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Havoc shook his head. “Getting Azalea to do anything without pay won’t be easy.”
“What do we do with the ship, Captain?” Declan climbed down from the nest.
“I don’t want anyone here while those creatures are coming. Take all the rowboats. Havoc and Harris head back to the docks. Once I find Havana, I’ll meet back up with you. Declan and Broxton, go to Azalea’s and convince that fae to come. She loves this island and won’t see it be destroyed.” I kicked off my boots and took one last glance at my men. “Be safe.”
With that I dove overboard. My skin shifted, gills appeared on my neck, my fingers webbed out, and my vision shifted to black and white. Swimming, I headed toward King Tarsios’ ship which was offshore near the western area of the docks.
What was she thinking diving in without her power? Even with her magic the octopus was massive. The creature would not go down easily. To my right, shapes moved around in the water. My ability helped propel me through the sea.
A large tentacle swung by me, throwing me off course. I had to go around this thing to get to where her father’s ship anchored. I dove deeper, closer to the sandy bottom. Blood filled the water, the tangy scent overwhelming my senses.
Schools of fish darted out of my way. Something hit my back and flung me forward.
Another tentacle.
How big is this thing?
The majority of the octopus stayed way below the surface, using its limbs to destroy the surrounding area. Darker spots splattered the creature’s skin. Declan had mentioned the monster was poisoned by a darkthing which meant its mind was not sane.
And this wasn’t just an ordinary octopus touched by a darkthing.
This was a kraken . . . a massive cephalopod with an ornery attitude and a vicious hunger. Not once during the fifty years I’d spent traveling the sea had I encountered one before.
A beam of light brightened the sky, and I swam to the surface popping my head above the water. The light went for the creature’s face. Arrows shot at the beast who kept its head safely underwater using tentacles to thrash and destroy the piers. Shouts and piercing screams filled the sky. With a barrage of magic and fire, the people of the Oasis descended on the sea creature, but those attacks did nothing to slow its frenzy. Something had sent it into a wild spin. Three of the tentacles slashed toward the left side of the docks, honing in on a specific area. From where I treaded water, I couldn’t see clearly, and the light had suddenly disappeared.
Was that her? Had her father removed the dampeners or was that the king fighting?
I searched the area for any signs, but it was too chaotic to decipher anything. Smoke clouded the figures fighting. Bodies fell in the water, some alive, others burned to bits. Squinting, I looked for anything resembling Havana, but with the fire and haze hovering over the sea, I would never be able to find out where she went or if she even made it out of the water. Deciding I should go back to where I saw her jump and try to pick up her scent from there, I dove down, quickly swimming away.
A tentacle grabbed my leg and yanked me up out of the water. In my haste to get to Havana, I neglected to bring any type of weapon. I wasn’t thinking, and now I’d face the legendary kraken with nothing but my fists.
I dangled forty feet above the surface, upside down, with no way to untangle myself. Trying to use my body’s momentum, I swayed back and forth in an attempt to reach the leg that had been captured. The tips of my fingers grazed the slimy tentacle.
Just a little farther.
“My, my, Captain. You are always getting yourself into the most unusual predicaments.”
Twisting around to see, Elon hovered in the air, shadowy wings flapping behind him, a slight grin on his pale face.
“Are you going to help or not?”
The vampyre flew a bit higher to where the tentacle had latched around my leg. “I believe you’ll owe me another favor after this.”
At this rate, I’d be indebted to Elon for the rest of my life. “Fine. Just get me down.”
“Of course, Captain.” Elon opened his mouth and bit into the leg holding me. A vampyre’s poison wouldn’t destroy the octopus, but it would most certainly annoy the creature. The kraken released me, and I plummeted. Holding out my hands, I called forth a stream of water to soften my fall.
Elon flew to where I floated. Using the water, I maneuvered myself away from the fight. “Have you seen her?” I asked.
The vampyre shook his head. “No, but the swarm is moving quicker. Captain, I know you care for this human and since you are already indebted to me, why not add something else on?”
Before I could ask what, Elon soared higher, the shadows around him creating black waves. “I will search for your human. You join the crew and get rid of that thing that is destroying the Oasis, and when I find your human, I will come tell you.”
“I don’t have time for games, Elon. Are you sure you can even find her?”
His mouth curved into a hungry grin, and I wasn’t too fond of the expression he now wore. “I will never forget the scent of her blood.”
Before I could change my mind and tell him no, the vampyre flew off, disappearing toward King Tarsios’ ship which left me with only one option.
Using my magic, I propelled myself toward the last place I spotted my crew. Harris and Havoc stood on the deck of a schooner not too far from the chaos. I landed on the deck with a thud. “Ready to make some calamari?”
The two turned around and Harris cocked his crossbow. “I’m starving.”
