Ocean's Secret |on hold|

24 | Close Encounter

Song above is 'Tidal Wave' by Matthew Parker. I've picked it especially for this scene, so be sure to hit play :)

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A loud roar echoed off the dungeon walls, and Taetam went crashing to the ground.

"Don't you dare touch her!" the gravelly voice filled Meredee's heart with relief. The tall strong figure towered over her attacker with strength in his glare, "Don't you dare. Hurt. Anybody. Ever!" his words were punctuated with thuds as his fists met Taetam's jaw and cheek.

Taetam grabbed his fist and spun him around, slamming Haemon's back to the wall. "Don't tell me what to do, brother. You're no longer my king."

"No, but Jehovah is, and His love is coming. Coming for you, and if you don't let go of the hate and darkness it will hurt like you've never felt pain before."

"Don't say that name!"

"Jehovah will win," Haemon wrenched himself free and held the younger man by the shoulders. "You better make sure you know which side you're on. Your chances are running out."

"Then what? I'll perish the way you always wished those Cyrians would? You've forgotten your vow, Haemon. To take the land for the Dark One and all that is powerful, not stopping until Cyrus' blood runs—"

"Stop it! I will let no one kill him, not ever," Haemon's enraged words bounced off the bare bricks and cold iron bars, reverberating in Meredee's hammering heart and making it hard to think. The shadows in the dungeon pressed in around her, squeezing her shoulders with their icy fingers even though Haemon's presence tried dissipating them. The fear still hung over her like a cloak.

"Is that so?" Taetam shouted. "You know the power we have. You know how close we are to winning! You can't turn your back on the mission—on the Dark One."

"Oh, but I already have."

"You only think you have. But this isn't over. It never was even though you fool yourself—"

"Be quiet!" Haemon pushed him against the wall, his forearm pressing across his neck.

"You can't get rid of me—"

"I said be quiet!" he shouted in his face.

Taetam grinned, his eyes smirking even as he gasped for breath. "There's the—cruel king—I know..."

Haemon released him and stumbled back a few steps, his fists shaking. He was breathing hard.

Taetam rubbed his neck and gave them both a sly grin before shaking his head, like he knew something they didn't.

"Let's get out of here," Haemon reached a hand to Meredee and she gladly took it, hurrying up and out of the dungeons without looking back. The waves of disgust that rolled over her lessened the further she went from Taetam. There was definitely something in him that she hated, but was the same in her also? Would she ever be free from lies, darkness, and unrest?

Would the land ever be peaceful like Cyrus meant for it to be?

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