Page 72 of The Kraken's Queen

They know we’re here.

It’s too late for one of my men though. A guard glides forward effortlessly. Someone shouts as another guard grabs for him, but it’s too late. The transfixed guard breaks free of the man’s grasp and swims to the gates.

I don’t realize I’m moving closer until Nori clamps his hand around my shoulder and doesn’t let go. I’m helpless as black, shadowy hands, almost clawlike, reach for the man. He doesn’t even try to fight them off; instead, he stands there and lets himself be wrappedin shadows.

When the shadows finally disperse, only the withered, skeletal shell of the man remains.

Gone. In a blink of an eye.

My resolve hardens. The gate needs to be closed once and for all.

“Noise cancelers! Now!” I shout.

Knowing the rest of the guards will follow, I take the lead and close the gap. The singing gets louder, stronger even, the closer we get. It’s getting painful to ignore. The Leviathan know we are here, and they aren’t holding back. More claw-shaped shadows slip through the small crack in the gate, attempting to reach out and grab us. I reach for the sword at my hip and bring it down upon as many claws as I can. There’s something akin to a hiss before the shadows slither back inside the prison.

But two more claws escape and lunge for us.

Next to me, Nori takes up his sword and cuts down more of the claws. No matter how many get cut down, more take their place.

The gate needs to be shut, and it needs to be shut now.

I sheath my sword and throw my weight at the shimmering gate. I half expect to go through it like a veil to the other side, but it turns solid when my tentacles wrap around the bars. I pull, testing the strength of the gate. It doesn’t budge, not even a little.

I should have known it wouldn’t be so easy.

I pull harder, all the while trying to dodge the claws coming for me. The guards hit many away, but it’s still too much. The song is too loud. My head hurts, and itmakes thinking, let alone doing anything, extremely difficult.

More of my strength depletes at a rapid rate, drained by the Leviathan inside. They are strong. Stronger than I anticipated. The guards' movements around me start to slow until I no longer see the gleam of the blade swinging down. I risk turning my head, only to see glazed-over looks in the eyes of the men I brought. Some look like they are actually trying to fight the hold, but it’s an uphill battle.

I scream, knowing they can’t hear me, but hoping by some miracle they do. Next to me, Nori drops his sword and moves closer to the shadowy claws. “Nori! Fight it! Don’t let them control you!” I scream. I scream until my throat goes raw.

Scream until my voice is scratchy and I can’t scream anymore.

It’s never been clearer that I’m alone in this.

We never stood a chance. In a matter of minutes, the Leviathan entranced and incapacitated every person I brought. If they die, their deaths will be on my hands. As well as every death that comes after.

If I’m to die, it won’t be by sitting and doing nothing. It will be by defending my kingdom. There’s honor in dying for those you rule over, knowing I did everything in my power to defend Tetria.

So, with what might be my last minutes with the living, I pull on the gates harder, fighting against creatures more powerful than me.

Chapter 42

Erin

During the night, the calm of the sea slipped into a vicious storm. Loud thunder rattles the boat, making sleeping impossible. Not that sleep would have come easily anyway. Atina let me bunk with her, away from the rest of the crew. I’m thankful for that, considering how many people stuffed themselves below deck.

However, the makeshift cot is scratchy, and the blanket is threadbare. I don’t want to seem ungrateful because Atina has already done so much for me, so I simply go along with it for the night. I manage to doze off for an hour or so, but the constant motion of the boat and the loud storm brewing outside make me ditch sleeping after several attempts.

Atina is no longer in the room when I finally get out of my cot. I tame my hair back as best I can and then give up, realizing I’m about to brave the elements. There’s no use in trying to look presentable when, the moment I step out of this room, I’ll be drenched.

When I reach to open the door, it blows back, nearly hitting me in the face. The wind whistles an ominous howl, flapping through the sails. Rain pours down in abundance. Lightning makes visibility possible, if only for a few seconds. Which is how I see Atina in the midst of all the chaos.

I feel my way along the deck. Multiple times, I bump into something hard or trip. Images of me falling overboard assault my mind. Being lost at sea terrifies me, even with my ability to breathe under water.

It takes an embarrassing amount of time to finally reach Atina. I’m soaked, feeling a chill deep in my bones. I shiver just as she reaches for me.

“What are you doing up? You should be sleeping,” she yells over the storm.

---