Lights, Camera, Orc-tion!

24: Cowards

It took half a heartbeat for Kahdreg to realize what was happening, after Kallinaera shoved Avicia's own clothes at her. His heart stopped as her eyes widened, her face paling as she registered her own predicament.

Kallinaera was slower on the uptake until she saw the horrified expression on Kahdreg's face. Just as the siren turned, she saw Avicia mid-fall, a scream breaking from the human's lips as her items flew free of her hold.

Then she was gone, her scream tearing through the night air.

"I didn't... I didn't intend for that... I thought..." Words rushed from Kallinaera, sounding genuinely terrified as she whipped back to Kahdreg.

He had no time to determine the truthfulness of her words. As soon as his heart lurched, his body moved. Kahdreg yanked off his button-up so it wouldn't snag on anything as he moved toward the railing. He was already vaulting over when he yelled back to Kallinaera, "Get help!"

Kahdreg didn't know if the siren would listen or even have a clue what to do. The wind rushed passed his ears and muffled anything reply. His eyes were already scanning the dark waters for Avicia's bobbing form as the ship continued to chug forward. He had just spotted her when his body cleaved through the water, spraying up waves on either side of him as cold rushed toward him.

Even with the help of his night vision, the scene was utter chaos when Kahdreg surfaced. Writhing dark bodies, flashing with luminescence. Short snatches of sight of Avicia's hand or face as she struggled. Water splashing. The eerie shrieks of the sea serpents warbling through the air. Further away than before, the din of someone screaming for the DJ to stop cleaved the night. Orders being issued, feet stomping to the side of the boat, the flashing of cameras. There was a strange sound - a creak as the boat slowed or perhaps tried to turn to retrieve the fallen passengers - that echoed through the water.

Once Kahdreg caught sight of Avicia, the rest of the world melted away, though. Only one thought flared in their head: Get to her.

The next few seconds were a blurred rush. Kahdreg clawed through the water to the roiling thrall of sea serpents, grasping at the animated slimy ropes. Rage fueled their movements, swinging some of the creatures away, snapping necks, or spreading jaws so wide they cracked. When Avicia slid under the inky blackness, Kahdreg followed.

Struggling and clawing as serpents snapped at them, wrenching free from further coiling bodies.

A coppery scent filled the air.

The water stained darker and darker.

Somehow, in the churning waters, Kahdreg fingers slid across frighteningly cold flesh. One arm locked around her chest, the other wrapped lower down. They pulled her to the surface, where Avicia gasped as soon as the cold air hit her. Water sputtered from her lips as she blinked away the salt water clinging to her eyelashes.

Tension strung down her body, feeling heavy weight constraining her torso. She tried to squirm free, her wriggling weak and her body trembling. Her efforts only stilled when Kahdreg pressed their mouth close to her ear, their voice steady and clear. "I've got you."

Avicia blinked, registering the deep octave of Kahdreg's voice, and abruptly realized whatever wrapped around her wasn't slimy, but warm and strong and familiar. She could feel Kahdreg kicking to keep themselves upright, one arm disentangling from her to fend off encroaching sea serpents. The other still clutched her tight, as if afraid she'd slip away from them.

The ship had finally stopped and lurched carefully backwards. Things - food, most likely - were being dumped in the water, yards away from Kahdreg and Avicia. An attempted temptation to lure the serpents away. But the creatures were too riled, too focused. The blood in the water was far more enticing than expensive h'or d'oeuvres floating in the surf.