He handed me the phone, “call them. I need to speak to this young man.”
My dad walked Mason away believing I couldn’t hear. The crazy thing was that my senses seemed to be enhanced, even on the surface. Mason looked back to get a glance at me. His smile was everything, sending flutters through my mid-section. I was sure I was blushing as I pressed the phone against my ear.
“The storm is clear. We are at the aquatic center. Just head back here.” I said. Tina didn’t argue. She simply acknowledged my request.
I overheard Mason explaining as much as he could to my father, who had a hand over his head.
The sun was returning, and as the clouds rose, it was evident my mother and Una had been hard at work.
I went back into the aquatic center, taking in a deep breath of the chlorinated pool. For the first time ever, I appreciated the smell. A smile pressed on my face, welcoming the impending change.
I went to task in the locker room, tiding it up. Then went on to put things properly away around the pool.
My sisters finally arrived, giving me relief. I’d stored the stake away where no one could find it. I had my secret spaces around the pool. I thought to myself with a smile.
Mason and my father accompanied my sisters to the bleachers. I joined them.
“What’s going on?” Ada asked. She was the most obsessive-compulsive of us all and easy to anger.
I waved to my dad to allow me to lead. The tears flooded my eye, as I quickly wiped them away.
“What is it?” Ella asked.
“I have to be very careful in how I say this. Because it is extremely impactful.” I said, watching each of my sisters sit on the edge of their seats. “You guys aren’t going to believe this. But there truly is no other way about it. Mom’s alive. And there is something extraordinarily special about her. About Una. About Mason. About me.”
They each looked to each other, and to our father.
Drina and Rista immediately took to crying, while Ada and Ella clung to each other. Tina, however, being the eldest, and the one who’d spent the most time with our mom, looked angry.
“That’s not even possible, Arya. I think you hit your head.” She challenged.
“She’s not lying.” Dad said, diving into the details. I sat witnessing as each of my sisters took it all in. Most in tears, except for Tina. She sat there, unmoved. It was going to be difficult to reconcile. But we could do it. Our love could work through it all as a family.
14
When my mother and Una returned, my sisters and father stood immediately to their feet. Ella and Ada charged into her awaiting arms. Crying in disbelief. After a brief hesitation Rista and Drina joined them. But it was Lana who held back for Tina. I could see her eagerness, yet she wouldn’t abandon our sister. So, I did what made most sense, I encouraged her to go while I stayed with Tina and our dad.
They were all crying, causing the tears to roll down my face. Tina, however, continued to remain unmoved. My father leaned in to ask her a question in private, but she shook her head. He looked at me shrugging his shoulders. I motioned for him to join my mother and sisters while I stayed back with Tina.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
“I don’t believe it. I mean, she’s standing there. It looks and sounds like her. But I don’t understand why she’d abandon us? It doesn’t make any sense. A parent is supposed to love and protect their child. It all sounds like she ran afraid.”
“I get it. Those very thoughts and feelings crossed me as well. However, after meeting her father, I understand why she did what she did. She was protecting us, Tina. She made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our safety.”
She dropped her arms to her side, “I understand. I just. Oh, I don’t know, Arya.”
Una joined us. “Arya, why don’t you get the stake. I think it’s time for me to right my wrongs.”
I knew exactly what she was going to do, as I quickly disappeared into the storage room, resurfacing with the stake.
Our mom waited patiently for Tina. I could see the desperation in her eyes.
Una gathered my sisters together and asked me to do my thing again.
There I was, waving the stake over each of my sisters, willing their abilities back. And one by one, they started explaining the sensation of feeling like a weight had been lifted from them. Ella clamored about her sense of hearing and smell being enhanced, while the others followed. Tina, however stood in tears, “what’s happening?”
Una explained and Tina stepped back, afraid. It was frustrating, but I had to respect that we all react differently. “Take your time,” Una said, reassuringly.
Finally, my mother stepped forward toward Tina, stretching her arms out to her.
Not one of us could hold back the tears, as Tina embraced her, sobbing into her bosom.
“I’m so sorry, my sweet baby girl. I thought I was doing the right thing.” She said through painful tears of her own.
“Oh mom!” Tina cried, “I don’t really know what this all means. Just promise you’ll trust us enough if something ever comes up again. Please. Because I don’t think I can endure another traumatic loss.”
Our mother soothed her as we all rallied around them. I didn’t even notice when Mason and Una left.
The rest of the day we spent it pent up at the house. Mom walked around carefully taking in every detail, impressed at how some things hadn’t changed.
Later that evening Una and Mason stopped by, to check in and mostly for Una to go over the next plan of succession. Me.
I could hardly believe the words that left her mouth. And by the looks on my sisters faces, they couldn’t either.
Queen Arya Ruler of Atlan.
It didn’t seem right.
That night we all decided to sleep together in the family room. It seemed most appropriate. My parents devised a plan having to do with amnesia. It turned out that Una had taken care of all the paperwork for the coroners and funeral home. My moms name wasn’t technically anywhere on the official documents, in her place was another.
The whole accident had been staged, so no lives were truly lost.
It was all surreal.
A bit deceptive, but we had our mother back and I didn’t want our family uprooting and starting over. Especially if I was going to spend my time split between Atlan and the surface with Mason helping me along the way.
Just the thought of his smile made me weak at the knees as I drifted asleep, knowing there was more to the world than most people could fathom.
15
“I can’t believe it!” Lily said as she stood in the kitchen staring at my mom. I told my best friend everything. I had to. If I was going to succeed the last thing, I wanted was to keep secrets from those I loved the most.
“I know. I’m still trying to wrap my thoughts around it all. By the way, thanks for grabbing Drina’s and my homework. Dad insists that we take a few days off from being physically at school, but not school work.”
We both laughed.
My mom gave us our space after preparing a delicious snack; turkey and cream cheese sliders topped with a green olive.
Lilly and I took our snack outdoors, deciding the fish knew all along the abilities I held. My sisters had been hard at work, trying to command the fishes. We all laughed. It was going to take some major adjustments.
“So, when are you heading back to the depths?” Lilly asked.
I shrugged. Una was there for the moment, preparing for my official coronation and introduction.
“I wish you could go.” I said.
“She might be able to.” A sexy masculine voice said from behind. When I turned, I wasn’t surprised to find Mason standing there.
“Is that so?” I asked.
“You are the Queen. You can make it happen.”
My sisters watched carefully as Mason and I chatted.
“I can, can’t I?” I said teasingly. “So, Lilly, do you want to go?”
“Of course!” she shrieked. “I wouldn’t miss it for
the world!”
Mom and dad called to Mason who excused himself, that’s when my sisters chimed in.
Tina, of course, leading the pack. “You like each other! My goodness. Our little Arya is in love.”
They all giggled like teenage girls.
“No, I am not in love. Besides, he and I have jobs. As will the six of you. There will be no time for me to be distracted.” I said, knowing I was blushing and especially knowing that they were right. I did like Mason.
“Oh please, you’re going to be the Queen. Before you know it, you’ll have to take a husband and provide an heir to the throne.” Rista joshed.
“Not funny!” I said.
Lilly watched quietly. She was my best friend and knew me better than no one.
The Pantheon was dressed in the most luxurious of navy blue and teal fabrics, finished with gold and silver trimmings. The people of Atlan all waited for their new Queen, me, to take my walk down the intricately woven carpet of threads of gold and silver, glimmering the pathway toward the throne where both Una and Sergio awaited. Both were my new advisors. And to my surprise, they had been a couple before Una was forced to stay on the surface.
I didn’t wear a dress. I wore a skin-tight body suit of shimmering teal. The royal cape was a deep turquoise and draped behind me as I carefully walked toward the front, holding the stake carefully upright.
Every Atlan I passed, bowed until I reached Una and Sergio. After an official introduction and the sacred texts to the rights of the Atlan rule; I kneeled before the steps as Sergio placed a shiny diamond like crown over my head. The entire Pantheon erupted in cheers, hollering “long live Queen Arya!” I turned back to thank my people.
And there, in the front row stood my entire family, best friend, and Mason. All offering a reassuring smile.
“Thank you,” I whispered toward them, as they placed their fists over their hearts and joined the clamoring.
Alone I ascended the flight of steps toward my throne, with Una and Sergio closely behind.
The elite guard of the throne all emerged from nowhere, dressed in the colors of the crown, raising their stakes to me in honor and devout support.
When I reached the throne, I took a deep calming breath and turned to face my people.
“Atlan!” I said loudly, “Thank you. I promise to rule justly and to protect our secret from the surface world.”
The eruption of happiness continued.
To my grandfather, my counsel and I agreed to spare his life. His memories were wiped as well as his abilities. He was sent to live on the surface, with an identity that would allow him to live comfortably. Guards would be dispatched to check on him, even thought it wasn’t necessary. Still, I needed the assurance.
The coronation feast followed, but I needed a quiet walk. I’d slipped out of my chambers after a quick potty break, to stroll in the garden of exotic plants and flowers.
Atlan had so much to learn from, and I was determined in doing so.
“Would you like company?”
I turned to find Mason a few feet behind me, “since you’re already here, why not?”
We walked quietly for a few minutes until we happened upon a beautiful coral bench and took a seat.
“How is the Her Royal Highness holding up?”
I smiled, “I think she’s a bit overwhelmed at the moment. But she’ll be okay.”
“How is Arya holding up?”
Hearing my name on his lips made my heart flutter. I was sure I was blushing as I looked down fidgeting with my fingers, “she’s going to be just fine.”
Mason lifted my chin, “I never got a chance to tell Arya how beautiful she is. Or how desperately I wanted to hold her in my arms.”
“Oh!”
“Will Her Highness please deliver a message to her?”
I nodded.
Mason pulled me in, gently pressing his lips on mine. At first, I just sat there, unsure of how to respond. But the hesitation was brief.
I lifted my arms around his neck and fiercely kissed him back.
Lost in his touch, I felt secure. And in that moment, I knew everything was truly going to work out. My world could be shared with another who was just like me.
Sure, I had a lot of work to do, but it would be easier with him at my side.
The Little Monster by Jennifer Ellision
The Little Monster: A Lady Pirates prequel
Copyright 2019 by Jennifer Ellision
Created with Vellum
1
The Little Monster
It was so curious, the little monster thought, how the humans screamed and wept when another fell into the sea.
The white clouds of the human's ocean travel stood stark against the lovely gray sky. It had rained in the night, filling the belly of the sea goddess with more water and soaking the planks of the ship. They were dark and stained with wetness.
The little monster had seen every kind of ocean vessel imaginable. Pirate ships, merchant vessels, even small little fishing dinghies. Fishermen were the easiest prey. So easy to loop her hands around and yank under the water.
Not so with this particular ship. It was high above her, its masts reaching for the sky itself. There would be no prey within her reach, not unless it fell to her waiting claws. This one was a ship full of humans who festooned themselves with the sparkling glitter that their kind and barracudas were so attracted to. The little monster had heard them call it “trassure.”
Pickings for a good meal were slim this time of year so she and some other monsters had trailed the ship for days now, hoping they’d get lucky. That was how she knew they never wore the same coat twice out to the deck. And the coats that draped them looked heavy, too. Like they’d be able to protect them from a great deal. So strange, these humans. She knew they could shed their skins this way, but had never encountered ones who did it so often or so needlessly.
And lo-and-behold, the little monster’s hopes for a meal falling overboard and within her grasp hadn’t been unfounded. Only moments ago, a big male had fallen into the water, a red cape streaming behind him like a plume of smoke as he fell.
Now, a crowd of the humans huddled at the ship's stern and oh, how they cried, how they wailed as the little monster's kind feasted upon their fallen comrade.
She licked her lips. She could practically taste the sound. It was delicious, clanging into her eardrums with a gorgeous ferocity.
The ragged, tearing sounds that issued from their throats reminded the monster of the crashing of the waves upon her island's shore. They reminded her of fresh prey struggling against her before a meal.
The little monster's stomach grumbled. She was getting hungry. And the one who had fallen overboard looked delicious, full and fat and self-righteous. Though she knew the size didn’t match the soul, it had been days since she’d eaten a proper human soul.
More of her kind swarmed the fallen male's form among the waves, staining the water a deep blood red. He had screamed at first, held above the water as they dined, but had long since silenced. She longed to join them. But it was chaos over there. She'd be lucky if she got a thumb size bit of his soul to snack on.
Her attention snagged on another figure standing at the back of the ship and her lips curved, needle teeth carving a grin into her silver cheeks. Perfect. This one was unattended.
She dove under the surface, her powerful tail beating a path through the currents with ease. When she rose again, the water parted to let her through, her chin tilting to meet the sun's rays.
She could see the small human easily now—though not so young as she'd thought. She'd thought the small figure to be one of their spawn, their offspring. But its eyes had lost the roundness of their youth, its cheeks not so full. Yellow hair bloomed from its head, falling to its breasts.
And, unlike the others on the ship, its eyes were quite dry.
A quick intake of breath let her know the little human saw her. It took a startled step backwards, casting a nervous glance to
ward the chaos at the opposite railing.
Cautiously, it seemed to gather its strength, bending over the rails to get a better look at her. The way it looked at her, raked its eyes over her form from the top of her head, stuttering over the inky fingernails that capped her crossed arms, and finally, bold enough to meet her black gaze…
“You're one of them,” it whispered, words nearly swallowed whole by the sea breeze. “A Mordgris.”
Had the little monster possessed a soul, it may have made her twinge, the way the little human looked. Petrified and paralyzed. Like she’d like very much to run the opposite direction, but could not move.
But the little monster had no soul. Only a mind and an unceasing hunger.
Still. It made her pause. She had no soul; it was true. But she had a strong mind. And the mind… it wondered.
"You do not cry." Her voice warbled with the sounds of all the souls she'd swallowed before and the little human winced.
That had been the monster’s mistake. She knew better. She'd found that the humans did not care for the cacophony, melodious as it sounded to her. She cleared her throat until she banished all voices but the first she'd taken and tried again.
"You do not cry. Not like the rest of your pack." Better this time. The human's expression did not waver, but its eyes hardened.
“He isn’t worthy of their tears. They don't know what I know about him.”
Curious. The little monster tilted her head. “What is it you know that they do not?”
The human swallowed. “They think him a good man because of his wealth and his generosity to various causes, his courage in battle, his devotion to the Order of the Ancient Ones, to the gods. They think him pious and kind.” She hissed the words. The human's soft lips twisted and it spit into the water in disgust. “But I know better.”
A similar color of hair and skin had streamed from the head of the large human in the water—when he’d had skin, before the rest of the little monster's kind had torn it apart. She nibbled on the edge of her tongue, tasting the wounded anger and betrayal in the air.
Kingdom of Salt and Sirens Page 29