, and not as they see me.”
“I don’t understand.”
He glanced past her shoulder toward the sea beasts that were quickly tearing their ship apart. “I know. Just remember that wedon’t always get to be who we want to be. Sometimes others force us to act against our natures. And survival is the harshest master of all. It’s easy to praise a man in good times and condemn him in the bad ones. But never should we be judged for the totality of our lives during that erratic pendulum swing. For fate is a fickle bitch who slaps us on one cheek, while she caresses us on the other. Rather it’s who we are most of the time, when no one’s around to force our hands. That’s the man I want you to remember when you think of me. For that is the truth of who I really am. And that’s the memory of the man I want you to hold to in your heart.”
