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 gla.s.s 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 gla.s.s was almost empty. White Water and Lake of Isles weren"t going to make it.
It was up to Oceana.
The Swamp Hogs" chariot flew up to the lifeguard tower just ahead of Oceana.
"d.a.m.n!" Abby roared. "That means they"ll get another card."
Tally covered her face and groaned.
"Cards please, gentlemen," Sydney McCrystal spoke into the megaphone. The Swamp Hogs have four Aces."
A cheer rose from the beach.
The Swamp Hags whistled and jeered.
"Oceana has... a royal flush!"
The crowd burst into cheers.
"And the winner is," Sydney McCrystal boomed into the megaphone, "Oceana!!!"
"Wooo hooo!"
All three girls jumped up and down.
Then embraced.
Then jumped up and down again.
They"d won!
Frankie and Cliff"s tribe had won!
Evelina"s ears rang from all of the screaming.
The rest of her felt numb with joy.
At least, until she spotted Frankie on the sh.o.r.e with Eydis Turtlemoon.
Chapter Fifteen.
New Year"s Eve and the surf shack was jam packed. Tanned bodies dripped over every deck and balcony. The scent of lime and coconut swirled everywhere.
Evelina wove her way through the crowd, breathing in the salt air. Now that the drama was over and Udora had gotten her off on a technicality for interfering at the Flurry, she just wanted to relax and have a good time.
"Hey, Crimm!" Evelina looked up to find Abby waving from the balcony above. "Up here! Come on!"
Evelina headed for the stairs on the right, then spotted Eydis Turtlemoon talking and laughing to someone by the steps.
Clearly not the road to fun.
She veered left.
And ran smack into Frankie.
"Whoa!" He grabbed both of her arms to steady her, sending a shiver rattling through her limbs. "Still on the run?"
"Nope." Her body went hot. "The Council cleared me? Udora somehow convinced them that they were at fault for not having enough security. And since I didn"t use magic they decided to let it slide."
"I heard." He flashed a bright smile. "Congratulations."
"She said it wouldn"t affect you." She shifted from one foot to the other. "I hope it didn"t."
"It didn"t. The councilors stepped up and took responsibility. Even Acheron admitted they should have a.s.signed extra security."
"Good."
"Yup."
The noise seemed to increase around them, encasing them in a big throbbing coc.o.o.n.
The crowd closed in.
She made to leave.
"You found your necklace."
She turned back. "Yes." Her hand went to the silver sand dollar on the chain. "You didn"t send it?"
"No." He lifted it with his hand, examining both sides. "Nice gift, though. A silver sand dollar is good luck. It also comes in handy if you ever meet a Morwitch."
"Oh." Who could have sent her that? First the Wave Wire and now this. The Wave Wire led them to Lefever"s ship, who apparently hung out with Morwitches. Were they somehow connected? "Well, let"s hope I don"t ever need it."
"I have something for you, though." The intensity of Frankie"s golden gaze made her tingle. "I wanted to wait and give it to you in person."
"I don"t think Edyis would like that."
"She won"t care."
Evelina swallowed hard. "I will," she croaked, her throat closing so tight she could barely speak. "Edyis is a sweet person. I don"t want to hurt her." But most of all she didn"t want to hurt him. She wanted him to succeed. And the only way that could happen was if she let him go. "You need her to be a good Time Keeper. It"s the way it"s supposed to be."
His gold eyes darkened to amber. "It doesn"t have to be."
"What about your family?" She didn"t want him to be alienated from them. She knew what that was like. She didn"t want Frankie to ever feel that. "You shouldn"t disappoint them."
"I won"t."
Her heart constricted. "I saw you with Edyis at the Apothecary." It was all she could do to say it. "I really think it could work for you two." She turned to go.
"It"s not like that." Frankie grabbed her by the arm to draw her back. "She just wanted to tell me something."
Somehow that didn"t make Evelina feel any better. She a.s.sumed a bored expression. "Oh?"
"Yes." He smiled. "She wanted to tell me she"s releasing me from the betrothal."
Her breath hitched in her throat. Her pulse beat fast. "What?" That was the last thing she expected him to say. "Why?"
"She says she"d never be happy with me."
Joy bubbled up from her toes. "Oh?" Was she crazy? Who couldn"t be happy with Frankie? "Why?"
"Because I told her I care about someone else."
"You do?"
"Yes." He chuckled. "I do."
A smile spread across her face. He"d just said the two words she"d never thought to hear.