Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(91)

The magic across my skin lessened and we glided until we almost came to a halt.

Axl stood, and leaning over the side of the boat stared down in the water. It was still clear, but at this depth the visibility wasn’t as good as in the shallows. “He was here,” Axl murmured, his eyes still darting about the water like he could find what he was looking for that way. “I think the entrance is somewhere close by. We’re going to have to go below.”

My first thought was to freak out, because holding my breath for five, even ten minutes, was great, but it wasn’t enough to get us into the deep.

My worry must have been written across my face, because Jesse let out a low laugh. “I guess Ash never got to this part of your water magic. All Atlanteans, no matter race, can manipulate water. We bring the oxygen to surround our mouths, almost like scuba gear. It takes practice though, which you don’t have, so you’ll have to stay close to one of us.”

Water Magic classes had been canceled when Asher disappeared. We had barely gotten to anything there.

“Calen is the best after Asher,” Axl said, still half distracted. “He has the strength to bring oxygen to both of them.”

I raised an eyebrow at Calen. “Look at you, being the overachiever.”

Calen shrugged, but his grin held pride. “I’ll keep you safe.”

“I know.”

I had no doubt.

Calen dropped the anchor, and we ditched all unnecessary clothing. I was in a black bikini with a tank over the top. “Are we sure this isn’t stupid?” I said, hanging on the edge of the boat. Jesse was already in the water, his dark hair slicked back. Calen was beside me, Axl doing one last calculation. “I mean, we have no idea what waits for us down there, and Asher might not even be there, since the entrance moves, and—” I cut myself off, the sound of my high-pitched voice irritating me.

“Asher is here,” Rone said, sounding sure. “And we have let this go on too long. It’s been months. I’m ready for some action.”

Asher. I just had to think about him. About his dark hair and beautiful eyes that could be green one minute and then filled with blazing silver in the next instant. His perfect face. If anyone was born of a god, it was Asher, not me.

“I’m ready,” I said, determination filling me. It washed away the fear, allowed me to straighten my spine and push myself off the edge of the boat, sinking under the cool water.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, allowing the stress to fade as the world above disappeared. I’d been swimming a lot lately, and my body had adjusted in more ways than one. My eyesight could switch to underwater vision almost instantly, allowing the world to come into clear focus. My skin adjusted to the cooler temperatures with ease, and I found it comfortable and easy to move about. I couldn’t breathe underwater, of course, but I wasn’t panicked when holding my breath. I could hold it for a long time.

Calen came into sight, his right hand extended to me, and I drifted closer to take it. Even under the water I felt his magic swirling around us, and I pushed at the heat in my center, bringing my own limited magic out to play. I didn’t know how to create an oxygen bubble around my mouth, but I liked having my magic close by just in case.

Calen’s power licked up my arm, and a small space formed around my mouth. I gulped in some oxygen, and then some more, testing it out. It continued to fill with new air, even as we started to swim deeper.

Calen’s hold on my hand remained strong, his magic running up my arm. We swam in slow, unhurried movements, keeping an eye on our surroundings. I really hoped one of the guys knew how to find the boat … or even the surface again, because once we reached a certain depth, it would be very hard to tell top from bottom.

My eyes continued to adjust, and my nerves faded further as more of the silence enveloped me. There was something soothing about being under here, in a way I’d never felt before. Like … as the pressure increased, it decreased my worries. The five of us stayed close, and I felt another level of comfort to have my friends with me.

Movement to our right had Calen slowing, and I tightened my grip on his hand, waiting for it to appear again. It was a turtle, large and majestic, slowly gliding through the water, and I watched with fascination as it drifted past. There was a ton of fish around as well, but our magic was keeping them out of our personal space.

It was while we watched that turtle that the Arterians appeared. Silently surrounding us, wearing their leather outfits again, goggles firmly in place along with a breathing device that attached to the back of their suits.

The guys reacted, and for once so did I. I’d had nine months of training at the Academy now; I knew a thing or two about directing energy. Heating the water around my free hand with the simple firenze command, I shot it at the closest assassin, aiming not for their face but for the tube that connected the breathing device. My aim was good, and since they’d been more worried about Calen—dismissing me as powerless—I severed the cord and pelted him with boiling water.

The Arterian’s mouth formed a screaming shape, and he sent out spirals of magic in an attempt to counter my boiling water. Calen tugged me away; we needed to help the others. They were evenly matched at the moment, and when we joined the fight, coming up behind them, it turned the tables to our advantage.

But then more Arterians arrived. A dozen. Then three dozen. They surrounded us five deep, and their magic circled us like a whirlpool, whipping sea creatures and seaweed around.