Page 20 of Journey to the Elderoak
Once she got past the freezing shock she began to swim to the other side of the channel when a desperate idea hit her. If the raven had truly understood her, maybe another creature would. Like the mice who helped her escape Deidamia’s camp. It was worth a try.
Ava screamed inside her mind, asking for help from any nearby animal who could hear.
“You imbecile!” Corvus called from shore. “Get her back!”
“Please! Please, hear me! I need help!”
Ignoring the numbness creeping in, she continued her frantic swim. A splash sounded behind her and she glanced over her shoulder to see a soldier closing in. Kicking her feet harder, she pushed herself to near exhaustion, desperate to evade his pursuit.
Reaching the other side of the channel, Ava clung to the wall, searching the water for an escape route. The soldier on the shore began to yell, pointing at the water with fear in his eyes.
His companion paused, following his wide-eyed stare, face going slack as he screamed, “Ocean drake!”
No idea what an ocean drake was, Ava remained in her spot, scanning the black water. The soldier had turned around, frantically swimming back to shore, when a giant tail covered in shiny cerulean scales, erupted from the waves and slammed into the boat, demolishing it and throwing his partner into the water.
He screamed, trying to escape, swimming past the now lifeless body floating on the surface.
“It’s coming after me! Oh—” His pleas were cut off as a monstrous head erupted from below, clamping down on the soldier’s arm with jagged teeth, and dragging him beneath the waves.
Had his creature heard her cries for help? Would it eat her too? Bright blue scales shimmered as the snake-like animal swam through the blood from its kill.
Hypothermia loomed as Ava’s muscles started to lock up. Cold and losing feeling in her extremities, she needed to get out of the water. Now. She pushed off the wall and swam, but the ocean drake appeared below and pushed her above the surface.
It was letting her ride it.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe this is happening,” she muttered as she gripped a set of horns on top of its large head.
Her fingers ached, almost numb, as it swam her the short distance back to shore. She climbed off and collapsed onto the stone floor, breathless. Rolling over, she looked at the creature who was studying her with bright reptilian eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
It gave her a subtle nod and disappeared below the surface. It was gone.
After allowing herself a few moments to catch her breath, she climbed off the ground and looked for the door leading inside.
She glanced down at her hands, noting the pallor of her skin. The tips of her fingers were tinted blue, and she couldn’t control the violent trembling. Spying the door, she padded toward it when someone grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head into a nearby stone wall.
Pain burst through her forehead as the warmth of blood trickled down her brow. She cried out and crumpled to the ground, fighting through the sudden dizziness.
“How did you call that ocean drake?” Corvus seethed.
Shit. She’d assumed he’d been killed in the attack from the creature. Scrambling to her feet, she searched for something she could use as a weapon and turned to face him.
His expression was full of rage.
She bolted for the door, but rocks erupted in front of her, blocking her path. How was she supposed to fight against someone with magic? She turned, running a different direction but Corvus used his magic yet again, this time raising the floor beneath her feet. Her hands hit the ground as she stumbled over the obstacle, scraping her palms raw.
Back on her feet, she sprinted away, but Corvus was faster and blocked her path, back handing her across the face. On theground again, her head spun as her vision blurred, the ceiling fuzzy above her.
“Andras only said to bring you in alive,” he snarled. “He didn’t say you had to be conscious.”
She groaned, clutching her face as she searched for anything to help. He lunged for her, but she rolled at the last second and snatched a sharp rock that had broken loose from Corvus’ magic.
As she was about to rise, he landed on top of her, hands on her throat. Ava raised her arm, like Quinn had taught her, and slashed with perfect aim despite her still shaking hands.
Blood gushed from Corvus’ throat, the sticky liquid warm against her cold skin, painting her nightgown red. She screamed as he clutched his throat and leaned back. Ava scrambled out from beneath him, still clutching the makeshift weapon. He gurgled and gasped, trying to form words. She rose and backed away, unable to tear her eyes from the gruesome scene. With a few more wet breaths, he collapsed face first, twitching before he stilled.
He was dead.
