‘I can tell it carries on through to the other side, but which way to go? No clue. We have options, and I don’t feel comfortable making that call on my own. We can either go right or left and go around and stay in these forms or somehow change back and go through the land above,’I offer, but hesitate slightly before continuing.‘There is something I must confess. It seems from what I can pick up, we might be at the base of King Desmond’s castle.’
‘What?’Rez shrieks, the color draining from her face. Ryker wraps his tentacles around her, trying to calm her down.
Looking over the group, everyone seems to be contemplating the options except Moni and Chester, who seem to be dealingwith their own drama. Chester’s trying to calm down a dark gray-and-periwinkle-colored sea horse.
‘What’s wrong?’I ask, bending down to Moni.
‘She hasn’t had any coffee since we’ve been down here,’Chester admits, and suddenly I realize we have a bigger problem than finding Delvin’s signature.
‘Shit! Can one of you reach your S.I.N. box?’
Chester nods immediately, and he bends just enough that his fin disappears, and I can reach in with him to root around to find a cup and straw.I hope this works.Putting my finger over the hole, I pull out the small cup. As soon as Moni sees her lifeline, she torpedoes over and physically sticks her snout inside the straw, taking in long draws of coffee. It doesn’t take long to fill her up, and she whines when I put it back.
‘Sorry, it’s gonna have to hold you over until we get out of here, okay?’
Turning, I address the rest of the group.‘So, what are we thinking?’
‘I think we all agree that the decision is up to you, JP,’Levi answers, his long, silent form easily floating in the current.
‘How do you figure?’I am so lost, I’m not a leader.
‘You’re gonna have to get used to calling the shots, babe,’Zeke points out, having heard me.‘You are the prince of Hell. Besides, you’re the one who can pick up power signatures. Which way has the best option to pass on?’
I bend down and kiss him on his snout, not at all worried about his tar.‘Thanks, Mon amoureux.’I turn to the others.‘Well, there’s no guarantee that there will be more of the Essence of the Dew on land, so I think we should stay in this form for now,’I reason.
‘I concur,’Levi speaks up.
‘Ditto.’ Zeke nods along.
‘Yeah, don’t want to take that chance,’Ryker agrees.
‘You think? Are you sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the deadly king or the princess that hates Rez and wants the princes for her own?’Lynx points out.
I swallow down my discomfort and continue on, trying to block out what Lynx hit on the head.
‘So, that just leaves going around the sides. Since both sides seem to be equal in population, the best way to diffuse the situation is to pick the side with the least power signatures.’I talk myself through everything as I face the massive rock and try to glance through it. Looking for the power signatures of the creatures on both sides, only one side seems significantly lower than the other.‘And if we’re looking for less power, I would say the left is the way to go, as of right now,’I confidently call it.
‘Okay, then let’s go, and will you stop singing already?’Knots snaps at Lynx.‘If I weren’t attached to you, I would have strangled you when you started.’
Lynx just sticks out his tongue as Rez laughs and pats both their heads since they are still wrapped around her neck.
‘We’re ready, Knox. You ready to go?’I ask as we start to move.
‘We’re good, we’ll catch up,’he responds.I don’t like the fact we’re not all together, but it’s Knox; if anyone is safe on his own, it’s him. We head out and hug the landmass, swimming slowly as we go.
We spot a few dolphins, a squid, a swordfish, and a male harpy further out, and I can only guess they might be other students heading towards the same portal. It’s confirmed once we get close to an underwater cave with at least ten other power signatures in it, where I hear a commotion and call the group to stop.They definitely weren’t there before. Is there an opening to the castle above this cave? I motion for everyone to drop lower along the ground so we blend in, and hopefully, if need be, we can crawl past, but a voice stops me first.
‘Go take out that group of students,’a familiar voice says.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Within seconds, a group of harpies in golden armor rushes out and engages the students in combat.
‘Is it really fair to have your minions take out the competition, Sera?’a smoky voice asks.
Being made of water, I easily peek around the edge, unnoticed, and see the midnight twins along with Serafin. The cave is as big as our kitchen and living room together, but what’s surprising is the air pocket, which allows the midnight twins to sit comfortably on land without needing to change forms.
‘Of course it is, Myka. It’s part of the perks of being the princess.’Serafin cackles.‘Let’s have brunch while they make a path for us to the portal.’
