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I waited for Rainn to comment on the presence in the water, of the ancient pressing personality of the dark sea where we swam, but he was unperturbed.
Though I knew the Kraken lived in the waters, he appeared to be sleeping into the wee hours of the morning—something I hoped to use to my advantage.
Would it have been cleverer of me to stay in the stronghold and drink away my problems? Probably.
My skin prickled as the gravity of what I was about to try hit me full force. My feet slowed, and I dropped my legs until I was upright, treading water.
Rainn paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Are you alright?” he asked, turning back to the open water as if he knew I could sense something he couldn’t.
My gills opened, breathing as much water as I could to try and steel my nerves. I shook my head to clear it. “You know I told you about that really foolish thing I was about to do?”
Rainn tilted his ear as if he wanted me to repeat myself. “Explain.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and flung a hand to the darkness. “The Sirens reach magical majority by touching a stone at the center of the dark sea.”
“Is that the reason for this midnight sojourn?” Rainn grinned. “You want to try and get your magic. I never pictured you as someone that would attempt something sorisky.”
I bit my lip and grimaced, but Rainn continued.
“If you want to swim to some sacred rock and lay your hand on it, who am I to stop you?” He teased. “I assume you’ve seen it work. Undine and Sirens are gilded, though one has wings and another has fins. It stands to reason that if the Sirens can channel Belisama’s gifts through a stone in the dark sea, perhaps you will also be able to.”
I relaxed. “Yes. Exactly!”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Rainn’s lips spread even further, revealing his sharp canines. “Let’s race to this sacred rock and return for breakfast.”
My eyes flicked to the trench again. “I should warn you—”
An almighty screech boiled the water around us.
Rainn’s entire body curled, and his eyes flashed the darkest black. Without an iris, the same eyes that his seal form had. “What was that?” he asked, the words loaded.
“I told you about the Kraken, right?” I winced.
“Refresh my memory.”
“It’s a large… beast, of sorts?” I pushed my hair out of my face. “I haven’t seen it closely, but it is old.Old.It guards the stone, and I sort of…” I took a deep breath. “Made a bargain with it.”
Rainn’s teeth ground together. “A bargain?”
“I know.” I exhaled. “Don’t tell me how much of a terrible idea that was.”
Rainn’s nostrils flared, and he turned away. “We can go back to the shore,” he offered.
The Kraken let out another chirping, screeching wail. The seabed shook as it started to wake.
“I don’t think we can,” I said heavily.
Rainn and I swam forward, even though every muscle in my body screamed to get as far away from the darkness seeping through the crack in the seabed.
Though I had spoken to the Kraken only a few days before, I hadn’t been close enough for the beast to reach out with its mass of blood-red tentacles.
Rainn was on edge, unsure of what to expect. His hand hovered over the knife on his belt as the tension stole our voices—waiting for the beast to make an appearance.
“Rainn…” I whispered. “You should go back.”
“Uh-uh.” He shook his head, keeping his eyes fixed forward.
When Colm had reached his majority, he had swum right down into the crevice. No doubt, luring the Kraken out of the fissure was the first step to their ritual's success.
