Page 69 of By the Flames of Her Fury

“Fates, I’m so sorry.”

“You know, it’s…” Her forehead pinched. “It’s not easy.” She let out a huff of forced laughter. “To watch the woman who raised you, who made you into who you are, just lying in a bed. She started losing her memory and basic functions years ago, and now she can’t really move, or—or talk. She just sits there. Alchemists haven’t been able to do much to help, they just keep her comfortable. Watching someone you love disappear is kind of unbearable.”

I started to put a hand on her back, then paused, letting it fall to the bed instead. “I can’t imagine,” I whispered.

“I guess I understand your need to leave,” she said, her lips tugging into a sad smile. “I ran away, too. I just…I needed a break. I’m the only one she has, and I’m a terrible person for leaving, even if only for a few weeks. But it’s just me. And I can’t do it alone for that much longer.” She took a deep breath, and her shoulders fell.

“So, here I am.” She lifted her hands, her voice morphing back into the bright, cheery Tessa we all knew. Or at least, the version of her she wanted us to know. “On the adventure of a lifetime.”

“I’m sure you don’t have to be alone,” I said. “Have you told the others about this? Like my brother? Helping people is what they do. And they love you.”

She scoffed and leaned back, a forced smile back in place. “Oh, we have so many other things to worry about. It’s fine. Seriously, I just needed⁠—”

Without warning, the ship gave a sudden lurch. Tessa grunted and nearly rolled off the side of my bed. “What the—” She let out a curse as I steadied her. “What was that?”

“I don’t know, but I’m getting real tired of this,” I muttered. I stumbled to the window to peer into the night, where flashes of lightning illuminated the angry waves below. Footsteps from the main deck vibrated through the ceiling.

“Come on,” I said, grabbing my leather jacket and shoulder bag and throwing them both over my camisole.

With a candle holder in her grasp, Tessa followed me out the door and into the hallway, where the few crewmembers who had chosen to stay aboard were sticking their heads out of their cabins. I braced a hand along the wall as the ship rocked from side to side. When we climbed up the steps to the main deck, Starke was already in action.

“Another storm?” I asked in disbelief, taking in the churning waters. Lightning flashed again, followed by peals of thunder. To my surprise, Odessa emerged from below deck, pulling a long robe around her as she looked to the sky.

“Odessa, you should get back to your room!” I shouted above the howling wind. She ignored me. The ship gave another massive shudder, tilting so far to the right that water sloshed onto the deck.

The helmsman, Lenny, let out a screech. “Th-there’s something there! In the water!” he hollered, pointing to the sea.

I ran to the side, nearly slipping on the wood. Starke caught me before I could fall, but we both froze when we spotted it. A long, slimy, dark red tentacle slinking below the waves.

My mouth dropped. “Did you see…”

Starke exhaled. “Yep.”

Another scream ripped through the air. We spun to see Odessa gripping the rail on the opposite side of the ship. “What time is it?” she cried out, frantically looking between Starke and me. “What time is it?”

Startled, Starke pulled a pocket watch from his vest. “Half past midnight.”

“Starke.” I looked back into the water, ice slipping down my spine. “It’s the spring equinox.”

“It’s happening,” Odessa whispered.

A clap of thunder rang out, and an enormous tentacle snapped from the water and wrapped around her body.

32

Vera

“Odessa!” I shrieked, sprinting for the rail. Starke was right on my heels. The large red tentacle held Odessa in the air, water sluicing off its suckers. I whirled and grabbed a sword from Starke’s scabbard, then swung wildly at the creature’s limb.

The tip of the sword nicked its thick skin, but it thrashed farther out of reach. Odessa’s glasses hit the deck and cracked. When a second tentacle emerged from the waves, I froze in fear. What was this thing?

“Vera, watch out!” Everett shouted from the side as the second limb lunged for me, and I dove out of the way. Everett sliced his own sword down the length of the tentacle. Blue blood squirted through the air and splattered my face.

A roar echoed from the depths. It released its grip on Odessa and slunk back into the dark water. Her scream reverberated in the air as she fell from high above the deck. I sprinted toward her, but I was too late.

Kieran, however, wasn’t. He was beneath her in a flash, catching her before she could flatten on the planks. His strong arms held her steady as he slowly lowered her to the ground.

I reached them and fell to my knees. “Odessa, can you hear me?” My fingers trembled as I felt along her body for injuries. She inhaled with a gasp, struggling to rise. Kieran put a hand under her neck to lift her.