Sea Spell (Waterfire Saga #4)(86)

“Kill her,” Orfeo commanded.

Astrid raised her knife.

“Stop!” Sera screamed. “Don’t hurt her!” Defeated, she turned to Garstig. “Bring the strongbox,” she ordered brokenly.

“A wise decision,” Orfeo said, watching the goblin run for Sera’s tent.

Astrid lowered her knife but kept a firm grip on Coco. The little merl was sobbing piteously. “She tricked me, Sera. She found me in my tent and told me you needed me. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

A lethal rage filled Sera. Her hand went to her sword. Her fingers curled around its hilt. Before she could pull it free from its sheath, she felt someone take her arm.

“Don’t,” Ava whispered.

“I’ll kill them,” Sera vowed. “I’ll kill them both.”

“Shut up, Sera,” Ava hissed, her nails digging into Sera’s flesh.

Sera flinched. Ava had never spoken to her, or anyone else, like that before. She turned to look at her. Ava’s expression was intense; she was trembling. Sera didn’t have long to wonder at Ava’s strangeness, though, for Garstig had returned with the strongbox. He looked at Sera, his eyes silently asking if there was any other way.

Sera shook her head. “Give it to him,” she said.

Orfeo took it. He opened it, looked inside, then raised his eyes to Sera’s. “Where’s the blue diamond?”

“You have it,” Sera said. “Mahdi found it for Traho, and Traho gave it to you.”

“We both know that’s not true,” said Orfeo. “Astrid told me that the blue diamond I have is a fake. The infanta hid the real one aboard her ship, then gave it to you. Give it to me, please, or the little merl…”

Astrid raised her knife again.

Sera reached under the collar of her jacket and undid the clasp of the necklace the infanta had given her. She swam to Orfeo and handed it to him. As she did, despair descended on her. With the diamond went her last hope, and the hopes of all the waters of the world.

“Astrid, if you would be kind enough to hold this,” Orfeo said, handing the strongbox to her.

Astrid sheathed her knife and released Coco. Sera reached out to Coco, but the mermaid wouldn’t come to her.

She’s too frightened, Sera thought. She’s paralyzed.

Orfeo ripped the blue diamond free of its setting. He put the diamond into the box, then pulled the ruby ring out of his pocket and put that in, too. When he’d dropped his black pearl in, he looked at Astrid.

“Can you see it, child? Can you feel it?” he asked.

Astrid nodded, mesmerized. A glow was emanating from the box. Now that the talismans were together, their power was surging.

Orfeo threw his head back. “Hear me, Horok, and the denizens of the underworld!” he shouted. “I’m coming for what is mine!”

“You can’t do this, Orfeo,” Sera said, desperate to stop him. “The gods won’t allow it.”

“Then I’ll destroy the gods, and the world they made,” he said, staring at her with his empty black eyes. “I’ll rule over a new world. A world where I decide who lives and dies, where I’m a god!”

Sera covered her face with her hands. She knew she was about to witness the destruction of everything, and everyone, she loved. And she was powerless to stop it. She’d tried, she’d fought, she’d risked everything…and she’d lost.

Orfeo turned to Astrid. “Come, child. We’ll fit the talismans into the lock together. It’s time to release Abbadon.”

“Astrid, no. Don’t let him do this,” Sera begged, lowering her hands. She tried to swim to Astrid, to stop her, but Ava, who’d swum to her side, held her back again.

“Abbadon!” Orfeo shouted. “Abbadon, come!”

A terrifying shriek was heard from deep inside the Carceron. Orfeo’s summons had roused the monster. It was heading for the gates. Together, Orfeo and Astrid swam to meet it. Using the hilt of a dagger that he pulled from his belt, Orfeo knocked ice off the Carceron’s lock, then one by one, he and Astrid fitted the glowing talismans into it.

There was a metallic groan as the lock’s tumblers turned, an echoing thunk as the bolt slid back, and then the gates swung open.

“Abbadon! Come to me!” Orfeo roared.

The monster answered with another shriek. Sera could hear it pounding through the Carceron, coming closer to them with every step.

Around her, Black Fins, both goblin and mer, backed away from the prison. Some screamed. Others ran for their tents, or hid behind rocks that littered the base of the seamount.

As Abbadon’s steps grew louder, Orfeo laughed with a cruel joy. He took his black pearl out of the lock and threaded it back onto its leather string. He tied it around his neck, then removed the rest of the talismans from the lock and returned them to the strongbox.

Astrid carefully lowered the lid. The strongbox clicked shut. She smiled exultantly at Orfeo…

…and tossed the box to Coco.





“GO, COCO! SWIM!” Astrid shouted as the little merl caught the strongbox.

Coco was a blur in the water. She streaked away like a marlin, over the heads of the rotters.

It took a few seconds for Sera to register what had happened.

“Ava, Astrid didn’t betray us!” she said. “She was only pretending! Coco, too!”