The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 16iii

I see the Statue of Liberty in the distance as the SUVs arrive at New York Harbour. This is ridiculous. It's the first time I get to see the statue, and I'm here to carry out a terrorist attack.

Four women named Isabella, Iris, Amanda, and Vanessa join Diana and me. The river is half frozen. Any regular person would quickly freeze to death, but for us, it might as well be a hot tub. Adrian stops the car and holds my hand one last time. "Be careful," he whispers.

The other waterweavers and I assemble at the edge of the harbour. "I bet you twenty bucks I swim there first." I mutter to Diana.

"You are so on." She smiles at me.

"And thanks for the Christmas present." The six of us are all wearing wet suits and a waterproof backpack filled with C4, a grappling hook gun, and an FN F2000. How quickly things can change. Four months ago, I was a regular college student, and today, I'm a supernatural warrior princess, dating an immortal crown prince.

The Neptune Empress emerges from the darkness right on schedule. "Show no fear." Diana warns me.

"I'm not afraid. I'm picturing the look on William's face when I tell him I was the one who cancelled tonight's shipment." Revenge is a dish best served cold.

When the ship is about six kilometres away, we all dive headfirst into the water. Hell, yes! This is my natural environment. The water galvanizes me the moment it touches my skin. I barely feel the shock as my body penetrates the surface. I plunge downwards like a dolphin far below the ice, and then I begin my butterfly stroke forwards. The water offers my muscles virtually no resistance as I fly forwards like a torpedo.

I sense the changes in the currents as if they are an extension of my own skin just like natural sonar. I absorb the dissolved oxygen through my nostrils as easily as breathing on land. The other women swim forward almost as swiftly with Diana right behind me.

In another life, I could have been an Olympic-level athlete. Back in school, swimming was the one time I could use my abilities without fear of suspicion. It didn't matter how easily I beat all my competitors; the judges just assumed I was really that good.

I feel a colossal disturbance in the water, and I know that the Neptune Empress is close. We approach the port side of the ship, and I am the first to surface. I smile at Diana, a smug reminder that she owes me twenty bucks.

Once in position, we fire the grappling hooks and climb our way up the side of the boat. Iris and Amanda grab two men by the railing and throw them overboard. Onboard, we equip the earpieces so that we can communicate. "All right. Stay low, and use the suppressors. Kill everyone you see." Diana orders.

The captain sounds the alarm when the men fail to check in, and I know this place is about to become a warzone. I remind myself that these people are soldiers; they know what they signed up for. For all I know, they could be just as cruel as William.

I equip my weapon and follow Diana while the others proceed to their objectives throughout the ship. Silenced gunshots sing across the container deck, proving that these women are just as lethal as Diana. She and I stack up beside a door leading to the lower compartments.

We receive word that the container deck is clear, and Diana removes a power drill to breach the door. "Stay close to me," she whispers. Inside, I discover a labyrinth of tight quarters. It is impossible to remember the path of steel corridors we traverse, and my only hope is that Diana can navigate this place better than I can.

We round a corner, and there are three men with guns in the passageway. "Time to get your hands dirty," Diana whispers. "Take the one on the left. I'll take the two on the right as soon as you fire the shot." She effortlessly shimmies to the opposite corner without detection, giving me a clear line of sight to the target.