Chapter 68 Danica #2
He leans in close, his lips brushing against mine. "It's a fucking guarantee, baby. Now, why don't you stop being such a tease and tell me what you and Seraphina were talking about?"
I laugh, pushing him away playfully. "Not a chance, Bitey Boy. A girl's got to have some secrets, after all. Keeps things interesting."
Rhyland shakes his head, a rueful smile on his face. "You drive me crazy, woman."
I grin, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Ditto."
And with that, I stroll away, leaving him standing there with a look of pure hunger in his eyes.
Oh yeah, this is going to be fun.
I'm suddenly knocked off balance, my ass meeting the deck in a less-than-graceful display of coordination. Meanwhile, Rhyland's playing a game of "pin the tail on the barrel."
Oh, for the love of Poseidon's soggy balls! One minute, I'm getting cozy with my Norse beefcake, and the next, this ship's pitching and rolling like crazy.
The crew's in full panic mode, rushing around like headless chickens as they peer overboard to see what's rocking the ship. I see a tentacle thicker than a redwood slithering up the vessel's side like a perverted python.
"Kraken!" some genius pirate screams behind me. No shit, Sherlock. What gave it away? The giant, ship-molesting appendage?
Pirates are scattering like roaches, and the Kraken's tentacles are slithering all over the ship like a handsy date you can't get rid of.
Holy shit—Is this the same sushi-craving son of a squid that tried to make Rhyland its personal chew toy? Because I swear, it wasn't this ginormous last time. What, did it hit some underwater gym and bulk up on protein shakes made of unfortunate sailors?
Well, not today. This overgrown calamari platter isn't going to have us for dinner—not if I have anything to say about it—time to channel my inner Carrie and go full-on Firestarter on this aquatic asshole.
Summoning all my strength and focus, I call upon my powers, feeling the familiar surge of energy coursing through me. With determination, I unleash a powerful blast combining searing light and intense flame, aiming straight for the creature.
As my attack races toward the massive beast, the air crackles with heat and energy. I hope this will drive it away or make it think twice about messing with us again. My heart pounds in my chest, and fear and adrenaline fuel my resolve to protect us from this terrifying threat.
The Kraken screeches like a banshee, its tentacles recoiling from the ship.
But the damage is done. The ship's rocking like a cradle in a hurricane, and I'm starting to think we might take an unplanned swim.
I'm on my ass, clinging to anything within reach to keep from sliding into the ocean's not-so-gentle embrace.
Rhyland is at my side in an instant. "What the fuck?" he exclaims, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Looks like our friendly neighborhood sea monster is stopping by for round two of your delicious ass," I quip.
Suddenly, a tentacle slams down next to us, and Rhyland has none of it.
He unleashes a telekinetic blast that sends the slimy appendage flying back.
But the tentacle's not going down without a fight.
It tears through the ship's side like tissue paper, leaving a hole big enough to drive a truck through.
Shit. As if we didn't have enough problems.
Erik and Lucian burst onto the deck, ready to throw down with our unwelcome sea monster party crasher. Erik, the overachiever he is, immediately starts going full Ginsu on the tentacles, slicing and dicing them like he's auditioning for Iron Chef: Kraken Edition.
"Friend of yours?" Lucian quips, his trademark smirk firmly in place.
I shoot him a withering glare. "Oh, totally. We were just about to sit down for a nice chat over some tea and biscuits. You know, catch up on old times, swap recipes, the usual."
"Ah, my mistake. I didn't realize you two were so close. Should I give you a moment alone, or...?"
"Just get your snarky ass up to the helm and help the Captain," I snap over the deafening roar of the Kraken and the splintering of wood. "And try not to get eaten. I'd hate to explain to Seraphina why her boyfriend is now calamari."
Lucian gives me a mock salute. "Aye, aye, Captain Sassy Pants. I'll ensure our fearless leader doesn't steer us straight into Davy Jones' locker."
With that, he bounds up to the top deck, ready to play first mate to the Captain. I can only imagine the bullshit pearls of wisdom he's dropping.
I'm about to fire off another round of angel-fueled whoop-ass when I hear a scream that turns my blood to ice.
I whip around just in time to see Finn, the Captain's first mate, being dragged overboard by a tentacle wrapped around his leg.
The kid's face is a mask of pure terror as he claws at the deck, desperate to hold on.
"FINN!" I scream, scrambling to my feet. But it's too late. The tentacle yanks him over the side with a sickening crack, and he disappears into the churning waters below.
For a moment, I'm frozen, my heart shattering into a million pieces. Finn was just a kid, barely old enough to shave. He'd saved my life when I nearly drowned, and now...now he is gone, just like that.
Tears blur my vision as a wave of grief and rage crashes over me. This fucking Kraken is going to pay. I will make sure of it.
I focus my energy on the Faerite stone, channeling my thoughts through its ancient power. "Why are you doing this?" I demand, with fury. "I freed you from your prison, you ungrateful bastard. Attacking us is how you repay me?"
The Kraken's presence slithers into my mind like a cold, oily serpent, its thoughts dark and twisted. "I seek retribution for the wrongs done to me," it hisses, its voice echoing in the depths of my consciousness.
"Stop this madness!" I plead, my heart pounding in my chest. "No one here has harmed you. It was Cordelia who imprisoned you, not us."
A massive tentacle lashes out with terrifying speed as if in response to her name.
Time seems to slow to a crawl as I watch in horror, the appendage slamming into Lucian with the force of a battering ram.
His body goes limp as he's catapulted off the ship, disappearing into the churning waters below.
The breath is ripped from my lungs as I feel Lucian's pain and confusion through our bond, the sensation so intense it brings me to my knees.
This can't be happening.
Not again. Not another friend lost to this nightmare.
My blood roars in my ears, drowning out all other sounds until a scream pierces the chaos, a sound that will haunt me for the rest of my days.
"LUCIAN!!" Seraphina's voice is raw with anguish as she clings to the ship's railing, her eyes wide with desperation. Before I can draw a breath to call out to her, she leaps over the side, plunging into the sea after her fallen mate.
"Seraphina, no!" I scream, my voice cracking with emotion. I stumble to the railing, my hands gripping the weathered wood so tightly that my knuckles turn white. The waves below are a frenzied maelstrom, the Kraken's tentacles churning the water into a deadly whirlpool.
I search for any sign of Lucian or Seraphina, my heart in my throat.
I can't lose them—not like this.