31/ Fang and Storm

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The screech was loud and piercing to her ears, pouring out of the sheraki's mouth relentlessly. Avira's eyes squeezed shut as a piercing ache cut through her skull like a knife. Her legs gave way and she crumpled to her knees. Her hands were covering her ears when she felt warmth trickle into her palm. She gasped as her ears rang. The echo of the scream covered the entire ocean bouncing and recollecting itself into a stronger force.

Avira felt dizzy and nearly fell forward. With her hands propping her up, she managed a glance at Wensley. He was still gawking at the sheraki, completely unaffected by the screech in the air. When she turned around, she realized no man was affected like her.

Her skull felt full of daggers scratching her from the inside and she collapsed. Black spots flickered in her vision and she nearly succumbed to the pain. A pent-up scream itched to be released but her energy was fading.

Instead, praying that whatever was watching over her would listen, she started screaming in her mind: Colsen! Colsen, wake up! Sheraki have surrounded the ship. The sailors are under their control. Can you hear me? Colsen!

Energy seeped from her body and she collapsed, lying on her stomach. There was no way of knowing if he had heard her call since there was no reply. She only hoped Colsen had felt her urgency and pain. Now she was gasping for breath, broken nails digging into the floorboards. She felt the thudding get louder and louder until she couldn't take any more.

Then a hand reached for her shoulder. She craned her neck enough to see Colsen's dark eyes bubbling with worry. "Are you okay?" he asked, pulling her up.

She gave in to his pull and unsteadily stood on shaky knees. She shook her head, words failing her. He pursed his lips and put an arm around her waist while she kept her hand around his neck. As they turned around, she saw a number of people had made their way to the deck.

More men lined rails, all staring down like in a trance. A cluster of women had gathered at the center, fear etched on their faces. Wives shook their men's shoulder as children clung to their skirts, but to no avail.

Colsen whipped his head back and forth, eyes searching for someone. Before she could rasp a question, he swore fiercely and pulled her to their right. It was dark, the moon covered by clouds, so only when they were close enough did she realize Rollen was also by the rail.

His broken arm was still strapped across his chest, clutching the rails with his left. "Rollen," Colsen called. "Can you hear me?" There was no response. 

Colsen gently disentangled himself from her. She planted her feet firmly on the floor, fighting the pain in her head. She then realized that the screech had disappeared. Colsen grabbed Rollen and turned him around.

His light brown eyes were glazed, his mouth hanging open. His chocolatey hair whipped with the wind, brushing his forehead. The dreamy expression on his face made her shudder. A tiny line furrowed between Colsen's eyes. He glanced back at her. "I'm going to try something."

He had already turned when she nodded. He grabbed the entranced man's head, palms at his temples and stared at him. A few heartbeats passed. Thunder rolled over the heavens. Avira glanced up to see an army of storm clouds had gathered overhead. Light cackled in the dark clouds, dancing in the night. Children whimpered and cried out as their mothers tried to calm them down.

Then Colsen let go of Rollen, who shook his head rapidly. He blinked a couple of times before looking around. The confusion on his face only deepened. "What's going on?" he asked.

Avira swallowed. "Sheraki have surrounded the ship and are holding the men in a trance. Women don't seem affected by them, though."

"Because men are their prey," Colsen explained, twisting his head to watch the dazed men along the rails. "Their daze doesn't work on women, and rarely children." He eyed the foggy sea. "But they eat anyone they find in their territory."

Rollen shook his head. "I thought their territory was higher up north, near Nesrak. What are they doing here?"

"I heard the navigator tell the captain that the ship had gone off-course, drifting farther north than expected," Avira stated, blinking rapidly to chase away the echoes of the shriek from her skull. "The compass was malfunctioning; the needle never pointed north, only spinning around."

Colsen crossed his arms thoughtfully. "That could explain this," he muttered. "But what are we going—"

He was cut off by a splash. Avira swore as they traced the source of the sound. Across the deck, a man climbed up the rails and jumped. Water rose at his impact. One by one, the men slowly clambered over the rails. Rollen hissed through his teeth and grabbed the sailor in front of him. Yanking him back, he hurled the man to the deck.

Avira followed in suit and yelled to the women, "Don't let them jump!" The command seemed to rouse them from their stupor and they ran for the suicidal men. More splashes came from every direction. 

As Avira yanked back a fourth man, she turned to Colsen. "Can you fix them?"

His expression hardened. "Yes, but I'll need time to do even one of them."

"Sailors first!"Rollen shouted over the howling wind. The rain started to fall from the pregnant clouds. "Save the sailors first!"

Avira turned on him. "We save everyone," she growled.

Rollen's face was stoic, eyes commanding. "Sailors first," he repeated harshly. "If we want to survive this, we need the sailors."

She bit the inside of her cheek. There shouldn't be any prioritization when saving lives. They could save everyone. But logic wove into her mind. Rollen was right. They had to survive this, and they needed people who knew how to man a ship.

Clenching her jaw, she went past the male passenger and pulled a sailor back, flinging him to Colsen, who was on his knees with his palms on a man's temples. The passenger jumped into the waters. An angry scream filled her chest. As she reached for the next sailor, she watched a sheraki open its abnormally wide mouth and dig its fangs into his neck before pushing him underwater.

Frustration bubbled in her chest as she pushed the sailor to Colsen. When she turned back, Rollen grabbed her shoulders so hard her bones nearly fractured. "Stop zoning out and focus!" he yelled, rain dripping down his face. "If you stop, everyone will die. Do you hear me? Don't stop!"

He let go of her and raced across the deck. Her hood had fallen off, leaving her white hair dripping with water but her lineage was the last thing on her mind right now. She saw Rollen grab two men and hurl them away from the rail. He looked so composed, as though this was something he did every day.

She breathed and let herself acknowledge the cold in her mind. Then she rushed over to grab more sailors.

The splashes were drowned out by the shrieking wind and violent rainstorm. The women fought the rescued sailors, holding them down as Colsen worked on them one at a time. The captain of the ship was standing up by the helm, staring at the sea. Her heart stopped and she took off, nearly slipping on the wet surface.

By the time she had climbed up the few stairs, the captain had reached the railing. Avira practically jumped on him, shoving him away from the edge. They stumbled and nearly fell. 

"Come with me, captain," she shouted over the storm. She tugged on his arm, taking him to Colsen, but he didn't budge. When she turned around to yell, he simply said, "My men are dying."

Avira froze, her hand falling off his arm. She stared at his weathered face, beaten down by the elements. His ruddy cheeks were grazed with stubble and his small eyes seemed to look past her. "My men..." he whispered, words nearly snatched away by the wind. 

She shook herself. "You're not under their spell?" she dared ask.

He couldn't seem to look at her, peering over her shoulder in a daze unlike the one overcoming the other men. As if his mind couldn't process what he was seeing.

"Captain." She shook him. "Captain!"

Her sharp voice drew him out of his stupor and his blue eyes settled on her. "How are you not enthralled by the sheraki?" she asked.

Captain Melvark blinked, assessing her before he replied. "I am a Water Elemental."

The words knocked the air from her lungs. An Arcane! She searched his face for any trace of a lie but only found deep hopelessness in his eyes. 

Avira grabbed his arms. "Captain Melvark, I need you to focus. People are dying on your ship. You need to save those fighting to live. Do your part and steer this ship."

A second passed and his despair was overruled by determination. He brushed off her hands and marched to the helm, hands clenched around the wooden wheel. Taking a deep breath, he yelled, "All men on deck, to your stations!"

The few sailors purged of the enchantment rushed around; untying and tightening ropes, fixing sails, racing to the hull... too many things for Avira to make out in the rain. Her lack of experience was showing and she didn't know what more to do but watch.

Rollen stomped up to the helm. "Can we survive this?" he questioned the captain.

Captain Melvark pursed his lips, thoughtful. "In all my years, I have never encountered a sheraki so I am unsure of their threat."

"What are the odds of survival?" Rollen emphasized.

The man drew his eyebrows together. "Ten to one."

Rollen nodded. "I'll take those odds." He faced the deck, where women were crying and children screaming. "What should we do?"

"First—"

Lightning crackled and struck the mainmast, setting it ablaze. Avira watched as it bloomed brighter, smoke blending into the night. She spun to Captain Melvark. "Can you douse that fire?"

"What?" Rollen yelled, either in disbelief or lack of hearing her words.

The captain glanced up at the burning mast, rain splashing on his face. "I've never used my magic on such a large scale before," he replied in a loud voice. "I don't think I can—"

"Just do it." She looked at Rollen. "Rollen, take the wheel."

"What is going on?" he shouted.

"Take the damn wheel!" she yelled.

He stared at her before taking the captain's place. His grip slipped as rain slickened the wheel. Grinding his teeth, he planted his feet and, upon the captain's instructions, held the helm steady. 

Assured of Rollen's control, Melvark went by the railing and stared down, Avira by his side. The water was foamy and violent, crashing into itself in a battle of waves. Hard drops of rain pelted their backs; all she could hear was the rain.

"This is what you have to do." Avira's voice was loud. "Reach out to the water with your mind and pull."

Melvark's eyes never left the ocean. "I don't think I can do it."

Avira nearly screamed in frustration. "Either get the balls to do this or kill everyone on this ship yourself!" She spun him to face her. "Look around you! Men are dying! Don't let their lives go to waste on your command."

Melvark stared all around, watching the women protecting the children while sailors tried to hold the ship steady. She saw a light come back to his eyes and he nodded.

Taking a breath, he stretched his bulky arm to the ocean. His face was engraved with determination. His jaw clenched and he began to draw his arm to himself. A bit of the water stirred and slowly climbed upwards. When he saw it follow, he gave a strained grin and kept calling it. 

Avira kept glancing at the mast. Its upper half had been consumed by flames that crackled defiantly at the wind. She looked at Melvark. The water had grown to their heights and he turned around, ready to fling the water at the burning wood.

Then the mast snapped and slowly tilted, heading for the main deck. Avira reached out to hold it steady, but her magic never came. Horror flashed in her mind. She had thrown away her pendant. Well, fu—

"Get out of the way!" she shrieked at a cluster of people, but the warning came too late. The mast crashed heavily onto them, spitting fire everywhere. The floorboards gave way underneath the strength of the mast and snapped open. The ship shook. Avira slipped and fell on her shoulder. The joint throbbed and ached.

Holding back a cry, she unsteadily fought to her feet. Rollen was staring at the main deck in horror. That was when she recalled Colsen. Eyes darting back to the collision, she saw Colsen leaning on a railing. Blood trickled down his head, and his hand was at his side. She couldn't tell if he was conscious or not.

Then a scaly hand grabbed his shirt and pulled. Avira gasped. The sheraki snarled at him, baring its pointed teeth and, with surprising strength, yanked Colsen through the wooden rail and they both fell into the water.

"Colsen!" Rollen bellowed. Avira could do no more than stare at the space where Colsen had sat just a few seconds before. She heard someone curse and a hand pulled her off her knees. When had she collapsed?

Rollen dug his fingers into her arms, and she felt the blood vessels underneath throb. "There is no time to grieve," he barked. Twisting his head, he glared at Melvark, who was sitting dejectedly on the floor. The ship jerked again. Thunder boomed.

Avira watched the rain splatter into Rollen's face. His eyes were darting everywhere, frantically searching. Then he shook his head. "The ship is sinking," he said. "The storm is going to send us into the water, where the Sheraki are. There is no possible way to escape."

Despair flooded her body as she thought of their imminent ends on the sea. She hadn't even set foot in the Westlands. She would die and her brother wouldn't know. Maybe he already thought her dead. Maybe he was dead.

These thoughts spun through her mind like bats in a cave. Gazing at Rollen's brown eyes, she saw a dying resolve resurface. "We need to jump," he said suddenly. 

Avira started. "What?"

He stared at the ship. "If we wait for the ship to sink, it will drag us all down," he explained. "If we jump now, we might have a better shot at surviving."

She was incredulous. "What about the Sheraki?"

He just shrugged. "One problem at a time."

Now her jaw dropped. "Rollen—"

"This is the best way, Avira!" His face suddenly grew tense. "We have to jump." With that, he dragged her to the edge. He glanced at the captain. "Melvark, we need to leave."

The man shook his head. His face looked years older. "The captain always goes down with the ship."

Avira turned to him. "Please," she begged. "With your Elemental magic, you give us a shot at surviving."

He didn't move. "You're going to die either way." His voice was somber. "Everyone dies eventually."

She was about to argue when the ship shuddered violently. It made them jump slightly and water rushed to consume the ship. 

Rollen grabbed her hand and he went to the outer side of the railing, pulling her as well. Her heart raced in her chest as she stared at the terrifying waters. Nerves fluttered at the pit of her belly. "Rollen, don't—" 

The man jumped off the edge and Avira was yanked down with him. She gasped as water rushed into her lungs. She choked on the saline water and her legs flitted around in the water. The grip on her hand was slipping, and eventually, it disappeared. 

She saw nothing but darkness. When she turned to the surface, all she saw was streaks of brilliant light striking above. A huge shape sank, sinking slowly to the bottom of the ocean. With the flash of light, she saw a figure swimming to her. Rollen!

But her relief turned to horror as she saw the tail propelling the figure forward. Avira's scream was muffled by the water and bubbles left her mouth. The sheraki reached her and dug its nails into her wrists.

Pain bloomed underneath its nails. The creature's mouth widened and it sank its teeth into her neck. Her body was on fire, burning with pain unlike she had ever experienced. As the creature bit her harder, it swam downwards into the bottom of the ocean.

As Avira was pushed farther from the surface, as she felt her lungs clench without oxygen, she only thought of one thing. 

I love you, Renedan.

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