Devoted to The Tide

CHAPTER TEN

I snapped out of my infuriating thoughts and feelings before turning my full attention to Bishop. I was internally grateful that he interrupted when he did though. I could tell by the look of Perseus’s face, I struck him where it hurt. “Aye, what is it?” Bishop takes a breath, exchanging suspicious glances between Perseus and I, seemingly picking up on the hostile tension. “I was just at Duke’s. One of me ol’ mates was there, going on and on about some sea snake that just had offspring infesting the east side of Catouli Crossing.” I felt a tightening in my chest once again. The second time I’m hearing news of a sea serpent in this village. I was starting to believe it was more than just a rumor. “Mrs. Tinley had just told me about the same thing. It could just be a rumor. Ya know how the Shia people like to share tales.” “Aye. But me mate was the one who shared the tale. He’s never been keen on spreading lies either. I trust him with me life.” Bishop says, reaching into his trouser pocket. “And… he gave me this.” Bishop hands me a white, tooth shaped bone, longer than the palm of my hand. “Shark tooth perhaps?” I questioned. “Nah, I’ve seen shark teeth in my time. None of which look like that in width. These teeth are narrow, and sharper than shark teeth. Whatever bloody mouth that bone came out of, I can assure that fucker is mighty big.” I observed the tooth in my hand, my brow furrowed as I inspected it closely. “If this is as big as the teeth get, I can’t imagine it being any bigger than a shark.” “No captain… me mate claims that's one of its baby teeth… from the hatchlings…” I looked up at Bishop, my face falling into a sickening look. “Is there any way for us to avoid the nest?” Bishop shrugs. “No clue, Captain. Depending how young the hatchlings are, they could still reside at the nest. But if they've grown, I wouldn’t be surprised the whole bloody family started moving west. There’s a large chance we could run into them on our way to Zadavi.” Great. Just what we need. A battle on the water. A battle against sea devil spawns of all things. “I will go meet up with Caspian. You and Perseus go recheck the stock for steel. We will need bigger weapons if the hatchlings are bigger than my ship. I don’t even want to imagine how big ‘mother devil’ is.” Bishop nods. Perseus remains still, his face still solemn and crestfallen.

…

My entire walk to Dalia and Jude’s place was foggy since my mind was racing through worst case scenarios. We had a battle on the horizon. And it was going to be damaging and brutal. Hearing it from Mrs. Tinley was one thing, but Bishop confirming it with his friend was another. Now all I could hear was what Perseus had said to me earlier. How could I be so afraid of losing my legacy over my life. I should want to live for Amora. I do want to live for her. But I had become so comfortable with death upon myself that I never realized how much that would affect other people. Perhaps I’m heartless. Whatever I was… Perseus had a point. And I hated to admit that to myself.

I creeped into the front door of Dalia and Jude’s cottage, finding Caspian sitting beside Amora as she slept on the bed. Caspian looks up at me, his face soft and gentle when he looks back at our sleeping girl. “How did we create something so good and precious?” He whispers to me, his gaze still on Amora’s slow rise and falling of her chest as she takes small and gentle breaths. “Too much wine.” I muttered, taking a couple slow steps towards them. Caspian chuckled at my response. I knelt down beside Amora and kissed the temple of her forehead softly, letting my gesture of affection linger as long as possible. “I love you so much. So, so, so much.” I whispered in her ear. I felt my eyes burn, tears threatening to swell. I tried to hide them as I rested my forehead on the side of her head. I felt Caspian’s hand gently rest on my shoulder. “Charlie…” I took another moment, inhaling the scent of my child, flashbacks of her infant years replaying in my mind. I was angry when I first found out I was pregnant. I remember how I shouted and screamed at Caspian for hours because I couldn’t find anyone else to blame and take my anger out on. I felt as though a child would ruin the legacy that my grandfather had laid out for me. How I would be casted out from the crew if I told my grandfather. But all of my worries were proven wrong. My grandfather loved Amora. As did Vlad. And I fell in love with her too. She was the reason I still do what I do. The reason I still live to this day… I wanted to live for her. And for the first time in a very long time, kissing her head right now, drowned me in fear of losing my life. Fear of never seeing her again.

I finally slowly stood to my feet, stray tears running down my cheeks as they fell from my eyes. Caspian’s hand remained on my back in comfort, his gaze softening as he watched me. “Charlie?” He whispers again. I walk out of the bedroom, Caspian following behind me as he leaves with one last longing gaze of our daughter. “Charlie, what’s going on?” I clean off my face with the sleeve of my shirt before turning to him. “There’s rumors spreading through Shia. Something about an infestation of sea serpents on the west side of Catouli Crossing. There’s no way around them. Bishop and Perseus are retrieving steel and weaponry before we depart.” He nods in understanding, but the look he gave me was as if he questioned if there were more. “I’m scared, Cas…” I whispered. “Amora… I don’t want our girl to grow up without pare-“ I choked back, unable to finish my sentence as I finally had given in to the silent sobs that took over my body. The intense feeling of anguish. Caspian was quick to wrap me in his arms and hold me tightly as I quietly cried in his chest. “We're going to see her again… I promise.” He whispers against my ear before resting his chin on the top of my head, holding me close against his chest. “You can’t promise that.” My voice was raspy and hoarse as I spoke through my cries, thinking about the worst things that could happen. Caspian pulls me away and grabs me by the shoulders to look into my eyes intensely. “Amora will be safe. That’s all that matters. And she will always have someone looking out for her.” I tried to believe what he was saying, but I just couldn’t find comfort in his words. “Are you sure there’s an infestation?” I nodded. “Bishop confirmed the rumors. And he gave me this.” I handed him the tooth that Bishop had given me. “Claims it's a tooth from the hatchlings. Meaning we have bigger issues to deal with if we are greeted by the mother.” Caspian studies the tooth, his face falling into seriousness as he processes the information. “Gods be good.” He mutters to himself. “We had spent everything we had left on the supply here in Shia. Now this bloody sea serpent is going to destroy all of that. What a waste of money.” “f**k the supply, Caspian! This thing could kill us! It could destroy the entire damn fleet if it wants to! Which I’m sure it will since we will be a nice meal for them!” Caspian takes a step closer. “Shh- keep your voice down. We were able to take down a Kraken, I’m sure a few sea serpents will delay some things but nothing we can’t handle.” “Right. We took down the Kraken after it took Vlad’s life.” “Well people will probably die, Charlie! That’s a part of the job. Putting our lives on the line. Since when do you care about the lives of others?” “Since Perseus opened his damn mouth earlier telling me how I’m a heartless b***h!” Silence fell between us, his confusion apparent but I just sigh and end the conversation. “We need to be prepared for what is to come… and we need to live… for Amora.” I say finally. Caspian nods. “For Amora.”