Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (top 5 books to read TXT) 📗

as if meaning to steady her position in the water. Despite her moving behind him, however, Kellen could not take his gaze away from Erebus upon the cliffside.

The monstrous Sancul was seemingly loathe to touch the feverish face of his stilted son, the question of whether he dared to do so or no living in the dark eyes of Erebus.

Kellen tensed when the father made his choice, resting the smooth side of his tentacle against his son. Show him, Hypnos, Kellen prayed then that the sickly Sancul would hear and read his thoughts as he had always believed Hypnos capable of. Show Erebus the same things you have done for me. That you’re still alive and well inside. He squinted when the dimness in Hypnos’s eyes began to spark and Erebus’s tentacle stiffened with a seeming electric, invisible charge. Show him that Moros is alive somewhere in there with you too, Hypnos. Kellen’s eyes widened at Erebus grunting, his face twisting for the lingering bond between the Sancul father and son. Show your father how we can get rid of Moros for good and all.

Hypnos’s eyes had not come to full blaze before the light in them died. The sickly Sancul’s body faltered also, his shoulders slumping, head lolling back like one passing out into an unconscious state.

Erebus too fell back, released from whatever hold that Hypnos kept him transfixed by. Panting, Erebus looked from one Sancul to the other, lingering on Kellen last of all.

Kanaloa grinned. Do you see now, Erebus? That which your son would have of you?

Aye, Erebus croaked, his haze never leaving Kellen’s. I see it now.

What? Kellen wondered, goose-pimples prickling up his arms as Nyx released her hold over him to swim back to Erebus instead. What did you see, Erebus? He glanced at the slumbering Hypnos too. What did you show him, Hypnos? Not Moros, Kellen gathered. If Erebus had seen Moros there, he would probably kill me right now for having proof of all the lies I’ve told to survive this far.

For whatever Erebus saw, he made no mention of it as Nyx came to embrace him. Even then, he gave her no affection. To Kellen’s mind, Erebus paid no mind to any other among their company but him.

The surrounding water trembled with the self-made current of Kanaloa lifting off from the cliffside. Come then, my family, he said. Let us seek out Black Keerie and lure her from this place that we might all swim away together.

Nyx beamed at the eldest Sancul. To the Cavern of Somnus then, Father? She asked. To the Mother of Masks and her Oneiori Three.

Aye, we shall see them all in due time, said Kanaloa. But, first, we go to meet with another. For weak and sickly as our Hypnos may appear, it seems to me now that he holds to some inner strength . . . some want to see us victorious in the coming war . . . and he has shown me the way to still more allies too.

Moros, he means, Kellen thought, but did not say, he not knowing whether Kanaloa spoke such things to tempt into speaking or no. Did you see living him in there with Hypnos like I did, Kanaloa? Did Hypnos show you that too? And if he did, why now and not ever before?

A thousand questions of similar note ran through Kellen’s mind, and with none of the answers to come as the Erebus gathered up Hypnos to swim away after Kanaloa.

Kellen followed them onward in search of Black Keerie before leaving the remains of Orphan Knoll behind. Yet even as he swam, Kellen could not help but to look back and down to the Selkie fighting pits, the door leading to the dungeon pits and all the dead within. He remembered all of the torches around the pits, a town of taverns and brothels, the clamor of steel on steel, the barked roars of those still fighting for their own life and the rest seeking to end all others.

All were extinguished and quiet now.

In their silent absence, Kellen found himself longing for the noises once more. Anything to shake the haunted memories in his head, the doubt plaguing him for the coming journey, and the ghosts that his prickling skin signaled were following him ever onward as he left the ruin of Orphan Knoll behind.

3

CHIDI

Chidi’s gaze tracked with Marisa Bourgeois as the mystic Silkie approached the dock and The Lady Cat, the beloved boat owned by their former Selkie guide, Girard. Her spirit soared when spotting the young friend that she had left behind working upon the bow. “Allambee!” Chidi cried, waving to him as she ran for the docks to greet him.

Allambee’s face lit up as he returned the gesture, though much more enthusiastically than Chidi had done for him. “Chidi!” he shouted. “Mr. Bryant!” His enthusiasm lessened when the final member of their party stopped shy of the gangplank to board. “Marisa . . .”

“Hello, Allambee,” she softly replied.

Allambee nodded, then turned his head back toward the ship’s cabin as another familiar face joined him on deck.

Girard? Chidi’s brow wrinkled as she looked on the Selkie boat captain and coyote guide that had led them into Orphan Knoll before its destruction. He made it out alive?

Seemingly none the worse for his own experience in Orphan Knoll, Girard clucked his tongue as Chidi and Bryant joined Marisa upon the dock. “Well, lookie there, son,” he said to Allambee. “Seems your friends made it back after all.”

Bryant glared at him. “No thanks to you,” he replied. “Some guide you turned out to be. Tuck tailed and ran the second that trouble showed up. Just like any coyote I ever met down south.”

Girard scoffed. “I took you down there to find a slave, cowboy. Not tangle with those krakens that showed up down in whatever is left of the Knoll. And if you’d have spent a little less time arguing with me after I learned your