Panic and anger flooded my system, and suddenly I felt it. My energy pulsed at me, responding to my emotion. I shoved my way past those blocking my path. I’d had no Walker fight training – there hadn’t been time before we left – so I did the only thing I knew – drew from the endless pit that existed inside me.
I was only a few feet from Brace. With his giant height, the water was waist-deep, though for me it sat just below my shoulder. My energy hummed – comforting and familiar – and a warmth spread through me, I wondered what looked like right then. Dirty, tired, in the same stink-ass clothes for a week – all of that paled as the energy flowed through me.
“She’s magnificent ... glows ... the marks are glowing.” A Spurn close to me spoke out loud. Other words surrounded me, but I barely registered them.
As if he sensed my presence, Brace swung around with fires of hell burning in his narrowed eyes.
“Pretty sure I told you to stay on the beach, Abigail.”
I was always Abigail when he was really pissed off.
He was just snaking out an arm to grab at me when he had to dive under the water to avoid an attack. Two tree-like limbs thrashed about, attempting to encase him from either side, while a large spike stabbed out from the center of the creature.
To my left I noticed the Spurns gliding past with Lucas in tow. Out of the corner of my eye, I registered that they had dragged him up onto the beach, where Lucy immediately jumped on top of him to stop him returning to the ocean.
Figuring he was okay, I turned back to the creature.
The energy I’d gathered was starting to ache. It wanted to be free; I could feel it pushing against my restraints. But I needed the perfect moment, and I couldn’t really step any closer because the ocean floor dropped away dramatically.
A shadow in the water startled me as Brace emerged, streaming water from him. Luckily, I’d already dived away, so when his long arms swiped through the free air, he just missed me. He intended to drag me to shore, and I needed to use this energy first.
My dive took me into the salty depths, but luckily I found my footing again and rose spluttering from the water. Two feet from me, Brace groaned as he ran his hands through the dark wet strands of his hair. I noted the frustration on his face, but before I could say anything Lucy shouted from the beach.
I spun around.
Samuel and Lucas were holding her back as she tried to get into the water. Her eyes were frantic. It took me a moment to decipher her words over the noise.
“Abby, turn around! That thing is heading straight for you.”
Too slow, I swung my head in time to see the large slimy green limb as it smashed into my side. Its power was incredible. The force knocked out my breath and a few ribs, I think. I was flung far out into deeper water, managing to keep my energy ball from dispersing as I sank, breathlessly, into the depths. My two swimming lessons on First World had given me enough skills to scissor-kick my legs, slowing my descent but not reversing it.
The water looked depthless; I could see the darkness beneath me, where the weak light of the sun did not reach. It was eerie in the quiet expanse as I continued to fight the current.
Then strong arms encased me. I struggled before noticing the emerald hair that surrounded me. Looking to my left, I saw it was Raror.
As soon I stopped fighting he dragged me toward the surface, minute trails of bubbles dispersing from the tiny slits down his neck. The water surrounding us grew steadily lighter until finally I was free.
I gasped in a couple of breaths, my aching lungs thanking me with puffs of relief.
Raror’s freezing cold hands released me before grabbing my right leg and dragging me through the water. When I looked around, I could see why.
We were in the shadow of the creature.
Brace was close beside us and he had hold of one of the tentacles, while he hacked at it with a medium-sized knife. With a roar of pain, the creature snagged him with one of its many limbs, lifting him into the air above its core.
Raror powered us through the water like a mini-speed boat. I needed to help Brace before I was too far away. Ignoring the stabbing pain from my ribs, I reformed my heavy sphere of glowing energy.
I pictured it as a large torpedo.
I waited a moment ... and another... just for that perfect opportunity.
The creature reared its head, and I was staring into a huge expanded jaw that had opened to devour Brace. Its eyes flashed with at least twelve large dark globes. I knew this was my best chance; the creature had allowed a moment when its core was unshielded and vulnerable. Closing my own eyes and drawing on my control, I set the energy free, depleting myself as much as possible.
A hoarse scream left my mouth at the burn of release.
“Red, what’s happening over there?” Brace bellowed from his position above the creature.
Despite the fact he was about to become monster food, he seemed to be more interested in what was going on with me. At this point I could barely keep my head up. As water splashed in my face, it took every effort not to fall forward and drown. A large burst of light forced my eyes closed. I didn’t even move to see if I had missed or hit my target.