Saving Her Destiny by Candice Gilmer

They slid closer to the sides, creeping up the wall. Duncan realized what they saw—the edge of the water. There had to be some kind of shore above.
    From the way the rocks curved in a tunnel, maybe there was a cove was above? Or an underwater cave? Keefe took the lead and emerged on one side, and Kealan followed on the other.
    Duncan was the last to reach the air. He glanced around and found himself inside a cave.
    â€œThere’s no one here,” Kealan said, his voice bouncing off the cave’s walls.
    â€œObviously,” Duncan replied. “But someone had to have been here.” He was glad to use his voice, though he winced at the echoes. There was something to be said about the quiet of underwater.
    Duncan swam over to the small outcropping of rocks on the far side and pulled himself up. “This would be a great place to snatch someone and hide them. Especially an air breather.” He rested his dripping hand on the ledge and, feeling something, he jerked it back. That something he felt wasn’t water.
    He stroked the dark brown pool that laid on the rocks, instantly recognizing the murky substance.
    â€œWhat is it?” Keefe said, getting closer.
    â€œBlood. Not enough to signify a fatal injury, but someone was bleeding here.” Duncan waved his hand in the air. His wand materialized and he pointed it at the blood. Magic hit the pool.
    â€œDon’t,” Keefe said.
    â€œToo late,” Duncan replied. He expected his magic to sputter and spit like it had before, but it didn’t. Instead, a shadowed, waif-like apparition appeared, right where Duncan was sitting.
    â€œThis spot must be outside the charms,” Keefe said.
    Kealan leaned in closer to the apparition Duncan had created from the blood drops. “Nice trick.”
    Duncan ignored the merrow’s dig about magic. He wasn’t about to turn away any clues that might help him find Cara.
    The misty image revealed a bound and gagged Cara. Her forehead was black due to blood stain, and she struggled against her bonds.
    Alive. She was alive. Or was, not that long ago.
    Cara.
    â€œHear me, Cara…” Duncan pushed his thoughts out into the water, trying to find some glimmer of her, some spark of recognition from her.
    Nothing came back.
    Keefe interrupted his thoughts. “So we know she was here. How long ago?”
    Duncan met Keefe’s stare. “That is up to you. You’re the underwater tracker. How long would that algae be lit up like that?”
    â€œIt couldn’t be more than an hour since it was churned. So she was here, but she was dragged off, I would guess. There’s a lot of stirring here. Means a lot of oxygen was released in the water, so probably a struggle.”
    â€œWe just missed her.” Duncan sighed. At least she’d been alive not that long ago. “So now what?” He pushed away his worry. If she was dead, the scream would have come out.
    He had to tell himself that, because he couldn’t feel her out there anywhere.
    â€œIf she’s bleeding, we might be able to track her,” Kealan said.
    â€œBlood in the water will attract sharks and other predatory fish,” Keefe said. “So if we move, we might be able to find a trail.”
    â€œLet’s go.” Duncan glanced at the meter inside his wrist. The yellow color was getting a very obvious orange tint to it. “We’re losing hours here. We have to find her.”
    The three of them dove back down and started swimming out of the cavern.
    â€œWe’re going to need help,” Keefe said.
    Duncan agreed.
    â€œWe have to find her. She’s a ticking time bomb . ”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Kealan asked.
    â€œOne thing that most people don’t know about banshees,” Duncan began, “they have to release their screams. If they don’t…”
    â€œThey become a living bomb,” Keefe finished.
    â€œExactly.”
    â€œBut who would