Riwenne & the Bionic Witches by Kristen S. Walker

Author:Kristen S. Walker [Walker, Kristen S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781074577841
Publisher: Kristen S. Walker
Published: 2019-07-21T16:00:00+00:00

17

The Truth

As we descended into the darkness, our god crystals began to glow, shining a light so we could see where we were going. The moonstone on my chest felt warm. The magic would protect me from the chill.

Even more surprising, I saw there was life even down here in the black. Red seaweed grew on the walls of the trench. The fish were larger and more solitary, gliding through the gloom. They all had large eyes that flashed when they reflected the light from our crystals.

Ghostly, translucent white blobs drifted up toward us. They looked like handkerchiefs someone had lost, except I could see looping curls in the middle—intestines? Something that weird couldn’t be alive!

Vilqa laughed and reached out to scoop up a small blob in their hand. “Moon jellies,” they said. “Some jellyfish can sting you, but these don’t. This has to be a sign we’re on the right track!”

I poked a jellyfish with one finger and jerked back. I was afraid it would be slimy, but it was smooth and firmer than I expected. The creature didn’t seem to notice that I’d touched it. I could see why they were called moon jellies. They were white and round like a full moon, and they jiggled like a jelly tart.

I turned to Tika. “I’ve never heard of these. Is it a good sign? Do they serve Quilla?”

Tika shrugged. “I don’t know. We’re in Sawycha’s domain, but not every living thing in the sea serves the sea goddess.” She peered at the nearest moon jelly. “I don’t see any kind of brain in there. I doubt they have the intelligence to serve anyone.”

Birds weren’t known to have large brains, either, but I’d never say that in front of Tika.

“She’s farther down.” I looked below us, but our light didn’t penetrate all the way. “Keep going.”

I don’t know how long we swam into the darkness or how far we went. The pressure built around us, like the weight of the whole ocean was pushing down, and it made our movements slower. Tika’s magic shielded us, but I had to work hard for every breath. The fish disappeared until there was nothing but us and the endless black, with only the rocky walls of the trench rising on either side to close us in.

When I saw a faint silvery globe below us, I thought it was my imagination. But the others also murmured in surprise, so I knew they saw it too—we were all too tired to speak by then. I pushed myself to swim toward it.

The silver light grew until I saw it was a bubble of air on the bottom of the trench. I drifted down until I stood on the rock in front of it. I was afraid it might break or be sealed against us, but when I put my hand out in front of it, it slipped inside. I held my breath and stepped forward.

Water bubbled up out of my lips and sweet fresh air rushed into my lungs, reversing Tika’s magic with no effort.

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