Page 18 of Sworn to Consume
I haven’t been using my soul vision much, either. I usually keep it sheathed until I need it, so now I can’t tell if I’m getting weaker—or just hungrier. One thing’s for sure: even if she’s not dead, I’m struggling. And I have no idea why Myko didn’t warn me.
“Because I’m feeling exactly what you feel. I had to confirm it with the huntresses after your father brought that to you.”His clearly annoyed growl echoes in my mind, making sure I know he’s near.
I roll my eyes and turn my focus back to Grandma beside me, ignoring him.
“We don’t know. But we need to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible,” she says, her gills flaring wide before closing again.
“Many hated the change your birth caused. But they can’t deny the fact thatyouare the Coral of Life now. They obey you—even if they hate it. So I don’t think this is coming from the pods...”
I tilt my head, raising an eyebrow as I process her words.
“I’m just trying to follow your line of thought,” I murmur, tapping my chin as the wheels start turning in my head.
“You mean... we’re looking for a new, unknown Black Blooded causing chaos?” I finally ask, scared of the infinite possibilities.
“You would've told me if there was a Black Blooded causing chaos in the oceans, right?”I ask Myko accusingly, but he only answers with one of his irritating huffs—like I’ve somehow offended him just by asking.
“I'm sorry. I have too much on my plate with balancing everything,”I find myself apologizing this time. It’s not his fault.
“You’re sharp. Just like your mother,” Grandma’s voice cuts through, interrupting my apology.
Her smile always cracks when she talks about Mom. She can see her whenever she wants—but Mom could never rule Mal-El. Never take the birthright we all know she deserved. She could’ve been the greatest queen this city has ever known.
“This is the most logical explanation,” Grandma continues. “The Guardian killed Jocelyn before you were born—so I have no idea what kind of chaos that alone could stir.”
She swims over to Grandpa’s seat and settles into it, letting the water slowly lower her body into the pointed shell chair.
I drift closer to his golden desk, where a large, flattened scroll-stone rests—carved with the oceans just like the map my dad had.
“Did you fill him in?” Grandpa’s voice booms as he enters the office. We both turn toward him. “He should leave as soon as possible.”
Grandma’s heavy sigh stirs the water around us. I glance back at her, waiting for her explanation.
They have a plan?
“I’m just about to do so,” she replies, gesturing toward him before her finger lands on the star-shaped mark etched into the map—Sur-El bloodline.
“Your father already told you which pods to check on first. Start with Sur-El,” she instructs, dragging her finger across the carving to a mark shaped like three waves. “Then you’ll go to Aquan.”
But I have a feeling it won’t be that simple. If they knew anything, they would’ve already sent updates through their messengers to my grandparents.
Because they needme.
“I’ll do what I can to figure out what’s happening,” I say, offering the most diplomatic answer I can come up with—because I havenoconfidence in this mission. But my family is on the line, so I’ll do whatever it takes.
She nods.
And just as I turn to swim out of the room, that familiar distant screech slices through my ears, calling to me.
The Huntresses.
“Finally! It’s the hunt time of this month! Let’s go, I’mstarving,”I say to Myko, and this time he answers fast. He’s as hungry as I am. I know it. I feel it.
“Me and your aunt are waiting for you outside the city gates.”I smirk to myself and wave goodbye to my grandparents as I leave the office.
I still don’t get why Bay and Myko always avoid coming into the city.
Sure, we’reBlack Blooded—but we’re anchored. That means we’re not going to go full lunatic on everyone around us. We’re in full control.
