Mistress Oinone was no longer seated and in her hand, she held a plaque which had been elaborately designed. On the plaque held the name of the winner, and one by her side on the seat had the runner-up.
“First things first. I’d like to say everyone did splendidly. There were, however, two individuals that shone brightly today. The runner-up is… Lord Dru of House Ameria.” The crowd broke off into a fit of applause. He was well-liked by his community.
Zinnia gasped. “Dru! Oh my gods, congratulations!” She hugged him tightly before she gave him a playful shove toward the stage. She was beyond happy for him and yet a pit grew inside of her. What if the winner wasn’t her? This was it; she had to win because if she didn’t then she would forever be known as a bottom feeder.
“And, for the moment we have been waiting for… It is with great honor that I present to you the winner, Miss Zinnia of Limnaia!” Mistress Oinone exclaimed.
Zinnia sat rooted to her seat, afraid to move. As if the movement would stir her from this dream. And yet, she saw Mistress wave her down. She swam quickly and reached for the plaque with her name etched into it. Tears pricked her dark eyes, and it was then she looked up toward the balcony and she caught Prince Ruari with a smug look on his face as he clapped. Beside him, Prince Loch looked disgusted and beside him sat Lady Thetis, who promptly elbowed him in the ribs.
“Congratulations, Zinnia,” her Mistress whispered into her ear as she hugged her.
She focused on Mistress Oinone instead of the balcony and nodded her head. “Thank you, Mistress,” she whispered and lifted the plaque in her shaking hands.
“No, Zinnia, today we are equals. You are no longer a student; you are now a full-fledged Sea-Witch.” Oinone smiled fondly at the young mermaid and motioned for her to turn toward the crowd. “Take your final bow. Tomorrow, you pick your coven.”
She turned and took a bow, hands clutched onto the plaque as if someone was going to rip it away from her. The crowd did not roar as it had for Dru and to her amusement, a good portion of them seemed confused—even shocked.
Zinnia couldn’t help how her eyes flicked up to the balcony again. Prince Ruari was the only one remaining in the balcony. He leaned against the balcony; his smug expression vanished and was replaced by a kind, thoughtful look.
Despite a restless night of sleep, Zinnia had done it. She felt shaken to the core and overwhelmed by it all, and she cried.
Dru’s face split into a wide grin, his fingers clutching the plaque he received. “Your mother will be proud, Zinnia,” he said as he swam with her toward the exit.
“I am very proud,” Aminta’s voice called out as she swam up to Zinnia and embraced her. “So proud, and your father would be, too. Oh, Zin, congratulations,” she whispered, joy glimmering in her eyes. “I’ll see you at home, work calls. Oh baby girl… I’m so proud of you.” She leaned forward and kissed her daughter.
Emotions welled up inside of Zinnia as she embraced her mother. “Love you, see you later.”
Dru smiled and waved to Aminta as she swam off. He spun around to face Zinnia, his eyes narrowing. “Did you see Loch watching you like a hawk?”
“It was difficult to not notice,” she mumbled and shrugged her shoulders. Although, she wondered why he looked at her as if she were some kind of savage.
“I find it interesting that we saw him hounding a known witch before a Trial for witches…” Dru offered as he turned his head away.
Zinnia considered this for a moment and nodded her head. “It would make sense to be fearful of us. It is known that magic is slowly dying out and those who have it would be held with suspicion or contempt.”
“Maybe he’s lacking magic himself,” Dru teased as he swam ahead and into the city pathway.
“Now, there is a thought,” she said and swam after him, allowing her tail to propel her through the stronger current.
Megalopolis might have been haughty, but Selith was so rigid in its beliefs that even Megalopolis often seemed outlandish in comparison. The old noble blood lived in Selith City, as did the Royals, and their opinion of outsiders, anyone not born in the city, was that they were inconsequential.
Alabaster buildings loomed over the pathways. Everything about the city screamed prestige and Zinnia smiled, because although she would never truly belong to Selith, she had proved herself worthy.
As she rounded the corner of the pathway with Dru, a cry rang out. Close to them, a figure with a hood over their head was pushed into the middle of the path.
“You don’t belong here!” A mermaid cried out.
“You are banned from entering the city!” The merman who had pushed the shrouded individual ground out.
“I am guilty of nothing,” the voice growled.
Zinnia touched her fingers to her lips. The voice sounded familiar, and just as she was piecing together why it sounded so familiar a hand pulled the hood free of the victim.
“If that was even remotely true…” The merman seethed and raised his fist to strike Jager.
Zinnia rushed forward, unable to stop herself and she raised her plaque to stop the blow. “Stop! Stop at once! He says he is not guilty!”
Dru crept forward toward Zinnia and used his body to shield Jager, too.
The merman seemed to recognize Dru. He did not shield his disappointment in the boy; it radiated from him.
“He is guilty of far more than you children know. Go home and let us deal with him.” There was no room for argument, or at least there wouldn’t have been if it hadn’t been Zinnia and Dru.
“Let him speak,” said the mermaid who had screeched at him before. “Let’s see what he has to say.” She nodded and folded her arms across her bejeweled dress.
Jager scowled at the back of Zinnia and Dru’s heads before pushing his way forward. “I was here healing one of your own. You can ask Zebar if you’d like. Now if that is it, I have a shop to run.” He bit his words out and raised his brows as if challenging anyone to say otherwise.
Zinnia watched as he left, clutched the plaque to her chest and looked at Dru. Everyone was moving on except the mer who had nearly struck Jager.
“They should outlaw magic. We cannot trust your kind.” His eyes moved to the plaques in their grasp and he sneered. “One day, and not a day too soon, they will shun you. There is no place for magic here.” He swatted at the current and swam away.
“Come on, Dru, let’s go, we’re going to…” Zinnia began.
“Let me guess, pester Jager until he binds us to the Capitol building for a week?”
Zinnia snorted. “No, well, yes, but hopefully not the latter,” she teased and raced down the path.
By the time they caught up with Jager, he had already crossed into Megalopolis again. He swam with a purpose and merfolk parted for him with ease. He turned around once, noticed the pair following him and shook his head.
“What do you kids want?” he asked gruffly.
“I just want to know why they hate you, why Prince Loch…” she began and bit her bottom lip.
Jager’s eyes noted the plaques in their grasp for the first time. His dark blue eyes focused on them before he gestured at them. “I’d say congratulations, but I’m afraid this is not the time for our kind. It would seem that Selith is not only keen on keeping its old traditions, but grudges, too.”
What was she to say to that? She knew that for a fact. She shrugged her shoulders and continued on, unperturbed by his gruffness. “Thank you. I know about your brother and what happened centuries ago,” Zinnia began and was surprised when her wrist was snatched up in Jager’s grasp.
His grip was strong and unforgiving. Dru hurried up to him and pushed at his chest, ready to use his plaque as a weapon if need be.
Jager sneered at him and laughed, but there was no humor in his gaze. “Don’t speak of what you don’t know a damn thing about, kid. You know nothing about my brother.” His grip softened around her wrist but he didn’t let go, even with Dru in his face.
“Let her
go.” Dru gave him another way out, but if he didn’t relent, another scene was going to go down in front of Jager’s shop.
“Get inside, the both of you.” He released Zinnia’s wrist and jerked his head toward the shop.
They complied and filed inside.
Jager’s shop was full of artifacts that had tumbled into the sea over the past several centuries. They belonged to the Uplanders; some were beautiful and others strange.
“You kids don’t belong snooping around. I know you’re witches, but you don’t understand. You will get hurt, so let it go. My brother died because of magic and it killed other mer, too.” He sounded less angry when he spoke this time, and his face looked fairly drained.
“And you still practice it, so it isn’t that bad,” Dru offered.
“I didn’t say it was bad. Look, you’re about to choose your Coven, right?”
They both nodded their heads at his question.
“Alright. My advice? Listen to your Coven leader, period. No heroics, no dabbling in anything you shouldn’t, just listen to what you’re told. You seem like bright kids. Alright? Go, I have work to do.”
Zinnia’s mouth gaped open. She struggled to find the words to say. There were so many questions she had, but Dru pulled her by the elbow and they left Jager’s shop.
“That was enlightening.” A snort came from him.
“Yeah, if you say so.” Zinnia was still so confused.
As they swam along, the sea floor began to quake. Cracks formed in the basins and some buildings began to groan. Screams swarmed the current and the building closest to where they swam began to crumble.
A young mother and her child tried to swim away, but it was no use.
“No!” Zinnia ditched the plaque in her grasp and held up her hands as she belted a note of magic. The current caused by it pushed the piece of the building away from them and it thudded to the ground.
Just as quickly as the quake began, it ceased. It left destruction in its path, and not for the first time, Zinnia felt uneasy.
Panicked, Zinnia looked around for Dru. He was nowhere in sight, but his voice caught her attention down the pathway. Relieved, she swam after him.
“Are you okay?” she asked hurriedly.
“Yes, are you?” His eyes swept along her figure to assess her.
“What the depths was that?” She looked around. The surrounding buildings had remained standing, mostly. Some had giant cracks in them; just the one across the way had toppled.
“He’s fighting the binding, he’s trying to break free,” a voice said behind Zinnia.
She spun around to face Jager, who looked pale and drawn. “Who?” she inquired with wide eyes.
“My brother.”
Zinnia paled and swam closer to him. “What do you mean, your brother?” She pressed him for more information.
“Kriegen, the one everyone knows as Kraken,” he offered in a whisper. “It’s what Prince Loch accused me of. I was at the Crevice, but I was binding him. I’ve felt him tugging at his restraints, but none have listened to me.”
Everything in Zinnia froze and she couldn’t help but gape at him. From the rumors to the history she had read it made sense, but to hear it from Jager’s mouth was another thing entirely.
“He’s your brother?” Dru’s voice climbed an octave as he stared at him.
Jager ran a hand down his face and swam by the two. “We have to head to the palace. You,” he said and motioned toward Dru. “Go alert the Coven. We will be at the palace, but tell Oinone to gather at the pillars and wait for me.”
Zinnia gave Dru a brief hug and swam after Jager. By the time she reached his side she was panting softly. Gods, he could swim.
“What are we going to do at the palace? Prince Loch isn’t fond of you,” she whispered and almost regretted it instantly.
Jager pinned her with a glare. “For something I didn’t do and was not responsible for. I was never my brother’s keeper and by the time I realized how hungry for power he had become, it was too late. His greed and determination to keep the Uplanders at bay corrupted him. The magic he called on was not of our magic, what we as witches of the sea represent.
“I wasn’t there, not when he conjured up the darkness. I was gathering up another coven, and by the time I returned Kriegen’s black magic had consumed the witches, the warriors and anyone around him. The only thing the covens could do was bind him to the Crevice with their magic. My brother died that day.” Jager continued to swim until he reached his shop. Behind it was his carriage, and he was quick to hook his hippocampus up.
With a nod of his head, he motioned to it. “Climb in.”
Zinnia did just that and nestled into the cushioned seat. A snap of the reins and they were off to the palace.
Before them loomed the Great Palace. It was even more impressive up close; a porcelain structure with golden accents. The gates to it were golden, guarded heavily by soldiers, and when they saw the approaching carriage, the guards moved their swords across their bodies in a defensive stance.
“Halt,” the nearest one called out.
Jager moved from the carriage before Zinnia and helped her out. “We have urgent news that must be passed to the king.”
“Do you have an appointment?” His tone was shrewd.
“No, I assure you this is important,” Jager argued back. He didn’t shrink or look away; his gaze remained squarely on the guard.
“Go away, bottom feeders.” He turned his back to them in refusal.
“Open the gates, this is urgent!” Jager’s composure melted and he shouted at the guard, which did nothing to dissuade him.
Zinnia felt helpless, but she noticed a flash of red hair in the courtyard, the familiar teal and emerald tail…
“Your Highness!” she cried out and moved toward the gates. She pressed her face against the bars and wrapped her fingers around them, praying to whatever gods that would listen.
Prince Ruari turned his head to face her. He swam up to her quickly and furrowed his brows. “Zinnia? What brings…” His words died off as his gaze swept to Jager. The smile that had been forming on his face froze and he swallowed.
“Jager, you being here means nothing good.” His shoulders sagged as he nodded to the guard to open the gates.
Hesitantly, the guard did just that and allowed them to pass through.
“I’m afraid not. Kriegen is breaking loose.” Jager didn’t mince words, he cut to the chase, and it had the desired effect.
Zinnia interjected, “The quake, you felt it? It was worse in Megalopolis.” Quakes happened from time to time, but never that severely, and judging by the structures they had seen on the way it had hardly touched Selith City. Zinnia thought it was because of the proximity of the Crevice to Megalopolis.
“… Follow me now.” Ruari blanched, his hand swept through his hair and he began to race toward the palace’s doors. “Save whatever you have to say for my father.” As the doors opened, he swam through with Zinnia and Jager flanking him.
“Where is my father?” Ruari questioned a servant. The stern look on his face looked quite out of place. The jovial twinkle in his eye was gone, replaced with worry and intensity.
This was not lost on Zinnia, but she remained quiet and if there had not been such a pressing matter at hand, she likely would have gawked at the palace. This was the first time she had been here, but at the moment she focused on the task at hand.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is meeting with the council,” a servant began.
“Good enough,” Ruari replied and rushed through the hall toward the meeting room.
No one was there to stop them as he pushed open the doors. Ruari burst in with a rush of energy and lifted a hand. Zinnia and Jager followed. Zinnia may have thought she was out of place, but Ruari was at home, and Jager looked intense.
King Eidir and Prince Loch sat at the head of the meeting table, their blue eyes widened in shock. “What is the meaning of this, Ruari? You better have a good r
eason for bursting in here like that with…” His aged eyes flicked to Jager, lips pursed in thinly veiled disgust.
“It is urgent, I’ll apologize for the intrusion after,” he began. “The binding is loosening on the Kraken. There was a quake reported in Megalopolis.”
“That’s absurd, Ruari,” Loch groused. He placed his hands on the table as he rose from the high-backed chair. “Is this some joke? Something you and your little friends have conjured up?” He eyed his brother dubiously, but it was the king who replied.
“Loch, let your brother have his words,” There was no room left for argument.
“Word has been sent to Oinone, who will no doubt contact the other covens. This shouldn’t be brushed aside; even if it turns out to be nothing, would it not best to be safe rather than sorry?” Ruari implored, his gaze focused on his father.
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, Kriegen was once and I suppose still is part of my blood. I felt a flux of magic, a familiar magic at the time of the quake.” It was Jager who spoke and caused the room to become disgruntled.
Zinnia fidgeted, and the council eyed Jager like he was a parasite. She, on the other hand, didn’t seem to exist.
“Your Majesty, you cannot take this seriously. That creature has been bound away for centuries,” one elder dared to speak out. His wrinkled face was a mask of distaste and frustration.
“I second that,” another one of the councilmen said.
“Silence. I trust my son. Before this gets out of hand, ensure that the coven looks into it and I’ll send out a small fleet of soldiers.” He rapped his fingers on the table and looked to Loch, who was not impressed and looked red in the face.
“Loch, go with Ruari.” He motioned with his hand. “We will part at once,” he sighed and looked to the council. “This meeting is adjourned for now, until we handle this situation.” With a nod of the head, he excused himself.
When the room emptied, Loch approached Ruari and Zinnia. His eyes bore into her before he looked to his brother. His severe lips pressed into a thin line and proud brows drew in. “I will never understand you or Father’s love for magic. It begs for darkness and greed.” He gave Zinnia a meaningful glance before he jerked his head to the door. “Let us be done with this.” With that, Loch was out the door, too.
Secrets of Galathea Volume 1 Page 7