Queen Ascending (Ace of Queens #2)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Caspian! Don't" Exton launched forward and grabbed the merman by the collar of his jacket.

"The box is down there!" Caspian said as he struggled to get out of Exton's grip.

"Get back!" Charon yelled. "The river Styx is not to be touched."

"By mortals," Caspian reminded the ferryman. "We need the box. She'll put you out of business otherwise."

For the first time since they had met him, Exton and Caspian were able to see Charon's face. He pushed his hood back to reveal a bald head. His rich chocolate skin glistened under the fiery red sky. His icy blue eyes narrowed at the men on his boat.

"I trust the faiths," he said as he returned to the steering wheel of the boat.

"That's who sent us!" Caspian stood up. He began to remove his jacket and shoes as Charon and Exton watched him. "I am getting that box. She killed my people."

"Caspian," Exton tried again. "You don't know what you are doing."

"It's water," Caspian said as he put his hands on his hips and gave Exton a point look. "I'm a merman, what can it do to me?"

Exton didn't know how to answer him. He looked to Charon for support.

Charon shrug. "No one know what kind of effect the waters might have on you. If you enter, you enter at your own risk."

Caspian took a deep breath and moved closer to the edge.

"Stop!" Exton said getting up. "I'll go."

"I'll be able to swim faster," Caspian said.

"No," Exton shook his head. "We can use a fishing pole or something. Or a net."

"Don't be dumb," Caspian said as he swung his legs over the edge of the boat and slipped in before Exton could say or do anything else.

"You idiot!" Exton shrieked.

He moved to the edge of the boat and peered into the water. Charon and he watched as Caspian sank into the icy cold water and transformed into his true self. His large tail splashed the freezing cold water up into the air as he swam to the bottom of the river.

The box was no larger than the size of a mini chest. It's porcelain exterior glimmered with ancient markings and runes. A soft white glow radiated off of the surface, pulsing like the fireflies that had guided them to the forbidden realms.

Caspian bit the inside of his cheek as the icy water moved around him like needles. He was at the bottom of the river within seconds with his speed. Very carefully and hesitantly, Caspian reached out and pulled the box out of the sand dune it had been sitting on.

He turned around and looked up at the surface of the water. The image of the boat and Exton leaning over the edge wavered like a moving picture. Caspian tucked the box under his arm and shot up towards the surface. He couldn't believe how easy it all was. What luck!

As Caspian neared the surface, he felt giddy with happiness. He blinked against the cold water, his eyes suddenly strained. He blinked a few times to get the strange feeling of something stuck in his eyes out. But it was a persistent nagging, like a stubborn eyelash stuck in your eye.

"Caspian!"

Caspian heard Exton's voice through the water.

"I'm coming," He called back. "Something is stuck in my eye."

"Caspian!" Exton hollered again.

"Wait!" Caspian said as he rubbed his eyes.

Visions of warm water and golden sunlight suddenly erupted behind the merman's closed eyelids. He heard the laughter of children as the ocean breeze blew through his ears like a song. Caspian no longer felt the cold water he was in. His body floated in heavenly waves.