The Rising King (15 page)

Waterlogged

Kera didn’t mean to fall asleep. Fighting the Tharnians had exhausted everyone, including her. It happened so quickly, she found herself in a dream with Dylan. They were in a glass pool filled with warm water situated high above a big city that glowed with a million colorful lights. The view was stunning, but startling. She pushed away from the edge and kicked to the other side.

Dylan laughed and swam to her. He wore only a pair of shorts and she was wearing practically nothing but tiny strips of cloth girls in the human realm wore to swim in. She felt self-conscious, but she tried not to show it. “Where are we?”

“In Vegas.” He swam around her and whispered in her ear. “Alone.”

The warmth of his body made her shiver.

“Not really, though.”

“It’s the closest I could come to seeing you.” He took her in his arms and pulled her close. He was getting very good at dream-sharing. It almost felt real. He kissed her neck and said, “I needed to see you.”

She gave in to the illusion of his nearness and kissed him back. His hands were warm against her skin. She missed him. It was hard being strong. She didn’t want to fight anymore. She wanted to be with Dylan, exactly as they were right now, skin against skin and lips against lips. He made her feel safe and wanted. It was a precious gift. One she cherished, but she couldn’t relax. He was trapping her in his arms and every moment brought him closer to death. She finally pushed away. “I have to go.”

“Why?”

“Trust me, Dylan. I don’t want to, but I have to go.”

The hurt in his eyes nearly killed her. She pressed her lips to him one last time and when she woke, she put her hand to her heart, afraid it had stopped beating. She shifted within the coolness of the shadows and saw everyone was asleep. Even Bodog snuffled peacefully in the little burrow he’d made.

Staying with Dylan for as long as she did had been a risk she couldn’t afford to take. She had to deal with the Seven Sisters before they joined with any of Teag’s enemies. Once they did that, it would be nearly impossible to stop whatever disaster they had set in motion.

Kera slowly stood, but when she took a step, a twig snapped under her foot. She stopped and glanced back at the group. Everyone still slept. Everyone except Bodog. They locked eyes. Kera put a finger to her lips and backed away. He blinked once, twice, three times, looking almost confused as she crept out of camp. Before she completely disappeared, she looked back and saw him blink one last time, frown, and turn over.

Her intake of breath stilled. She was forgotten before she had even left. It’s what she wanted, wasn’t it?

The way to the Seven Sisters’ lair was lit by a big, bright moon, a spotlight that should be more of a warning than a lure, but she didn’t listen to the tumble of thoughts that warned her to stop. She was doing the right thing. None of her companions were prepared for what the sisters would put them through. Only she was strong enough.

The path took her to the shores of an inland sea. From the protection of the trees, she listened to the dark waters lap at a sandy inlet, a gentle lullaby to the night. She didn’t know much about the Seven Sisters, no one actually did, only that they were a form of siren, irresistible to men and deadly to anyone who got in their way. They had killed Wyatt in a surprise attack and weren’t above doing the same to her.

Methodically, Kera moved deeper into the Seven Sisters’ territory, searching for telltale signs the sisters were close. A half hour later, she saw one of the sisters, a tall brunette, walking along the shore, a crossbow slung across her back. Not even a siren takes an innocent stroll with a weapon like that. It was clear she was on watch and waiting for trouble.

Kera dropped low and pulled her
incordium
blade free. She waited for the woman to pass, but then a blond-haired sister came in to view. A long sword slapped against her hip as she walked. She suddenly stopped and called for her sister to be still.

The blonde peered into the woods in Kera’s direction, and Kera eased herself deeper into the shadows of the night. If they detected her now, she would lose the advantage of surprise.

When the blonde finally relaxed, the taller one’s lips thinned. “You and everyone else are making me nervous. We should have stuck with the old ways instead of concentrating on one man. Look at how the human’s death has affected Neve.”

“Leave her be. Her love was real.”

“Yes, but—”

The blonde held up her hand, cutting off her sister and pulled her sword free. “There it is again. Do you hear it? Someone is breathing.”

Kera immediately held her breath.

“
I
am breathing,” her sister said.

The blonde shook her head, ignoring the brunette’s irritation. “Someone besides you.”

Seeing how serious her sister acted, the tall brunette swung her crossbow forward and notched an arrow. “Where?”

The girl pointed straight where Kera hid. “Over there.”

Together they approached. It didn’t give Kera much time to think. As plans went, hers was simple. She popped up, hand glowing, and sent a burst of power toward the brunette, pushing her back to the shoreline and into the inland sea.

Kera easily dodged the siren’s arrow and set a spell into motion. The next moment, the woman screamed as she melted into the water only to morph into a forest of kelp.

The blonde rushed forward, her sword over her head and a look of rage on her face. Kera took a quick step back and hit the woman with a blast of power that instantly stopped the charge. The woman’s immobile body was leaning forward, her arms outstretched, the tip of the sword an inch from striking Kera.

Beads of sweat formed on Kera’s forehead at the close call. The sword thudded to the ground as the spell Kera used reached the woman’s fingers. The blond woman’s gaze slanted down to see roots where her feet once were. A strangled scream ripped the air as the spell raced up her body, casting the beautiful woman into an ugly, twisted oak tree, its limbs bare and pocked with knotholes. At the juncture of its main branches, her mouth morphed into a gaping hole rimmed with a white fungus that looked similar to teeth. At the bottom edge, green moss streamed from the mouth and down the trunk. Above the mouth, a tiny knot protruded nose-like from the trunk, and above that her eyes became two smaller holes, though neither blinked. She could only stare, cast in a form as ugly as her intent.

The last echo of the scream faded, but before she could hide, the sun broke over the east and with it, the other sisters descended on Kera. They were a whirl of power. Kera used her speed to dart behind one. She touched one woman’s shoulder and transformed her into a homely little bird. Kera quickly took to the trees and when another one passed beneath her, she dropped from her perch and condemned the sister to take the form of a thick patch of poison ivy.

Another sister attacked, and Kera fought her to the water’s edge where she used her dark magic to dissolve the sister into a froth of seafoam.

Five down. Two more. Kera started for the trees, and was met by another sister. Her red hair reminded her of Signe, but her look of utter hate reminded Kera of the dangerous game she was playing. Weapons in hand, the women circled each other.

“I’ve seen you in action,” the woman said. A swift slicing motion followed by a few quick jabs of her sword brought them face-to-face as they each strained to get the upper hand. “You are a good fighter, but do you honestly think you can win?”

“Look around.” Kera’s emotionless voice sounded foreign even to her. “I have so far.”

The beautiful woman’s lips curled, and she pushed Kera away. “Your ego will be your downfall.”

As soon as the words were out, she came at Kera, sword raised, forcing her to think about protecting herself from the slashes and jabs that cut with ease. A bloody red line appeared on Kera’s left arm. She’d actually been cut. Before she knew it, she was in knee deep water. Seafoam rolled around her, swarming Kera in thick bubbles that obliterated everything from sight and muffled all sound. She turned and twisted, her nerves on edge, not knowing from which direction the attack would come. She tried using her powers to push the foam out of the way, but nothing happened.

Disoriented, she thrashed around and ended up in waist-high water. A tendril of kelp wrapped around her ankle, and she yanked back. It held on as tight as an iron chain and began to tug her toward deeper water.

Kera hacked at the kelp, but her knife slipped from her fingers. More kelp wrapped around her, and she struggled to stay in shallow water. Kelp climbed her body, wrapping tighter and tighter until she could barely take a breath.

Something large moved in the water and Reece suddenly surfaced to her right, Halim on her left. “All tied up?” the boy said and held up her dagger. “We’ll fix it.” He suddenly sank beneath the water.

With a slash, the kelp fell away. Reece dragged her from the water. His fingers dug into Kera’s upper arm, and when she glanced at him, his eyes spat hate. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.

Dripping wet and bleeding from her cuts, Kera stumbled over to Signe, ignoring the pain that tore at her arm. “Where is Bodog?” Now that they were here, Kera couldn’t do what needed to be done if she had to worry about their safety as well.

Halim handed her back her dagger. “He’s over…”

His words faded as they all looked around, but didn’t see him.

Reece cursed. He grabbed his sword from Signe and glared at Kera. “You’re hurt. Stay here with Signe.” Reece sent Halim in one direction to search for Bodog while he took the other.

The sound of Signe ripping away a portion of her underskirt to make a bandage caught Kera’s attention. “It’s only a scratch.”

“And the plague is only a head cold.”

Bandaging her arm took barely a minute. When Signe was done, Kera found one of the sisters’ crossbow and arrows.

Signe dogged her steps. “Reece said to stay here.”

Kera fitted an arrow in the chamber. “Who do you think is more able to fight the remaining sisters?”

“Oh.” Signe stopped following Kera for a second, and then ran after her. “Well, I’m going with you.”

“Then stay close.” Motioning Signe to follow, they quietly moved forward, searching the area.

Morning light slipped between the trees, softening the shadows. A movement on her right caught Kera’s attention. She swiveled and pulled the trigger. She reloaded before the arrow lodged in a tree. Behind her, Signe made a choking noise. Kera turned and found the redheaded sister holding a knife to Signe’s throat.

“Put your weapons down.” The command was given as if there were no question as to what Kera would do. And there wasn’t. Kera would do what needed to be done. She didn’t need the crossbow or her dagger. Her skills were greater than even the sisters suspected. She placed the weapons on the ground, but hesitated as the ache in her arm grew and a dizzy spell swept over her. Shaking it off, she faced the woman. One moment. That’s all she’d need to end the threat.

As if she could read Kera’s thoughts, the woman tightened her grip on Signe. “One cut from this and she dies…just like you.” Kera frowned and the woman laughed. “Oh yes. That is no simple cut on your arm. Just like Wyatt’s, it will not heal.”

Kera glanced at her blood-soaked bandage and the red droplets seeping down her arm. Her flashes of weakness were from blood loss. It was how they had killed Wyatt, poisoning him in a way that she couldn’t counteract. Now she was infected and would die. Her insides burned with hate. “If you hurt her, I will kill you.”

“You will do as I say. Release my sisters.”

Kera had little choice, but she had one last trick up her sleeve. It was dangerous…if Signe didn’t stay perfectly still, it would end in disaster, yet it could work. Kera slowly bent and palmed a handful of dirt.

“What are you doing?” The woman was smart to distrust her.

Kera rubbed a fine mixture of soil into her hand, and without looking up said, “Breaking the spell like you asked.”

With her hand coated with dirt, she stood and muttered a spell under her breath. When she was done, she acted as if she would shake the dirt off her hand, but instead, she took a quick step forward and blew the dirt in the woman’s face. Signe gasped as Kera pulled her to safety. Dropping the knife, the woman covered her face with her hands, coughing and sputtering. Like a deadly virus, the dirt spread over her skin and clothes, and all too soon she became a stone statue, posed perfectly with hardened tears rolling down her cheeks.

Kera turned to Signe and sliced off a lock of her hair.

Her friend gasped and put her hand to her head. “What are you doing?”

Kera held up the lock coated with dirt. It had begun to harden. She dropped the petrified curl to the ground. “Are you cut?”

Signe splayed her fingers around her neck, her eyes wide. “No. Not a scratch.”

Kera let out a relieved breath. It had worked. She was so weak, she couldn’t stay upright. Signe grabbed Kera and held her steady as they sank to the ground. “You’ll be okay. Stay with me.”

As if Kera had the strength to leave on her own.

But what she saw behind Signe chilled Kera to the bone. The last sister had slipped from the shadows. Kera grabbed Signe’s hand and squeezed. Her breath was labored. Wispy even. “Behind you.” She took the crossbow and clumsily pressed it into Signe’s hands. “Don’t think. Just shoot.”

The woman came closer. Tears rushed to Kera’s eyes. Signe wasn’t the killing type. She’d never had to. “Shoot,” Kera said. “Don’t think. Just shoot.” She fell back, too weak to hold up her own weight.

Signe, the light of fear shining in her eyes, turned and raised the crossbow.

Kera struggled to remain awake. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the arrow spring out of the crossbow. Even Signe couldn’t miss at such a close range.

When she came to, all Kera cared about was that she was still alive.

“Pale. Too pale,” she heard Bodog say.

Kera pried her eyes open to bright sunlight.

“Are you sure you’re mixing it right?” Halim’s insistent high-pitched voice asked.