Westward Ho! Or, The Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon, in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth by - (best books to read for self development TXT) 📕

An immortal creature.

Surcy moved closer, as if compelled by a force more powerful than herself. When she nearly reached the woman, she saw the seashell necklace hanging around her throat.

“Mertal?” she whispered.

The woman smiled. “Mertal… yes, that was my human name. The name I held when I was imprisoned.” She swam closer until she was only a foot from Surcy. “But that’s not who I am. I’m the Goddess of the Ocean, Queen of the Merpeople.”

Surcy’s eyes widened. “A mermaid?”

She flicked her tail, and her blue and green scales sparkled in the morning light. “Does an angel truly not believe in mermaids?”

Surcy felt her cheeks heat. “I’m sorry, my queen.”

The mermaid inclined her head in the most regal way imaginable. “Thank you. Thank you for returning me to the waters and bringing back my memories.”

She looks so happy. Too bad she can’t stay here.

Surcy stiffened at the thought and took a deep breath before speaking. “Caine and his followers will come for you again. There’s a sanctuary we need to take you too.”

The queen reached out and touched her cheek, her hand ice cold against Surcy’s skin. “I will never leave the waters until I return to my throne in Zudessa. But take heart, we will be prepared for Caine this time.”

Surcy nodded, her words caught in her throat.

“You have no idea what it was like to slowly die in a mortal shell, far from my waters. It wasn’t just my body that faded with each day, so did my connection to the ocean. Caine sought to break it from me and take my powers. Over many lifetimes he tried various ways to take my powers, but he didn’t know how. This time, he understood. That should frighten you and your demons. Somehow, Caine has figured out the secret to stealing our gifts. Each of us is different, but this is the lifetime I think he may be successful.”

Surcy swallowed the lump in the back of her throat. “Thanks for the warning.”

The mermaid dropped her hand and smiled. “You’re lucky you’re no longer under his control. Even though I can feel your heart aches at the loss of your wings.”

Surcy felt her heart give a painful squeeze.

“Believe me,” the mermaid said, sinking into the waters. “Nothing is worth the price of your freedom.”

She swam away, her beautiful tail flicking the water as she dove and played within it. Surcy held her breath, transfixed by the power of the Immortal. She was so lovely, and her happiness at being back where she belonged seemed to radiate from within her.

She’s happy.

Surcy envied her. She still had no idea where she belonged.

Reality came sweeping back to her, and she turned back to the shore. Walking out of the water, she checked on Daniel one more time, then took a deep breath. She needed to snag her demons and teleport back as quickly as she could. And this trip had already taken far longer than she’d planned.

Hold on, boys, I’m coming.

The world shimmered around her as she returned to the desert. Her soul-blade leapt into her hand as she appeared where she’d left her angels and demons… only, the angels were gone. And so was Mark. Only Tristan remained, his expression grim.

“What—?”

“They took Mark,” Tristan said, his tone one of complete disbelief.

“Why?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but I think they were after him all along.”

After Mark? That doesn’t make sense. What could they possibly want from him?

She closed her eyes and felt for the angel’s trail. The one that would tell her where they had teleported to, but they’d erased it, as expected.

Opening her eyes, she tried to hide her terror. “I can’t sense where they went, so what do we do now?”

“Bring me to Daniel and the goddess.”

She reached out and took his hand.

His large hand felt warm and comforting as he squeezed hers. “Everything will be okay. Mark is tougher than he appears.”

She hoped so, because she was beginning to realize something horrible. Caine and his angels didn’t seem to know how to be merciful. That wasn’t good, not when they’d taken the demon she was growing to care for.

Please be okay, Mark. Please. We’re coming as fast as we can!

7

Mark landed hard on the ground, coughing blood, and trying to calm his swimming head. One minute he’d been in the desert fighting, and now… what had happened?

We teleported.

Damn it! That can’t be good!

He sensed the angels looming over him and fought his panic. They’d taken him? But why?

How can I help the others if I’m not with them?

Gritting his teeth, he willed himself to be strong, but he felt awful. Not at all prepared to fight for his life against impossible odds. Wearily his gaze moved over the strange place they’d teleported into.

Am I in a temple?

He squinted against the bright light that filtered from high above him and peered into the darkness of the room. Moss crept along the ground and walls of the grey brick that made up the building, and the air was tinged with salt. But otherwise, he had no clues as to where he was. The large room was empty, and there were no sounds of civilization that he could hear.

So I’m near the ocean. Well, that doesn’t bode well for an escape attempt.

He shifted slightly and clenched his teeth together to stop himself from crying out. Warmth oozed from the wound on his chest and his arm. As a demon, he could heal from such injuries, but he’d need to rest.

Not fight five angels.

Looking up at them, he watched as Frink moved closer and knelt down in front of him. With his injuries he didn't even have the strength left to scoot away from Frink. He lay there, helpless.

Frink looked Mark up and down and then spat on the dirty stone floor beside him. “I expected more from a druid.”

Mark’s hand shook as he wiped the blood from his mouth. “Sorry to disappoint.”

Frink's smile chilled Mark to