swarmed so close to where we were. They stopped short at the brink where sand met water. They all made sure that their feet didn’t touch the ocean.
They waited there, baring their pointed teeth, webbed hands holding their weapons, moving them up and down as some kind of demented battle cry.
“Stay in the water. They are taunting us. Remain right where you are,” I commanded, my voice a shrill noise amongst the bass of the Siren calls. As the rest of Raven’s army filed out, I waited for her. My heart beat faster than a blue whale’s while I waited for Raven to appear. She wasn’t a coward. Probably just waiting to make her grand entrance.
The last of the Sirens came out, and that’s when Raven exited the building, Trident in hand. Her midnight hair flowed over her shoulders while that sinister grin threatened me even from afar.
The Sirens muttered curses as she approached, but didn’t say a word, just taunted me from the sand’s edge.
“Come at me, bitch,” I said under my breath, and just for show, sent two blasts of fire right at her smug ass grin. She barely dodged them and for a split second, I thought I saw fear flash in her eyes before it evolved into rage.
“Finish them!” She screamed, and the army of Sirens breached the waves and surged toward our army. Spears and harpoons now pointing at us, as their skin turned translucent, they entered the waters.
Metal on metal sounded as the battle began. Swords met harpoons with clangs as each side roared their battle cries. The water sloshed around me as the Mer army came against their enemies for this final stand.
Kai, even though he was already wounded, cried out as he ended the first Siren by pulling his sword along the Siren’s neck. The sounds of the Siren gurgling on his own blood flooded my ears.
But my eyes were set on Raven.
She was my only target here. My army could take care of the rest.
21
My fin ripped in half as I made my way out of the ocean.
The fire of pain and rage combined inside of me as I closed most of the distance. My feet were pushed forward by the gentle slapping of the waves on the backs of my ankles, and I stood heaving in the sand.
“Why don’t you just give up, Princess? The Trident is mine. I’m the eldest. But it’s ok, if you give up now, I won’t torture you... much. You can be my personal slave in Atlantis.”
She had to be kidding. Did she think I was just going to fall on my knees in surrender and pledge to paint her toenails for the rest of my existence? Did she really think I was just going to lay down and die?
Dying would be better than living in a world where Raven was in charge. But that was not where this story was going to end.
“You really think I’d do that? I’m surprised your head will even fit in Atlantis.”
She threw her head back and cackled while slamming the butt end of the Trident into the sand. It glowed under her control, the golden color shimmering every time she moved it. Though she was the one who wielded the powerful weapon, I still felt my connection to what was once my father’s most prized possession.
“Oh, it will fit. Especially since Atlantis is nothing but rubble and belly-up Mer now. I’m surprised you found any left to form this pathetic army of yours, little sister.”
I’d always wanted a sister. Llyr wasn’t the most fun growing up, and when he tried to be, someone quickly reminded him of his duties and that his conduct should be that of the future King. He was still better than this mess before me, her beautiful face contorted into an ugly mask of anger and mockery.
I changed my mind. Sisters suck ass.
Especially this one.
“I found enough to take on your Sirens, it seems.”
She shrugged one shoulder, pretending not to care, but I knew better. Raven twitched when she was bested, and right now she was like a drug addict going through withdrawals. I was about to show her just how bested she was.
I pushed a wall of fire right at her, not willing to wait for her to make the first move. Her first move might kill me, and I had to be careful. The Trident pulsed in her hands as she dodged the fire, but barely. It touched the ends of her