The Drowned Gods, #1
Curious Tides
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 30: Baz
Overview
Baz confronts an umbra that weaponizes his fears until Emory shields them with Lightkeeper magic. As the tide surges, Baz unlocks formidable time-stopping power, letting them push through a frozen wave toward escape. The umbra returns, overpowers Emory, and drags her into the depths, severing her light and leaving Baz alone.
Summary
Baz reels as the umbra floods his mind with fears and memories, trying to hollow him out. Emory interposes herself, blasting light to drive it back and raising a barrier that briefly holds. Realizing the creature may be what remains of Jordyn, Baz warns Emory, but the umbra presses against her weakening defense as the tide begins to thunder in.
Out of time, Baz finally embraces his power. He commands time to stop, freezing incoming water and halting the world around them while he and Emory still move. They face a towering, time-still wave blocking the tunnel, and Baz urges a desperate swim through it.
Emory infuses them both with protective light and detonates a burst to stagger the umbra. Together they plunge into the suspended wave, forcing their way through the weightless water. Baz surfaces inside a pocket of stillness near the exit, the outside sea raging beyond the reach of his spell.
Before they can continue, the umbra emerges from the frozen wave and claws into Emory, dragging her back toward the depths. Baz grabs for her, but her protective glow dies. Emory is pulled under and vanishes, leaving Baz with time faltering and the tide and nightmare closing in.
Who Appears
- BazFaces an umbra that exploits his fears; unlocks powerful time-stopping magic to escape; fails to save Emory.
- EmoryWields Lightkeeper light to shield them, empowers Baz and herself, then is seized by the umbra and dragged away.
- Umbra (Jordyn)Predatory nightmare entity, possibly Jordyn transformed; breaks through Emory’s light and abducts her into the depths.