A Game Of Changing Tides

Chapter Twenty-Three

At the edge of the mountain, water flowed from the rocks into the lake. Adelyn had never seen a waterfall, a small price for having never ventured far from the ports of Fraysner's Harbour, and though this one seemed small, it was magnificent. Water poured into the pool below it, a crash of a sound accompanying it. Adelyn wanted nothing more than to swim out and put her hand beneath the falling current, but she did not.

"Boys," Nikolai smiled, but it turned quickly turned grimm. "Marty and Shackles. Where are they?"

"Marty disappeared," one of the men said, shaking his head sadly. Adelyn knew him as Stinger, though she was sure that wasn't his real name. "In the middle of the night. We go to sleep, he's there, wake up... he's gone."

Adelyn shivered, swallowing. Her and Nik shared a look of unease, and Adelyn's breath became a murmur. That could have been me, she thought.

"And Shackles?" Nik pressed, turning towards Xavier.

The first mate frowned, his eyes turned towards the ground, "We lost him yesterday."

"How?" Nikolai asked, his shoulders tense.

Xavier's eyes shifted; he was obviously uncomfortable. It took him a while to force the words from his lips. "He tried to kill us. He just picked up his blade and came after me 'n' James. I had... I didn't have a choice."

Adelyn felt her heart shrivel. She'd known Shackles, and he trusted the crew with his life. He wouldn't have attacked them, not on his own accord. Something had made him do it, Adelyn was sure of it.

Xavier didn't look broken, but he didn't look okay. Most of the men that resided on the Siren's Beckon had known each-other for years. They were friends, if not family. Adelyn couldn't imagine having to kill someone she was so close to.

Nik drew in a long breath of air, nodding softly. Off to his left, Nina's eyes were closed, her lips moving. Adelyn knew what she was saying, even though she couldn't hear the words herself: Alarèí Drëïk.

Adelyn turned her eyes back towards the lake, once again admiring the glistening surface of the water. She might have felt mournful, but it didn't change the scenery's beauty. It was still a sight for sore eyes; a gem hidden away on this hell of an island. Eventually, the temptation became too grand, and Adelyn stepped towards it, reaching down and letting her fingers skim the water. It felt smooth against her skin.

It felt like magic.

She couldn't explain the feeling that washed over her then. It was like someone was calling to her, but without a voice. While the crew spoke behind her, Adelyn made quick work of pulling her shoes off of her feet-- never once did her gaze leave the lake.

No one noticed as she trekked into the water, not until the sound of it sloshing around her legs made them turn her way. Nikolai ran up behind her, puzzled, and grabbed her arm.

When Adelyn turned towards him, he jumped back, taking his hand with him. She was unfazed by his reaction, her mind had only one thought: the lake. Adelyn smiled, "It's like pure energy, Nik. It's magic. It's... it's amazing."

"Jesus, Adelyn." Nikolai murmured, his mouth agape. "Your eyes--"

Adelyn turned to look down into the water. In her reflection, she saw them. Her iris', once Hazel, had gone silver.

"Adelyn get out of the water." Nikolai ordered, but she refused.

The feeling was bliss. She felt the power around her like a current, pushing and pulling and still all at once. She let her hands drift over the surface, making ripples in the water. She looked down, joy on her face, and it was only then that she saw it.