Eva struck out for the bank, kicking with all her strength. It accomplished little except to exhaust her. The river had narrowed, and the current was faster now—far too strong to fight. All she could do was cling to a shattered piece of the galley and let it carry her.
The sounds of muskets and cannons faded behind her, along with the cries of victory and the howls of defeat. The banks rose higher and steeper until the river entered a narrow canyon and plunged into a series of rapids. Violent currents twisted into whirlpools. Again and again the water dragged her under. Again and again the timber slammed against submerged rocks. She was so cold she barely felt the impacts.
The river continued downward for miles—or what felt like hours. Just hold on as long as she could—until she reached the sea she’d glimpsed before.
The canyon suddenly fell away, and the river spilled into an immense basin. The water wasn’t as calm as it had appeared, but it was wide. No banks were in sight. No shoreline. Just the sea. The current had finally loosened its grip. Eva paddled wearily with her hands and feet, steering the timber toward where the shore must be.
A ridge caught her eye, rising from the water and growing steadily larger. It couldn’t be an island. Or any ordinary sea creature. Scales covered it like gigantic shields, overlapping and sealed tightly together.
Then an enormous head rose from the water. Part reptile. Part serpent. It fixed her with eyes the color of the morning sky. Its jaws opened wide enough to swallow a city gate, row upon row of terrible teeth gleaming within.
Terror gripped Eva. The ridge had been only a small part of its body. Its true size defied comprehension. She couldn’t take it in with a single glance.
It began to coil through the water, churning the sea around it and leaving a pale glow in its wake. A maelstrom sprang up around the creature, seizing Eva and dragging her farther from shore. Resistance was useless. Her only option was surrender.
The current swept her across the sea toward a distant shore bathed in a red glow. Warmth crept into the water around her, slowly driving away the cold. Smoke billowed from a river of fire pouring down from the heights. Steam rose in great clouds where it met the sea.
The shore rushed toward her. Eva braced herself, certain she would either be dashed against the rocks or swept into the river of fire. The water had grown hot now—uncomfortably hot. But her fears proved unfounded. The current continued to circle the sea monster, carrying her past both the shore and the flames toward yet another distant coastline. The speed was dizzying. She must have traveled miles in a matter of minutes.
Water boiled where the creature’s tail had passed. The current hurled her through it. Agony exploded across her skin. She cried out.
Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the creature was gone. It slipped beneath the surface and vanished into the depths. The water cooled rapidly. The sea grew calm.
A luminescent river flowed from the shore. It looked as though moonlight had been poured into the water, giving it a pale, milky glow. Even the sea around her shimmered faintly in the dimness.
Eva’s teeth chattered even as her skin still burned. She was tired. So tired. She kicked weakly, barely keeping her head above water. Just a little farther. Then she could rest.
The timber had been torn from her grasp long ago. How she had stayed afloat, she couldn’t have said. She lowered her head and struck out toward the glowing riverbank.
Weariness swept over her. Her arms and legs turned to lead. Keep going. Her thoughts began to drift. She couldn’t move. She sank. Weeds brushed against her face and tangled in her hair. Light flooded through her. And suddenly she felt… good.
***
Leviathan? That was the name of the— Vadna had been reading about. What had she been doing?
That’s right. She had just been with Anna and the well-dressed gentleman. Why couldn’t she remember his name?
She stole a boat. The thought struck her as absurd. Everything looked flat, as though the world had been drawn in lines. No. That wasn’t right. It was more real than reality. Real in a way her mind couldn’t comprehend.
She had been in Vanity. Pillars of men. Tied at a stake, burning alive. Anna. Who was Anna? A handkerchief. Boc? Where had that name come from?
Kindly Ones. Eyes like the abyss. She concentrated. The harder she tried to remember, the faster the memory slipped away.
Giants. Goblins. Drakes. And… and…
Sisters. No. Not those sisters. One. Two. Three. Charity. She was pleased she’d remembered. Remembered what? Something dear. Someone dear.
Brisk? No. She was perfectly content to forget him. He’d had her…
A gray cloak. A gray cloak. A gray cloak. Gentle eyes. Strong hands. Her… No. Not yet. She wrapped it up tenderly and thrust it down deep. To keep it safe.
Lady Wanton. No. That wasn’t right. Madame Wanton of Carnal Policy. Instructor of dance. She watched him dance with Inconsiderate. Dance with her. She stood alone. The best and bravest room in the house. Empty. Only a cobweb.
The Interpreter’s face flitted through her mind. Then it became Innocent. She cradled a baby in her arms.
Beelzebub. Furies. The Prince.
It slipped through her mind like sand in an hourglass. And then there was nothing.
Just silence.
