The Kraken’s Queen (Grym Hollow #3)

34. Erin

Chapter 34

Erin

I scream. My voice is lost in the cacophony of sounds all around me. It was like a switch was flipped. One moment everyone was calmly eating their meals with their family or friends, and the next, people are swimming in every direction, screaming. Chaos erupts around us.

Someone pulls me away from Allarick, and I struggle against the hand. “My queen, it’s just me! We need to get you to safety. Now!” Delmare’s voice roars above the noise.

I turn my head, expecting to see Allarick where we left him, but my husband is gone.

“Allarick!” I scream.

“He’s fine, my queen. He knows how to defend himself. We must get you to safety,” Delmare repeats. He pulls me along, head darting from side to side. It takes me a moment to realize he’s not just looking for safety, but his wife as well.

“Iris was in the ballroom.” I reach out for the large golden mermaid statue outside the dining room. Delmare pulls my arm, but my grip on the statue is unwavering. “Please, just tell me what’s going on. I don’t want to hide. Allarick needs me.”

“You are a liability,” he says, not unkindly. “I must get you to safety.”

How can I hide when people I know are scared for their lives? What kind of queen turns her back on her people when she gets scared? It’s not the queen I want to be, and it’s not the queen Tetria needs. I’ve done enough hiding in my lifetime, I refuse to turn my back on people who need me.

Resignation washes over Delmare, and he runs a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “Sharks are attacking,” he says at last. “They are trying to break the sound barrier.”

I suck in a deep breath. Delmare doesn’t need to tell me why this would be catastrophic for the kingdom. If the sound barrier keeping the Leviathan’s song is destroyed, many will follow the song. These creatures keep getting stronger each time a person goes missing, and I fear they’ll break out of the prison they’re held inside if they take more of us.

Another loud crash shakes the foundation of the castle. I’m jerked away from the statue and into Delmare, who catches me. A white blur catches my attention from the corner of my eye, and I snap my head in attention. The light from the floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the hall darkens as a huge great white shark swims by.

Followed by three more.

Fear threatens to immobilize me. Until one of the sharks rams itself forward. For a minute, I think the shark will break the window and come for Delmare and me. But it doesn’t. It stops just outside the window, slamming against something. White, murky water ripples from the spot the shark just hit. “Is that the…”

“Sound barrier,” Delmare says just as the shark rams against the barrier again. Only this time, a soft hum makes its way through.

People scream, scrambling to find their loved ones and cover their ears. Again and again, sharks ram the barrier, and more of the deadly hum pierces the castle. My body stiffens, and the sound grates on my nerves. I don’t feel compelled to follow the sound, but I do feel compelled to block it.

I need to do something. Standing here like a fool isn’t helpful. I can’t fight, but I have other skills—none I can think of that would be helpful at this moment, but there has to be something. Something I can do to help my people.

Then something dawns on me. A moment of clarity.

Music.

My strength is music. It always has been.

I whirl on Delmare. “Remember when Iris said my music is healing?”

The question catches the kraken off guard, but he nods.

“Do you believe that too?”

This time there’s no hesitation as he says, “Yes.”

“Then take me to my harp. Or piano. Whichever is closer.”

Delmare purses his lips in a firm line but nods. I expected him to argue with me, but even he fears our current situation. I allow him to take my hand and pull me toward the dining room, the last place I used my harp right before I started helping the guppies get food.

We pass people crying, holding on to one another. We pass more trying to get out, but guards block the doors. Some already have a glazed look on their face, attempting to leave the castle any way they can. I don’t see Allarick though.

He’s okay. He has to be okay.

Delmare pushes past a few men stopped by a group of guards, begging to be let out. The guards don’t budge, and I can’t blame either party. Needing to run to safety is human—and apparently, merpeople—nature. But keeping everyone together within the last of our defenses is equally important.

Delmare makes his way through the throngs of merpeople until we reach my harp. Amongst the chaos, the instrument has not been touched. Simply forgotten and ignored.

I hesitate as soon as I see it. What if I’m wrong? What if my music can’t overpower the sounds of the Leviathan? This could be a foolish mistake, but what other option do I have?

Strengthening my resolve, I take a seat on the stool next to my harp. Delmare stays rigid in place, his eyes scanning the room, looking for a certain blue-haired maid. “Go find her.”

“Hmm?” Delmare asks distractedly.

“Your wife. Go find her.”

At that, Delmare snaps to attention, turning into the perfect soldier. “I won’t leave you. Iris will be fine,” he says, but his voice wavers, so I reach out for his hand.

“Go. I’ll be right here playing. I won’t move,” I promise him.

For a moment, I don’t think he’ll listen to me. Stubborn kraken. He wars with himself until finally he lets out a sigh. “Gavin!” he barks at a nearby guard.

Gavin, a red-haired merman, stands at attention. He scurries over and salutes Delmare. “Yes, sir?”

“Watch your queen. If anything happens to her, what I do to you will be child’s play compared to what the king will do,” Delmare threatens.

Gavin pales, nodding like an obedient bobblehead. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.”

“See that you don’t,” Delmare huffs. Before he takes off, he spares me one last glance. “Play. Don’t stop unless your life is in danger.”

Sound advice.

I watch Delmare swim off. Gavin swims close to me, taking his job seriously. I try to ignore him as I close my eyes, centering myself. It’s hard to block out the screaming and cries. The palpable fear is harder to block out, but I do my best.

My tired fingers pluck the first string, and the note reverberates around me. Just like every time, the music transports me to another place, where all I see and feel is the melody come to life. It’s a soft, upbeat song with intricate finger work. These are my favorite pieces to play because of how challenging they are, with the constant movement of my hands to find the right note.

I play two songs in a row without opening my eyes. I could say it’s because the music swept me away, but the truth is I’m scared to see. I’m scared to look around and see failure. Or worse. Like, while I was playing, my people were slain. Logically, I know that’s not the case, but my brain instantly goes to the worst-case scenario.

Despite my fears, I force my eyes open, fingers still dancing along the strings. Soft notes keep me calm as I look around the room. There is still plenty of fear. I have not taken that away. But the room has changed.

The group of irate and scared merpeople who were demanding to be let out no longer crowd the guards. Merpeople aren’t swimming around, adding to the discord. People huddle in groups, gathering all around the room with their loved ones. Panicked and tear-stained eyes all stare at me.

In that time, Delmare returned, standing with Iris at his side. My maid offers a weak smile, clearly spooked as she holds on to her husband. “Keep playing,” she whispers.

“Is it helping?” Despite the tense calm of the room, I don’t know if my playing is actually effective. Even as I ask, I don’t notice anyone nearby with glazed eyes trying to chase after the call. That has to mean something.

“Very. You're blocking out the song of the Leviathan,” Delmare answers. “Please, my queen. Keep playing. It’s the only thing keeping this room together.”

I sweep the room once more, looking at all the faces depending on me. Men. Women. Children. It’s intimidating, to say the least, but I don’t want these people to hurt any more than they already do.

So, I play. And don’t stop once.