S. Welles - To Ocean's End

Jessie finally approached the lead creature and eyed the water serpent warily for good measure. It still loomed over all of them. “Take me to him.”

“You certain?”

“Yes.”

The water serpent lowered its head, resting it on the deck and making the boat list. The creatures clung to the railing and the crew staggered before regaining balance. Jessie grabbed the railing to catch herself. The serpent opened is maw, revealing fangs encasing a purple tongue. The creatures couldn’t possibly expect her to—

“Come. Ride. We take you there.”

Oh, god. “You expect me to get in its mouth?”

“Yes. You can’t swim like us. Long swim.”

“How do I know you’re not trying to feed me to it?”

“Harm avatar bad, unless told otherwise,” it said fervently. “Make mistress very angry.” The others echoed their agreement. “You ride. You sleep. You wake on arrival. Then no more naiads. We flee. No more safe. You understand?”

“For the most part.” Jessie cautiously approached the serpent’s maw and it’s rows of fangs as big as her forearms, its saliva glistening in the floodlights. Mido looked ready to dash over and grab her. She didn’t blame him. Stepping into the mouth of something big enough to swallow her whole was a horrible idea, except for right now, hopefully. She took in the entire crew, all of them frightened, all with their swords held in white knuckles. “I’ll be okay.” The words slipped out of her mouth, a reflex reaction to their anxiety. She had no idea if she’d be okay, much less ever see them again. However, she had a feeling Dyne would get them back if she could get to him. She stepped over the fangs and stood on the serpent’s squishy tongue. It felt like she was standing on a firm water bed.

A naiad came up to Jessie and grabbed her hand. “Time to sleep.” It bit her pinky finger and let go. Jessie flinched and let out a startled cry, then hugged her hand to her chest. Her hand started throbbing, and so did her arm, and suddenly her whole body.

“Sorry. Necessary.”

Jessie began to feel very drowsy. Her vision blurred and she lost her balance. The last thing she saw was the jaws closing as she toppled over.

Waiting and thinking. Thinking and waiting. What I was waiting for, I wasn’t sure. Punishment to begin, I guess. This incarceration was punishment though. It made me feel powerless, even in demon form. I’d taken up pacing the exit tunnel, but it was small to me while fifty feet tall. Yeah, I’d listened to Rhode, so I’d walked laps around the chamber as I thought about escaping more than anything else. Think about Amphitrite’s confession of love? All it did was make me feel sick to my stomach, so I gave up and thought about what I’d do if I ever gout out. I thought out many scenarios, covering whether my crew would be alive or dead, young or old, and how I’d react to various forms of punishment. What could she be preparing that was worse than this? I couldn’t think of anything, which pissed me off.

Right now, I was parked on the far end of the exit hall, staring out at all the pillars. Sure, I’d already thought of climbing them, but not only was I a water demon, better equipped for swimming, I also didn’t want to get punished for clawing up their artwork. So grounded it was.

Poor sweet Dyne.

I surged to my feet. A high-pitched female voice in my head, an unfamiliar one, was the last thing I expected.

Fear not, sweet Dyne. Help has come.

Was I going stir crazy and imagining things? The voice sounded like it belonged to a naiad, which threw me. Maybe it was toying with me. I was beyond help, except Amphitrite’s.

Something swam into the exit pool and stuck its huge head out of the water. How—? Never mind that. What was a giant water serpent doing here? I faced it, claws ready at my sides. If this was the first monster to cause me pain, so be it. I could take it on.

The serpent paused at the sight of me, then slowly drew to the hall and tilted its head. I crouched, then hesitated when it opened its mouth and something humanoid spilled out. The serpent backed up, positioning the regurgitated object between us, then it touched the thing once with its chin feelers before retreating back underwater and out of sight. I charged the pool and raked the unyielding surface, which rippled and stilled, heedless of my touch. I was still a prisoner. I turned to the thing the serpent had spit out, then did a double take.

“Jessie!”

She lay unconscious, clothes plastered to her skin with mucous. I kneeled over her and brought the side of my head close. Her heart wasn’t beating and she wasn’t breathing. I rolled her onto her back, tilted her head so her wind pipe was nice and open, then delicately opened her mouth and checked for blockage. To my relief, her mouth and throat were clear of mucous. Using one finger, I began administering CPR. Her body was no bigger than my hand. I felt like I was trying to resuscitate a kitten.

I’d expected to be at this for a while, but after several pumps, I stopped as Jessie started coughing and gasping for air. I sat up, hoping to avoid giving her a heart attack the second she opened her eyes, and listened to her heart beat. It raced for several seconds, then slowed as her breathing normalized.

“Jessie, what are you doing here?”

Her eyes popped open and she did a full-body flinch. “Good god! You scared the crap out of me.” She relaxed her limbs and lay there, catching her breath a second time.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to rescue you. Rhode said you were being held prisoner.”

“You saw her, too?”

“She sent me to help you escape.”

“Escape how?”

“I’m Amphitrite’s avatar. Apparently I’m the only one who can help.”

“And how are you going to use said status to get me out? I’m blocked off from all exits.”

Jessie thought a moment, then shrugged. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Are the naiads gone?”

I bowed my head and closed my eyes, and let out a resigned sigh. “At least you came alone. I’d have my hands full trying to protect a bunch of you.”

“I was supposed to come with Jacobi but I refused.”

I snapped my eyes open. Jessie looked at me, unfazed by what she just said. “What?”

“Rhode wanted me to bring him as a trade for you. The naiads said it would really piss Amphitrite off if I just took you and left without giving something in exchange.”

I digested her words a minute. Jessie had disregarded direct instructions from a goddess, yet had found a way to bypass that and reach me. That took some gall, along with a healthy dose of either courage or stupidity. I leaned more towards stupid, since she’d arrived inside the mouth of a water serpent for crying out loud. Rhode had probably wanted to trade prisoners in hopes of pissing her mother off a little less for helping me.

Jessie sniffed a saturated arm and crinkled her nose. “Oh, god. This isn’t water! What am I—oh, gross!” She bolted to her feet and started for the pool.

I stuck my clawed hand in her path. She flung up her hands but managed to stop herself before running into me. “Don’t bother. It’s blocked off.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s solid, like back in the cave. That’s the exit right there. Now hold still and hold on. I’ll rinse you off.” I held out a finger and pointed to the water vein with my other hand. She looked at vein, then, realizing what I wanted, clutched my finger with her minuscule hands. She studied my features with open wonder, but disgust with her own hygiene crinkled her nose again and made her grimace. I pulled water with a minor hand gesture and gave Jessie the spin-rinse treatment I’d given myself the day I regained my faculties. I had to be careful not to put too much will into my command over water, lest I send her body flying. My demon form was exponentially more powerful.