Juno, to be exact.
The General had been training him privately since the very beginning. Juno was now an accomplished torturer.
And from what they said in between sessions, I was not his first victim. If I hadn’t been writhing in agony, I would have felt bad for all the others he’d practiced on all these months.
I slumped forward, my body floating as I dangled from chains on the rough stone wall. Yeah, the General’s private quarters had their own torture room. Except they didn’t need to use knives or anything that would leave a mark.
Juno just had to touch me. Just the lightest touch. And agony so intense it had made me black out would shoot through my body.
“Again, son.”
Juno grinned and stepped close to me. Too close. I didn’t like him before, but now I was actually revolted by him.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he said as he traced my jaw with his fingertips, raining pain wherever he made contact. The look is his eyes was almost flirtatious, which made everything worse. “Your suffering is so beautiful.”
“How poetic,” I said dryly, trying to stifle a whimper of pain. “You are full of surprises, Juno.”
“More! She shouldn’t be able to speak. She should be drooling by now!”
Something flashed in Juno’s eyes that scared the hell out of me. It looked like regret. I realized in that moment that he had been holding back.
“Sorry about this,” he said too softly before grabbing both sides of my face. White hot light shot through me, filling every inch of my flesh. I didn’t exist anymore. He didn’t exist. Nothing did.
Only the pain.
Then he was gone and I was floating in a haze, barely conscious of what was happening. I heard a loud bang and movement. But I couldn’t manage to open my eyes.
“What in Triton’s name do you think you are you doing?”
Annaruth. I felt her cool hands as she lifted my face to stare at me.
“Torturing a candidate? Our future Spark? You go too far, General.”
“She was out after curfew and had to be punished. She could very well be a traitor.” I blinked and saw his smarmy face come into focus. “Anyway, I doubt she’ll be good for anything now.”
Juno blew me a kiss while Annaruth’s back was turned. I watched as he winked before schooling his features. As if he’d beaten me. As if he’d won.
Like Triton he had!
“Her mind is mush,” Juno added helpfully. “I lost control of my magic that last time. It’s my fault.”
“Mush,” I said, sounding like I was half asleep. Well, maybe I was a little mushy. “Muhhh . . .”
Come on, brain. Work!
“She’ll be able to do menial labor at least, I hope,” he said, and I hissed at him. Annaruth glared and then stepped away, barking at him to release me.
I grimaced as Juno’s hands busied themselves at my wrists.
“How about a little kiss? One last little zap,” he murmured in my ear. “For luck.”
I flinched as he kissed my cheek and pain shot through my face. I could feel the pain slithering through my skin, all the way down to the bone.
The pain was nothing compared to before, but it still hurt. I whimpered as I slumped forward. He caught me before I could fall to the ground, which was way too close for comfort.
Juno held me in his arms for a minute as I fought for control of my body. As soon as I regained control, I lifted my head. He was still grinning at me when I shoved him with my tail. Hard.
“Don’t touch me, you glob of sea slime!”
He was chuckling.
“You recovered quickly.”
“Luckily for you,” Annaruth said with sharp glance. Juno had the good sense to look concerned to be on the other end of that look. He should be. Annaruth was the second-most powerful Mer in our Kingdom, which was technically a Queendom.
Hmm, my thoughts aren’t making a whole lot of sense right now.
“She must be punished for being out after curfew. And I am not done questioning her.”
“You are,” Annaruth said, brooking no refusal.
“I have the Queen’s authority.”
“To torture the future Sea Spark? I think not.”
“She is not Spark yet,” the General grumbled. I glanced back as Annaruth took my arm and led me out of the room. Her touch was immediately soothing.
The kiss Juno blew me as we departed was not. I shuddered. The kiss thing was extra-creepy.
“How bad is it?”
“I don’t know . . .” I truly could not tell. I was stunned, like I’d touched a jellyfish, but about a thousand times. The absence of pain was so dramatic that it was almost pleasurable. “Much better than I did half a tide ago.”
She gave me a wry look.
“At least your sense of humor is intact.” She swam a bit faster until we were in the Royal wing, then she slowed again. I pretty much drifted in her wake.
“I didn’t know there was a study program for torture,” I mumbled as she guided me to my chambers. I stopped swimming when I saw Dane waiting outside my chambers. He hadn’t seen us yet.
“What is he doing?”
“You didn’t show up for breakfast or morning classes. He’s the reason I found you.”
“I missed breakfast,” I joked lamely.
She shot me a look.
“You didn’t sense it?”
“I did sense something was amiss, but I wasn’t sure what I was feeling until he came and found me. Once I swam toward you, I could feel your pain. My chambers are on the farthest side of the castle from the General’s. He moved to new quarters just before the Academy sessions started. I’m starting to think that was deliberate.”
“What time is it?” I asked, shocked to see daylight outside as she threw open the doors.
“Tri.”
I gave Dane a weak smile as we all swam into my chambers.
“Thanks.”
“For what? What happened to you?”
“Juno happened. And the thanks is to both of you. For saving me. Again.”
I grimaced as I lowered myself to one of the couches. Dane hovered nearby as Annaruth buzzed around, sending a servant for her supplies.
“Juno? What did he do? I’ll kill him.”
“He’s got pain magic. And he’s been instructed in the finer points of applying it.” I tried to joke but I had to close my eyes. I was so grateful to be away from his poisonous touch. And that kiss . . . I shivered. Juno had been practically flirtatious.
I decided I liked him a lot better when he was just trying to kill me.
“Triton, we are training torturers now?”
Whoa, not even the Prince knew about that little fact, I thought. Interesting.
Annaruth sighed.
“It’s an unfortunate reality. I think the only reason Katriana survived is because of her magic. We haven’t discussed the healing abilities you are showing.”
“Can we talk about it tomorrow?” I sighed, closing my eyes and feeling myself want to sink into sleep. But then I heard Juno’s words. I felt his lips on my cheeks. I sat up and wrapped my arms around myself.
“Put her to sleep again. A spell. Until she recovers,” Dane said, his eyes hard.
“No. No way. We have exams tomorrow.”
“Who cares about exams? They could have killed you.”
“No.” I shook my head. “What they wanted to do was worse. I think . . .”
“What?”
“I think Juno was holding back. And I think he missed me with the harpoon on purpose.”
“What? Why do you say that?” Annaruth looked at me. I noticed Dane didn’t say anything.
“I don’t know,” I said, avoiding the Prince’s piercing gaze.
“I know why,” Dane said. Annaruth looked at him expectantly. “He has a crush on her.”
“He’s demented,” I said, shaking my head. If Dane was right, then Juno had a twisted way of showing affection. It had been like he enjoy
ed hurting me, but I knew without a doubt that he hadn’t wanted to end me.
If only because that meant he couldn’t hurt me again.
“You know I’m right,” Dane ground out, looking annoyed. More than annoyed. He looked jealous.
“It doesn’t matter. The feeling is not mutual.”
He didn’t say anything. He just crossed his arms and stared at me. I sighed and looked at Annaruth.
“So, what now?”
She frowned.
“I am beginning to think it is not safe for you here. That you have to take a . . . break.”
“A break?” I sat up, my exhaustion forgotten. “I can’t. I have to finish my training.”
“At what cost? If the Queen truly gave the General free reign, there is no telling what he might do next.” She stared at me. “I’ll speak to the Queen.”
“No, I will do it.”
“Pollux, she may mistake your motivation. If her advisors are behind this, showing you care for Katriana is not going to help.”
“I don’t care what any of them think. We need to get Tri to safety.”
“Tri is sitting right here, and Tri is not going anywhere,” I said with a scowl.
“This is serious, my child. I had no warning of this. If I cannot protect you even with a spell—”
“We have to protect each other,” I said firmly. “What kind of Mer would I be if I abandoned the two of you? Where would I go? If the General and Gundorth want me out of the way, there is no place in all the seas that would be safe. Unless I learn to protect myself.”
Dane and Annaruth exchanged a glance.
“It is true, they could eventually find you. But—”
“Not on land,” Dane said, finishing her sentence. “If things get bad, you must transform.”
I stared at him in awe.
“You mean . . . go on land? Before my training is complete?”
“Yes.”
“Would you come with me?”
He stared at me evenly, not answering. I knew it had been a stupid question. He was a Prince, not merely a Spark. Not just any Prince, either. He was the heir to the most powerful throne in the Northern Hemisphere.
And Annaruth could protect herself. I hoped so, anyway. The General would never hurt her unless he was given a direct order, something I doubted the Queen would ever do. The trouble was, I couldn’t tell if he was working for her or against her.
“Promise me. If they try again, you will leave.” He held up a hand when I opened my mouth to argue. “It wouldn’t be forever.”
He turned to go.
“Heal her. Make her rest for today, at least. I have to gather some things.”
“Things?”
“Two-Legger things. For you to hide somewhere. In your secret place,” he said.
Yes, but which one? The cave or my parents’ home? I have so many secrets, I thought guiltily.
My eyes were wide as Annaruth worked her magic on me. The pain was a distant memory by the time she left me, sending in Starla and Rip with servants bearing trays of food trailing behind them. I was so tired, I only ate three lobsters.
When I woke up, it was morning.
The first day of exams.
Chapter 24
I bent over the scroll, furiously scribbling. I was not doing well. I knew that because the scroll was spelled to grade you as you filled out the answers to the exam.
Red marks spooled over the scroll, mocking me as I gritted my teeth and curled my fins in tight.
I’d missed more than a few classes, and I wasn’t the sort of Mer who remembered names easily. Plus, I learned by doing, not by listening.
The Human History exam had gone a bit better, but only because I was fascinated by two-leggers. And since there were only two of us, the teacher had made sure to cover any topics I might have missed.
But the worst was yet to come.
Combat was next. Magical Combat and then the General’s final exam for the term. I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I rubbed my mother’s pendant hanging around my neck. I rarely wore it for classes, worried it might get lost, but today, I needed her with me.
To say I was already rattled was an understatement. Juno had blown me a kiss as we swam into the classroom. I knew without a doubt that he would be gunning for me in the Combat exam. He didn’t need to spear me to incapacitate me, either. He just had to brush past me. Or give me a kiss, I thought with a grimace. And that was after Dane had told me he gave Beazil a package and that my familiar had taken it to the cave.
A great white carrying a net bag in his giant teeth wasn’t conspicuous at all, I thought worriedly. My gentle giant might be in danger. He would be waiting for me. He could be caught.
Beazil didn’t have a uniform that could not be seen in darkness or the ability to make himself translucent!
Hopefully, the General was too busy imagining ways to kill me to keep an eye on the stables. If he harmed my shark, I would destroy him. I already hated the Mer with the heat of a thousand lava vents. I was pretty sure he was working against the Queen and her son, not for them. Plus, I would never forgive him for the disgusting things he’d said about me.
Focus, Tri. You need to pass!
If I failed even one of my exams, I could be out. It was true there weren’t really any other Spark candidates, because Dane wasn’t truly an option, but I doubted they would bend the rules to keep me around. And I knew either Starla or Rip would be excellent at the job if it came to that.
I’d made sure to tell Annaruth my recommendation, which had made her roll her eyes.
I resisted the urge to look around and see if anyone else was as tense as a starfish.
The bell rang as I neared the end. I hadn’t finished, though I had gotten close. As I stared at the scroll, I saw my score being tallied.
My heart was beating like a drum as the writing at the top of the scroll rolled and swirled, finally taking shape. I heaved a sigh as an ornately drawn seven and then a two appeared. Seventy-two. That was a passing grade. Barely.
“Nicely done,” Rip chortled as he rolled up his scroll. Not so fast that I didn’t see the 98 on top of his test. I rolled my eyes as he offered me a high five. I wasn’t exactly proud of my score, but I was relieved. I’d made it through.
Just in time to eat something quickly and possibly get my guts ripped out in Magical Combat, I thought with a grimace, realizing I might be too nervous to eat.
We handed our scrolls to Professor Kayvar as we swam out into the hallway. Dane and Starla waved us over as everyone else headed to the dining hall.
“I thought we could eat together today,” Dane said. “In the Royal kitchens.”
I grinned as Rip let out a loud whoop. Starla was smiling too.
“Yes, please.”
I looked at Dane.
“Yes, please,” I seconded. Even Rip looked excited.
Suddenly, I had an appetite, after all.
“Delicious,” Starla said, thanking Batte with a sweet smile. I was trying to sop up the last of the curried clam chowder with a mysteriously crunchy bit of bread.
“Tri. There’s nothing left,” Dane said gently. “Do you want seconds?”
“Thirds,” Rip said with a wink.
“I don’t want to leave,” I admitted with a sigh.
“We’ve got your back. You don’t have to be scared.”
“I do have to be scared,” I said, looking them each in the eye. “And so do you. Being allies . . . being friends with me . . . it’s dangerous.”
“No. You’re only in danger because of me. This is my fault,” Dane said vehemently.
“You can’t help being the Prince. I’m the stupid Mer who swam too high. I didn’t mean to. I only ever wanted to be the Spark, but I never really believed it would happen.”
Dane smiled and took my hand.
“I know.”
Starla slapped her hand over ours.
“You’re both awesome. Now, come on, we’re
going to be late.”
“What am I, chopped swordfish?” Rip muttered as we swam toward the wing that housed the Academy.
“You’re awesome too, Riptide,” I said as we slid into Magical Combat just before the doors closed. Whoops, that was a little too close for comfort.
But lunch with my friends had done the trick. I wasn’t even close to as nervous as I’d been.
Until I took a look around the room at the Mers suiting up in combat gear.
“Armor?”
“Yes,” Grendor said, swimming past me. “They need armor if they are to fight you.”
I stared around nervously.
“We are all supposed to fight? At the same time?”
She nodded and smiled.
“No, in pairs. You’ll do fine.”
“Don’t I get any armor?”
But she had already swum off. Dane cursed when he saw that I was without a shield and started pulling off his armor, forcing a chest plate onto my body while I protested.
“I can’t let you do this,” I shouted. But he wouldn’t listen. Then the doors swung open and several guards entered, led by Gwond, one of the Queen’s advisors. He was always hovering about, but I’d never seen him this far from the Queen’s side.
“You are needed in the throne room, Your Highness,” he said with a bow. Dane stared at him, clearly undecided.
“I have my exam now, Gwond. It will have to wait.”
He slapped his arm guards onto my forearms.
“How is it you don’t have your own armor?”
“I don’t know . . .” I trailed off miserably. “But I can’t use yours!”
“You are needed urgently,” Gwond insisted.
Dane frowned as he was assured he would automatically pass his exam. He argued that he didn’t want to pass automatically, and then things got ugly.
Gwond announced that if anyone in the class harmed Prince Pollux, they would be immediately put to death.
So, that was fair, right? Not.
I felt only pity for Dane as he closed his eyes and nodded. Of course he would not allow anyone to die to soothe his pride. He stared at me for a moment before nodding and passing me the rest of his armor.
“I’ll wear it,” I said without hesitation. I knew that he was going to leave. He didn’t need it.
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