Samakah.
Even if Fia hadn't spoken her name, Ryan would have known. That enormous creature, every inch of its body radiating a power unlike anything he'd ever felt, could be none other than the ocean spirit who protected Mare.
Except now, she wasn't protecting the town. Pumped full of corrupted Levia, she'd been turned into General Hellebore's weapon.
He was still laughing like a madman. "I should have done this from the beginning! Now there's nothing that can stop me!"
With a feral roar, he pumped his fist into the sky. Samakah tossed her head back, slender jaws opening to reveal needle-sharp teeth. But they weren't half as terrifying as the toxic green light glowing inside her throat.
Fia's pain wrenched harder at Ryan's heart, making him groan. Of course they were in way worse shape, curled into a ball with their wings beating frantically.
Fighting stiff muscles, Ryan tried to step toward them. Too late.
As Samakah flapped her fins, storm clouds swirled above her head, blocking every trace of the night sky. The seas churned violently, waves splashing so high they sprayed freezing droplets over the Blue Sky's railings.
Just before Ryan reached Fia, Samakah unleashed a piercing cry. As the sound drilled into his brain like a white-hot poker, the skies poured open. Curtains of rain battered the Blue Sky, swaying her wildly back and forth, while the surging wind almost knocked Ryan off his feet.
Blindly, he lashed his arm out. When his fingers brushed cold metal, he clamped down as hard as he could. His other hand flailed until it seized a fistful of Fia's poncho. Relieved, Ryan pulled himself closer to his shivering, sobbing familiar.
When the Blue Sky heaved beneath him, he almost let go. Gritting his teeth, Ryan clung on tighter. All around he heard voices shouting in panic, but they were almost drowned out by a steadily rising roar.
Even behind his shut eyelids, the corrupted Levia burned noxiously bright. When he forced his eyes open, he came face-to-face with a wall of water rushing up to meet the Blue Sky.
Before Ryan could get out a scream, the craft rocketed upward so fast his feet flew off the deck. If it weren't for his grip on the railing, he might've blown clean into the sky. His arm ached all the way to the socket, and it didn't help that his other hand was occupied grabbing onto Fia, but he clenched his teeth and held on tight.
Just when he thought his arm might tear off, the Blue Sky shuddered to a stop. Ryan slammed back onto the deck, Fia crashing next to him. Though pain seared through his muscles, he climbed to his knees.
Beneath the panicked screams, the pounding rain, and the thunder rumbling in the clouds, he heard rushing water. And no wonder. While the Blue Sky had avoided the wave, it had crashed headlong into the island. Now seawater poured through Mare's streets, ripping the roofs off buildings, carrying away soldiers and townspeople alike.
They were so high above it almost looked like a scene from a movie. But it wasn't. It was really happening.
"No, no," Fia groaned into their hands, trembling all over. "Samakah, please, stop!"
Ryan wrapped his arm around their shoulders, pulling them close to his side. It was the best he could do, but it wasn't even close to enough.
Helpless fury pounded in his chest, even worse than when he'd watched Avia die. Was it always going to be like this? Him sitting here like an idiot while Hellebore steamrollered them?
The bastard himself was still riding on Samakah, laughing his ass off. He didn't seem to feel the rain, let alone the corrupted Levia blazing from every inch of his body. "That's it! Drown them all! Let me tell you, I could do this all day! How about you, Prince Darian? Shall I wash the whole damn island into the sea? Leave no trace behind? It's all up to you! Will you surrender or not?"
A clatter from behind made Ryan jump. Turning around, he saw a wizened old sprite clamber out of the nearest hatch. Chief Lahu.
"Chief!" Darian, clinging to a tentacle, whirled toward him. "It's not safe – get back under!"
"Prince Darian, Prince Darian, please," Lahu panted as he crawled across the deck. "It's enough. You've done enough. From the bottom of our hearts, we of Mare thank you for fighting so tirelessly."
Darian paled. "You can't mean – "
Lahu offered her a watery smile. "Forgive us for being so weak. Perhaps if we were stronger, it would never have come to this. Now...please. Before your crew suffers any further. Before...before there is nothing left of Mare."
His voice hitched, and he bowed his head. Ryan stared at him in numb disbelief. No way. Was it really going to come down to this?
After everything – after all the battles, after all the sacrifices – after Avia –
Suddenly small hands pushed at Ryan's arm. Startled, he let go of Fia, and they crawled out from under him. Ryan opened his mouth, but all words died in his throat when he got a good look at Fia's face. Though tired and drawn, their eyes blazed with determination.
"No, Chief Lahu," they said. "It's not too late."
Their voice was weak and raspy, but Ryan couldn't miss the resolve behind each word. Lahu, however, didn't look convinced.
"What do you mean, Fia? I admire your spirit, but – "
"It's not over," Fia said again, firmer. "We can still stop him. We can get Samakah back. After all...after all, I'm her medium."
Astonishment lanced through Ryan's gut, followed by a warm rush of pride. Of course! The solution had been staring them in the face all along.
"Are you certain?" Lahu said.
Fia swallowed, then jerked their head in a nod. "It's our only option. I – I'm the only one who can do it."
"Oh, Fia...." Lahu lifted trembling hands as if he wanted to touch Fia, but couldn't bring himself to. "I'm so sorry...to put such a burden on you again...in the end, we couldn't do anything."
"It's okay." Fia offered him a shaky smile. "It's my duty as the medium, anyway. No matter what, I can't let him have Samakah."
They turned toward Darian, who nodded. "If you're up to it, then we'll believe in you, Fia."
Fia let out a shuddering breath before straightening and tucking the hair behind their ears. "Okay. I – I'll need to concentrate to reach Samakah. I'll try to do it as fast as possible, but you guys will have to cover me."
"Will do." Darian glanced over at Meg, who had approached the scene. "Meg?"
Though she was breathing hard and dripping wet, Meg proudly lifted the Star of Miriel. "Sounds like a plan."
"All right." Darian clapped her hands. "Let's get to it, crew."
Fia had already lowered to their knees, hands clasped at their chest. They flashed Ryan a smile before sliding their eyes shut, looking for all the world like the perfect picture of concentration. Yet Ryan couldn't ignore how their Levia churned inside him, almost as stormy as the sea below.
But they were gathering their power anyway, trying to smooth it out and calm it down. Ryan swallowed, suddenly feeling superfluous. He was Fia's wizard; shouldn't he do something to help?
"What's the holdup?" Hellebore's booming voice knocked him out of his thoughts. Whirling around, he saw the demon still riding atop Samakah, sneering down at the Blue Sky. "Does it take this long to announce a surrender?"
"That's where you're wrong," Darian shouted back. "We're not surrendering. Prepare for your defeat, General Hellebore!"
"What?" A sharp intake of breath, then another burst of laughter. "Are you fucking kidding me? You lost your mind, Prince Darian? But hey, if you want to die that badly, I'm more than happy to oblige!"
With that, he spread his arms and the corrupted Levia deepened. Nausea wracked Ryan's body, and he had to fight with all his strength to stay upright. Darian cringed back a couple of steps, but never took her eyes off Hellebore.
"All right," she shouted. "Now or never. We're charging in!"