‘It’s not.’
Syrene didn’t surface, but it was only a matter of time. A fin appeared from the water as Syrene bumped against the boat. Pearl gripped the sides to keep her balance. One of the oars slipped from her grasp. When she went for it, a hand came out from the water wrapping around the wood and took it under.
Two more bumps against the boat. Syrene had brought company. It must have been their mother.
‘Ben. Go back now. Don’t follow me.’
The boat tipped, and Pearl smacked the water. The last sound she heard was Ben calling her name.
Thousands of needles punctured her skin as two hands gripped hers. She couldn’t see anything around her, but someone accessed her mind. It wasn’t her mother or Syrene.
Pearlina, you fool. Kaito’s connection wasn’t as strong in her human form. Syrene had brought the only other one whose life was on the line.
I can’t breathe, Pearl sent.
Another set of hands touched her.
That’s the point, Syrene sent.
I’m going to save Kaito. I can’t do that if I’m dead.
Syrene pushed to the surface. When the air touched her face, Pearl inhaled the salty air. The upturned boat shielded them from Ben.
Did you bring this human as a sacrifice? Why is he still alive on the craft? Syrene sent.
We can still make this work, Kaito sent. I’ll drag him under. The others don’t know yet.
No, Pearl pushed through their minds. I’m going to sacrifice myself. For you, Kaito.
You will allow this human to live over yourself? Syrene asked.
‘Pearl!’ Ben called out. Even from that distance, he would see two people seeming to appear from the ocean. She had no idea what he thought, but he’d never be able to explain it.
Syrene and Kaito shared a look. He’s seen us. He’ll tell the humans. We need to take him. It’s the only way.
He won’t say anything, Pearl sent. I wanted to tell you the plan first. Take me under. Tell our mother what I told you.
I don’t understand, Kaito sent. You would sacrifice yourself for one of them?
Yes. This is how everyone will be happy.
Happy? Sister, you are not well. Those humans hurt you.
‘Pearl!’ Ben called again. This time, the boat was closer. If Pearl had any idea he hadn’t spotted Syrene and Kaito, it was gone now. ‘Who are they?’
Syrene dove under the surface, releasing Pearl from her grip. But Kaito held her in place, his dark eyes trained on Ben as if he were prey.
Kaito, no.
They have harmed your mind, somehow. The human can’t be allowed to leave. We take him, and the ceremony is complete.
No.
The others won’t know the difference. We will fulfill the ceremony as planned.
I won’t allow them to hurt you, or the human. Pearl’s connection to him wasn’t strong, but she forced enough emotion through it for him to realize she wasn’t lying. If Kaito and Syrene took Ben, everything Pearl had done would be for nothing.
Syrene’s head popped up near Ben’s boat, and Pearl let out a shrieking cry.
‘Pearl, are you hurt?’
‘Stay out of the water.’
Syrene’s lips pressed into a thin line before she returned her gaze to Ben. To her, he was a threat. She had no idea the humans were capable of good as well as bad.
‘Swim over here,’ Ben said, oblivious to the threat inches from his boat. He was focused more on Kaito.
When Pearl had first arrived on land, she’d noted the differences in her appearance compared to the humans. The pearls helped her appear human. But with Kaito’s thick skin, gills, and narrowed eyes, Ben wouldn’t have to know anything about her troop to know he was different.
A circular object landed in front of Pearl. A rope attached to it, Ben held the other end. ‘Take it. I’ll pull you.’
Pearl glanced at her sister, still swimming next to the boat. Without their connection, she had no idea what was going on in her sister’s mind. Her sister’s communication with Kaito was limited by their distance.
Ben reached closer to the water, holding the rope against the side. His eyes widened, pleading with Pearl.
Syrene moved fast. There wasn’t time to warn him. Her hand brushed against his before his entire body crashed into the water.
Then, Syrene struck.
Chapter 21
Pearl’s heart thundered in her ears as Ben disappeared under the water. Kaito held her in place, and she thrashed against him.
‘Let me go,’ she said. She already struggled to stay afloat, but Kaito and Syrene had an advantage.
Kaito did as she asked, but the moment he released her he dove under the water. His course went straight for Syrene and Ben.
Ben resurfaced, gasping for air. His eyes found Pearl’s. Confusion and fear were etched across his face. ‘Pearl. Who – what are those—?’ His words cut off as water filled his mouth and he disappeared again. Pearl could have blamed his swimming skill or the waves. But from the way his hands shot up toward the sky, she knew Syrene or Kaito – or both – towed him down.
Pearl swam to the last place she saw him, kicking her exhausted and useless legs. She swam as far as she could before diving. Once her lungs started to burn, she raced to the surface for breath before going down again. She tried three more times until she knew what Syrene and Kaito had done.
The seconds pounded in her ears, yet Ben didn’t resurface. The waves peaked, but no one came up again – not even Syrene or Kaito.
A bloodcurdling scream ripped through the air. Pearl whipped around to see where it came from, but the ache in her throat gave her an idea it had come from her. Tears flowed, and she called for Ben. He was supposed to live.
The break wall was within swimming distance. The ceremony was over. Zimra would return her tail, and Syrene and Kaito would pretend as if they hadn’t murdered a human for her.
Pearl reached the barrier and climbed up. The rocks dug into her hands as the cool air pinched her skin.
A splash from the other side perked her ears.
‘Syrene,’ Pearl spat through clenched teeth.
A choking sound accompanied the splash. Pearl sat up and scaled the rocks. The slick surface couldn’t stop her. She needed Syrene and Kaito to atone for what they had done to Ben.
As Pearl breached the top of the wall, she stumbled. She fell to her knees and gripped the rocks to keep her upright. Her troop appeared quickly. All their eyes were on her as they surfaced.
Ben’s prone body lay on the edge of the rock wall. The waves lapped against his body. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her nightmares returned, clawing against her tight throat. It took one shift of his chest to realize he was still alive. Barely, but it was enough. His eyes were closed, and Pearl had no idea how long he would last. Kaito and Syrene floated in the water next to his body, but a sliver of rock between them was all Pearl needed. She raced over to him and crouched in front of her sister and her betrothed.
If Ben was alive, she could still plead for his life.
Zimra rose up from the water. ‘Pearlina,’ she said in a light, breathy voice.
Syrene and Kaito swam further from the rocks, their focus on the water before them.
Zimra drifted over and floated before Ben. Pearl found her strength, rushing to stand in front of him.
‘No,’ Pearl said.
Like Sonata during Daryah’s failed ceremony, Pearl expected Zimra to appear surprised or angry even. But her face was an impassive mask.
‘He has not perished yet,’ Zimra said, resting her hand on his chest.
A breath caught in Pearl’s throat.
‘The final strike will come from you.’ Zimra tilted her head in Syrene and Kaito’s direction.
Pearl reached up and clutched the pearls in her hand. ‘I’m not going to do it.’
Zimra’s lips parted slightly. ‘You’ve never been a part of this troop. Not really. I expected this from you.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes. I was unsure of how you would react to humans. Your duty and loyalty to the troop were tested.’
‘I want to spare him,’ Pearl said. ‘Kaito, too.’ Pearl glanced at her mother, not needing to touch her to know the foul language she threw in her direction.
‘The sacrifice is necessary for our ceremony,’ Zimra said.
‘I understand,’ Pearl said. ‘Take me instead. I don’t want anyone else to die for my mistakes. The human is innocent. I—’ love him. Zimra wouldn’t understand the meaning of the words. None of them would.
‘There are traditions and rules in place,’ Zimra countered. ‘The punishment for not fulfilling the ceremony is death to the betrothed and banishment for you.’
‘Please.’ Pearl stumbled back, bumping into Ben.
‘That is not our way,’ Zimra said. ‘You have a choice now. Kaito or your human.’
Your human. Zimra understood on some level that Pearl was attached to Ben. ‘I can’t choose.’
Pearl’s mother drifted toward them before touching Zimra’s arm.
Communication flowed through their minds. Daryah’s betrayal hadn’t involved a human in their presence. Mother could dig the dagger into Ben’s chest, taking Pearl’s choice away.
‘The matriarch will choose for you,’ Zimra said aloud.
Pearl shot a look at her mother. She would never sacrifice one of their own unless forced.
‘Remove your pearls,’ Zimra said.
Pearl lifted the seaweed cord from her neck. She didn’t feel anything right away. From what she remembered, there was a counterspell involved in returning her tail.
Her mother disappeared under the surface, and Pearl searched the water for her. They were too close. If Pearl could move Ben back, then she could prevent her from striking. She grabbed his arms and pulled him onto the rocks. He was much heavier than she expected. He barely moved a few inches.
A splash sounded, and Syrene left a wake of foam after diving. Pearl crouched in front of Ben, prepared to take the brunt of the dagger.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said to Ben, even though she wasn’t sure he could hear her. She grasped his hand and squeezed, willing him to forgive her.
Her heart raced so quickly that she almost missed the twitch of his fingers.
The water in front of her remained undisturbed. Syrene and her mother didn’t need to surface for air as Pearl had done, but why delay the ceremony?
Pearl waited, prepared to fight whoever came to the surface first. If she knocked the blade out of her mother’s hand, then she stood a chance. Unless Zimra took control, how many lives would Pearl ruin before her ceremony ended?
Syrene surfaced behind Zimra. Kaito’s eyes were on Pearl, and he seemed not to notice her sister.
A pained expression twisted Syrene’s lips as her hand rose from the water. The edge of the dagger glinted in the sunlight right before she plunged it into Kaito’s back.
A keening sound started low in Kaito’s throat before his eyes rolled back in his head. The troop dove under the surface. Syrene lowered her chin to her chest before she and Mother grabbed Kaito’s arms.
The ceremony was complete. Pearl had failed Kaito.
A mix of sadness and relief crossed her sister’s face before she disappeared.
Pearl’s breathing rushed in her ears as the only family she’d ever known left her behind.
Zimra flicked her fin and approached the break wall. Pearl moved in front of Ben. Since Syrene and Kaito had revealed themselves to him, she wasn’t sure how far Zimra would go to protect them. ‘You are banished. You will leave this group forever. If you return, you will perish by my hand.’
Pearl wondered if Daryah or any of her predecessors had come back. She doubted it. Not one of them would return, knowing they were unwanted.
‘I don’t want my tail back,’ Pearl said. ‘I want to stay on land.’
Zimra blinked a few times, before masking her surprise. ‘This is not our way.’
‘Kaito is gone. The ceremony is complete. I want to live my life with Ben.’
‘The human?’
‘Yes,’ she said.
‘Do you understand what you are asking? What will become of you?’
It was the only thing Pearl wasn’t sure about. She shook her head slowly.
‘Without the pearls to preserve your prolonged life, your time will be shortened significantly. You will no longer have our advantages. You will be a human in every way. Your time from this life will catch up to you. But you will not survive as long as they do.’
‘It’s better than living forever in loneliness.’
Zimra moved closer to Pearl until they were face to face. ‘You have been the only one to defy the rules of this troop. When I was young, I envied you.’
‘You did?’
‘My birth was for this role. My offspring will inherit the language and abilities. Our troop will continue to thrive.’ She nodded slowly. ‘I will grant you this kindness. No one will ever know of what you’ve become. You may go with this human and you will never encounter us again.’
Pearl had never foreseen kindness among the troop. ‘Why are you doing this?’
Zimra smiled and lifted her face toward the sky. A break in the clouds allowed the sun to flow through. The light curved around her runes, making them shimmer like the crest of a wave. ‘It’s the only way I can defy them the way you have. It’s freeing.’
Pearl looked at Zimra, possibly for the first time. She had never noticed those watching her more than she did them. Pearl didn’t deserve kindness, but she was grateful. ‘The pearls,’ Zimra said, holding out her hand, slashed with thick, jagged puffs of skin. ‘The runes conceal your true self for a temporary time. To make that permanent, I have to mark you.’
‘Do whatever it takes,’ Pearl says. ‘He’s not going to last forever out here.’
Zimra waved her hand in Ben’s direction. ‘The human will survive.’ She retrieved a smaller rock from the break wall. ‘Lift your hair.’
Pearl scooped her hair away from her neck.
Zimra pressed her hand against Pearl’s back, brushing her fingers along the hairline. She muttered a strange language under her breath before a sharp pain radiated at the base of her neck.
Pearl inhaled sharply. The tips of her toes tingled, vibrating so quickly that she was convinced Zimra had tricked her. Keeping her legs in sight, she glanced at Ben. A lifetime had passed since he fell into the water to help her. She had sacrificed herself to save him, while Syrene did the same for Pearl. Now, she would never see her sister again to thank her.
It would always be her biggest regret.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. Zimra’s fingers brushed against her neck.
‘It is complete. It will heal with time.’
Pearl whipped around. Aching pain settled against her neck. Hot liquid snaked down her back. ‘Thank you.’
‘Remember what we’ve done for you. We trust you will keep our secret.’
‘Yes. Always.’
Zimra lifted her hand in what appeared to be a wave before she popped out of the water and then dove into the depths.
Movement caught her eye. ‘Syrene?’
Her sister wasn’t there. Her boat bumped the rocks, held there by the water. The oars rested inside. Around her, there were only waves. The peace offering was all she needed before she grabbed the pointed front of the boat and hefted it onto the rocks. The ride to land seemed daunting. Peter’s boat was close enough if she could get Ben to help her.
‘Ben,’ she said, lightly slapping his cheeks. ‘Wake up.’ His eyes didn’t move, but his chest lifted and lowered slowly. ‘It’s safe.’
Ben’s eyes fluttered open. ‘Pearl.’
When she had thought her mother was going to kill him, he’d moved enough for Pearl to know he was alive. She’d squeezed his hand so hard that she wouldn’t be surprised if she’d broken a finger. In her way, she willed him to stay still.
‘
How are you feeling?’ she asked.
Ben sat up, pressing his hand against his head. ‘I might blame the rocks for a massive headache. But I’m still trying to process all of this.’
‘We should get back to the boat. Are you well enough to paddle?’
‘Are you coming with me?’ Ben asked.
‘Yes.’
He leaned closer and kissed her. This time, she knew exactly what she was doing.
*
The more distance Pearl and Ben put between themselves and the break wall, the more she relaxed. Since leaving the troop behind, Ben hadn’t stopped touching her. He vacillated between keeping his hand against her lower back or tucking her against him. It was as if he were afraid she would disappear again.
Until they reached land, she wasn’t sure he was wrong.
In their hurry to get away before Zimra or the others came back, Ben quickly attached the smaller boat to his. They dragged it back to land. He didn’t seem bothered by it, but Pearl wanted to return it. She had to put everything from today behind her.
He said nothing about the experience until they arrived at the dock.
‘We need to talk,’ he said.
‘Yes, we do.’ She took his hand, and he kissed the top of hers. At least, after everything, she still had him.
*
They spent the next two days locked in Ben’s apartment. When he had woken up on the rocks, he’d heard everything Zimra said, yet still had trouble believing it was true. He told her about his time underwater with Syrene and Kaito. With his life threatened, he’d been sure he was going to die.
Then she revealed everything about her life, including the Drywalking ceremony.
‘This,’ Ben said, touching her legs, ‘is all new for you?’
They were tangled together on the fluffy couch in his living room. His apartment overlooked the center of town. The view was perfect since Pearl wasn’t ready to see the water yet. Even though she knew Zimra would never reveal what she’d done for fear of her own banishment, it was too soon.
‘Yes.’ Her fingers trailed down the front of his shirt. Everything she touched felt like the first time. She was free to be herself around the man she loved. There were no more secrets between them.
The Sisters' Secrets: Pearl Page 13