wrath of the Sea Queen (37 page)

"
C
a
eli
!"  Vin's warning shout was drowned out by the turbulent sea.

A moment before the plane made contact, a
strong wind
encircle
d
the cargo net. 
C
a
eli
felt the
pressure
as the plane pressed against the wind, though it never actually touched her.  A
nd then
the
aircraft
was
forcefully
thrust
a good
thirty feet
out into the ocean
.  C
a
eli could hardly believe she
hadn't been
crushed
by
either
the wave or the plane
.  Looking around, she saw
by the
redhead
's expression that he
was
considering
the very same
notion
.  Unfortunately, the pilot
had
not
been
as fortunate
.  His body hung unmoving, tied
as an anchor
to the end of the line.

Glancing
up
, C
a
eli
saw Vin leaning heavily on the railing.  He looked exhausted
.  S
he
immediately
knew how
his fast reflexes had
saved
her from
the danger before she was
even
aware of it
.

"
Thank you, Vin.
"

"
You're welcome.  Are you able to climb up further?
  I can't reach you yet.
"

C
a
eli
could tell
that
Vin
would not be able to perform another such miracle any time soon. 
She
needed to
release her hold on the plane so that it would s
ink and not threaten them again before they reached the
deck
.

As she did this,
C
a
eli
considered the peculiar manner in
which
the wave had
carried the plane into the side of the ship.  If Rika did this to scare her, then she succeeded.  However, Rika must not
have
know
n
about Vin.
 
C
a
eli
added that to her growing list of reasons
not to trust Rika and
to the
list of reasons
why she was
so very
glad
t
o have
Vin here. 
Pushing
such
thought
s
aside,
C
a
eli turned and released each of the barriers she
held
around the aircraft, letting them unravel.  She
watched
the wing rip off the side and the cab
in rapidly fill with water
before the plane was swallowed by a
nother
huge wave.  That same wave also pinned her against the side of the ship.  C
a
eli
was
momentarily
stunned by the force of the
water. 
For a fearful moment, s
he
fel
t as if she might be crushed after all
;
but the
pressure was fleeting as the
wave moved off
as rapidly as it had arrived
. 

Being near the end of the line, without the plane to
intercede between her and the rolling
sea, C
a
eli was now partial
ly submerged
.  A
s the shipped danced on the waves
,
she was alternately
tossed
above the water and then completely
engulfed
by it
.  She beg
a
n to shiver.  C
a
eli considered letting go of the rope to try and climb freely, but one wrong move and she would be lost.  She was too tired to trust her
own
strength, so
C
a
eli
decided not to tempt fate
and trust that, no matter what, as long as she held on to the rope, Vin would bring her in safely
. 

When the most recent wave cleared, C
a
eli felt a tug on the rope, and then it stopped moving entirely.  The redhead was nearing the top, but she could not
tell
what
had
stopped
his
progress.  As she held on
to the net, waiting,
a tingling sensation drew
C
a
eli
's
attention and her
connection
to
the water
made its
presence
known
once more.  It was definitely stronger this time.  In fact, it was nearly overwhelming.  Suddenly, another large wave slammed into her, causing the ship to rock at a precarious angle.  C
a
eli
had not
shield
ed
herself from the water as she
did
with the plane.  The water hit her
ribs
with
the
force
of wrecking ball at full swing
.  She thought her lungs would burst from the
pressure
. 
C
a
eli
had
not consider
ed
t
he
sheer
power of the sea
being used against her
.  It was crushing the life out of her,
pressing
her internal organs as it pinned her against the ship's hull.  Her stomach
flattened
as if
beneath an anvil.  C
a
eli knew that in another moment she would gasp, either for air or from pain, and then
she would
drown.  From somewhere above, the safety rope broke loose
from whoever had been holding it taut
.  C
a
eli only had a moment to make sure her hold on the cargo net was secure.

In the next instant, the pressure on C
a
eli eased and a soft, white light enveloped her.  The
pressure
no longer t
hreatened
and she could breathe
beneath the
water
.  She coughed and gasped, then clasped her free hand across her midsection as it cramped strongly in response to the sudden change in pressure.

"
Be careful, Sister.  You cannot protect them if you
do not first
protect yourself.
"
  The masculine voice
emanating
from the surrounding light
was comforting.  C
a
eli did not know his
name, but she was certain they
ha
d met before.  This was not the first time he
had come
to her aid in a dire situation.

"
I know you, don't I? 
You
were with me
in
that crater in
Idaho
.
 
What
'
s your name?
"
  C
a
eli asked out loud.

"
I am Urim.  Yes, I have aided you
previously
.  I cannot stay long.  She does not tolerate my interference.  Are you ready to shield yourself,
Sister
?
"

"
Yes, but wait
.  C
an't you tell me anything
more
about my gift?  Am I supposed to figure this out on my own?
  Who
doesn't want you
here
?
  How
does
helping me interfer
e
?
  Interfere with what?
"

"
You seem to be doing well
enough
with your gift
thus far.  I can tell you this.  Water is life and death.  All those who use this
skill
must come to terms with both sides.  Be very careful. 
It
can be a powerful ally
and
a destructive enemy.  It can easily overwhelm you. 
J
ust
as
Eyvindr
learned the fine
r
points of
control
ling
the wind, you must find it within yourself to master your gift in all
of
its forms. 
There are many. 
The struggle
s
and challenge
s
are
yours
to endure
,
but
y
ou are n
ot
alone, Sister.  You have help at hand, if
only
you remember to ask for it.
  Do not
allow yourself to
be
misled
.
 
A
journey is never meant to be walked alone.
"