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“Morgan!” Skye screamed, scanning the churning waves for a struggling swimmer, then for a body or a bloom of crimson. Hunter threw himself beneath the waves to look. Skye was about to rush ashore to search the waterline for Morgan or a sign of her footprints, when Hunter resurfaced. Skye’s limbs felt numb at the grim look on his face, but he put a finger to his lips and gestured for her to follow.
Darkness swelled on the horizon and the stormy sky was swallowing all the light. Soon, it would be too late to run. But there was no choice. Skye threw herself after Hunter.
Together they moved beneath the churn of the waves, out into darker depths. Even with her Nemaro-lightened vision, the water was shadowy, as if the black clouds above were soaking into the bay. Hunter moved cautiously, but swiftly, through the gloom. His body tensed for battle as the surface grew distant above them. Skye followed his lead, but almost at once, she saw that their stealth was pointless. They were expected.
Thea hovered in the water at the midpoint between the seabed and the agitated surface, not trying to hide. Her fight with Jarrod had clearly left her injured. That she was here, and he wasn’t, gave Skye an unexpected pang. Jarrod must be dead. He would never have let Thea escape from his vengeance.
One arm hung at Thea’s side, and Skye saw a trail of silver dust seeping from a gash on her neck. Bruises and grazes were visible on her pale skin. But the expression on her still-beautiful face was one of triumph, and the light in her eyes made Skye certain Thea was insane. And beside Thea, not needing to breathe, her green eyes glazed and a vapid look on her face, was Morgan, her long black hair swirling in the water like a web.
“Well, here you are at last. I was beginning to fear you didn’t care for poor Morgan enough, with the scary wave bearing down on your dear little village. That would quite have ruined my fun. Don’t misunderstand me,” she opened her eyes wide as if fearing they had, “I’m sure Morgan is entertaining enough on her own. And I promise you, if things don’t go to plan, I intend to find out just how entertaining she can be.”
Thea suddenly glared at Hunter. “None of that. Her pea-brain isn’t big enough for the both of us.” Then she laughed, “Tsk, Hunter,” she said playfully. “Don’t even try to persuade me to see things your way.” Her smile vanished. “I will never see things your way.” Her eyes slid to Skye with a malice that filled Skye with dread. There was ominous promise in that look.
Skye flew towards Thea, who gripped Morgan with her good arm, while Morgan’s eyes cleared. Terror filled Morgan’s face, and she thrashed, desperate for air.
“That’s right,” Thea shouted, “Keep coming, Skye, make the end quick for your precious friend.” Skye froze, and Morgan’s face relaxed as Thea’s Mesmer flooded her once more. Thea loosened her hold on Morgan and she floated weightlessly beside her captor. Skye’s eyes dropped to Morgan’s hands. Where was her shell ring?
“Looking for this?” Thea purred. She showed them her hand. On her finger was the heavy grey shell ring that contained part of Hunter’s essence. He had made it for Skye. Thea offered her hand to Morgan, and, moving in a dreamlike state, Morgan slid the shell ring off Thea’s finger. Skye’s heart pounded. Was she helping Morgan? Then Morgan held the ring out in front of her and dropped it. Skye watched it sink like a stone towards the seabed that was so shrouded in gloom, she couldn’t see it.
Hunter darted towards it, but Thea released Morgan from her Mesmer for another second and Morgan flailed in terror. “Don’t. Move.” Thea hissed at Hunter.
Hunter stopped, and Morgan relaxed again, looking vacantly happy.
“I can keep doing this until she drowns,” Thea said. “You are not quick enough, Hunter, and your emotions always cloud your focus.”
“What do you want?” Hunter growled.
“An exchange. One worthless human for another.” She barely glanced at Skye, focusing her attention on Hunter. “Thanks to you, Skye doesn’t need a ring or Mesmer to breathe. Morgan does. Back away and I will send Morgan to stand between us. When Skye is here with me, I will release Morgan, and you may take my place in her mind.”
“What do you want with Skye?”
Thea’s eyes narrowed. Morgan arched her back, trying to find oxygen, her hands clawing at the water, and Skye screamed, “Stop it, you’re killing her. I’ll do it.” Skye rushed forward before Hunter could speak.
“Oh, how nice,” Thea said. “I barely had to ask.”
Skye stopped short of Thea and glanced back at Hunter, her expression pleading with him to comply.
You can trust me,” Thea purred at Hunter, smiling once more. “I promise I will let you into Morgan’s mind.”
Hunter’s face was like a storm, but he swept back, increasing the distance between them. At once, Morgan left Thea’s side and drifted past Skye without looking at her. Skye felt Thea’s hand fasten around her arm like a shackle.
When Morgan stopped in front of Hunter, his expression softened with pity, and Skye knew he had taken control of Morgan, who drifted behind him. Then his face tightened when he saw Thea’s grip on Skye’s arm. “What do you want with Skye?” he demanded again.
“Oh, just a distraction.”
“Whose?” Skye said, her voice full of hatred.
“Ooh, a little vexed, Skye? Hunter’s distraction, of course.”
Skye felt confused, and Hunter frowned.
“In settling old scores, nothing goes entirely to plan. One must let events unfold. A nudge here, a push there. But I have to say I’m pleased with the tally so far. All my enemies are dead, or soon will be, and now, incredibly, like a gift, the entire village is to be wiped out too. It is quite the perfect ending. I didn’t want dear, soft-hearted Hunter trying to stop the wave from engulfing the village.”
Her eyebrows rose at the startled expression on Hunter’s face, and she laughed. “You hadn’t even thought of stopping it? That is too perfect. I needn’t have bothered poor Morgan for her assistance. You were always a humble one, simply clueless as to your potential. But - oh well, here we are.” Her expression became cold. “Your injury already weakens you. Morgan is dependent on your will to stay alive, which will tie up your feeble focus entirely. But just to make sure, this,” she shook Skye’s arm, “depends upon my good humour to live. So. Together we will watch the ocean take the village. Stay that distance from us, Hunter. If you heed me, perhaps I shall permit you to live on - with the certain knowledge of your part in this tragedy.”
Even as she spoke, the surrounding sea swelled, shifting and darkening. They looked up as, far overhead, a seething mass thundered above them towards the village. A forerunner of the wave.
Thea smiled. “The opening act. I need a better view.”
