Into the Storm

The mansion erupted into chaos. As Luca's warning echoed in the room, Victor's calm façade shattered into action. He moved quickly, issuing orders to the guards that appeared from nowhere, their faces hard with resolve.

Nereus watched in stunned silence, the gravity of their situation pressing down on him like a tidal wave."Nereus," Victor said, his voice sharp, breaking through the din, "go with Luca. He'll take you to the safe room. Stay there until I get you."Nereus swallowed hard, his heart racing.

"But what about you?"Victor's eyes flicked to him, their usual calm replaced with something fiercer. "I'll be right behind you. Trust me."For a split second, Nereus hesitated. His instinct was to stay, to help—but he knew he was still unprepared for what was coming.

Without another word, he nodded and followed Luca out of the room, his pulse pounding in his ears.The halls were a blur of movement as they raced toward the safe room. Luca's usually laid-back demeanor was gone, replaced by a hardened, determined expression.

His hand hovered near the gun holstered at his side, ready for whatever might come next."They found us faster than we expected," Luca muttered as they turned a corner, his voice tight. "We don't know how many are out there yet, but they're not here for negotiations."

Nereus's mind reeled. The reality of the danger had been abstract until now—distant, even as Victor had told him about the Trident. But now, with enemies at the gates, the fear was very real.

"How did they find us?" Nereus asked, his voice unsteady."We're not sure," Luca replied, glancing back at him. "They have resources, connections. We've always known they'd track us down eventually. It was just a matter of time."Before Nereus could respond, the sound of gunfire echoed through the halls, distant but unmistakable.

His heart jumped into his throat, and instinctively, he ducked. Luca's hand shot out, pulling him to the side."Stay close," Luca hissed, his eyes scanning the hallway ahead.They continued to move swiftly, winding through corridors until they reached a large, reinforced door.

Luca punched in a code, and the door slid open with a mechanical hum. Inside, the safe room was surprisingly spacious, equipped with monitors, weapons, and supplies for what seemed like weeks. It was a fortress within a fortress.

"Stay here," Luca instructed as they stepped inside. "This room is impenetrable. No one's getting in without us knowing."Nereus nodded, though his stomach twisted with anxiety. As Luca moved to leave, Nereus grabbed his arm, his voice urgent.

"What about Victor? He's still out there."Luca met his gaze, his expression softening for a moment. "Victor knows how to handle himself. Trust me, he'll be fine."With that, Luca slipped back through the door, leaving Nereus alone in the silent room.

The door sealed shut behind him, locking him inside with his racing thoughts.For a moment, Nereus simply stood there, his chest tight with worry. The monitors on the wall flickered to life, showing different angles of the mansion—some of the guards taking up positions, others moving through the grounds.

But Victor was nowhere in sight.He sat down heavily on one of the chairs, his mind spinning. He had come so far in such a short time, learning to fight, learning to trust Victor and Luca—but nothing had prepared him for the feeling of helplessness that settled over him now.

The sea had always been his sanctuary, a place where he knew every current, every shadow. But here, on land, in this world of violence and danger, he felt small and powerless.His thoughts drifted back to the conversation in the hidden room, to the ancient power Victor had spoken of. The sea was calling to him—he could feel it. If he could connect to that power, maybe he could do something. Maybe he could help.

Taking a deep breath, Nereus closed his eyes, focusing inward. He had never attempted to reach out to the ocean from this far inland, but he had to try. He thought of the waves, the gentle pull of the tide, the vast depths of his home. He imagined the water flowing through him, connecting him to something deeper, something ancient.

At first, there was nothing—just silence. But then, slowly, he felt a shift, a pulse of energy deep within him. It was faint, like a distant echo, but it was there. The ocean was responding.His heart quickened. He focused harder, trying to strengthen the connection.

The energy grew, swirling around him like a gentle current, and for a moment, he felt the familiar comfort of the sea. It was as though he was standing in the shallows again, the water lapping at his feet.But then, just as quickly as it had come, the connection flickered—and something darker crept in.A cold shiver ran down Nereus's spine as he felt the presence of something else—something watching him from afar. It wasn't the sea's gentle spirit.

This was something more sinister, more menacing. The Trident.He gasped, his eyes snapping open. The room around him felt colder, as though the very air had thickened with tension. His heart pounded in his chest, the sense of unease growing.

Somehow, through his connection to the sea, the Trident had sensed him.He scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He needed to warn Victor. He needed to tell him that the Trident was closer than they thought—that they were reaching for him, even now.Just as he moved toward the door, the ground beneath him shook.

A loud crash echoed through the mansion, followed by more gunfire—closer this time. Panic surged through Nereus's veins as he stared at the door, willing it to open, to let him out.But before he could react, the monitors flickered again, showing new images.

His blood ran cold as he saw men—armed, masked, and moving swiftly—storming the mansion. They were inside.And leading them was a figure that made Nereus's heart stop: a tall, imposing man dressed in black, his face partially obscured, but his presence unmistakable.

This was the leader of the Trident.The man moved with purpose, cutting down anyone in his path. He was heading straight for Victor's location."No…" Nereus whispered, fear clawing at his chest.He couldn't stay here. He couldn't wait.

Victor was out there, and if he didn't do something, the Trident would reach him.Ignoring the fear coursing through him, Nereus rushed to the door, frantically searching for a way to unlock it. His fingers fumbled over the keypad, but nothing happened. The room was sealed tight.He slammed his fists against the door in frustration, a surge of desperation rising within him. He had to get out.

He had to help.Suddenly, the energy from earlier surged within him again—stronger this time. His body hummed with the power of the ocean, raw and untamed. Without thinking, Nereus placed his hand on the door, focusing all his will into the connection.

The metal beneath his fingers groaned, and to his astonishment, the door began to shift. It wasn't breaking, but the water that coursed through the pipes in the walls, the moisture in the air—all of it was bending to his will.With a final push, the door slid open.

Nereus stood there for a moment, stunned by what he had just done. But there was no time to think. He bolted from the room, racing through the halls toward Victor.The sounds of the fight grew louder as he neared the front of the mansion.

His heart pounded in his chest, fear and adrenaline warring within him. He rounded a corner and skidded to a stop.Victor stood in the main hall, his back to Nereus, facing down the leader of the Trident.

The two men stared each other down, the tension between them palpable.Nereus's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't let this happen. He wouldn't lose Victor—not now, not like this.

Drawing on the ocean's power one more time, Nereus stepped forward, ready to fight for the man who had saved him.