To Ocean's End (35 page)

Mido appeared beside her, sword held protectively in front of them both. Jessie lowered his sword arm. “Get back. Just trust me.” He gave her a worried frown. “Do it,” she said in her own “don’t argue” voice. He reluctantly backed away and returned to his spot next to Sauna. The water creatures watched Mido with open interest but redirected their attention to Jessie when she faced them. “Rhode sent you to help us.”

The one in front of Jessie said, “Sweet Dyne in trouble.
You
help.” The creature had a feminine, high-pitched voice.

“How? We don’t know where he is.”

“We do,” another said. “We take you.” The others echoed its words.

Rammus said, “How do we know they aren’t trying to pull a fast one?”

A creature on the end tilted its head. “Fast one? We fast. Swim fast.”

Jessie said, “How do we know you’re here to help us?”

The first one said, “Sweet Dyne in trouble. Need your help. You come.”

“All of us?” she asked skeptically.

“No. Just you.”

“And one other,” a second added.

“I’m going,” Mido said.

The four creatures looked at him. The lead one said, “Can’t. You hers.” It pointed to Jessie. “Mistress said so.”

“He come,” another said, a webbed finger pointing at Jacobi.

Jessie’s stomach dropped. “Why him?”

“Mistress will want trade,” the leader said. “Or she get angry. Very angry.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘trade’?” She had a feeling she already knew.

“Take something and no give something else is bad. Very bad. Very dangerous. Trade safer.”

“I’m not going anywhere with her or those freaks,” Jacobi said. Cancer elbowed him and snapped at him to shut up.

“Pleasing creature,” one of the monsters said.

“What happens to Jacobi if I trade him for Dyne?”

“You bitch!” He lunged at her but Cancer, Scully, and Sam held him back. He struggled as Scully wrested his sword from him.

The lead creature said, “Dyne sneak away. That one become new prisoner.”

Scully said, “Jessie, you wouldn’t really go through with that, would you?”

She ignored Scully. “New prisoner? Why is he being held prisoner?”

“Mistress angry. Dangerous to take without giving.”

“But you don’t just trade people like that. How long would he stay prisoner?”

One of the creatures dropped onto the deck with a watery thud and tilted its head at Jacobi. “Forever,” it said as if it was no big deal.

Jacobi stopped struggling and his bronzed face paled. He surged backwards and tore out of everyone’s grip. “No. No way in hell I’m going to become anyone’s prisoner.” The other two subordinate creatures dropped onto the deck.

Jessie angled herself between Jacobi and the creatures, and held out her arms. “I can’t let you take him like that. It’s not fair to him.”

Something huge and serpentine rose out of the ocean, dripping water from its eel-like head. It had a slimy, olive-green hide, black eyes, and gill slits behind its massive jaws. The head loomed high over all of them, its jaws parted slightly, revealing fangs as thick as Jessie’s arms. She and the entire crew backed up.

The lead creature hopped onto the deck, unconcerned with their new company. “Make trade. Safe. Come save sweet Dyne.”

The water serpent drew closer to Jacobi. Jessie ran over and stood in the path of the jaws more than big enough to swallow her whole. It could probably fit four adults in its mouth at once. “Stop!” The serpent halted, as did the creatures. “You are
not
taking him. This isn’t up for discussion or debate. You are going to take just me to Dyne and help me help him escape.” Rhode had told her to heed their advice, but she couldn’t bring herself to listen. It wouldn’t be right.

“No,” the leader creature said. The others kept their eyes on Jacobi, eager for the go ahead to snatch him up.

“What do you mean? I thought you wanted to help him.”

“Yes. With trade. But you say no trade.”

“There has to be another way.”

The creature studied her a moment. “Risky.” It began to fidget. So did the others.

Jessie took a step closer. “Tell me.”

It bowed its head respectfully. “We take you there. No trade. Very risky. You get selves out. We can’t help with escape. No power.” It looked up. “But you have power. You avatar of mistress. You can escape. But risky.”

“Don’t go, Jessie,” Mido said, almost begged.

She ignored him. “Do I have any other options?”

“Just the trade.”

Jessie waved for the creatures to return to the railing. They wordlessly complied. “Wait there.” She went over and stood before Rammus. “Just stay on the shipping schedule. Once I free Captain, he can get us back.”

“Jessie, you don’t have to do this. It’s--”

“Yes I do. He’s a prisoner. He doesn’t have the power to escape, but I do. You heard them.”

“Please don’t, Jessie,” Mido said.

She went over to him and planted a long kiss on his lips. He returned it fervently, as if he feared he was never going to see her again. “Trust me.”

“I trust you but I don’t trust them.”

“I have to take this risk. I’ll be back sooner or later.”

“Why do you feel so strongly about doing this?”

“If you were told you had the power to save him, wouldn’t you?”

He thought a moment. “I would.”

“I’d tell you not to worry but I’d be scared out of my mind if I was in your place and you mine. So... try not to worry too much. I promise I’ll be back.”

Mido took her face in both hands and brought his face close to hers. “I’m holding you to it.” They kissed again, short and sweet. He let go, worry etched all over his face.

She caressed his cheek, then headed over to Jacobi, who was shielding himself behind Cancer, Scully, Sam, and Rammus. All five of them looked tensed for fight-or-flight. They tore their eyes from the water serpent as she approached and she gestured for them to step aside. They parted and she stood before Jacobi, who regarded her with fear and hate. “Never forget: it’s the garbage bitch you threatened to rape who saved you from getting turned into Amphitrite’s prisoner. You owe me a thank you when Captain and I get back.” She expected him to get all narrow-eyed and start spewing insults, but he kept quiet and still, like a prey animal trying to avoid triggering a predator’s pounce reflex. He also looked like he was at a loss for what to think. After all he’d said and done to her, she was sticking out her neck for him. He glanced at the serpent, then fixed her with a terrified yet confused stare.

Jessie finally approached the lead creature and eyed the water serpent warily for good measure. It still loomed over all of them. “Take me to him.”

“You certain?”

“Yes.”

The water serpent lowered its head, resting it on the deck and making the boat list. The creatures clung to the railing and the crew staggered before regaining balance. Jessie grabbed the railing to catch herself. The serpent opened is maw, revealing fangs encasing a purple tongue. The creatures couldn’t possibly expect her to--

“Come. Ride. We take you there.”

Oh, god. “You expect me to get in its mouth?”

“Yes. You can’t swim like us. Long swim.”

“How do I know you’re not trying to feed me to it?”

“Harm avatar bad, unless told otherwise,” it said fervently. “Make mistress very angry.” The others echoed their agreement. “You ride. You sleep. You wake on arrival. Then no more naiads. We flee. No more safe. You understand?”

“For the most part.” Jessie cautiously approached the serpent’s maw and it’s rows of fangs as big as her forearms, its saliva glistening in the floodlights. Mido looked ready to dash over and grab her. She didn’t blame him. Stepping into the mouth of something big enough to swallow her whole was a horrible idea, except for right now, hopefully. She took in the entire crew, all of them frightened, all with their swords held in white knuckles. “I’ll be okay.” The words slipped out of her mouth, a reflex reaction to their anxiety. She had no idea if she’d be okay, much less ever see them again. However, she had a feeling Dyne would get them back if she could get to him. She stepped over the fangs and stood on the serpent’s squishy tongue. It felt like she was standing on a firm water bed.

A naiad came up to Jessie and grabbed her hand. “Time to sleep.” It bit her pinky finger and let go. Jessie flinched and let out a startled cry, then hugged her hand to her chest. Her hand started throbbing, and so did her arm, and suddenly her whole body.

“Sorry. Necessary.”

Jessie began to feel very drowsy. Her vision blurred and she lost her balance. The last thing she saw was the jaws closing as she toppled over.

*     *     *

Waiting and thinking. Thinking and waiting. What I was waiting for, I wasn’t sure. Punishment to begin, I guess. This incarceration was punishment though. It made me feel powerless, even in demon form. I’d taken up pacing the exit tunnel, but it was small to me while fifty feet tall. Yeah, I’d listened to Rhode, so I’d walked laps around the chamber as I thought about escaping more than anything else. Think about Amphitrite’s confession of love? All it did was make me feel sick to my stomach, so I gave up and thought about what I’d do if I ever gout out. I thought out many scenarios, covering whether my crew would be alive or dead, young or old, and how I’d react to various forms of punishment. What could she be preparing that was worse than this? I couldn’t think of anything, which pissed me off.

Right now, I was parked on the far end of the exit hall, staring out at all the pillars. Sure, I’d already thought of climbing them, but not only was I a water demon, better equipped for swimming, I also didn’t want to get punished for clawing up their artwork. So grounded it was.

Poor sweet Dyne.

I surged to my feet. A high-pitched female voice in my head, an unfamiliar one, was the last thing I expected.

Fear not, sweet Dyne. Help has come.

Was I going stir crazy and imagining things? The voice sounded like it belonged to a naiad, which threw me. Maybe it was toying with me. I was beyond help, except Amphitrite’s.

Something swam into the exit pool and stuck its huge head out of the water. How--? Never mind that. What was a giant water serpent doing here? I faced it, claws ready at my sides. If this was the first monster to cause me pain, so be it. I could take it on.

The serpent paused at the sight of me, then slowly drew to the hall and tilted its head. I crouched, then hesitated when it opened its mouth and something humanoid spilled out. The serpent backed up, positioning the regurgitated object between us, then it touched the thing once with its chin feelers before retreating back underwater and out of sight. I charged the pool and raked the unyielding surface, which rippled and stilled, heedless of my touch. I was still a prisoner. I turned to the thing the serpent had spit out, then did a double take.

“Jessie!”

She lay unconscious, clothes plastered to her skin with mucous. I kneeled over her and brought the side of my head close. Her heart wasn’t beating and she wasn’t breathing. I rolled her onto her back, tilted her head so her wind pipe was nice and open, then delicately opened her mouth and checked for blockage. To my relief, her mouth and throat were clear of mucous. Using one finger, I began administering CPR. Her body was no bigger than my hand. I felt like I was trying to resuscitate a kitten.

I’d expected to be at this for a while, but after several pumps, I stopped as Jessie started coughing and gasping for air. I sat up, hoping to avoid giving her a heart attack the second she opened her eyes, and listened to her heart beat. It raced for several seconds, then slowed as her breathing normalized.

“Jessie, what are you doing here?”

Her eyes popped open and she did a full-body flinch. “Good god! You scared the crap out of me.” She relaxed her limbs and lay there, catching her breath a second time.

“What
are
you doing here?”

“I’ve come to rescue you. Rhode said you were being held prisoner.”

“You saw her, too?”

“She sent me to help you escape.”

“Escape how?”

“I’m Amphitrite’s avatar. Apparently I’m the only one who can help.”

“And how are you going to use said status to get me out? I’m blocked off from all exits.”

Jessie thought a moment, then shrugged. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Are the naiads gone?”

I bowed my head and closed my eyes, and let out a resigned sigh. “At least you came alone. I’d have my hands full trying to protect a bunch of you.”

“I was supposed to come with Jacobi but I refused.”

I snapped my eyes open. Jessie looked at me, unfazed by what she just said. “What?”

“Rhode wanted me to bring him as a trade for you. The naiads said it would really piss Amphitrite off if I just took you and left without giving something in exchange.”

I digested her words a minute. Jessie had disregarded direct instructions from a goddess, yet had found a way to bypass that and reach me. That took some gall, along with a healthy dose of either courage or stupidity. I leaned more towards stupid, since she’d arrived inside the mouth of a water serpent for crying out loud. Rhode had probably wanted to trade prisoners in hopes of pissing her mother off a little less for helping me.