S. Welles - To Ocean's End

I began fighting harder. We exchanged blows like boxers, bit and clawed like beasts, tackled each other at any opening, and threw waves of water in attempts to knock each other off balance. The only thread linking me to my sanity was that we were working our way south. The houses thinned out, giving way to sparse trees, low brush, and castle-like homes older than me. More monsters took those ancient houses down and I watched history begin its eternal dirt nap. The watching opened me up for several blows to the head. I staggered onto the dirt road. Tethys pounced and pinned me to the ground by my shoulders.

“Fine. Stop fighting back. I’ll take the easy victory.” He leaned in to bite my head off.

I buried my claws in his barrel chest like I was digging for his lungs and heart, and squeezed. He let out a roar. I flexed my fingers and dug into him as far as could pierce his armored hide. He head-butted me again and I ripped my claws free, getting another roar out of him. He slashed at my neck and a fiery pain erupted below my jaw. I heaved him off with my feet and gave him a good push with water, then lurched to my feet, holding my neck.

He and I were covered in cuts and bites. I was beginning to look as bad as they day I’d fled Poseidon’s palace, but at least so was Tethys. He was down to one eye and looking quite pissed, both hands over his chest. I looked at my fingers, which were covered in blood from my neck wound. I didn’t feel any blood trickling down my throat, but I was sure more fighting would make that happen.

Tethys charged me. I ran to meet him, leapt into the air and came at him, claws first. He suddenly stopped, grabbing one of my feet as he ducked under my claws, then spun and threw me into the ocean. I skipped once, then started cartwheeling the moment one of my limbs caught on the surface. A wave of water pushed me down and I shifted forms as the salt water stung my wounds. Tethys swam after me, looking like a bull shark charging with his jaw wide.

I put on a burst of speed, then circled back and hand-to-hand combat began anew, but with more attempts to bite and strangle each other as we rolled and twisted, churning up the water and scuffing up the rocky bottom. How was I going to end this fight and protect my home? My crew needed me. Newport needed me, yet I was locked in a battle with something evenly matched against me. I was smarter and faster, but he was stronger and able to absorb my blows. I was tactful; he was ruthless. The water began to redden with our blood.

Seeing Tethys walk down the pier had made Jessie’s blood run cold. Watching him explode into a demon form of his own… she almost passed out. It was like a horrible nightmare. She’d watched him pull the trigger, watched the quasis apply their deadly touch, watched him die. And now here he was, battling Dyne as a water demon. When he’d thrown Dyne out of sight, she’d thought that was it for him until next lockdown. But when he returned, transformed and fists flying, her hopes rose, only to be dashed by the sight of thousands of nereids, naiads, water serpents, and nymphs in the harbor. And when all those things made their way onto the wharf, everyone scattered, including the crew.

When Tethys had thrown Dyne out of sight, she’d thought that was it for him until next lockdown. But when he returned, transformed and fists flying, her hopes rose, only to be dashed by the sight of thousands of nereids, naiads, water serpents, and nymphs in the harbor. And when all those things made their way onto the wharf, everyone scattered, including the crew.

Jessie and Mido ran side by said. They tried to follow Ed and Ted, but too many people filled the streets as monsters gave chase. She and Mido took cover behind a fish stall, until a water serpent rammed its head repeatedly into the building behind them. They fled inland, weaving among the locals, who called out for friends and family. The monsters spilled inland with them, demolishing everything that stood. They acted like they were more interested in razing Newport, but didn’t hesitate to attack if anyone got too close to them.

“We’ve gotta get to the naval station,” Mido said. He tugged her northward and they began running parallel to shore.

“But they’ll just die for getting involved.” So many monsters ran rampant ahead of them, big and small. They ignored the locals between bouts of razing. When they ran out of buildings to flatten, they turned to pick off the stragglers.

“More people will die if we don’t find a way to fight back.” He lashed out with his sword, killing a nereid they passed with a blow to the head. Several other nereids broke away from tearing down a shop and charged Mido, bounding on all-fours. Jessie and Mido stopped, she giving him room to swing, then intercepted the last one and punched it in the head. “Leave him alone!” The creature fell in a heap at her feet, shook its head out, then crouched and looked at her.

“We destroy. Mistress’s orders.”

“I’m ordering you to stop!”

The nereid tilted its head. “But… you still want destroy. I confused.”

And with that comment, so was she. Mido fought off three nereids, taking them down one after the other. The last one latched onto his back and bit his shoulder, but a thrust between its eyes and the thing fell dead. Clutching his shoulder, he closed in on the one facing Jessie. She held up a gloved hand. “Wait!”

He skidded to a halt without lowering his sword, and looked at her expectantly.

Jessie faced the nereid. “I’m telling you to stop destroying and killing. Why are you so confused?”

It pointed to a curved hole in the side of its head. “I hear you, but I also hear you saying destroy. I confused.”

Jessie’s eyes widened. “I know!” Do you hear me?

Yes, avatar.

Stop destroying. Stop the killing. Go back into the ocean and go home, and tell the others to do the same.

I go home but can’t tell others. No power. You must. Or mistress.

Jessie’s heart sank. How many of you are there?

Thousands. Farewell. The nereid scurried off.

“What did you just do?” Mido said.

“I telepathically told it to leave. I can commune with them, remember?”

“I do, but I didn’t think they’d listen any better than last time.” He gestured to a group of monsters invading a shop with patched siding.

Even with her ability to override Amphitrite’s commands, she wasn’t certain she could keep herself alive. Her against thousands? Was there even a way to overcome that? “I didn’t know about the telepathy thing until after Rhode sent us those creatures that helped me rescue Dyne. They listen to that better than spoken words, apparently.”

“Well then let’s go. I’ll protect you while you get them to leave.” Mido took her hand and led her to the nereids trashing a plaza. Red brickwork, big glass windows, and faded lettering—all of it being torn apart from the inside out. Newport was already in poor shape. This was one of many places that must’ve been too frightened to apply repairs. In the past, so many people had died to quasi-children as humanity discovered what forms of energy were against Mother Nature’s new rules. Most minor towns and cities simply patched up with scraps, afraid to die for so much as chopping down a tree. Now an army of sea monsters was tearing down what had survived all these years after the Purge.

A group of nereids tearing down a street lantern stopped at their approach. They slid off the pole and bounded towards them. Mido held up his sword as Jessie held out her hands and spoke in a commanding voice, “Stop!”

The four slowed to a crawl. One said, “Avatar pet!” They faced Mido and charged him.