Chapter 128
The alarms stop abruptly, replaced by the hum of machinery as Cora strides calmly toward the rear deck of the ship. Wake and I exchange a tense glance, but she doesn’t seem concerned. Neither does the hulking man in the corner, who silently follows her.
“Come with me,” Cora says, gesturing for us to follow. Her voice is steady, unfazed by the blaring noise moments earlier.
Wake moves with calculated precision, his eyes scanning every shadow and corner as we follow her up a narrow staircase. I’m right behind him, my heart hammering in my chest. The moment we step onto the rear deck, I’m greeted by the sight of a research submersible breaking the water’s surface and easing into dock.
Crewmembers swarm the area, shouting instructions and securing lines as the sub settles into place. Among them is the man with the dark hair and piercing green eyes, moving with an unsettling grace as he works. My eyes dart from him to the other crew, and I feel a twinge of unease. Something about the way they move strikes me as… different.
“This is the crew of Nereid Limited,” Cora announces, her tone almost proud. “Researchers and expeditionists—my people.”
“What exactly are they doing?” I ask, unable to mask my suspicion as I watch them work.
“They’re monitoring the seafloor,” Cora replies. “Specifically, for minute seismic activity—small tremors so insignificant that human researchers wouldn’t bother reporting them. But for us, these readings mean everything.”
I fold my arms, skeptical. “What do they mean?”
Cora turns to face me, her blue eyes sharp. “Using data points I’ve collected over decades, I’ve created a map centered around the deepest point in the ocean. That’s where I believe Leviathan’s resting place lies.”
I scoff despite myself. “Let me guess—Leviathan is conveniently at the bottom of the Mariana Trench?”
Cora shakes her head. “No. There’s a deeper point. One located in the Arctic Circle.”
That catches me off guard. “How do you know this? It sounds like you’re using technology not even Enigma knows about.”
Cora’s expression hardens. “I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure my operation stays far from Enigma’s radar. For many reasons. And yes, it’s true—Nereid has been developing technology for this purpose for decades.”
I narrow my eyes, a thousand questions crowding my mind. “What prompted all this? How did you go from waking up pregnant and alone in a strange world to… this?” I gesture at the ship, the submersible, and the bustling crew.
Cora studies me for a long moment. “I don’t think you’re going to like the answer, darling.”
Wake scoffs, crossing his arms. “Felix Becker.”
I gasp, the name hitting me like a physical blow. “You sought him out? He stabbed you!”
Cora shrugs, her expression unbothered. “As you pointed out, I was in a desperate state with few options. One thing I did have, however, was my connection to my mate. And so, I used it.”
“What happened?” Wake presses, his tone sharp.
Cora sighs. “Felix was… shocked, of course. But ultimately, he was grateful for the opportunity to make amends. He’d married by then and had a young son. It was difficult for me to comprehend, but we both knew—bond or no—his time in my life was over. He gave me shelter for a few months while I learned enough to get a job. After your mother was born, he sent us to America.”
“Why?” I ask, still reeling. “Why send you away?”
Cora’s gaze softens. “He said there would be more opportunity for us there. But I know he was paranoid about Enigma finding us. He wanted me gone, but it was for the best.”
I cross my arms, my head spinning. “And the earthquakes? Where do they fit in?”
“They followed me everywhere I went,” Cora replies, her voice low. “The first happened the day I set foot on land. Then again when your mother was born. Another struck the day I landed in California. I thought they were strange coincidences until I began dreaming of earthquakes and lightning storms. That’s when I knew Electra was speaking to me.”
I almost ask why Electra didn’t just appear to her, but I bite my tongue. I’m not ready to share my own connection to the goddess. Not yet.
“I began studying seismology,” Cora continues. “Earned my degrees. Founded Nereid with like-minded scientists.”
Wake raises an eyebrow. “I assume these scientists didn’t know what they were really looking for.”
“No,” Cora admits. “But neither did I, at first. Still, I came to trust my partners with my secrets.”
“You trusted them?” I exclaim, incredulous.
Wake’s gaze sharpens. “You were allowed to?”
Cora sighs. “Unbreakable oaths are not as common in the Twilight as they are in the Abyss. But at a certain point, the matter was out of my hands.”
“Why?” I demand.
Cora glances at her companion, the man with the dark hair and piercing green eyes. “Twenty years ago, there was a final quake… a final dream. And we made a discovery that changed everything.”
Her words send a chill down my spine. I look at the man again, really look at him, and my stomach twists. His hair glints cerulean in the sunlight, and there’s an otherworldly grace to the way he moves. The way he watches us.
“He’s Enkian,” I whisper, the realization crashing over me like a wave.
Cora’s expression is unreadable as she nods. “He’s not the only one, Phoebe.”
I glance around, my eyes catching on several more of the crew. They move with the same fluid precision, their eyes sharp and alert. They’re not human. None of them are.
“What is this place?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cora places a hand on my shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “This, Phoebe, is the beginning of the end.”
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