The Vast and Brutal Sea: A Vicious Deep novel (The Vicious Deep) (25 page)

I stand at the Coney Island pier. In the distance, a storm moves toward the horizon and I know that’s where Toliss is moving on to its next destination.

The boardwalk is reopened, and with a little help from the Sea King, the beach is patched from the holes we put in it. The sky directly above me is silky dark blue without a single threat of a cloud. The Wonder Wheel and other rides are up and the beach is open for the public once again. Frederik lies on the beach, a line that could pass for a smile brightening his face. He’s surrounded by giddy vampire girls and demigods. They look up at the moon and soak up its light—moonbathing.

Marty and Layla run up on either side of me. We lean on the new wooden railing. The old one was blasted to bits. I grab for Layla without thinking twice, taking her hand in mine and trying not to think that this is the same pier she got taken from.

“Your parents are wondering where you are,” Layla says. “Everyone is celebrating.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m just taking it all in.”

“Marty misses Dylan already,” she snorts. “Now that Dylan is the King’s advisor guy.”

Marty pulls down the beak of his cap. He’s got a new one, though he’s still pissed at me for throwing the other one out.

“Not my first heartbreak, ladybird,” the shapeshifter says. “There are plenty of fish in the sea. Isn’t that right, T?”

I shake my head, bringing Layla closer to me and biting down on her neck just to feel her shiver. Then she pulls away and says, “I’m not a chew toy.”

“More for me,” Marty says.

“I don’t know, guys,” I say. “I know it’s been a hell of a couple of weeks, but I’m feeling kind of antsy, you know?”

Marty picks up a newspaper that blows against his legs. The
Brooklyn
Star
. The headline reads: Local Swim Team Captain Saves the Day. There’s a picture of Angelo saving a homeless guy from a fuzzy shot of a merrow. Then a smaller article that reads: Kraken Attacks Local Celebrities. Well, it’s not wrong. Marty crumples the paper and dunks it in the garbage.

“You’re just saying that because you have a new toy,” Marty reminds me. “You’re like Aquaman. No wait, that’s taken. Mighty Merman? How about—”

“How about, you all shut your clams and come with me for a bit of fun.” Brendan is standing on the pier.

“How the hell did you get up here?” Layla says, hugging him.

Brendan smirks, and we follow his eyes to where a ship bobs in the distance. On the deck I can make out Amada and Arion talking. I wonder what it’s like being free after so long. I could go on board and ask them.

“I happen to recall,” Brendan says, “our grandfather telling me not to forget about my family. You helped me remember that. So I’m going to repay the favor.”

“Where are you going?” I ask, edging closer to where he balances on the railing.

“Nowhere.” He stretches his arms to the clear sky. His red hair is like a flame in the wind. “Everywhere. But I can guarantee it will be dangerous.”

Perhaps I share in Brendan’s desire to discover new worlds. Adventure is like adrenaline in my blood. So much for sleeping until school starts again.

I look back at my home. Take in the brilliant lights of Luna Park, the sweet smell of corn dogs and cotton candy. A little storm wasn’t enough to stop Coney Island from bouncing back.

I look at Layla, biting her lip playfully. Marty gets up on the ledge beside Brendan.

“What about the whole ‘protecting the land and sea’ stuff?” I yell at them.

“Believe me, ain’t nobody messing with this Coney Island shore any time soon,” Marty says.

“Although Arion has told me of some displaced landlocked in Australia,” Brendan says. Then he looks at Layla. “Or Galapagos, if Lady Layla prefers. The seas are vast and they’re ours.”

I smile. I smile for every person we’ve lost on the way here. For my grandfather, for Kai’s dad. Blue and Vi. For Ryan.

I look at the white of the moon, for Gwen.

No matter what, I’ll always come back here.

Brendan and Marty backflip onto the sand. Layla and I hop over after them.

“Last one on the ship swabs the deck,” Brendan yells as he sprints into the water.

Marty pulls up his sagging shorts and shouts, “Cheat!”

I take one last look at Layla. She leans up to kiss me. We run, her hand still in mine. And as we dive into the welcoming wave, I don’t let go.

As always, thank you to my Ecuadorian and Sicilian tribe. I’m incredibly lucky to have a family that supports and shares my books with others.

A gigantic thanks to everyone in my Sourcebooks family. Jillian Bergsma, thank you for your great notes that made this book better. A huge thanks to the stellar production team for putting up with me. Derry Wilkens for all that you do for me. Aubrey Poole for truly getting Tristan and his friends from the beginning. We made a trilogy!

Tony Sahara for another kickass cover.

My Goodies—Adrienne, Nat, and Higgs—because all of our adventures keep me sane.

Lauren McCall, thank you for reading the first draft of this book and lending your notes. T.S. Ferguson for helping brainstorm the killer title.

To my writing groups—the Apocalypsies and #write-o-rama—for being there along this journey.

Kelly Skillen, for letting me use your house as writing den.

I am truly the luckiest mergirl in the world.

Tristan Hart was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend, Layla, is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

In the quest for the Sea Court throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king.

While Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces raging against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer. But his allies each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between loyalty and ambition, friendship and love. In the race for a throne, all’s fair in the savage blue.

It starts with a whisper.

“It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad seventeenth birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

The war between exiles and angels is on—and Violet Eden is wanted by both sides.

Suddenly everyone she knows has something to hide, including the one person she’s always trusted—her partner, Lincoln. No matter how bad things get, though, Violet doesn’t run and she doesn’t quit. Even if it means asking her enemy for help…

Her choices are harder. Her enemies are stronger. And no one can know how much she’s hurting…

Both sides—angels vs. exiles—are racing to decipher an ancient scripture that would allow anyone banished to the Underworld to return. And at the very center: Violet. She only has one chance to make the right choice…

In the war between angels and exiles, Violet is about to take on her most dangerous adversary yet.

When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the question “Can love conquer all?” will finally be answered.

It is time to make the final surrender.But who will Violet surrender to?

It has all come down to this, the final battle. Violet is the rainbow, a bridge, and now there are those who would use her to travel in the wrong direction. She will learn who she really is and what she is capable of. The angels created a weapon in her that is now being turned on them and Violet is all that stands in the way of the end of the universe as we know it.