I pressed my palms against the cold, reinforced porthole glass, silently thanking King Delphi for his renovations. A white light blasted through the water, decimating the sirens in a wave of blood and ichor. Only their tails remained intact, the colorful, glistening scales sinking to the ocean floor. Eventually the sunburst faded, but hundreds of bloodied bodies continued drifting past the sturdy windows.

I knew Rylander had somehow unleashed a deadly sound, by the way he and the sirens nursed their bleeding ears, but between the wax and reconstructed room, we heard nothing inside our refuge. Still, I could read the vast expressions of fear, disbelief, and even relief on everyone’s faces as they watched the rainbow sea of dead sirens. However, the one face I desperately sought, I couldn’t find. I’d lost sight of Rylander somewhere in the havoc of the destruction.

Another siren floated by, neck twisted at an unfathomable angle to stare back at me with empty, mutilated eye sockets, her organs on full display. Her claws scraped against the window, and I jumped back. Even in death, these monsters incited fear. Dara wept in the corner, and I went to her rather than continue my macabre vigil. I gathered her in my arms and rocked her back and forth, stroking her hair. No child should have to witness such gruesome carnage.

Via tapped my shoulder, dark skin paling, and pointed to the farthest, largest window in the room. Through the mass of tailfins, I saw Rylander writhing beneath the sinking corpses. I signaled to Hannah to keep Dara away from the portholes and ran for a closer look. Nose to the glass, I watched Rylander shirk a pink tail, only to be slammed by a blue one toting a ragged torso that entangled its limbs with his, slowing his swimming. Each new blow raining down on him was a swift kick in my gut, as panicked despair coiled around my innards. I tried mapping out a clear path to the surface but there were too many obstacles in the way. Without help, he’d be shoved to the bottom of the sea.

I pounded my fist on the window.

Krinny nudged my shoulder and mimed that he couldn’t see or hear me. He was too distracted battling through the torrents of blood and gore between us.

Krinny and Via flanked me, stiffening as they watched, their worry radiating off them like scorching rays. Each placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing whenever Rylander took a hit. They applied more force than necessary for a gesture of comfort, and I wondered if they were there to hold me back.