Chapter 70
Wake turns to me, his eyes searching mine, a question lingering just behind those intense, obsidian irises.
The ocean around us hums with the quiet power I’ve only begun to understand, and the creatures—the eels, jellyfish, octopi, and more—glow softly in the dark water, as though they’ve been waiting for this moment.
He reaches out, his hand floating just inches from mine. “Will you join me?” His voice is low, almost reverent, but there’s something vulnerable in the way he asks. It’s as if he’s offering me not just his hand, but his world, his life.
I don’t hesitate. “Always.”
I take his hand, the warmth of his touch steadying me even as I still try to grasp everything that's happened. As soon as our fingers intertwine, a surge of energy pulses between us. He pulls me forward, guiding me through the luminous crowd of sea creatures, their bodies glowing like soft, living lanterns in the dark waters.
I can feel them all around me, their presence comforting in a way I never expected. They swirl and dance, parting just enough to make a path for us as we glide through them.
It feels like being in a dream—like I’ve stepped into a realm that exists just on the other side of reality. The creatures are magnificent, their movements smooth and graceful, their silent communication thrumming through the water. The ocean around us pulses with life, a rhythm I feel deep inside my chest.
We swim past the crowd, through the sea of glowing creatures, until we reach open water once again. There’s nothing but the vastness of the deep, the water still, calm, like a world untouched.
I finally stop, floating in the water as I turn to Wake. My heart is pounding, not from fear or exertion, but from something else entirely. “That was amazing,” I whisper, still trying to process what just happened. “How did they know to come to me?”
Wake watches me with quiet intensity, his expression softened by the ocean’s glow. “The ocean has a way of guiding you to where you’re needed,” he says, his voice full of an ancient wisdom. “It’s not something you learn. It’s something you feel. One day, you’ll learn to heed that call, too.”
I swallow, my throat tight with emotion. “Show me,” I say, my voice a plea. “I want to know.”
Wake’s gaze darkens, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. “It will come with time,” he says, his tone gentle, but firm.
I shake my head. “No. Wake…” My voice trembles, though I try to steady it. “Please.”
He’s silent for a long moment, studying me, weighing something I can’t quite name. Then, slowly, he nods. Wake’s arm wraps around my waist, steadying me as I awkwardly try to balance myself in the water.
“Relax,” he whispers, his deep voice rumbling through the water and into my chest. “Feel the current. Let it move you.”
I breathe out, closing my eyes, trying to focus on what he’s saying. The water tugs at me, soft but persistent, pulling me in a direction I can’t quite grasp yet. It’s like trying to catch smoke. Every time I think I’ve found it, it slips through my fingers.
“Listen,” Wake says again, his voice firm but patient. “The ocean is speaking to you. You’re part of it now.”
I feel a pull, a rhythm beneath the waves, like a heartbeat thrumming just below the surface. It’s faint, but I can sense it. Something is out there—something large.
My breath hitches. “I feel… something.”
Wake nods. “Good. Now call it.”
I stare at him. “Call it? What, like it’s a dog or something?”
His lips twitch, almost a smile, but he’s serious. “Call it. You’re the heiress of this ocean now. The creatures of the sea will listen to you if you introduce yourself.”
I swallow hard and focus on that faint presence, reaching out with my mind, not entirely sure how to do this. My voice falters as I speak, feeling silly. Come to me, I think, projecting the words outward, into the vastness of the ocean. I am Phoebe, daughter of the sea… Heiress of Electra. Please, let me see you.
For a moment, nothing happens. I start to doubt myself, wondering if this whole thing is just a ridiculous fantasy, but then I feel a ripple. Something is responding.
And then I see it—a massive sunfish, its body as big as a car, gliding toward us. My heart skips a beat. Its eyes blink slowly, curiously, as it drifts closer, almost weightless in the water. It’s enormous, yet there’s something gentle about it, something innocent.
I reach out with my mind again, trying to communicate. “Hello…” I say softly, feeling ridiculous again, but then the creature’s thoughts brush against mine. Not words, exactly, but feelings. A rush of warmth, simplicity, and contentment fills me.
Heiress. The word comes through like a feather brushing across my skin. Friend.
I gasp, my eyes wide as I look at Wake. “It spoke to me!”
Wake’s lips curve into a slow, approving smile. “Soon, you’ll understand the language of all the sea’s creatures, not just the ones in your domain.”
The sunfish seems to pulse with joy, its simple thoughts bubbling through my mind. Fly with me, friends!
I look at Wake, and he nods, his eyes gleaming with indulgent amusement. “Go on. Grab a fin.”
Without hesitation, I swim up to the sunfish and grab hold of one of its massive fins. Wake does the same, his movements smooth and effortless. The sunfish begins to move, slow at first, and then faster, gliding through the water with a grace that defies its size.
The water rushes past us as we’re pulled along, and for the first time, I feel weightless, free. My hair streams behind me, and I can’t help the laughter that bubbles up inside of me. This—this is magic.
Soon, dolphins join us, sleek bodies darting around, their high-pitched squeaks and clicks filling the water. They swim alongside us, racing each other, their joy infectious. I feel their playful energy, and it fills me with wonder.
Wake watches me, his eyes soft, almost… proud. I can feel his contentment, his quiet joy at watching me experience this world for the first time. And something inside me shifts. I love him. It stuns me as much as it did the first time, and I pray it always will. For all of his fierceness, there's a wealth of tenderness in him, too, and I want to spend the rest of my days bringing it to the surface.
Suddenly, the dolphins scatter. Wake’s body tenses, his eyes sharp as he scans the water around us. I sense it too—a distinct rumbling through the water, a deep, primal echo. Something big is coming our way, and it’s moving fast.
The clicks and chirps in the water expand, flanking us, and I understand them just fine without a translator. Hunt. Prey.
Wake grips my arm, pulling me away from the sunfish. “Move,” he mutters. “Now!”
Before I can ask why, a pod of killer whales bursts from the black depths. They circle the sunfish, their eyes focused, their movements clearly coordinated. And then, without hesitation, they strike.
The water churns as the orcas take turns tearing into the sunfish. Blood clouds the water, and my stomach twists. I lunge forward, desperate to do something, anything to stop it, but Wake’s grip tightens, holding me back.
“Don’t,” he warns, his voice steady but firm. “This is their home too. They have the right to eat like everyone else.”
I stare at the scene, horror and helplessness crashing over me. “But—”
Wake pulls me closer, his voice softer now, but no less resolute. “This is the way of our world. You have to learn to accept it, or you will become the prey.”
Tears prick my eyes, but I swallow them down. I’ve seen enough of the world’s ugliness, participated in it enough to know that survival doesn't make death any less cruel.
I don't know when I'll be able to shake the ache in my chest. “Take me somewhere else,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “Somewhere where there’s… more.”
Wake nods, his eyes holding mine for a long moment before he pulls me away from the feeding frenzy. We swim in silence, the reality of this world coming into sharp focus.
It’s beautiful and brutal, and I have so much more to learn.
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