He turned and looked over his shoulder. I looked away immediately. I had to admit being curious about the two of them and Juno. They were my biggest competition so far, other than Dane. The thin, dark-haired Mer had not done well in the second day of the Trials, though I suspected he was still in the running for Messenger. He’d been second-fastest after me.
I wondered if they took sour dispositions into account when deciding these things. I wondered how much pull Annaruth had with her insights and premonitions. And then I shook all of that off.
I had bigger fish to catch at the moment. I had to survive and pray that my friends did as well.
The line kept moving. As we got closer, it became clear that we were, in fact, paired up. Starla was one spot ahead of us, paired up with a young Mer named Macum. He was the one with the third eye, which was closed right now. He seemed nice and had done just well enough to stay in the games. They’d struck up an easy banter during the wait. I had to hope they’d make it through together.
So far, two Mers had been grievously injured, though the Medics and Annaruth’s magic had just barely saved their lives. No one had died. But it was only a matter of time.
One Mer was still missing, which was something no one was talking about. A young Mer had gotten lost during the Trench Trial. She’d simply gone in and never come out again.
I supposed . . . well, by the end of the day, she would probably be the first true casualty of the Trials. And there were sure to be more.
Before I knew it, there were five Mers in front of me and five before Dane. Then four. Three. Two. One.
Starla went in with Macum, with a quick hug from each of us. It seemed less than a heartbeat passed before it was our turn. I knew it was magic, but the sense of wrongness was thrumming in my bones.
I didn’t trust Magic. It was unpredictable at best, and dangerous if one didn’t know precisely what they were doing. Thankfully, Annaruth did know what she was doing. And I knew she would try not to let me die. But she must be tired. Technically speaking, this Trial had already been going on for days.
The heavy door swung open and we were told to come inside. Dane and I exchanged a glance and then swam into the arena.
Chapter 18
The Arena looked completely ordinary as I swam to my side of the large circle where a small circle of stones waited for me. There were no signs of magic or weapons, save what was strapped to our backs. There were no threats.
I did notice that a few Mers seemed to be dozing, while others were eating.
Aha! So they do get hungry!
My stomach grumbled as I saw vendors doling out what looked like seaweed salads and crab legs.
Dane took his place in the stone circle in the center of the other half. I turned to look at him, feeling myself losing the battle with my fear. In fact, it felt like the fear was palpable, filling the very water around me and seeping into my bones. I feared for myself, but I felt equal fear for him as well. I knew he could handle himself well. I should be hopeful for him. But instead, dread was pounding in my veins.
The Trial had already begun, I realized with sudden insight. The wait outside. The stillness of the crowd. The fear itself was part of it. It was Magic. I wondered if the Mers in the stands could feel it.
The arena went dark. I held perfectly still, waiting for something to happen. At first, nothing did. And then I felt it.
Movement.
Something was in the water behind me. Something big. I turned and realized I was back in the sea cave, this time with the giant squid. The arena wasn’t dark. It was gone. And I was lost in the sea of kelp with a killer who was hungry for my flesh.
But it didn’t come for me. It didn’t need to. It had its lunch and its dinner.
There were already two Mers in its clutches. Two young female Mers. I screamed when I saw who it was. Starla and Thalia were struggling to free themselves from the thick and heavy tentacles.
I reached for my shoulder and my waist, grabbing a weapon with each hand. I grabbed the spear with my right and a curved dagger with my left. Pulling them down in front of me, I charged forward.
I slashed at the monster again and again. I ended up doing nothing more than annoy it. It tried to catch me, but I evaded it with short bursts of speed. I darted around its massive, swirling arms. One brushed me, sending me careening into the sand. I rubbed my flank. That tentacle had felt like fluid stone covered with rubber. It was thick and heavy, pure muscle. I felt the oxygen leave my body in a whoosh as I lay there stunned.
Then I saw it.
The squid was protecting something.
In the shadow cast by its massive body lay an egg sack, shining faintly in the dim light. I could just barely see movement inside the cluster of eggs. The squid was a she. And she was breeding.
Starla and Thalia screamed my name frantically. This time, I ignored them, swimming right for the eggs. The squid roared as I threw my spear, tearing the sac open. Starla and Thalia were released and swam quickly away. Starla glanced back but Thalia didn’t pause. I called out frantically to them.
“Go! Get as far as you can!”
I faced the squid alone, praying they were far enough away to be safe. Right now, the squid only had eyes for me. I took my other dagger in hand, waiting. It launched itself at me, terrifyingly fluid in its movements. It was like fighting smoke.
But I did not stop. I sliced my dagger across a tentacle, diving beneath it. Blood filled the water, along with ink. But I could feel my enemy. And after a time, I realized I was winning.
The real turning point was when I sliced clean through a tentacle. The roar of pain and fury was so loud, it nearly knocked me on my tail. Instead, I took off another tentacle. And another.
And then it lay there, bleeding. Barely moving, the squid mewled pitifully. I realized that the kind thing to do would be to kill it. I lifted my sword above my head. I was about to drive it through the creature’s eye when light filled the arena.
“Well done, Katriana. Well done, Dane.” Annaruth was before us, seated with the Royals. “You have conquered your greatest fears.”
I looked over at Dane. He was crouched on the ground with his helmet covering his face, as if he’d also been in the midst of a battle. I noticed broken chains and ropes lying on the sand around him. His eyes were on me as he slowly rose to his full height.
I nodded and he nodded back.
“Katriana, you feared losing the people you care about. Dane, you feared being trapped. Neither of you let the fear overwhelm you or change your character.”
I glanced over at him. Trapped? And why had Thalia been in my Trial? I swallowed, realizing that even though I despised her, she was the last family I had left in the entire world. She might be a pain in the fins, but I didn’t want her to die.
I’d never wanted that.
And Annaruth had known.
“Now you must face your greatest wish.”
My eyes grew wide. Now? The next Trial started now?
Annaruth nodded as if I had spoken aloud.
“But this one, you will face together.”
The crowd gasped but I barely noticed. I was swimming toward Dane and he toward me. We were reaching for each other when it began.
Our fingertips brushed as the convulsions started. My body arched in the water, falling to the sand below. I was suddenly heavy, awkward, unable to stop the pain that ripped through me. I twisted and contorted, feeling as if I was being torn apart. But not by sharks or even a two-legger propeller blade.
I was being torn apart from the inside.
I tried to search for Dane with my eyes but I could not find him. I twisted again, and there he was, his eyes wide and terrified as he tried to reach me. From what I could see, he was going through the same thing. His muscular frame shook and shivered, exactly as mine did.
I felt it the moment I saw it.
Something was wrong with Dane’s tail. It was growing pale and withering. I stared down at my own body. It felt like I was dying. But with an awful rending sensation, I felt my tail tear in two.
I wasn’t dying. I was growing legs.
I was becoming human.