Page 32

Maris!

The screeching cries of something outside their tent woke her up. Maris usually slept throughout the entire night. She wasn’t one to wake up unless she needed to relieve herself or she couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep. Snuggled close to Valda, the other woman’s warmth lulled her to a deep sleep until she heard that strange noise outside.

Between their bodies, cuddled up in a ball, Cerberus shifted and peeked her head out to stare at the tent’s opening. Valda’s deep breathing let Maris know she was asleep and didn’t hear a thing. Good thing Cerberus did.

They had left Prospero when the first boats filled with Sealians sailed towards the eastern Agenor Islands. Eyphah had overseen everything, making sure everyone had enough provisions to make it to the Sea Kingdom. According to Kenna, a group of Vulcanians would wait for them on their arrival to help them set up. After that, Eyphah was going to take charge once all the Sealians had fled from Prospero.

Maris wouldn’t have left anyone else in charge except Eyphah. Although Eyphah seemed extremely nervous about being on a boat, and still broken about her brother’s passing, she found enough strength to do what was right, and that was transporting everyone back to their homeland.

Once Maris was pleased with how things were moving in Prospero, she set out with Valda and a throng of soldiers to Ophelia. They couldn’t afford to rush what they were about to do, not when their enemy was both smart and strong .

Cerberus jumped over Maris and stepped outside as she frantically slipped from Valda’s embrace and stormed out after her. Everyone seemed to be asleep yet, the horses were also uneasy, shaking their heads and huffing. Cerberus stared at something in the distance, her fur fluffed up as if scared.

“What is it, girl?” Maris asked, kneeling to touch Cerberus, but the cat’s gaze was still lost as she let out high-pitched meows mixed with low growls.

Another cry echoed in the vast desert, the howling wind carrying it to Maris, seeping through her skin, and chilling her. Swallowing hard, Maris pulled on Cerberus, trying to get her back to the tent. Whatever was outside wasn’t human, and it didn’t feel like they were being watched, just… just that something was outside—something that made the most hideous crying sounds Maris had ever heard in her life.

With Cerberus in her arms, the crying sounded closer, almost behind her. Turning towards the noise, by the edge of the makeshift campsite, a person hunched over as if in pain. Blood-stained rags hung from their arms and legs, and a piece of cloth covered their eyes. With their mouth agape, the creature released a breathy moan before taking a step back, pivoting towards the desert and turning their back to Maris.

Maris stood there, frozen in fear. Cerberus’ deep growls resurfaced once again, more so when the creature walked away. Hissing, Cerberus escaped from Maris’s embrace and ran to the creature.

“Cerberus! No! Wait!” Maris cursed under her breath as she dashed after the cat, but Cerberus made it to the creature in no time.

As Cerberus neared them, the humanoid pivoted back, making the animal’s back arch. Her hiss and snarls were returned by the creature. Cerberus pushed back and made to run before Maris grabbed her tail.

“Are you out of your damn mi—”

“Who goes there?”

Maris fell on her knees, cradling Cerberus to her chest, her eyes glued to the horrifying creature before her. She swallowed hard, unsure if it was wise to talk again. It seemed the creature was blind.

Shuddering in a breath, Maris squeezed Cerberus before taking another step back. The creature’s face turned in her direction. They inhaled deeply and sighed. “I can hear the wind and smell the sea.” Canting their head to the side, they raised their hand, their palm open, exposing the broken skin. “Survivor of Storms. ”

Maris’s eyes widened. The only person who called her that was Kenna. How did this creature know about her, how could she tell who she was?

Cerberus struggled in her grasp again, and with a soft curse, she squeezed her tighter, earning a pained meow from the cat.

“How do you—”

“Maris Era Thalassa. Daughter of the ocean guardians. Survivor of Storms.”

“I am not Thal—”

“Your parents— birth parents were Thalassa.” With a grin, the creature dipped their chin to their chest and curtseyed to Maris. “Heiress to the throne of the Sea Kingdom, I am The Oracle.”

The Oracle .

Maris blinked, surprised. Valda had told her stories, but never in her wildest dream did she ever think she would find them. The one thing she couldn’t peel her eyes from was blood stains on their ragged clothing.

“Do you need me to heal your wounds?” Maris uttered, her voice a slight whisper.

The Oracle’s grotesque smile sent a shiver down Maris’s back.

“A true Asclepius worshipper, indeed! Worried about other’s wellbeing rather than her own. You have learned your lesson, it seemed.” The Oracle’s hand trailed over their chest, touching the bloody wraps. “I usually answer one question, but you are the first to ever ask about my wellbeing.” Grinning, the Oracle waved their hand dismissively before shaking their head. “I do not need healing. My wounds will return. But you seem to be terrified about something. I hope is not because of me.”

Maris shook her head. Realizing that the Oracle couldn’t see, she answered with a simple no. The Oracle waved their hand for Maris to come closer, but she didn’t. She didn’t move an inch before the Oracle straightened their back.

“I am a vessel to the Fates. I wander Umbriel’s desert seeing everything…” They inhaled and lifted their head to the dark sky. “I know you have questions about the war, Survivor of Storms.” Their voice cracked, dropping to a heavy whisper. “Ask me anything. I will answer your question. But it can only be one.” The Oracle pointed one crooked finger at Maris and chuckled. “Don’t play tricks like your mate did. Even if you ask two questions in one sentence, I will only answer one. So, think your question through.”

The fear diminished, as did Cerberus’ snarls. The cat rumbled and purred within her arms, her tail swatting from side to side. One question. She was allowed to ask the Oracle one question. There was only one thing she wished to know, and as much as the answer petrified her… Maris needed to know.

“Oracle,” Maris cleared her throat as the creature leaned towards her, tilting their head to the side, angling their ear. “I need to know, if—”

“ Maris! ”

The press of a furry face woke her up. If it wasn’t for the smell of burning wood and the sound of hooves outside the tent, Maris would’ve sworn she was back in Oberon Castle, in Valda’s bed, with Cerberus sleeping on her chest.

Maris found Valda’s eyes on her, her powerful body over her, her gaze nervous but determined.

“We have to go,” Valda announced, standing by the mess of furs and sheets they had used as a bed the night before.

Maris sat up, pushed Cerberus off her, and turned to the opening of the tent. It was still nighttime, yet there was a lot of movement outside. Frowning, she wondered if what she had just experienced was a dream or if her conversation with the Oracle actually happened.

As Maris stood up and grabbed Poseidon’s trident, Kenna walked in, followed by two of her men.

“Are we ready to go?” Kenna asked.

Valda nodded, handing the Heaven Sword to a Vulcanian soldier, who secured it by the scabbard. Maris passed her trident to another guard, who accepted it with a silent nod.

As the preparations continued around them, Valda turned to Maris one last time, her jaw tightening. “Stay close to me.”

Maris swallowed hard, her heart hammering inside her chest as one of the Vulcanian soldiers pulled two sacks from their belongings, along with a length of rope.

She glanced at Valda, offering a rueful smile—one that was returned almost instantly. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Valda. Your mother told me to take care of you, and I intend to keep that promise until my last breath.

Valda’s gaze softened and her lower lip trembled before she straightened her back. “See you on the other side, Seashell.”

Maris nodded, a shaky exhale leaving her lips as darkness swallowed her vision.

Valda’s body swayed from side to side, bumping slightly against Maris, who sat next to her. Her arms ached from being tied behind her back, and the bag covering her face reeked of cat piss. She hoped Cerberus hadn’t sat on it—or worse, peed on it—before the Vulcanians shoved it over her head.

With a huff, Valda nudged Maris with her shoulder, only to be met with another shove in return. Maris was agitated, and not happy with the current situation.

Valda sighed, irritated, just as a soft wooden thump sounded beside her. Though Maris tried to hide it, Valda could feel her anxiety seeping through their bond. She couldn’t blame her.

There was no way of knowing if their plan would work. Tartarus , her plan hadn’t worked when she tried to sneak into Prospero—what made her think it would go smoothly with the Skylians?

“We’ll be fine,” Maris muttered, shoving her again.

“I know.”

A sudden weight settled on Valda’s lap, followed by a soft chirp. She knew instantly what it was.

“I told you to stay at camp, didn’t I?” she murmured.

The only answer was a gentle press of fur against her face.

“Cerberus is here?” Maris asked, just as another wooden thump echoed, followed by Maris’s anxious sigh.

Before Valda could respond, the sound of barking orders and galloping horses filled the air. They had arrived.

“We’re here,” Valda whispered as the weight on her lap disappeared. “Stay hidden, Cerberus,” she hissed under her breath before focusing on the voices outside.

“Blessed be the goddess!” a soldier outside said. “We bring King Arwin gifts!”

The heavy tarp covering the carriage was yanked away. Harsh sunlight burned against Valda’s skin, and she instinctively shifted, struggling to sit upright.

A rough hand grabbed her elbow and dragged her out of the carriage. Maris yelped as she was pulled out next, and an immediate, primal need to snap the neck of whoever had touched her coiled within Valda’s chest. But before she could react, a brutal kick landed against the back of her knee, sending her crashing to the ground.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs. She hadn’t expected her men to be so rough, but she supposed they had to sell the act of being Arwin’s soldiers delivering their captives. It needed to be convincing.

The sound of Maris’s body slamming into the ground made her almost feral. They could be rough with her, but damn it. Not with Maris! A hand gripped her hair, yanking her upright, forcing her into a kneeling position.

Then, the bag was ripped from her head.

Blinding morning sunlight seared her vision, and she winced, her eyes adjusting. Blinking rapidly, she turned to her side. Maris had her eyes squeezed shut before she cracked one open, peering at Valda.

Hissing, Valda turned her gaze forward—straight into the looming wooden gates of Oberon Castle’s courtyard.

From the guard towers above, Arwin soldiers leered down at them, their grins wicked. Two of them snickered amongst themselves, clearly recognizing her.

“Blessed be the goddess indeed,” one of them sneered, sliding his sword back into its sheath. He placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

“Well, would you look at that! Two for one! I must say, I never thought this day would come!”

A male guard scoffed before taking a step forward and grabbing Valda’s face. He jerked her towards him to have a better look. “Oh! This is Aither alright!” He laughed, his putrid breath washing over her. Valda wrenched her face away, biting back the urge to sink her teeth into his wrist. Kenna had bound her hands for a reason—if they weren’t tied, she might have already slit his throat.

“Is this the Sealian leader?” Another guard asked, pointing at Maris.

“Looks like it,” the first guard said, before turning his attention back to Valda’s soldiers.

There were six Skylian soldiers with them all on Valda’s side. They had been smart enough to strip the uniforms from the corpses of Arwin’s men left behind after their last encounter with Eris. As much as Kenna wanted her soldiers to be with Valda, she wouldn’t have it. The violet gazes would’ve been a dead giveaway and the deep accents none of the Vulcanians could hide .

At the gates, four of Arwin’s soldiers stood on the ground, while two more peered down from the fortifications, their gazes sharp. Ouranos only knew how many more were inside the courtyard.

Kenna, along with a hefty troop of Vulcanians, mingled in Ophelia Plaza, waiting for the gates to open. Behind Valda sat three carriages—the one used to smuggle her and Maris inside alongside bombs, and two more carrying weapons and four large barrels of water.

Maris had insisted on the barrels. Valda knew why, though she wished her mate could command the ocean itself rather than resort to using mere barrels filled with water.

Suddenly, the harsh rays of the Skylian sun dimmed. A shadow crept over the courtyard.

Valda frowned and glanced up. Holy Ouranos , Valda thought, as she narrowed her eyes at the sky. Please let it rain…

Dark clouds gathered sluggishly, rolling across the sky. Rain in the Sky Kingdom was a rare event, but when it rained, it poured. The sight sent a prickle down Valda’s spine, just as a drop of rain fell on her cheek.

Turning to Maris, she noticed her mate staring up at the gathering clouds, first her lips parted in awe, but then a soft smirk spread across her face.

Valda’s stomach turned with anticipation. Finally, things were turning in their favor.

“Valda…” Maris whispered, her eyes locked on the sky, all the while unable to hide her hopeful smile.

“I see it,” Valda murmured back, swallowing her excitement. “Stay close to me.”

One of her men finally spoke. “We were scouting around Prospero and found them. We also brought weapons.” She gestured toward the carriages. “We want King Arwin to take them off our hands. He’s offering quite the bounty for these two. We want our share.”

Arwin’s men exchanged uneasy glances, shifting their weight.

Valda arched a brow. Their body language was wrong. They were nervous and agitated.

What was going on inside the castle?

The guard hesitated before answering. “King Arwin is indisposed at the moment.”

Indisposed ?

Valda narrowed her eyes at the soldiers in front of her. Was that bastard even inside the castle? If he wasn’t, all of this was for nothing.

Scoffing, Valda’s guard shook her head and stepped forward. The other two instinctively rested their hands on the hilts of their stolen swords .

“Indisposed?” she repeated, voice thick with disbelief. “We’re not leaving until we get our payment.” She crossed her arms. “And we want the king himself to hand it to us.”

Every time they referred to Arwin as king, Valda wanted to spit on the ground. Her bound hands curled into fists behind her back.

Maris shifted beside her, eyes widening slightly as she shook her head in warning.

“ Valda ,“ she hissed.

Valda exhaled sharply through her nose, her irritation growing. This back-and-forth was pointless. If she remained too quiet, it might raise suspicion—those who knew her expected her to be hot-headed. But if she lost control too soon, it could ruin everything. But then again…

She pushed herself to her feet. “Enough of this—”

The words barely left her mouth before one of Arwin’s soldiers struck her hard in the stomach. Pain exploded through her torso, knocking the air from her lungs as she crumpled forward, barely catching herself on her knees.

“Valda!” Maris moved instantly, shuffling closer, her bound hands struggling to reach her.

“Stay put!” Valda gritted out, forcing herself upright despite the throbbing in her core.

“Touch her again, and we will have a problem,” her guard snapped, stepping between Valda and Arwin’s men. “They are to be delivered to King Arwin unharmed. The bounty clearly states the reward is higher if they’re alive.”

The other Skylian sneered. “Leave them here. We’ll contact you when we have the payment.”

“Do you take us for fools? We went to great lengths to get these two—not to mention the Vulcanian rats we had to kill to secure these weapons. And you think we’ll just walk away empty-handed?” Valda’s guard narrowed her eyes.

Before the guard could respond, another drop of water landed before Valda, then another one, and then another. Raising her face to the heavens, more dark clouds gathered as it started to rain.

Her guard shifted, clearly growing restless. “Could you at least let us inside?” She moved her hands palm up. “It is raining after all…”

Arwin’s men looked at each other for a second before one of them rolled his eyes and shrugged.

“Fine. ”

Valda released the breath she was holding and allowed her soldier to pull her up to her feet while the Skylian pulled Maris up. Her stomach turned when Maris eyed her.

Something was brewing inside Maris. Valda could feel it.

Maris gave her one last quick glance before tilting her head upward. Her jaw tensed as the loud groan of shifting wooden bolts echoed through the air. Slowly, the massive gates to Oberon Castle’s courtyard creaked open, revealing what was on the other side.

Inside, Skylian soldiers were scattered across the courtyard—some engaged in rigorous training, others tending to makeshift camps. But as the doors widened, one by one, their movements stilled.

Dozens of eyes turned to Valda, and she felt the weight of their stares like a blade to the spine. She wasn’t sure what Arwin had promised them, but whatever it was, it wasn’t worth the betrayal.

A sudden, sickening thud snapped her attention away. Valda turned just in time to see a body hitting the ground behind them.

Valda barely had time to react before a second soldier tumbled from the guard towers above, limbs flailing before crashing lifelessly into the dirt.

“What in Tartarus?!” one of Arwin’s men shouted.