Save Aether (The Trinity Key Trilogy Book 3) (17 page)

“Hey, I apologized for that kidnapping-you business.”

“Well, I don’t recall it, but
okay
. See you later.”

Valera left Julia alone and went back to her room. It didn’t take long to toss some clothes into a satchel. Afterward, she sat on her bed, unsure of what to do next. She picked up a book from her nightstand – a fairytale she’d started before everything had changed. The story seemed so childish now. She was living her own crazy fairytale, and it was nothing like she ever imagined. The final chapter started at nightfall and still felt like a million hours away. She watched the hour hands slowly tick around the clock face until dinnertime.

She considered feigning sickness to avoid the inevitably uncomfortable meal to come, but didn’t want to raise suspicion. Taking her time, she walked to the dining room. Her mother didn’t notice her arrival. Marjorie and Nathaniel chose to eat in their room. Parmelia had left earlier in the day. The rest ate in silence except for Dr. Lawless and Victoria. Their sickening interaction repulsed Valera… and it seemed everyone else at the table as well. After an appropriate amount of time spent pushing food around on their plates, they left one by one. Valera was the last, and her mother didn’t notice her departure.

Valera met up with Theo and Julia, and together they waited in Julia’s room. Valera was too nervous to talk, so she sat in a chair and created small flames in her hands. Victor and Eli came later, maps in hand and ready to travel. Joe meandered in a few minutes later. Lastly, Nessie burst into the room.

“I’ve contacted Rusty. We’re in luck. He’s doing business with some humans nearby. He’ll meet us at the aerodrome at dawn. We just need to borrow a transport.” Nessie’s wicked grin gave Valera the chills.

“We’ve located the region where the tomb should be. The maps don’t specify any islands in the area, but according to Professor Scrod’s notes, it should be there,” Victor said, pointing to a blank spot in the north Atlantic.

“Gideon is bringing the relics and the key to the pond. If we’re ready, we should go meet him there.” Valera’s nerves rattled in her voice.

They moved through the quiet mansion and out into the gardens. Valera’s stomach was tangled in so many knots, she thought she might pass out. Theo wiped a hand across her face and looked back.

“I hope my parents will understand. I feel like we’re just now getting back to normal,” she murmured.

Valera put a hand on her shoulder. “They’ll be fine. Once this is done, we can all go back to normal.”

Even as the words came out of her mouth, she questioned the truth of them. In reality, they didn’t know what they were doing. Seeing Gideon under the willow with a duffle bag made her feel a bit better. At least, she had him with her. She waved to him.

“I brought everything you asked for,” he said.

Nessie slapped his back. “Good Lad, did anyone follow you?”

Gideon shook his head.

“Well then, let’s get out of here,” the captain barked.

They couldn’t risk taking the carriage this late at night, so they walked along the fields all the way into the village. The docks were empty except for a few of Nessie’s crewmembers. With a simple word, they stood watch while the rest of the group climbed aboard the small transport ship. Nessie started the engines and pulled away from the dock. Once they were far enough in flight that Aetherland disappeared in the clouds, Valera took a deep breath. They were free.

The ship floated through the skies, landing at the aerodrome with a splash. Eli and Victor tied the mooring lines to the pegs. Valera rushed across the gangplank to the floating wharf. The Atlantic Island Aerodrome custodian fumbled out of the tiny lighthouse, rubbing his bloodshot eyes and grumbling.

“Captain Stein, is that you?” He looked at a clipboard in his hands confused. “I don’t have a notice of your arrival.”

Nessie clasped the man on the shoulder. “Bernie, it’s good to see you.” She plucked the clipboard form his hands. “No need to worry about logs and such. This visit’s… top secret.”

The docks shook as if there were an earthquake right below them. The caretaker’s eyes bulged. Valera fought to remain standing. The ocean bubbled and two glass eyes rose out of the deep.

“Rusty’s early,” Nessie shouted over the noise of the
Blowfish
’s engines. “How about we keep this between us?”

The caretaker named Bernie nodded. “I’m too tired to mess with your shenanigans. Just get going before I change my mind.”

“That-a-boy, Bernie. Just go back to bed and forget we were ever here,” Nessie urged.

Rusty popped out of the main hatch. “Well, ya got me ‘ere. There ain’t no time for lollygagging. The
Blowfish
’s burnin’ fuel.”

Rusty held a hand out to help Valera and the others aboard the submarine of her nightmares. Gideon was right behind her. The submersible still smelled like oil and seaweed, which brought back a torrent of memories from the last trip.

She leaned over to Gideon and whispered, “I wonder what this will cost us?”

Gideon shrugged. “This is my first time aboard this… ship.” He lowered his voice, “Are you sure it’s seaworthy.”

Valera shook her head. “Not in the slightest.”

With everyone inside, Rusty latched the hatch. He peered around the cabin and frowned.

Rusty snorted. “I dunna see Adora. Nessie said she’d be ‘ere.”

“Sorry, Rusty. Last minute change of plans,” Nessie quipped.

She pulled a bauble from her pocket. Valera recognized the ring as a gift her mother had given her aunt. Rusty took the ring and held it up to a squinted eye. Valera frowned – it wasn’t a fake this time. The ring had real diamonds and emeralds embedded in real gold. It was a high price to pay for a ride. Nessie nudged her side.

“It was too gaudy for my style anyway,” her aunt chuckled.

Rusty spat in his palm. “Deal done.”

Nessie did the same, and they shook hands. Valera rubbed her hand against her shirt. She’d never understand the intricacies and rituals of salty sea captains or their airborne counterparts.

Victor told Rusty where they were headed. The old man groaned and grumbled, but started up the
Blowfish’s
engines. With all eight passengers and Rusty, the submarine was filled to capacity. The pistons spit and sputtered.

Bang… bang… bang…

“What in tarnation!” Rusty growled.

The sound was outside the hatch. Valera looked through a porthole and saw a blurry face. Rusty unhinged the latch and got out. After a few minutes of muddled voices, Rusty returned.

“There’s a man outside who’s sayin’ he hasta come along. He says ya know ‘im.”

Rusty tried to hold the hatch closed, but a hand appeared and pulled it open. Then, a familiar face popped inside.

“No way, forget it!” Julia shouted.

“Now wait one second, just hear me out!” Dr. Lawless pleaded.

Valera crossed her arms over her chest. “How did you find us?”

“I knew you would make a move. It was just a matter of time. Earlier, I accidentally overheard a conversation, and well, I stowed away in the transport ship. It’s important I go with you.”

“No, it’s not. Rusty, kick him out and let’s go,” Julia hissed.

Dr. Lawless pushed his lanky way inside and planted himself firmly in the way. “I insist on going. I’ve waited my whole life to see Danu’s tomb, and I won’t relent now. If you turn me away, I will tell the council everything.”

“Is he comin’ or goin’?” Rusty asked.

Victor stepped forward. “We don’t have time to argue. You can come, but you stay away from the girls.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Joe growled.

Dr. Lawless nodded and sat at the back of the submarine, keeping his mouth shut. Rusty slammed the hatch shut and returned to the helm. With a jerk, the submarine moved away from the dock. Valera kept one eye on Dr. Lawless.

“He can’t do anything with everyone here. Relax,” Gideon whispered and put his arm around her shoulder.

She leaned against him and yawned. The vibrations of the engines and the sway of the waves lulled her into a light sleep. A couple of hours later, a tingling sensation pulsed through her.

Daughter… I’m here…

Danu’s voice was inside the vessel. Valera sat straight up. Theo and Julia were also wide-eyed and upright.

“We’re almost there,” Julia murmured.

The submarine surfaced in the ice-covered North Atlantic. The hatch opened with a loud slurp, a blast of glaring sunlight, and a gust of frigid air. Rusty poked his head outside, returning a few seconds later with snow and ice covering his stubbly face.

“There ain’t nothin’ out there, but ‘bergs,” she shivered.

Victor opened the map in Professor Scrod’s book and debated with Rusty over their location. Eli got into the mix, and soon voices grew louder and more irritated. Valera couldn’t take it. She retrieved the sextant and shimmied up through the hatch. She sat on the submarine’s slick exterior, holding the sextant to her eye. Theo and Julia appeared beside her, and together they channeled aether into the instrument. A line of light shone across the ocean, leading to a glowing blue light in the distance.

“Well, color me a barnacle!” Rusty quipped. “What’s that?”

“That’s where Danu’s tomb is,” Julia said.

They made note of where the island was and set course. The scuttled along the surface of the water along the invisible line. When they reached the location of the glowing lights, they still hadn’t found the island. The ship came to a stop, and Rusty checked over his navigation controls and compasses.

“I dunna get it. I dunna see nothin’” Rusty exclaimed, wiping the haze from the great glass eyes of the
Blowfish
.

Valera moved to the front of the ship. She frowned at the captain.

“Rusty, it’s right there.” She pointed to the unmistakable large rocky landmass only a few miles ahead of them.

Victor squinted his eyes. “I don’t see anything either.”

Theo pushed them out of the way. “It’s right in front of us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing—

The submarine rocked to starboard, and something big slithered across the metal exterior. Valera fell into her brother against the side of the hull. The
Blowfish
groaned. Rivets popped and small trickles of water poured into the cabin. The rocking stopped.

“What was that?” Julia shrieked.

Rusty and Nessie worked to fill the leaks with putty, but the water pushed through. Julia soaked in aether and froze the streams, temporarily plugging the holes.

Bleep… bleep… bleep…

Rusty moved to the radar. “There’s something moving around us. Could be a whale… a big un. Wouldna be the first time some dumb fish tried a make friends’ wit’ the vessel.”

Rusty grabbed a harpoon and threw open the hatch. The radar bleeped louder and faster. The ship shook. The monster in the water rammed the side of the submarine, denting the side. Rusty nearly fell overboard, but Eli and Joe grabbed his legs.

“Keep me steady, boy,” the old man yelled from above. “I got a shot.”

Valera heard the whizzing of the harpoon flying in the air and an odd metallic ping as it struck its target. Rusty came back inside, shaking and soaking wet. The harpoon gun was missing.

“That ain’t no whale… I ner’ saw nothin’ like it. The harpoon bounced right off.” His voice shook. “We need to get outta here.”

An unearthly shriek filled the air outside. Through the window, Valera saw a massive worm-like creature swim past the ship. The monster turned and smashed into the other side of the submarine. The hull buckled and water poured into the compartment. No matter how hard Julia tried to stop the influx of water, the compartment flooded. They had to abandon ship. Nessie scrambled to inflate two rafts outside on top of the hull. Joe leapt into the first one and helped the three girls and Eli get inside. They grabbed the oars and moved as far away as they could. Nessie and Gideon scrambled into the second raft, but the sea monster turned and charged at the vessel. Victor pushed Dr. Lawless overboard, and jumped into the frigid water. The monster rammed the front of the ship, smashing the two glass eyes. Rusty was thrown off the doomed
Blowfish
. Nessie and Gideon fished all three men out of the ocean, and the two lifeboats rowed away from the submarine.

The sea monster crested out of the water and crashed onto
the Blowfish
. The beast’s shiny exterior glistened in the sun light as if it were made out of metal. Its body slid over the remains of the submarine making a horrible grating noise. The monster screeched as the
Blowfish
sank into the water.

“Where do we go?” Joe asked.

Theo pointed toward the landmass. “To the island.”

“What island? There’s no island!” Nessie shouted.

“Just trust us,” Julia said.

The girls steered the raft toward the island, which only they seemed able to see. The creature writhed around the wreckage of the
Blowfish
. Just as Valera thought they’d escaped its clutches, it surfaced and shot through the ocean like a torpedo. Something about it didn’t seem real, and as it grew closer, Valera saw gears turning behind its green glass eyes. Its scales were black metal plates. The monster’s gaping jaw opened, and Valera saw spinning razor sharp blades.