Page 15 of Whispers of the Starlit Sea
Arick’s lungs burned. He clamped his lips together to stop the urge to open his mouth and let the water pour in. They broke the surface and gasped.
Arick looked around for any sign of succor. The loss of the rope to guide them back to the ship sat like a weight in his stomach. His sense of direction was gone, but surely safety couldn’t be that far away. They were in the harbor, encased by land. If only he could see where it was.
Beside him Thomas floundered, his grip tight on Arick’s arm. Still pressed against Thomas’s other side, Cookie yelped in pain. The sound barely registered as Arick fought to keep them all above water.
“Arick!” Thomas gasped.
Arick turned to see what Thomas needed.
A piece of the ship about the size of a door floated just out of reach, each second sending it farther away. Arick struck out after it, trusting Thomas to keep hold of him. A wire trailed from the flotsam, and Arick grabbed it. He pulled the door toward him. His hand landed on the ring holding the wire to the wood. It wasn’t a door at all…it was the diving platform that had been so cleverly fastened to the side of the ship. The broken mast must have ripped it free.
For a moment, the two rested against the wood, catching their breath. But the storm wasn’t so kind, and within a moment, it threatened to tear their salvation from their hands.
His arms trembling, Arick helped Thomas onto the platform, then shoved poor Cookie up after him. The little dog was shivering from cold and fear, his drenched coat making him look half his usual size.
“Come on, Arick!” Thomas shouted. He shifted to one side to make room. The platform rocked. Arick grabbed the side to stop it from flipping over.
His fingers were stiff and cold, and he struggled to hold on and lift himself out of the water.
“Arick!” Thomas screamed, his eyes wide in terror.
Then the world became crushing, whirling water as a massive wave crashed down on them. Arick’s head banged against the platform. Pain seared across his vision. The wire ripped from his hand.
Thomas. He had to get back to Thomas.
The water was never-ending — swirling, tearing, crushing, until all thought was gone and only the desperate ache for air remained.
He surfaced, his breaths coming in short gasps. A small board bumped into him, and he clung to it with what little strength he had left.Was Thomas okay?
He just had to hold on a little longer. Get back to Thomas. Swim to shore.
Blackness crowded his vision, and he choked as he breathed in water. No, he couldn’t give up. He had to…had to…something.
Lightning flashed, and he winced at the glare. With renewed alertness, he tucked the board under his chest and began to swim.
But the ocean was having none of it. The water under him rose and rose until the world turned upside down.
Once again, his lungs burned, and all sense of up or down vanished. He was so tired.
Something brushed against his shoulder, and he reached for it. Forcing his eyes open, he searched the darkness for hope of salvation.
A shape that seemed made of the ocean and yet wholly separate from it loomed before him. The continuous roaring of the storm began to fade as he was wrapped in a lullaby. The ocean sang to him, and he thought he must surely be dying, for before him was an angel, lifting him up.
If this was death, then it was far lovelier than he had thought.
Evenbelowthesurface,the water was in turmoil. Sorcha fought her way to the man. Why wasn’t he trying to swim?
She grasped his arm, startled at how cold he felt. Turning, she swam upward. He was heavy, pulling her down. She adjusted her grip, holding him under his arms. Thick, dark liquid drifted from his head. Knowing he would die if she didn’t do something, she began to sing. The words to the familiar lullaby came easily this time, but she struggled to compel her voice. Dragging the human through the water stole her breath.
The dark spiral from his head slowed, whether from healing, she didn’t know. But she kept singing until they broke the surface, her voice changing in the air.
The storm hadn’t abated, and they were propelled by the waves. If only she had a dolphin! She held him out of the water as best she could, continuing to sing.
“Rest in the embrace of the starlit sea,” she panted, feeling her magic fill the words.
The man coughed once, then sputtered.
A sharp pain filled her chest, and she cried out, losing her grip on him. He gasped for air and flailed about, forcing her farther away.
