So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Author:F.T. Lukens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: 2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

I knew the cape was a bad idea.

The icy chill of the water was a slap when it hit my skin. It stole my breath and my muscles clenched. The cape’s chain snapped hard across my throat in a chokehold as the heavy fabric dragged behind me in the water. Thankfully, it broke after a few hard tugs, otherwise my ill-advised leap would’ve led to my ill-advised death.

Beneath the surface, the water was murkier than it had looked from the bridge, but even through squinted eyes, I was able to behold the moat monster in all its terrifying glory. Face-to-face with it, I realized two things. One, it looked like a giant version of the creature depicted in a framed painting in the castle with a caption that read: Octopus destroys sailing vessel. Second, I realized that jumping into the water was probably an impulsive and questionable decision.

But as I was right in front of the octopus, I took a chance and thrust my sword in its general direction. Sound rippled through the water as it screeched. Yes! I hit something. Point for me! Except, that seemed to garner its attention, and despite my attempt to swim away, I, too, found myself wrapped in a fleshy appendage.

It yanked me upward. Breaking the surface, I heaved a breath, though there was almost no room for my rib cage to expand, and my inhale sounded more like a strangled yelp. Its tentacle squeezed me so hard, my bones creaked.

“Arek!” That was Sionna’s voice.

“What were you thinking?” And that was Matt.

“What?” I yelled back. I swept my arm over my eyes, brushing my wet hair and the streams of water out of my face. “Don’t like my plan?”

“Go for the arms!”

“Hold on!”

“Lila!”

“On it.”

The octopus waved its tentacles, which—aside from making me extremely nauseated—put me in close range to the poor peasant named Henry, who looked as panicked as I felt. Once he was in reach, I stabbed my sword in the general direction of the arm that held him. The blade sunk deep into the flesh, and blue blood erupted in a spray from the wound. Wrenching my sword free, I struck again and watched in relief as the tentacle loosened its grip on poor Henry.

“When it releases you,” I called as loudly as I could with the breath being squeezed from my body, “drop into the water and swim to the other side of the bridge.”

Henry emitted a strangled sort of shout that I took as confirmation of the plan.

“Ready yourself.” Using both hands, I yanked my sword from the wriggling arm.

But a second before I could strike, it whipped me around to the other side, my head grazing sickeningly close to the castle’s outer wall. Grunting, I pushed my hand into the spongy flesh, trying to pry it off. It didn’t work.

“A little help!” I yelled.

An arrow rocketed from the shore and struck the creature in the part of its head that had emerged from the water. Another embedded in a tentacle.

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