Salt Storm: The Salted Series: Episodes #31-35 by Galvin, Aaron (read 50 shades of grey .TXT) 📕

and passed, Kellen reopened his eyes and gasped in awe at the sight before him - a cavern unlike any other that Kellen had ever seen.

Where he recalled the birth of his Salted life appearing in the form of Crayfish Cavern’s glittering stalactites, the water-filled cavern that Phobetor carried him through now gleamed with greenish, bioluminescent shadows, all dancing against a crystallized backdrop of deep purple and ebony-make. Bioluminescent torchlight aligned the walls, and all of their lanterns spiraling downward to reveal a maze with innumerable staging points further in and below.

Kellen imagined the cavern like the inside of an amethyst geode he had once seen in the Indianapolis Children’s Museum back at home. The puncture-like holes in the stony walls also reminded him of a beehive – each hole dotting the cavern-sides like a honeycomb. Some of the cavern mouths held more greenish light deep within, promising life and secret denizens within, if one were so brave as to venture inside. The darker, emptier tunnels feared Kellen more. His gaze lingered on the empty black spots as they passed. Even as Phobetor sped the collected party onward in further descent, Kellen’s skin tingled with the notion that he remained watched over and looked upon from unseen eyes that remained hidden away within the tunnel mouths.

Phobetor did not stop their plunge, despite the cavern walls closing in around them. Like swimming through a funnel, Phobetor pressed on through a gap in the stony floor that Kellen imagined as being too small to accommodate the dragon’s size. As before, when out in the open Salt, the dragon’s head again began to melt away, its body shriveling and shortening in rapid succession. The thick flesh gave up its hold over Kellen then, he and the other Sancul falling off and away whilst the remainder of Phobetor’s body morphed and shrunk back into the leathery train of his cape. Then, it shrunk further until the cape became a hood and looked only as if he wore a plum-tinted cloak.

Though Kellen took the moment to calm the adrenaline racing through him, Erebus wasted no time. The Sancul father gathered Hypnos up with his tentacles and then swam away in descent through the darkened cavern mouth lain before them. Faster than any other could follow, Erebus outswam even Nyx and Kanaloa who sped off into the tunnel after him.

Kellen watched them go, wondering after Hypnos and his fits, and imagined himself trapped in the dream-like world that Hypnos kept Moros within, both prisoners of his own mind and body. You’re fighting with Moros, aren’t you, Hypnos? Kellen told himself of the fits that had taken hold of Hypnos. But why? Kellen wondered again. What is it you’re fighting with him about, Hypnos? Why do you keep Moros in there with you, rather than let your brother go?

A part of Kellen warned that he knew that answer too, though he refused to face it in favor of watching Black Keerie instead. Where the others had gone on, she had remained alongside Phobetor, the pair of them looking to one another in such a way that told Kellen they spoke in private.

But what are you talking about? Kellen wondered when Black Keerie gave him a look that forewarned he should never receive the answer. What did you tell him, Keerie?

Unlike the silence between them, Phobetor seemed the more eager to break the elsewise quiet water surrounding them. Uncle! He cried, swimming to join Kellen anew, grasping at his hand to pull him into the cavern mouth the others had already swam through. Come. Despite my father’s ailment, I know my mother will be most pleased to see you again too.

Black Keerie tittered. Why should your mother be pleased to see this creature before you? She cast her scorn on Kellen. It was his fault that her husband was stolen from her.

Phobetor’s face scrunched at the word. You name him Creature? He asked Black Keerie.

Aye, that I do, now, she said, in reference of Kellen. For that be the name Erebus first gave him. And I know not what else to call the pretender who swims before you wearing my lover’s face, Phobetor. Whatever his name, his lies spoke to me of his truth. She turned away from him, toward the other Sancul again. This one before us is neither my lover, Moros, nor your true uncle either, Phobetor.

Kellen warmed at the rightful accusation. I told you the truth a long time ago, Keerie, he kept the thought to himself. You just didn’t want to see it. None of you but Erebus would see it. He looked to Phobetor, wondering which camp the nephew of Moros and son of Hypnos would fall under – believer or no.

For his part, Phobetor laughed off the claims. I see my grandfather’s constant doubting has worn away at even your convictions, Keerie.

Aye, said she in hateful reply. I thought Erebus a fool at first for his doubting also. Now, I think him the only one to see and face things as they truly are.

Believe as you will, then, Phobetor waved her off, then reached for Kellen. I am content to swim at my uncle’s side once more, as I did so often in the days of old. Aye, to learn such things from the Other side as only my uncle could teach. He the only one to venture there and back again, as he foretold us all that he would do.

Again, Black Keerie barked a laugh. Do not look to the Creature before you for answers, Phobetor. You will receive none from him. Nothing but lies and excuses of ill memory for all that this one has suffered. Or claimed to have endured, rather.

But he has suffered, Keerie, said Phobetor. For just as my mother watched the fall of Orphan Knoll from afar, she saw his wounding in one of her scryings too. Aye, and shared such visions with my sister and I too. He looked to Kellen with some sadness in