Evelina and the Reef Hag (18 page)

***

“Wow!” Abby pulled herself onto the raft anchored out from the island, flying their emerald flag. “It’s like a chariot race on water.”

Evelina scrambled up behind her to take in the spectacle.

Teams of warlocks whizzed by on giant tortoise shells, pulled by leaping dolphins. Reins of thick vines, stretched between the two drivers and their four dolphins like curling kite tails. It looked like a wild race.

Evelina scanned the course for Frankie.

“Amazing!” Tally heaved herself out of the water, huffing and puffing. “They’re traveling at warp speed.”

“It’s a poker run.” Evelina scanned the diagram on the flag pole. “Looks like they race to each check point around the cove, where they get a card. The best hand wins.”

Tally pulled the collection of cards out of the clam shell at the bottom of the poll, fanning them out in her hands.

They were all face cards. There were eight in total, which meant teams had to circle the course twice.

Evelina pointed at the four warlocks paddling out to the finish line, to the right of them on surf boards. “A new tribe member must take over half way through—like a relay race.”

Abby appeared perplexed, if not a little annoyed. “Speed isn’t a factor? What good is that?”

“Yes it is.” Evelina pointed at the finish line on the diagram—two rafts with white lifeguard towers on top, where the warlocks’ councilors stood with binoculars trained on the action. “Look. There’s a one-minute hourglass above the tower. They have to finish in time to even qualify. Then the first tribe to the finish line receives an extra card.”

“Which gives them a greater chance at a better…” Tally’s jaw dropped in mid-sentence, then she clamped her mouth shut, “Hand.” She pointed down at the water, looking as though she might pee her pants. “Did you see that?”

Evelina’s gaze followed her finger.

A dark shadow passed under the raft.

Evelina’s breath hitched in her throat.

“What is it?” Abby shielded her eyes with her hand. “Looks huge.”

“A big fish, I guess.” Tally gave a nervous laugh. “There’s lots of them out here.”

“That wasn’t any fish,” Abby patrolled from one corner of the raft to the other, eyeing the rippling water.

Evelina forced a bright smile. “Well, whatever it was, it’s gone.”

A glint of silver flashed on a wave a few feet out.

Icy fingers crawled up Evelina’s spine.

Only one thing had that unearthly glow.

The Reef Hag.

If she was out there, she was keeping a low profile.

Biding her time—like a snake in the grass.

Waiting for a chance to strike.

This time, she was out for
Lake
of the Isle blood. They were the strongest team with the most players. If the Swamp Hogs wanted to win, they needed to take them out first.

Evelina sucked in a long fortifying breath.

Well, they’d just have to be on their toes—look sharp.

Everyone knew about the Reef Hag.

If she struck, they’d just have to act quickly.

Right now
Lake
of the Isles was in the lead.

As if to prove it, their chariot flew up to the raft.

Abby held out the cards face down for the driver to pick one.

He plucked one from her hand, then was off like a streak, sending out a buffeting wake that rocked the raft up and down, threatening to yank the anchor from the ocean floor.

The Swamp Hogs chariot was hot on their heels.

Oceana
glided in next.

White Water pulled up the rear.

A few minutes later they were switching drivers at the lifeguard towers.

“This is it!” Abby roared with glee. “The final round!”

Frankie zoomed up to the raft on a Water Jet. “Just checking in,” he said, flashing a blinding smile.

Something took wing in Evelina’s belly.

Abby gave a snort. “Another rough security assignment?”

“Somebody’s got to do it.” Frankie winked.

“Yeah?” Abby stuck her hands on her hips. “You guys get all the
cushie
jobs. Where’s Robinson? Handing out sunscreen? Burping babies?”

Tally giggled, then seeing the lack of amusement on Frankie’s face clammed up.

“He’s over there.” Frankie pointed to the raft in the distance, half way around the course. “Well, gotta go.” He gave a mock salute. “Keep your eyes peeled. A Reef Hag’s been spotted out there.”

Evelina’s gaze locked with his.

So she’d been right.

It was the Reef Hag she saw in the water earlier.

She wasn’t the only one to have seen her.

Frankie took off in a spray of white foam, sending up a rooster tail behind him.

The
Lake
of the Isles chariot glided up to the raft.

Abby fanned out the cards.

It zoomed off.

Something black slithered out of the water, enveloping the rear of the chariot like an oil spill.

Holy Crap!

Evelina stared in horror.

Abby pointed. “They’re being pulled under.”

Evelina looked around frantically, but security was too far off. “We’ve got to do something!”

“We can’t interfere!” Tally’s eyes widened in panic, “Or we risk expulsion!”

Frustration built in Evelina’s chest.

The novices were being pulled under.

They were about to sink.

It was her tribe.

Evelina dove into the water.

She made a wild grab for the Reef Hag, and to her shock, managed to snag the tail. Or was it a wing. It was difficult to tell. The top was all hag—the bottom all purple squid creature from hell.

She pulled and yanked, but the Reef Hag clung to the chariot.

Evelina jerked harder, determined not to give up.

She’d learned her lesson with half-baked spells. She couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Until she had more experience, better to go with good old fashioned muscle.

The chariot swerved and dipped, flying around the course.

The novices driving it appeared terrified.

The Reef Hag spun her head around and hissed in Evelina’s face, exposing crocodile teeth.

Evelina drew back so fast, her grip slipped.

The chariot hit a wake throwing her forward.

She grabbed the Reef Hag by the hair of the head with both hands.

The Reef Hag gave a wild screech.

Apparently she had a very sensitive scalp.

The chariot hit another wave.

The momentum gave Evelina the advantage she needed. She yanked the Reef Hag off of the chariot, along with one of the
Lake
of the Isles novices.

The silver eyes of the Reef Hag turned on her, like glittering shards of glass just as Evelina bobbed to the surface a few yards from the
Lake
of the Isles raft. They’d come full circle.

The Reef Hag reared up in the water like a black tsunami, hissing in outrage. She swirled around Evelina, dragging her underwater.

Evelina thrashed and twisted, sinking lower and lower.

Her chest burned.

She couldn’t breathe.

Then out of the bubbling foam, there was Frankie, pulling the Reef Hag off. He had a large diving knife with a wicked blade in one hand.

Evelina swam for the surface, frantic for air.

She popped out of the water, filling her lungs with a ragged gasp, then dove back down to help Frankie.

The Reef Hag had him pinned on the sandy bottom, trying to jerk the knife from his hand.

Evelina grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back.

She didn’t like that.

She let out a howling screech that echoed through the water like a wounded whale in heat.

Her grip loosened.

Frankie thrust the knife into her chest.

Black liquid oozed out.

She drifted to the bottom limp, like a handful of noodles.

Three ghost rays appeared, giving off an eerie luminous glow.

Evelina froze in fear.

But to her relief and surprise they ignored her and Frankie.

Instead, they each took a tentacle and spirited the Reef Hag’s body away.

Evelina swam to the surface gasping for air.

The
Lake
of the Isles novice was beside her appearing dazed, barely treading water.

Frankie popped to the surface.

“Well, this is awkward,” Frankie huffed, helping her to haul the stunned novice toward the raft. “If not emasculating.”

Frankie and Evelina pushed while Abby and Tally hauled the novice onto the raft.

Frankie clambered up onto the raft, then offered her a hand. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Evelina sucked in great gulps of air, dragging herself up onto the raft. “I was in the neighborhood.”

“Security is supposed to take care of these things.” He sounded angry with himself. “I didn’t see her until it was too late. It’s a good thing you were there.”

“I’m glad you said that.” Abby grinned down at him. “So I didn’t have to.”

Evelina flashed Abby a glare.

“She just can’t help herself.” Abby sounded as though she was choking on her own laughter. “She just keeps saving people.”

Evelina narrowed her glare to a glower.

Abby turned the other way, but Evelina could still see her shoulders shaking.

“You were right about
Lefever
.” Frankie pushed his wet hair from his face. “His ship was spotted past the reef. I should have listened to you and reported it.”

She couldn’t help but smile. Not quite an apology, but she’d take it. Time Keepers weren’t the humblest of warlocks, being at the top of the food chain.

“Well, gotta go.” Frankie dove into the water to swim out to his Water Jet.

Evelina gazed toward the tower. The minute glass was almost empty. White Water and
Lake
of
Isles
weren’t going to make it.