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

Kellen’s mind raced for an answer. You think I’ve only killed one Orc before? He simmered against her claim, furthering his lying and arguments when Black Keerie did not reply. And the one you’re talking about who called me by name a little bit ago? He had a shark tail, Keerie. Not an Orc’s.

Black Keerie’s brow furrowed. His skin was painted of light and dark, like any Orc I have ever seen.

So were some of the others there, said Kellen. There was a Nomad from the Tiger tribes with different shades of skin-tone. You think she was an Orc too?

The one I speak of was no Tiger, said Black Keerie. The one who called to you had a Nomad tail, aye, but it were one from the tribe of Great Whites . . . and his skin hallmarked him for a foul creature of Orcinian ilk. Between his shark tail and his Orcish colors, I would name him a bastard freak, born of two races.

Despite the doubt needling at his insides under Black Keerie’s unrelenting stare, Kellen shrugged. Maybe he was some kind of half-breed, then. I don’t know.

And, again, I ask you, Kellen the Killer, Black Keerie spat the challenge. What do you know? What do you remember of us and the life you supposedly lived among us so long ago?

Kellen took a chance. I remember you being crazy. Just like you’re being now.

The she-squid swam backward as if he had slapped her. What say you to me?

You heard me the first time, said Kellen. After everything I’ve told you, everything you’ve seen since I came back, you think to swim over to me and call me a liar? And over some stupid Nomad who knew my name?

How did he know you, then? Black Keerie flung back at him. How? If not from a life you lived with him before?

Of course he knew from before, said Kellen. I told you that I fought in the gladiator pits of Orphan Knoll. A lot of people came to know my name there because I was a champion! A true killer they knew they could bet on and profit from every time.

So, you knew him in the Knoll, then? She asked. Not in your life ashore?

I’ve known a lot of people, said Kellen. Ashore and below. In the Knoll and outside it too. You going to put me through these questions every time we come across anyone who recognizes me, or knows my name?

A shadow crossed over her face as Black Keerie gave her tentacles an upward thrust to rise above him. If I deem your stories for a falsehood, aye, that I will, Kellen.

He snorted as she moved to swim away from him. So, it’s just Kellen now, huh? Not ‘lover’ anymore.

Black Keerie shot him a look. My true lover, Moros, would never lie to me.

And I haven’t, Kellen insisted. So, get whatever story it is you want to keep telling yourself out of that crazy head of yours.

Black Keerie scoffed, but said nothing further before darting away from him in search of the darker waters ahead to vanish in.

The moment she was gone, Kellen drank a deep breath of Salt to cool his anger and nourish his Sancul body. He closed his eyes then, imagining himself not below, but above. It’s gonna be okay. Kellen sighed, then drank in the Salt breath anew, even as he wished it were true air instead. That he could feel the cool of a nightly breeze, or the sun’s rays on his face rather than the Salt’s cold, eternal current sweeping around him. You just need to calm down. You’ll smooth everything with Keerie over later. She’ll be okay too. She will. Just needs time to cool down.

When he reopened his eyes to reality, Kellen discovered that though Black Keerie and Kanaloa had left him, he was yet to be alone in the dark and deep.

Erebus lingered not twenty feet away, one of his tentacles draped over and ever clutching to Hypnos at his side. Though the eyes of the Sancul son were half-closed, the blazing light once held within in them still dimmed, Kellen swore he noted some bit of recognition in Hypnos.

Erebus drew nearer, bringing Hypnos along in continued guardianship.

What now? Kellen wondered as the monstrous Sancul studied him in likewise return. What do you want? He asked.

It is not what I want, Creature, said Erebus, not unkindly, yet frowning all the same. It is what I have known all the while . . . he looked off in the direction that Black Keerie swam before returning to focus on Kellen once more. And now she sees it too. He sighed. You are running out of time to confess the truth, I think, Creature, said Erebus. Will you confess to me now, that we might end this farse before it is too late?

Kellen licked his lips, debating over what to say and what the outcomes of confessing or no might yield.

No, then, said Erebus, shaking his head before moving onward in follow of Kanaloa and Black Keerie.

Kellen remained frozen as Erebus continued on his swim, one of his mammoth tentacle tips wrapped around his son’s midsection, tugging at Hypnos to follow like a dog upon a leash. To Kellen’s mind, Hypnos offered little resistance to the claim, more allowing himself to be pulled than swimming of his own desire.

What am I supposed to do, Hypnos? Kellen wondered as the sickly Sancul followed his mammoth father’s lead. Can you help me, please? He asked, wishing that Hypnos could read his mind and inner thoughts. You told me to rise, but the others will know I’m a liar and kill me if I try to swim for the surface now. Please, Hypnos! Help me to convince them before Nyx and Kanaloa find out that I’m not really Moros too.

Hypnos gave Kellen no indication of a response as Erebus pulled him away.

Again, Kellen looked up to