He starts to shake, his movements growing erratic as he rushes, trying to break past Reed, Canto, and Lirin.
They stay on him, chasing and charging him, driving him towards a darkness that is gathering.
We are of these oceans, but we aren’t the ocean.
No, another has that distinction, and his rage is sending waves that will ripple across worlds. A voice saying that no one touches what is his. Not ever again.
I follow behind them, singing a song of such chilling terror that even the creatures that normally inhabit this area flee.
I catch a glimpse of colour and turn, watching as she circles around.
She gave me my music back. Magic. Mine.
I could have lived without it, but it wouldn’t have been living. I’m not sure what I would have been, but losing her was the worst thing that happened to me, and losing my music was a close second.
I can still feel the heat as it sears into my throat. That feeling of opening my mouth to speak and barely managing a whisper.
No way to call her. No way to immortalize her. Everything I am, ripped from me.
I lost hope.
I shouldn’t have, and I will forever try to make amends, but I lost hope of ever seeing the light. Of seeing her. Of being happy. I gave up, wanting to die, provoking him at all turns so that he would punish me and focus on me.
My body is a mass of scars now, but the one scar I can’t live with is gone. She is the miracle that took it from me.
I smile as I sing my bone-chilling song. I smile because she is here, because I am free, because I can sing.
I give my song claws and focus on the enemy, preparing to destroy him once and for all.
Chapter 44
Leaf
The ocean answers my call. The creatures of the deep rally to me, led by Kit. He stays low to the bedrock, moving easily as we close in on our target.
I hear the shiver, aggressive hunters that this ocean has come to fear. They have been here so long that they are part of it now. Part of me. We are one now. Maybe made more so by our love of the omega.
I slam into Deux, throwing my massive weight at him, crushing him to the rock.
He cries out, teeth clashing as he tries to bite, but I ignore it, circling away. I watch him as Kit and Canto attack, opening up wounds that seep back into the water.
Lirin is there the moment the space clears, followed by Reed.
Ronit flashes, and swirling stalking lights dart in, and he slams a dagger into Deux’s gut with a sudden violence that sends a shockwave through the seabed.
The Nightmare roars, bubbles expelling out of his mouth in a torrent. He is dying. He just doesn’t know it yet.
He frees himself with a powerful twist and rushes right to where I don’t expect.
My mate.
My fury knows no bounds. I cut him off, baring my teeth. He edges backwards.
Finally fearing me as he should. My coils twist and glint in the almost non-existent light.
This thing thought he could trap me?
The Leviathan of the worlds? He thought he could kill me? Send my mates to harm me? I’ll rip him apart.
