Without the black pearl there was no defeating Abbadon. And Astrid knew now that killing the monster, and besting those who were trying to free it, was the only way to save Ondalina. She’d told Des what she wanted to do and he’d immediately offered to help.
“I saw what I think was a water apple orchard a little ways back. Just before we stopped to untack Elskan,” he said now. “Want to go see if I’m right?”
Astrid nodded. She started to follow him, then halted and frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“I—I don’t know. Do you hear something?”
Des listened, then shook his head. “Do you?”
“It sounds like a voice.”
Des’s hand went to the hilt of his sword. He turned in a slow circle, a wary look on his face. “I don’t see anyone,” he said.
“I don’t, either,” said Astrid. She heard the noise again. “I think it’s in my head, Des.”
“Is it a convoca?”
“I think so. This happened to me once before, when I was with Becca. I thought I was losing my mind, but it turned out to be your sister. That might be what I’m hearing now.”
“Where were you the last time it happened?
“In Atlantica.”
“No, I mean were you near anything that enhances magic? On the surface, in moonlight? Near whalefall?”
Astrid snapped her fingers. “Yes, I was! I was in a whale cemetery.”
“Maybe we’re close to one,” Des said, looking around. “Forget the water apples for now.” He nodded at a hill ahead. “Let’s see what’s behind that.”
“Hang on a sec,” Astrid said. “Speaking of whales…where did Elskan go?”
Des pointed up above them. The orca was breaching. As she hit the water, then dove, Astrid cupped her hands around her mouth.
“Elskan!” she shouted. “ELSKAN!”
The orca rolled over like a big black-and-white barrel. With her belly facing the surface, she peered down at Astrid.
“Don’t. Go. Far!”
Elskan snorted. She righted herself, flipped her tail, and sped off.
“Unbelievable,” Astrid said, shaking her head.
“She’ll be back,” Des said.
The two mer swam toward the craggy seamount, crested the top, and dove down.
“Look,” Des said, pointing to his right. “Over there.”
“Good eyes,” Astrid said. About seventy yards away was the corpse of a large humpback. Scavengers—fish, crabs, and worms—were picking it clean.
Astrid and Des sped toward the whalefall, but as they drew close, Astrid realized that something else was crouched over the carcass—something pale and wraithlike.
Her heart lurched. She grabbed Des’s arm, stopping him short.
“Why are we—” he started to say.
Astrid shook her head. She held a finger to her lips and tried to back away quietly, pulling him with her. But it was too late.
The creature looked up. Its white eyes fastened on them. Using its long, clawed hands, it scrabbled over the rotting whale toward them. Ragged seaweed ropes that were entangled with the bodies of dead mer and drowned terragoggs trailed after it.
“What the—” Des started to say.
“It’s an EisGeist,” Astrid replied, pulling her sword from its scabbard. “Get ready for a fight.”
THE SPECTER SCUTTLED closer. Its gray hair floated crazily around its head. Its white lips curled into a snarl, revealing teeth as jagged and sharp as shards of glass.
“Don’t let it near you, Des!”
“As if!” Des said, holding his sword out in front of him.
“It strangles its victims and drags them around until they rot. It eats bones.”
“Astrid, I so don’t care! Just tell me how to kill it!” Des shouted, saucer-eyed.
“You can’t kill it! It’s a spirit,” Astrid shouted back.
“Great! That’s just great! What do I do?”
“I’ll draw it to me. When I do, cut the seaweed. Make like you’re going to steal its swag.”
Des eyed a dead gogg in a wetsuit. “Ugh, really?”
“It’ll try to knot the ropes back together. When it does, we bolt.”
Astrid advanced on the EisGeist. It crouched low, ready to spring at her.
Astrid…
That wasn’t Des. It was another voice. Inside Astrid’s head. It was stronger now, because she was so close to whalebones.
“You have got to be joking,” she said.
Astrid, it’s me…
“Yeah, I know. Not now, Sera, okay? I’m right in the middle of something!”
“What did you say?” Des shouted. He was close to the EisGeist now.
“Nothing. Cut the ropes!”
The EisGeist, clever and quick, wheeled around and advanced on Des. It had purposely let him come close so it could attack him.
“Hey! HEY!” Astrid shouted. She rushed at the creature, hacking at it with her sword. The blade went right through it, but the ghost must’ve felt something because it turned, growling, and rushed at her.
“The ropes, Des! Cut the ropes,” Astrid shouted.
“I can’t! I think they’re enchanted!” Des yelled.
Astrid…are you there?
“Not NOW, Sera,” Astrid said, through gritted teeth.