Then We Fly

by Rebecca Salas

  “Very well. I chose this path when I asked for your aid. You may have what you wish. Where will I find you?”

  I brought the image of the map Oran had shown me before us and pointed to where we were. “Here. This is where I am, but I can meet you somewhere if you need.”

  “That will be fine. It is closer than that Seal Island. I will be there in the morning.”

  “Thank you.” I said the words as she faded out of the scene. She had woken up and was no longer there. I twisted my fingers twirling the fog around them before I opened my eyes and looked up into the anxious gaze of Oran above me.

  Oran hovered, a few inches away. I could see his face shift as he understood that I had returned unharmed. I wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but he seemed content that it hadn’t happened. I smiled in an attempt to assure him.

  “All sorted. Let’s get that other boat.”

  Oran nodded and stepped back allowing some space between us. He stared at me for a moment, like he still wasn’t sure of me, before nodding again, turning and walking away.

  It was beginning to get dark as we approached the lights of the dock. I took my place in an inner room, where I could go unobserved while Oran procured my boat. I sat impatiently, watching the minutes tick slowly on, and hoping that all would go smoothly. A gentle knock came on the door and I opened it to Oran’s bright smile. His hair was messier than usual and his cheeks glowed with excitement.

  “I’ve got it. It’s almost dark and then you can board without anyone noticing.”

  I looked at him appraisingly.

  “What?” He smiled again. “I get why Fynn likes this cloak and dagger stuff. It’s fun.”

  I laughed. “Ok. I’ll go get my stuff.” I took my few belongings onto the starlit deck, easing into the shadows It wouldn’t do any good if I were noticed now. Oran walked down the dock to a smaller boat and its engine came to life. Oran steered it into the shadow of his yacht, out of sight of anyone from the shore. I climbed down a ladder and jumped the remaining few feet to the small boat.

  The boat was little more than a fancy speed boat with a shade covering a large section in the middle.

  “The weather will be fine wherever you go as long as you let me know where you are.” Oran pointed out a glowing screen, lit with a grid and covered in numbers. “GPS coordinates,” he said, “I can work with those.”

  I set my pack down while I ran my hands along the controls, making sure I understood everything. From my side Oran wrapped his arms around me, picking me up into a hug and placing a kiss on my hair. The gesture was so confident and easy that I was taken completely by surprise. I simply hung there where he held me in the air, wondering what was going on.

  “Thanks.” I said and leaned my head against his chest. The best I could do to reciprocate the gesture as my arms were pinned to my sides. I twisted my head to get a better view of his face. Oran was smiling like a giddy schoolboy and it was so out of character I furrowed my brow watching him. He set me down with a shrug.

  “It’s nice to be needed.”

  Dylan

  I felt like I was desperately trying to swim up through a thick soup. My mind was foggy, my limbs were heavy. My breathing was the only thing that came quickly. Quick erratic breaths as I struggled, a sense of panic. As I scratched and struggled to come fully to the surface, nearby I could make out the distorted sounds of conversation.

  “She hasn’t been cooperative yet.” A woman spoke.

  “Does he really think that this will motivate her?” My leg was prodded as if by a shoe.

  “He seems pretty confident.” She answered.

  “If her legs weren’t enough, I doubt his will do it. What is he anyway?” The gruff voice asked.

  I could feel my limbs better at this point, not nearly the disconnect from a moment before. Still, I didn’t move. With the strange conversation it seemed better not to let them know I was awake yet.

  “Just some mutt that she’s attached to.” The woman answered. The voices quieted, but still, I didn’t move. I hadn’t heard them move. It was hard though; I could feel my legs splayed out on the hard surface at an awkward angle.

  I dug through my own memories. How had I gotten here? Where was here? I remembered getting back on the boat with Cora. After we hiked back from meeting that naiad. Cora had laid down to try and talk to… someone. I had gone down to get something to eat and then… nothing. I couldn’t remember.

  “Here.” The gruff voice spoke. I took a chance, opening my eyes. I was still in the cabin of the boat, lying on the ground, my face pressed into the smooth wooden floor. The water splashed against the sides of the boat. A pair of boots approached me, nudging insistently against my shoulder. “Time to wake up sunshine.” The man continued. I recognized the voice vaguely as a member of the crew. “We’ve reached your stop.” There was a chuckle in his voice.

  I rolled over, scanning the room for Cora. I hadn’t heard her voice. Something felt wrong, besides the obvious of my laying sprawled out on the floor, with what was quickly developing into a brain splitting headache. I reached up to my head and pulled back with a gasp. I reached up again more gently, finding the lump and crusted blood in my hair.

  “Did I hit my head?” I asked.

  “Really hard.” The man said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. “You’ve been our for hours.” The woman, Tess maybe, scowled at the burly man. She reached out her hand to me, helping me off the floor. Sticking out from behind a cabinet I saw a pair of legs lying at an unnatural angle.

  “I’m glad to see you awake Dylan.” She turned an annoyed look on the large man. “It would have been our heads if something had been really hurt.” He rolled his eyes. Again, I scanned to room looking for Cora without any sign of her.

  “Where’s Cora? I asked, eyeing the limp limbs anxiously.

  “She had to go.” The big guy said.

  I furrowed my brow. Go where? I looked critically at the man; something was clearly wrong. I stretched out my sore limbs, stiff and aching.

  “Where?” I asked. Trying to sound casual.

  “That’s her business.” Tess said. “We’re at your stop now.”

  I looked out at the dark horizon. There was no light in sight. I turned in a circle looking for the lights on the island. There were none. I pair of large hands grabbed me by the arms, dragging me through the cabin. I flailed trying ineffectively to extricate myself.

  “What the hell?” I hollered. He didn’t respond, he simply continued dragging me while I fought against him. The man was enormous and strong as a bear. “What are you doing?” I yelled again. I looked around again for Cora or any friendly face. I found none. I reached out and grabbed a railing as we passed.

  “Come on, don’t be such a—"

  “A hand please, Nahwai” Tess spoke, cutting off the man.

  “Ugh, fine.” A silky female voice grumbled from the direction I was being dragged.

  Over the sound of the waves and my struggle against the large man came the lilt of Nahwai’s smooth voice. Wordless notes bidding me to relent. I struggled now against the song in addition to the man. I wanted to cover my ears and block it out. But I also wanted to listen. The man dragged me further on, quicker now that I was fighting on multiple fronts. I had a hard time remembering that I wanted to fight back. Why bother fighting? Did I really want to be stuck on this boat with people who would happily chuck me out to sea? At least this Nahwai person seemed to want my company. Fighting was exhausting. Better to go and deal with her. I didn’t have much chance of beating back this bear man anyway.

  The cold water crashed against me as I was tossed into the water, and the woman’s song cut off as the boat’s engines grew louder before they began to pull away. No. Crap. I did not want to be stuck in the middle of the ocean somewhere with whatever Nahwai was. I reached out for the boat, but I was too late, the boat was already picking up speed and I had no hope of catching it. In the dim light of the stars, I could make out the shape of Nahwai’s
head bobbing above the surface of the water.

  “Come now, beloved. We don’t want to keep your darling waiting.” She cooed.

  “What?”

  “I will drag you if I must, or not. I could leave you to float about aimlessly until you give up. But why delay the inevitable? One way or another, you will be coming with me.”

  “Where do you want me to go?” I asked cautiously.

  “To my home, to see Fayre.”

  “Fayre?” I choked out. “Fayre is here?” I looked down at the water beneath me, looking for some sign of light from below.

  “Yes, and unless you want to keep her waiting, let’s be on our way.” She said with a hint of annoyance.

  What other choice did I have? Obviously, this woman wasn’t my friend, but I was in the middle of the dark ocean, with no idea which way was land, except a vague general direction that the boat had gone. I could swim for hours in circles out here in the dark. And if she did have Fayre. My heart rate picked up. Fayre had been missing for days. I had to at least see what was going on. And yet. Memories of my encounter with that sea witch months ago cling to me like a weight, threatening to drown me. But as I thought of feeling like I might drown, I began to laugh quietly. I physically couldn’t down.

  Bring it on.

  “After you.” I held out an arm, directing her to lead on. She looked at me with what, in the dim light I could only guess was suspicion in her eyes. I guessed she had heard my bubble of laughter. Good, let her think I was nuts. I smiled maniacally, for effect. With narrowed eyes, she turned from me and ducking under water disappeared from my sight. I followed behind her through the dark. Here without the light of the stars dancing across the surface of the waves I could see a dim light glowing in the distance. It was impossible to tell how far away it was with no reference point between the light and myself.

  The cold salt water stung where it washed through the gash on my head. But in a moment, the stinging stopped and even my headache began to ease. Pausing, I reached up again to find the lump on my head was smaller than before and significantly less tender. Salt water was supposed to have helped me heal faster with my injuries from my encounter with the sea witch before. I hadn’t had the opportunity to test it out again since then.

  The glow intensified as we neared it. Shadows stretched long across the ocean floor, spreading out and around a derelict sunken ship. A blue glow emanated from within, brightening patches of the sea floor through the cracks in the ship’s hull. The prow of the ship appeared to be missing entirely. The single enclosed cabin at the top glowed brightly, but a dim light poured from the wide opening in the broken hull as well.

  Nahwai went to the enclosed cabin, its walls made up of large broken windows. Opening the decrepit door, she swam inside, leaving the doorway open behind her. With a cautious look through the many broken windows, I followed her inside. The room’s glow emanated from several jars that hung about the room, filled with an odd assortment of glowing fish in a variety of greens, blues and purples. My eyes caught on an iridescent blue fish with brown eyes that were oddly human and too large in its small fish face. The brown eyes followed me as I moved through the entrance. The sight was unnerving.

  Many small trunks lined the edges of the room, a worn wooden desk taking up the center. The wood surfaces were being overgrown with a coat of green algae and covered in plants and coral, apart from a circle at the center of the desk, which was clear and the brown wood was visible. My eyes were drawn to the incongruency.

  “Welcome.” Nahwai crooned in her silken voice. In the glow of the cabin I could now make out her appearance. Whereas the sea witch I had met before had been lovely, Nahwai was decidedly not. Her gray hair twisted around her like clumps of dry grass. Her skin sagged and wrinkled, hanging loosely from her form. Her eyes were full black, giving me the feeling of being watched by a hawk. I was grateful that the woman was clothed in a billowy top. The less of her mottled skin I had to see the better. From her waist stretched eight blotchy tentacles, undulating slowly through the water while she held still. I made my appraisal of her appearance at a glance, an overpowering need to look away drawing my eyes to anything else in the room. My brief glance was enough to make my skin crawl. How had such a musical voice come out of such a being?

  “Please, make yourself comfortable.” She spoke again as I studiously avoided her gaze. Looking anywhere but her coal eyes.

  “Where’s Fayre?” I asked. “You said she was here.”

  “I did, and she is. Unfortunately, she was not content to wait in my presence. I will retrieve her in a moment.” She swam around trying to keep herself in my line of sight. My need to avoid looking at her was almost painful. Sure, she was ugly, but beyond that I just needed to look away. “Is something the matter boy?” She practically sung. Was there? It felt like there was.

  “No.” I said. I could feel here hawk eyes on me. One tentacle curled gently around my chin, forcing me to face her straight on. The feeling of having something climb slowly up my back was almost unbearable. Looking at her directly was more than off-putting, it was almost intolerable. She smiled brightly, her mouth full of broken and yellowing teeth. I fought against the grimace that was trying to crawl across my own face. Nahwai sighed, the sound musical and forlorn, and released me. I looked away instantly.

  “I’ll only be a moment.” A note of sadness crept into her tone, as she swam past me and out the open door. As soon as the last of her tentacles was out of my view, I could breathe easier. What kind of creature was she? Where everything I had met up to this point had some kid of appeal, Nahwai was utterly repulsive.

  “Dylan?” Fayre’s familiar voice came from behind me and I turned. She entered the cabin beaming and reached for me. I happily wrapped her in a hug.

  “Fayre! Where have you been?” I spoke into her blonde hair that billowed around us, glowing blue and green in the unusual light.

  “Here.” She laughed, like I was probably an idiot. I held her out at arm’s length, looking her over. She smiled brightly, the dimple on her cheek making an appearance. She looked unharmed.

  “Are you alright? What happened? We’ve been worried.” I peppered her with questions. Her eyes brightened further.

  “You were worried?” She seemed thrilled.

  “Of course, I was worried. You disappeared without a word.” I said as she squeezed her arms around me again.

  “I’m so glad! I mean… I’m sorry.” She made some attempt at schooling her features into something more contrite, but it left something to be desired.

  “What are you doing here, Fayre?” I asked, and at this she looked… embarrassed? She dropped her hands from my shoulders and began to pick at her fingernails, not meeting my eyes.

  “Well, that would be my fault, in part.” Nahwai practically purred as she rolled into the room, tentacles swirling around her. And with her presence retuned the feeling of revulsion. “The girl was looking for a favor and hoped to get one from me. Unfortunately for her, she was not willing to meet the terms of the exchange. But that’s where you come in, Dylan darling.” Without thinking, my head shot up to face Nahwai but just as quickly I felt the desperate compulsion to look away.

  “What does this have to do with me?” I looked back to Fayre. “What’s going on?” Fayre continued to hide behind the blond waves of her hair. But Nahwai had no trouble answering me.

  “The business is simply this. She came to me in search of a favor, and was unhappy with what was required of her in exchange. I however, need her and therefore will keep her here until she relents. Another, who would also like her cooperation has procured you as a means of motivation for our dear Fayre.” Fayre’s eye’s shot up, startled.

  “No.” She breathed out a whisper.

  Still, I didn’t fully understand. “You want me to convince her to go along with the bargain?”

  “You could try if you like, but really, you’ll help me one way or another, willingly, through your screams, or permanent silence.” Her voi
ce was warm but her words left me feeling colder than before.

  “What’s the bargain?” I asked. And I felt more than saw, Nahwai’s gaze turn to Fayre. It was a physical weight removed from my shoulders.

  “They want me to induce my father to find something for them.” Fayre whispered.

  “So why am I here at all? Why don’t they threaten your dad instead?”

  “He needs to think it was his idea, and the less he knows of who he’s working with, the less he can let slip. Darling Fayre will be slipping him something to make him more… pliable, to her suggestions. He will deliver what we need and be none the wiser to the unnecessary details. Then darling Fayre will get what she wants and be free to enjoy her life on—”

  “No!” Fayre cut her off. “I won’t do it. I won’t.”

  “But you will. Or Dylan will pay the price. And then what use would your end of the bargain be to you?”

  “Who is we?” I asked, directing my voice, if not my eyes, to Nahwai.

  She huffed out an annoyed sigh. “Myself and King Byron’s eldest son, Blake.”

  “Blake? Are you kidding me? What’s that… what is he trying to pull now?”

  “I can only guess what the monster is up to, but it doesn’t really matter. One way or another, he’ll get what he wants.”

  “Why would you work with him if even you think he’s a monster?” I asked.

  “The same reason you’ll help me out now. He found my weakness and exploited it.” Nahwai was calm.

  “Just ask for something else, please.” Fayre’s quiet voice pleaded.

  “Unfortunately, I cannot, so long as I remain as I am, I am hopeless to do otherwise. Now, out of the generosity of my heart I will allow you two a moment to come to an understanding before we solidify our agreement.”

  Cora

  I’d been on my own on the open sea for several hours. Heading, I hoped, in the right direction. My thoughts were plagued with worry for my brother. Every time I had attempted to reach out to him, I had been unable, and now my thoughts ran through a million worse case scenarios until I was on the verge of hyperventilating.