Chapter 135
Cora’s study is warm and richly adorned, the walls lined with bookshelves brimming with texts on marine biology, seismology, and mythology. A large desk takes up one corner, cluttered with maps, charts, and open journals.
The scent of saltwater lingers in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of aged wood. I sit in a comfortable armchair, legs tucked under me, while Wake stands near the door, ever the silent sentinel. Cora pours herself a small glass of dark amber liquid and takes a seat behind the desk, looking tired but focused.
“Nereid wasn’t always what it is now,” Cora begins, swirling the glass in her hand. “We started small—just a few passionate scientists chasing whispers of seismic anomalies that no one else cared to study. The earthquakes led us to the Euclidean tribe.”
I lean forward, intrigued. “You mean they didn’t just show up on your doorstep?”
Cora chuckles softly. “Not quite. We were surveying an area near the Kermadec Trench—an expedition that wasn’t sanctioned, mind you. We were deep into restricted waters when Tai spotted something strange on sonar: a massive cluster of thermal vents that didn’t match any known maps.”
Wake tilts his head. “Thermal vents are common near tectonic activity. Why was this cluster strange?”
Cora smiles. “Because it wasn’t natural. The vents formed an unmistakable pattern—a grid, almost architectural. We thought we’d stumbled on an ancient human settlement swallowed by the sea.”
I feel a chill run down my spine. “It wasn’t human, though, was it?”
“No,” she replies, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “We sent a submersible to investigate. As it descended, the lights illuminated something enormous—carvings etched into the rock, Enkian glyphs. Then, the feed cut out.”
Wake frowns. “Technical failure?”
“Or interference,” Cora says. “We don’t know. But before we could decide what to do, they appeared.”
“The Euclideans,” I murmur.
She nods. “They swam straight to our ship, fast and coordinated. At first, we thought we were being attacked—Khale was the first to board, unarmed but commanding. The others followed, silent and stoic. We thought we were done for.”
“And then?” Wake prompts, his voice low.
“And then Khale said six words that changed everything.” Cora leans forward, her blue eyes glinting in the lamplight. “‘You’re looking for Leviathan, aren’t you?’”
My breath catches. “He knew?”
“They’d been guarding that site for generations,” Cora explains. “The grid we saw wasn’t a ruin; it was a ward. The Euclideans’ ancestors had built it, guided by their god, Nu, to contain something ancient and deadly.”
Wake stiffens. “A ward against Leviathan.”
Cora nods solemnly. “And his kin. The Euclideans have been monitoring the trench ever since, ensuring nothing escapes. But even they couldn’t ignore the escalating seismic activity or the attacks spreading through the Pacific. They joined Nereid not out of trust but necessity.”
I glance at Wake, who is staring at Cora with a mix of respect and unease. “And now you’re working together,” I say, though it sounds more like a question.
Cora smiles faintly. “Yes. Uneasily at first, but over time, we’ve built a fragile alliance. Their knowledge has been invaluable. But make no mistake—they are here for their reasons, not ours.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I ask.
Cora’s expression hardens. “Phoebe, in the face of Leviathan’s awakening, we can’t afford to be picky about allies.”
Wake crosses his arms. “But what does this have to do with Phoebe not being safe here? Surely she’s safer with you than on her own.”
Cora’s jaw tightens. “Not while Leviathan’s kin are awake and active. They can sense her, Wake. They’re drawn to her power. To Electra’s power.”
I blink, stunned. “What do you mean, drawn to me?”
Before Cora can answer, a deep, reverberating thud shakes the ship, cutting through the quiet like a cannon shot. The room trembles, books toppling from the shelves, the desk rattling under the force.
Wake immediately shifts into high alert, his body coiled like a spring. “What was that?”
Cora stands, her expression grim. “Something’s hit us.”
Another impact rocks the ship, this time tilting it slightly to one side. I stumble but catch myself on the arm of the chair. Panic claws at my chest as muffled shouts echo from the deck above.
Wake strides to the door, his hand on the frame to steady himself. “Stay here,” he commands, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Like hell I will,” I snap, following him out of the room. Cora is right behind us, her face pale but determined.
As we step onto the deck, chaos unfolds around us. Crew members scramble to secure loose equipment while Khale barks orders, his voice cutting through the cacophony. The ship tilts again as another impact reverberates through its hull, this one closer, more deliberate.
“Report!” Cora shouts over the din.
Khale points toward the water, where a massive, shadowy figure circles just beneath the surface. “It’s one of Leviathan’s kin! It’s testing the ship’s defenses!”
Wake’s eyes narrow as he moves toward the railing, his body tense. I grab his arm, my heart pounding. “What are you doing?”
“Finding out what we’re up against,” he says, his voice calm but deadly. “Stay close, Phoebe.”
I don’t argue this time. As the ship shudders again, I peer into the dark waters below, dread pooling in my stomach. Whatever is out there, it’s massive—and it’s not alone.
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