“Whatwas what?”
“Youdidn’t hear—”Hejolted again, hearing something none of the rest of us were privy to. “Tori, someone’s in danger.”Junstood and went to the flap of the tent.Ifollowed.
WhenPallasrose,Isnapped, “Stayhere.”Tomy surprise, she listened, sitting down with a hand onSpinner’sback.
IfollowedJunto the edge of light created by the campfire.Ourelongated shadows were allIcould see against the twilight blackness of the beach.Junpeered off towards the ocean, squinting to try and see anything.Ilooked around and saw a single torch bobbing in the opposite direction.Icalled out toNoki, who ran over to us.
“Yousee anything out there?”Nokishook his head.
“Didyou hear anything?”Nokiraised his eyebrow atJun’squestion.
“No, nothing out of the ordinary; all is quiet.”Helooked overJun’sshoulder, and a frown crossed hisface. “WhereisRaula?”
Weall spun, andIscanned the beach for any sign of her torch but saw nothing.IfeltJunstiffen, and he pointed out into the dark.
“There, we have to go now!”
Igripped his hand in mine and nodded toNoki.Withoutsaying a word, we all took off at a sprint for the ocean.
Whenwe neared the waves,Noki’storch illuminatedRaula’sback.Shestood calf-deep in the swell, and her deep, raspy voice was mumbling a wordIdidn’t understand. “Faruk,Faruk.”
“Raula, what are you—"Imoved to grab her whenNoki’shand came down on my shoulder.Hewas shaking violently and pointed to the surf.
Barelyvisible under the reflections of the torch light on the churning waves was a pair of glowing red eyes.Theyhid just below the surface, fixed onRaula.Shetook another step forward andItried to stop her.Butshe was an orc and stronger than me.NokiandIyanked at her, but it was hopeless.
“Raula, stop it!Raula!”
Shedidn’t hear me; her eyes were fixed on whatever it was that haunted beneath the waves. “I’mcoming.Faruk.I’llbe home soon.”Herface looked serene, not an ounce of fear to be seen, as she walked further into the waves.
“Forfuck’s sake.”Nokikept tugging atRaula, butIlet go and drew my sword, raising it above whatever was hiding away.
Itshellish gaze snapped to me, andIsaw the water break as it rose out of the surf.Longglistening tendrils of hair clung to an elongated, horse-like face.Itsskin was pitch black and glossy, like oil spread over the surface of the water.Ahuge mouth full of sharpened teeth grinned at me, andIswung.Itsface shifted, andIfroze.
Theblack tendrils of hair turned to a shimmering silver, and the smile turned mischievous and filled with gleaming whiteteeth.Redglowing eyes turned emerald green, crinkling at the corners as they stared at me.Ifroze mid-swing.
“Abraxas?”
“Yes, my love.It’sme.Comewith me; let’s go home.”Heheld out a beautiful, strong hand.Hesmiled in that devastating way. “Cometo me, my love.”Idropped my sword and reached out for his extended hand.Everyfiber of my being begged me to run to him, but each movement was an effort like someone was holding me back.
“Yes, just a bit further,Princess.Thenwe can be together again.”Somethingwas wrong;Iknew it.Mylegs were unbelievably cold, andIcould hear… something.Thisisn’t right.ButallIcould see was his face and howIwished to hold him in my arms as tears streamed down my cheeks.Please, please, just let me make it in time.
Myfingers finally touched his, and his grin spread into something wicked, expanding across his face until it split unnaturally.Histeeth grew into needles, and his eyes turned back into those glowing red orbs.Itried to lurch away, but he had me tight within his grasp, andIcouldn’t breathe.
Chapter 28
Pallas
Istroked the spider’s back absentmindedly, listening toTori’sreceding footsteps. “AtleastI’vegot you for company.”Iscratched the creature behind his eyes, and he chittered happily.Despitethe panicI’dseen onJun’sface,Icouldn’t help but be comforted by the little creature.
Ifound him sneaking into our room numerous times over the past few weeks, always depositing some sort of wrapped gift at my feet.Inever opened them, but he didn’t seem to mind.Hecurled up at my feet asIread by the fire on nights that sleep couldn’t find me.Ithad become our secret routine of sorts.
“Interestingpet you’ve found there.”Ilurched around to face the familiar voice.Spinnertensed under my hand and launched at the intruder, hissing.Heleapt atLuxos’ face but froze in midair as shadows surrounded him.
“Nicetry, bug,”Luxoslaughed cruelly.Spinnersquealed as solid shadows pulled his legs in all directions, his eyes spinning in pain.
“Stopit!”Iyelled.LuxostossedSpinneraside as the shadow walker closed the distance between us.
Hishand clamped over my mouth, and he leaned in so his lips grazed the point of my ear. “Quietnow,Pallas.Iwouldn’t want someone to overhear us.”
