“You said 100 souls, right?” I asked her and she nodded. “If we get them all really fast, can I leave sooner?”
Alana grinned, but looked annoyed doing it. “I wouldn’t take it so lightly,” she muttered.
“But if we did?” I asked, and she nodded her head to me.
“I don’t want to take souls away from people,” Cassandra admitted, biting at her nails, but she jumped back, flailing in the water a little as Alana was suddenly right in her face. Alana’s eyes glowed green as she spoke, venom tainting her tone.
“This is the deal you have made!” she said loudly. “Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a sea cucumber?” she asked her. “I’d be happy to turn you into one if you’d like!”
Casandra shook her head fast, her long hair swaying with the motion. “No.”
“I think you need to remember your parents, Cassandra,” Alana whispered, backing away. “You all will do as you’ve promised, and when you’re done, you can leave,” she said, turning to me. “However, I think you’ll find it isn’t as easy as yo thinking I need strong souls. You can’t bring me the weak and feeble ones that are already dying to lessen your conscience—it won’t work. If the soul isn’t strong, it won’t help me. I need men. Which only makes it more difficult. We cannot go far beyond Culliver’s Cove. If you do, your magic will wear off and you’ll die, so no venturing out.” Alana rolled her eyes. “There are rules.”
“Like?” Levi asked.
Alana glared at her through narrowed eyes. “None of you can go more than a few miles away from this cove, or you will die. You cannot leave the water for more than one hour, and if you are not back in the water before that time, you will die. If you try to trick me by bringing me weak souls, you will die.”
“So basically anything we do, we will die?” Levi said softly.
Alana lifted her chin, looking deeply into her eyes. “No, perfect darling,” she cooed. “Bring me my souls, and you will live again…really live again,” she whispered. “You’ll have the normal life you always wanted…just help me.”
Levi nodded her head, her expression looking a little defeated. I was trying desperately to keep up with everything that was going on, but I was so easily distracted by the slightest of things, like a random little fish floating by, or the way the green light from my amulet seemed to reach out into the water like a little beacon. I shook my head at myself, willing myself to stay focused, but focusing on anything but what was happening to us was easier than stomaching everything she’d just said.
“How do we…” Cassandra started to ask and I looked over at her too, since I had been wondering the same thing.
Alana smiled softly. “It’s easy…you hardly have to do anything at all…I do all the hard work.” Her voice had that ominous echo to it again. “When you find someone, they will instantly be enticed by you. Your beauty alone would draw most men into the water after you, but once you have one’s attention, this will help you.” She said touching the green stone in Cassandra’s amulet. “It will make a noise, one that is impossible to be ignored, then you’ll lure the person into the water with you,” she said so softly, we had to strain to hear her. “When their souls leave their bodies, they will collect here.” She pointed at the stone. “I will extract them.”
“That’s it?” Levi asked her and I felt my stomach drop a little. I didn’t think that sounded like an easy task. Watching someone drown sounds like a terrible thing. I couldn’t help wondering if I could even do this.
Alana was behind me suddenly, pulling my hair away from me to lean into my ear. “You will find the strength to do it,” she told me. “Or you’ll live an eternity here with me, as whatever I feel like making you into. Just think about Asher. You love him, don’t you?”
I frowned, feeling hopeless. “Yes,” I whispered.
“Good,” she said, walking away. “Now go.”
“Go?” I asked.
She turned back to me. “No time to waste.” She smiled. “Time for you girls to earn your keep.”
Comments (10)
See all