Michelle M. Pillow - Commanding the Tides (Lords of the Abyss)

Chapter One

Iason the Hunter swam through the murky waters of the dark ocean. The sound of drowning victims echoed in his head. No matter how often he heard such despair, it never became easier. He wished he could save them, but all he could do was push the humans toward the surface and wish them luck. Besides, by the time he and his fellow hunters got to the ship, the haul was sinking down into the ocean's depths. It had been too late for many of the mortals and there was no land for miles.

Though, honestly, perhaps saving them was crueler than letting them drown. They were in the middle of the ocean, no sign of rescue vibrating in the water. Chances were their bodies would weaken and they would die. If they managed to float on a raft, the hot sun would kill them just as surely. But, what else could he do?

Seeing a flash of silvery black fins in the water, Iason frowned. That was not the creature they hunted. He watched carefully, seeing the subtle flash again.

' I think I see Brutus or Demon ,' Iason said to his fellow hunters, using their mind link. All the Merr could communicate by telepathy in the water.

Caderyn, to his right, looked at him in surprise. ' Where? '

Iason pointed down toward the ocean's floor.

Iason was part of a team of three Merr huntershimself, Caderyn and Solonknown simply as the Hunters. There were twelve Merr hunters total, split up into four teams of three. Three brothers, Rigel, Demon and Brutus were another team, the Warriors. Rigel, the youngest and smallest of the three, led the team. There were also the Knights led by Cain and the Soldiers led by Hrafn. Both the Knights and Soldiers were taking a much needed break from hunting while the other two teams took up their duties.

Solon was the leader of the Hunters because he chose to carry the vial around his neck. It was filled with a liquid that would paralyze the scylla so they may catch it. The liquid was the only way to stop a scylla. Unfortunately, if spilled, it could paralyze the Merr as well. Carrying it was a job that took much concentration. Solon had to have final say when it came to capturing the creature because it was he who needed to get into position.

The three Hunters had worked together for years and none of them had black tails. Caderyn's was purple. Iason's was green. Solon's was green-gold.

Iason motioned his hand. In the distance they saw Brutus emerge to push a drowning human toward the surface. The mortal man was still alive and grabbed a floating piece of the ship's debris. Brutus swam quickly under his legs, making a current that would drift the survivor away from the shipwreck.

' Rigel must be close, ' Caderyn said. His dark brown hair drifted around his head, floating briefly before his stark purple eyes. The silver purple of his tail whipped once, pushing him up higher. Like all Merr, Caderyn's tail and fins matched the color of his eyes. ' What are they doing here? Were they sent to aid us?'

'They track a scylla, same as us .' Solon joined them, gliding his arms back and forth to hover in the water. His hazel eyes glowed slightly as he looked around, trying to track their prey. The vial around his neck drifted easily with his movements. ' Rigel says it's been evading them. I told him we have the same problem. '

' That means there are two old ones in the water this night .' Iason frowned.

The scyllas were dangerous creatures. They were spirits of the water, mindless, reckless, forever searching. Two scylla together would be strong enough to push any one of them out of the water. One of the only things that could kill the Merr was surface air. It would burn the skin, but if breathed it would destroy.

' Aye ,' Solon answered.

Caderyn swam toward Brutus, his long tail waving in the water to propel him forward. Iason could hear him calling out. Brutus turned in surprise. Soon, all six Merr were gathered together.

Brutus and his twin bother, Demon, were two of the largest of the Merr race. They were identical in every aspect, from their long black hair to their matching dark eyes. Even their fins were the same silvery black color. It made them nearly invisible in the deeps waters, even to their own kind sometimes. Their younger brother, Rigel, was a lighter version of the twins. His hair was dark, but not black, and his eyes were grey. When the sunlight shone through the waves just right, his silver fins looked like ship metal floating in the water.

' You've been away from Ataran longer ,' Iason said to the other team. ' We will help you catch yours and then go for ours. You need to get home before you lose your way .'

The Warriors nodded. All knew they could only stay away from Ataran soil for two weeks before going mad. Once madness set in, they would never find their way back alone. Even going past a week was pushing it.

' He's a big one ,' Brutus said.

' Slipped by us twice already ,' Demon added. ' Tore up this ship, though I see now that he had help. We were wondering why it went down so fast for as big as it was. '

A cold rush of current, colder than usual, crept over them. They turned to the man Brutus had helped to save. The human's legs kicked violently, and they saw the shadowed form of a scylla beneath him.

' By All the Gods! ' Solon swore. ' It is huge .'

All six men swarmed into action. Rigel tore the vial from his neck, ready to blow. The creature began to drift, nothing more than a dark spot in the water. It was a near shapeless, faceless shadowing. It made a dash past Brutus and Demon. The two brothers cut it off. Iason and Solon crowded its sides as Caderyn swam below. Rigel blew the vial. The creature bucked up, knocking the human up, tossing him high above the surface. Iason heard the man scream but ignored it.

Both Brutus and Demon latched onto the scylla, fighting it as they dragged it deep into the ocean. The creatures soon became subdued and they were able to drag it more easily.

Rigel waved at Iason. ' Go. Find the second. I'll push this mortal up and will follow my team .'

Iason looked at Caderyn. His friend closed his eyes, sensing the water. Suddenly, he pointed into the distance. ' That way.'

'What is that noise? ' Solon asked.

' Another boat? ' Iason frowned. He reached out his hands, feeling the small vibrations of the water.

' Not another one ,' Caderyn growled in frustration. ' What are they all doing out this far to sea? Why tonight? This should have been an open water hunt.'

'Come on, let's bag it and drag it before it takes this ship down as well. I'm ready to go home. ' Iason waved his hand and pointed to where he detected the ship. His companions nodded in agreement. Swimming as fast as he could, he pushed into the distance.

* * * * *

Cassandra Nevin saw her life flash before her eyes as the freezing water surrounded her. She had a bad feeling about this trip, but then she had a bad feeling about everything since the doctor told her she was dying of cancer. Bone cancer. Not much to be done for it, not as late as they had caught it. She'd refused treatment, refused to prolong her life only to live in a bed withering away. Already, she'd outlived her initial prognosis, perhaps by sheer will, perhaps by dumb luck. Waiting for death to come for her had become her own sad little game, and she honestly knew that, when it did, she wouldn't be surprised. Her parents didn't understand, or maybe they did, but they didn't agree with her choice.