Shadow of the Sacred Islands

Teressia I crouched behind a piece of the broken helm. How the sailors were going to repair the ship after the serpents left, I had no idea. It seemed that they couldn’t even steer the ship now, since the helm was in pieces. I trembled as I fiddled with my mage’s rod. It was a miracle that I was still alive and unharmed as it was, and every moment I lived in fear. I prayed and prayed the serpents’ attention would remain elsewhere. And that Korina wouldn’t do anything rash. From my hiding spot, I watched her clamber onto one of the green serpents and ride it like a wave. Then she had wrapped herself in a waterspout she had made before plummeting into the sea. A few sailors and Mage Isaac had rescued her, but now they were nowhere to be seen. I hoped Korina was alive and sheltered still, and hoped that the two mages were also safe. My heart dropped, pulse fluttered, and hope shattered as Korina bolted out of a pile of debris and raced to a serpent. She had sweat plastered on her forehead, nasty bruises and cuts all over her, and black matted hair dancing wildly in the wind, but she had a determined face. Determination wasn’t the only thing her face carried—rage was apparent as well. “No, no, no, Korina. No. Don’t do anything. Go back, go back,” I pleaded in a whisper. Korina trudged forward. Her facial features contorted in anger and concentration as she swept her arms up and jerked them forward. A loud roaring and swishing thundered from over the side of the ship. I gasped as half of the sea rose up and up, until it looked as if a tsunami was frozen above the ship. The water held itself above the remaining foremast, above the serpents. Then Korina let go. The water surged forward and exploded like a volcano that had just blew its top off. The serpents were instantly swamped, and were knocked into the sea. The wave also struck the foremast and it snapped in half, just as the mainmast had. Many objects, crates, barrels and other debris were swept along with the enormous wave. Korina was drawn in as well, but she used her magic to ride on top of the flooding water. But the wave had sucked the strength out of her. Korina fell back, disappearing in her own flood. I got up and raced down the damaged steps of the quarterdeck. Most of the wave had subsided, leaving behind seawater that reached up to my knees. “Korina? Korina!” I called. “Tres!” I turned around. Elijah was stumbling up behind me, his jerkin and shirt drenched in some mysterious clear, green liquid. Water and sweat had caused his hair to fly in every direction. “Elijah!” I rushed to him. “You’re alive, thank the heavens.” I threw my arms around him, convincing myself he was really there, really alive. “Uh!” He pried my arms off of him. “Couldn’t breathe there. But yes, I’m alive.” I pulled back in disgust. “What is this slimy goop?” I slung my arms down and wiped my hands over my chest. “It’s all over you.” “Serpent spit,” he laughed. “I almost made a snack for one of those ruthless monsters. I guess I owe one to Korina. She’s the one that diverted its attention.” “Are you okay? Injured?” I hurriedly surveyed his clothing for dark blood spots. “Completely fine. You’re starting to sound like Mage Melody.” We stared at each other in realization. “Where is Mage Melody?” I asked slowly. Elijah shook his head. “I have no idea where anyone is. You were looking for Korina?” “Yeah, she should be in the mess somewhere. You saw the wave, right?” Elijah briskly nodded. “And it