The storm raged on as The Crimson Wave approached the ominous island. The glowing symbols etched into its jagged cliffs pulsed faintly, as if alive. Seraphine's hands tightened on the ship's wheel, her instincts screaming danger, but the compass in her pocket burned like fire against her skin, urging her onward.

"Prepare to drop anchor!" she shouted over the chaos.

Rigg and Lorcan scrambled to their positions, but Callen lingered by her side, his eyes scanning the dark, churning waters. "You hear that, don't you?" he said, his voice low.

Seraphine nodded. Beneath the storm's fury, a guttural roar echoed again, reverberating through the ship like a heartbeat.

"Captain!" Rigg yelled, pointing to the starboard side.

From the depths, a massive shadow emerged, its sheer size dwarfing the ship. As lightning illuminated the beast, the crew froze. Its scales shimmered like molten silver, its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light, and its tentacle-like fins whipped through the waves with unnatural grace.

"The Leviathan," Seraphine whispered, her breath catching in her throat.

"Ready the cannons!" Lorcan bellowed, snapping the crew out of their trance.

"No!" Seraphine commanded, her voice cutting through the panic. "You'll only anger it."

The Leviathan circled the ship, its movements deliberate, almost calculating. As the beast drew closer, the glowing symbols on the island intensified, casting an ethereal light across the water.

"What's it waiting for?" Callen asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"It's guarding something," Seraphine said, her eyes narrowing. She pulled the compass from her pocket, and the needle pointed not to the island, but to the heart of the Leviathan's swirling path.

A Gamble With the Sea

Seraphine turned to her crew, her voice firm. "Listen up! That creature isn't going to let us pass without a fight. But it's not here to kill us—it's testing us."

"Testing us?" Lorcan growled. "That thing could sink us with one swipe of its tail!"

"Then we make sure it doesn't," she said, stepping forward. "I'll go."

The crew erupted in protest, but Seraphine silenced them with a raised hand.

"This is my quest, my fight. Lower the longboat. I'll draw its attention and lead it away from the ship."

"You can't be serious," Callen said, his voice sharp. "You won't survive out there alone."

"Do you have a better idea?" she challenged, locking eyes with him.

He hesitated, then sighed, his jaw tightening. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."

"Callen—"

"Don't bother arguing," he interrupted, grabbing a harpoon. "You'll need someone to watch your back."

Reluctantly, she nodded. Together, they climbed into the longboat as the crew lowered it into the roiling sea.

"Keep the ship steady," she ordered Rigg. "If we don't come back, you know what to do."

Rigg saluted, his face grim. "Aye, Captain."

The Leviathan's Test

As the longboat drifted closer to the Leviathan, the creature paused, its glowing eyes fixed on the pair. Seraphine stood tall, meeting its gaze.

"What now?" Callen asked, his grip on the harpoon tightening.

"We show it we're not afraid," she said, her voice steady. She raised the compass high, its glow matching the symbols on the island.

The Leviathan let out a deafening roar, and the water surged around them. Callen braced himself, but Seraphine stood firm.

"Easy," she murmured, her tone calm but commanding. "We're not your enemies."

To their astonishment, the Leviathan slowed, its massive head lowering until it was level with the boat. Its eyes studied Seraphine intently, as if searching for something.

"What is it doing?" Callen whispered.

"I think it's waiting," she said, a spark of understanding lighting her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped to the edge of the boat and held out her hand. The Leviathan leaned closer, its breath hot and humid. Slowly, it extended one of its massive fins, revealing a shimmering, rune-covered medallion embedded in its scales.

"The key," Seraphine murmured. She reached out, her fingers brushing the medallion.

The Gate Opens

The moment her hand made contact, a surge of energy shot through her, and the medallion came free. The Leviathan let out a triumphant roar, its body glowing with the same light as the island.

"It's a guardian," Callen said, realization dawning on him.

As the Leviathan retreated, the island began to tremble. A massive stone gate emerged from the cliffs, its surface etched with the same glowing symbols.

Seraphine turned to Callen, her eyes blazing with determination. "This is it."

Together, they rowed back to The Crimson Wave, the crew cheering as they climbed aboard.

"What now, Captain?" Rigg asked.

Seraphine held up the medallion, its glow casting eerie shadows across her face. "We go ashore."

To Be Continued...

Will Seraphine and her crew unlock the secrets of the Leviathan's Gate, or will the dangers of the island prove too great? And what deeper connection does Seraphine have to the myths she's chasing? Stay tuned for the next chapter! 🏴‍☠️✨