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

his gaze. You have endured much, Uncle. My sister, mother, and I have all seen the events which you have suffered through to reach us again.

Black Keerie jeered. No doubt the Mother of Masks will share the same visions with us disbelievers, then, once she has eased your father’s pain.

How will your mother help Hypnos? Kellen asked Phobetor, regretting the question the moment he heard Black Keerie snort.

Black Keerie laughed in screeching mockery. You see, Phobetor? Again, this Creature proves himself a liar, she pointed her finger at him. You think your uncle should not remember all of your mother’s power? Nothing of yours? Aye, nor the powers of your brother and sister too?

Phobetor shrugged. If he did not remember you, Keerie, I see no reason he should not recall my mother’s face either. At the moment, it matters not to me what he remembers or no. My mother will mix a remedy to help rejog his memory soon enough.

Kellen fended off a shiver running through him at Phobetor’s words. What happens, then? He wondered to himself as Phobetor and Black Keerie argued on. What happens when their remedy fails and all of them find out that I’m a liar like Erebus has called me all along?

Black Keerie drew Kellen from his silence when pointing directly at his chest. This one needs no jogging of the mind, she said to Phobetor. One cannot recall what they have not lived through to share the tale of.

When Phobetor glanced at Kellen, he understood that he must respond to Black Keerie’s continued accusations, or else strengthen her claims for his lingering silence.

Kellen forced a laugh and a wicked grin. You know, Keerie, I would’ve thought you’d like that I can’t remember everything, he said. Because if I remembered half of your nagging and your questions, I might not have bothered coming back from the Other side at all.

Phobetor laughed, then, his mockery combined with Kellen’s words enough to send Black Keerie sneering and swimming off in chase after the others already gone on into the nearest tunnel.

Phobetor swam over and clapped Kellen on the shoulder. Oh, Uncle, I have missed your presence so. I fear our lives have been quite dreary all these long years since you left us.

It’s . . . good to be back, said Kellen, careful to not divulge much else for fear of strengthening Keerie’s continued assertions.

I imagine so, said Phobetor. Good to have your body healed and form returned to you, I should think. But is it true what Black Keerie claims? That you cannot recall much of our people, or your life before?

Kellen debated on which answer to give, deciding to walk the blurry line between truth and the lie. It’s true, he said quietly. I remember some things, but the rest are . . .

Hazy? Phobetor supplied the word.

Yes, said Kellen.

Phobetor smiled in such a manner that made Kellen’s stomach twist. Fear not, Uncle. We have a remedy for that also.

Good. Kellen shirked away from the Sancul’s grip. I hoped for that when Kanaloa said we’d be coming here.

Recall the Cavern of Somnus, do you? Phobetor asked.

No, said Kellen. Just that Kanaloa and Nyx said that coming here should help me to remember.

Indeed, said Phobetor. For my mother has ways of helping one to recall all manner of things, he chuckled. Aye, and also to forget all else they would rather not remember.

I’ll have some of that last bit, Kellen thought to himself, dwelling on all the memories he would purge from his mind if given the chance. His skin prickled as he peered into the awaiting darkness inside the tunnel before him that all the others had already swum through. Hesitant to enter in, he searched for any excuse to forestall his following of the other Sancul and learning what awaited Hypnos within.

I-I don’t remember much about this place, he said, turning to Phobetor, then pointing to the purplish outcroppings that reminded him of amethyst stones. The cavern is so beautiful, I mean. Can you not show me around the rest of this cavern first?

Phobetor nodded. I could indeed, Uncle, he said, his easy grin dawning and then widening further. But I think that all of the Others dying to see you would rather greet you first.

Others? Kellen asked.

Phobotor pointed upward. Like me, our people have been long awaiting your return and the final ascent to come . . .

Kellen followed his gaze into the above. Then, his blood well and truly turned to ice.

Where they had swum through empty water in descent in arrival, passing by the other tunnel mouths without stopping, now Kellen came face to face with all the scarred and wizened folk who dwelt deep within the honeycomb-like tunnels that comprised the Cavern of Somnus.

Kellen’s mind had no words for the shadowy folk he witnessed in the above– a collected horde of Sancul. Crowded together, thousands of rounded, black eyes gleamed with eerie stillness in the bioluminescent lantern lights. Their tentacles and massive forms too came like a wall of thorny, moving briar, and all of them stretched in continuing reach for him.

Kellen’s head acted like a swivel in attempting to count their number, unable to determine where one Sancul began and the other ended.

All watching.

Waiting.

Kellen winced at the cold touch of Phobetor’s hand upon his bicep.

Come, Uncle . . . he said, tugging him to ascend toward the gathered legions above. Allow me to re-introduce you.

17

CHIDI

Allambee Omondi lay upon the decking of Girard’s boat, The Lady Cat. The young warrior’s wounds were bound and blood-stained, even as Chidi Etienne pressed against the worst of his injuries with all her strength to keep her friend from bleeding out.

Fighting against the stinging in her eyes, Chidi prayed to any higher power that would heed her call. Don’t let him die . . . her head ached as she thought the words, her eyes losing their bout to keep back the tears from cascading down her cheeks. Please, don’t let him