Page 15 of Unseen Lord

Dead bodies litter the shore, both Fae and bandits, and the bits of the boats the sea creature destroyed float in the surf. Arias has joined the Tempest on the rocks, and they are deep in battle, his sea creature distracted by the black ship cloaked in mist that seems to have a life of its own and looks as if it's somehow fighting the creature.

But still, my money is on the giant serpent that's currently coiling itself around the mid-section of the boat to pull it under water.

The Rider has turned the water around them to ice as their fight gets pushed off the rocks and into the ocean.

I run closer, then tentatively step on the ice. My foot freezes, so I decide the best course of action is to make a run for it.

So I do.

As I approach the Rider and the Tempest, sword in hand and ready to battle, the Tempest turns to me. Up close, he seems more a mystery than ever. Clothed in black, with a black cape and gold mask that completely covers his face, I can't see any part of skin, hair or eyes. But more than that, the Tempest seems to be cloaked in shadows and darkness, like the mist that surrounds his ship.

Seeing the White Rider in his icy glory against this darkness is an interesting contrast. And I kinda feel like I'm at the world's greatest cosplay contest and I showed up as an old dish rag. So that's super duper.

But I don't need fancy armor or a costume to face my enemies. I'm a badass all my own. So I raise my sword and harden my face. "Show yourself, Tempest. By command of the Hunter's Council."

So, well, I kinda don't want to tell this part. But because we're friends, I will.

The Tempest laughs.

Like, full on belly laugh.

Like I'm a four-year-old with a wooden stick threatening a Class 7 demon kinda laugh.

It's embarrassing. And a bit demoralizing, what with the White Rider standing right here and all.

And then he's has the nerve to say, in his deep rumbly Batman voice, "You thinkshewill be able to stop me, Arias? You are a fool. She is but a girl, Unseen Lord or not. She cannot stop what I have come to wrought. I will have that Spirit. You shall see."

So I do what any sane Watcher would do.

I plunge my sword into his chest.

At least, I try to.

But I fail. Because as my steel is about to make contact with his innards, he vanishes in a poof of shadow and darkness.

Just like that.

I look at the Rider, hoping he has an explanation for what just happened, but he's looks as perplexed as me.

As the Tempest's ship sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and the last of his goons are killed, we are left wondering where the hell he went.

"What do we do now?" I ask, dropping my sword onto the ice and shivering. I realize how cold it is, what with the ice and my lack of clothes and all, and the sun is setting. It's been a long day.

And then Arias does something totally unexpected. He pulls off his cloak and places it over my shoulders. "First, we get back to the village, get you cleaned up and clothed, and assess the damage. Then, I show you what we're trying to protect. Assuming my parents don't interfere."

"Oh, we cool," I say. "Your mom cleared me."

He raises an eyebrow at that, but says nothing as we walk together off the ice and away from the ocean. His sea creature shrinks to something very small and rides splinters of ice towards us until he can wrap around the Rider's neck like a choker, and once our feet hit the sand, the ice turns back to waves. It's like the last few hours never happened.

Aside from the dead bodies littering the shore.

Chapter 5

Elias

The kingdom spenttwo days celebrating their new queen. I spent two days organizing our rescue of Iris, as soon as we got a better lead. Aya sent scouts out who knew every inch of Avakiri. If she's on that side of the world, we'll find her.

The lead ends up coming by the most unexpected source.