by Wendi Wilson
I’m pulled from my thoughts when Adrian swims even closer, bringing his face close to mine. In a low voice, he asks, “Do you think these witches could cast that spell on me as well?”
“What?” I exclaim, jerking away, shock spiraling through me.
“Nothing. Never mind. We must keep swimming.”
Kai, stop him! This may be the key to us surviving this.
Bryce’s thoughts spur me to action. I swim forward and grab his wrist once more, pulling him to a halt. He stops but refuses to meet my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I say, releasing my grip on him. “You just shocked me, is all. I didn’t expect you to ask me that.”
“Forget I asked it.”
“No, Adrian. You obviously have… issues with all of this. Maybe we can make a deal.”
His eyes finally meet mine. “A deal?”
Yes, Bryce says to me through our connection. We can help each other.
“Yes,” I say aloud to Adrian. “Maybe we can help each other.”
“Help each other how, exactly?”
I take a deep breath, ready to show my cards and hoping this doesn’t backfire. “I don’t plan to die down here. I want to rescue my parents and get out, fast. The witches will cast a spell to make them both human again. If you help us, they can cast the spell on you, too.”
“You think these witches would do this… for me?”
“I can guarantee you we would.”
Adrian and I both turn at the sound of Bryce’s voice. My heart leaps at the sight of him, scared for Adrian to see him even though we’ve already established that Adrian knows he’s been following us. Bryce moves slowly forward, gliding through the water as if he’s approaching a frightened animal. When he reaches us, he extends a hand in Adrian’s direction.
“Bryce Howell.”
Adrian looks at his extended hand, making no move to take it. Instead, he bows slightly at the waist, keeping his silver eyes locked on Bryce’s. “Adrian of Delmare.”
Bryce drops his hand and mimics Adrian’s bow. “My parents would do anything to ensure our safety. If we tell them you helped save us, they would turn you human, if that’s what you want.”
When Adrian doesn’t respond, I ask, “Is that what you want, Adrian? To leave Delmare behind and become a human, forever?”
“I would become Mer once more if I enter the sea, would I not?”
“Sure, if we perform the same spell we cast on me and Kai,” Bryce says. “But my parents are still looking for the original spell that Coraline cast on Kai and her mom. They were fully human, in the water or out. Besides, the spell we used can only be used during the full moon. You wouldn’t be able to change for another month.”
When Adrian just stares at Bryce, I ask, “It’s not going to take us a month to rescue my parents, is it? I mean, if you help us?”
Adrian shakes his head as if clearing the cobwebs. “No. Your execution shall be held in front of the citizens of Delmare in three sun-cycles.”
“Three days?” I say, my voice trailing off at the end. “I guess it could be worse. Can we do this in three days?”
“I am not sure,” Adrian says, looking from me to Bryce. “I will think on it for the rest of our journey. When we reach the city, you need to stay back, well outside the boundaries. If you come too close, the other Mer will sense you and investigate. That would not be good for any of us.”
Bryce nods in agreement. “How much further is it?”
“Not far. Only another couple of hours’ swim from here.”
Bryce turns to me. Pulling me into his arms and careful to keep his tail from brushing mine, he says, “I should keep my distance from here on out, just in case. If anyone from the city is out here, I can’t take the chance that they’ll see me.”
“Okay,” I murmur into his neck before pressing my lips against his skin. “I love you. Be careful.”
I pull away with those words, and his eyes snare mine. “I love you, too, Kai. Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you.”
With a nod, I turn to Adrian. He bows one last time in Bryce’s direction before propelling himself through the water, leaving me to trail behind. Shaking my head, I flick my tail and take off after him. I guess I’ll just have to get used to his rude behavior. He may be our only shot at getting out of Delmare alive.
Chapter Eight
Delmare is amazing. I mean, the entire ocean with all its colors and shadows is amazing, but the city is something out of this world. I stop swimming and just stare, my eyes roving over white spires that look like giant seashells rising from the ocean floor. The twisted domes of the towers sparkle and give off a light of their own, causing the entire city to glow in the dark waters.
“Wow,” I mutter to myself.
“Do not let its beauty beguile you, Kailani Ericson. There is a darkness within Delmare’s walls.”
“You can call me Kai, Adrian.”
The words pass my lips without me really registering them. My mind is too wrapped up in awe, despite his warning. How can a place this beautiful be bad? Maybe we can figure out a way to free my parents and stay here, forever. One big, happy family.
Oh, Bryce, wait till you see it. It’s so amazing. How far out are you? Come closer. You have to see this. Bryce?
“Ouch!”
The word rips from my lips as a hot stinging sensation radiates down my arm. I turn to face Adrian as I rub the pain away. His silver eyes are solemn.
“Did you just pinch me?”
“You were falling into a trance, Kailani, er… Kai. It is the human half of you. Everything about the Mer draws humans in. Our looks, our scent, our voices. It is an essence that attracts them. This city is filled with Mer and your human side is reacting to the call. I am sorry I caused you pain, but it was the quickest way to snap you out of it.”
As I think about Adrian’s words, I look back at the city. It is beautiful, but now I can see it for what it is. Just a city. A city whose inhabitants imprisoned my parents. Who want me dead.
“I have to warn Bryce. How does he stop himself from becoming entranced?”
“As long as he knows what is happening, he can control it. But Kai, we can’t go back and find him. The scouts have sensed our presence and are closing in. I must pretend to be against you now.”
With those words, Adrian zips behind me and grabs my elbows. Pulling them back, he uses them to propel me forward. I only have a few moments, so I reach out to Bryce.
Bryce? Nothing. I project my thoughts more forcefully. Bryce!?! Oh, God, I hope you can hear me. The city is enchanted and will draw you in. Resist it. Resist the pull of the people. Please, Bryce. Can you hear me?
I’m not sure if he heard me or not, but before I can try again, a merwoman carrying what could only be described as a trident appears before us. She’s gorgeous, with a cascade of shimmering black hair and amber eyes. A top of what looks like finely woven seagrass barely covers her boobs. I bet one wrong move would set those puppies free. A golden tail shimmers as she draws near. She looks like an avenging angel, with a hardness to her features that is somewhat off-putting.
“Adrian,” she says in a tinkling voice that doesn’t match her strong demeanor, “I see you brought back the prize. Come, King Merric is awaiting your arrival.”
King Merric? I don’t think I’ve heard his name before. I hope this Merric doesn’t try to kill me as soon as we get there. Adrian assured me I have three days, so I should have some time to come up with a plan of escape with him and Bryce.
Bryce? I try reaching out to him again, but it’s the same as before. I don’t hear anything. It’s like he’s not there at all. Panic flares through my chest with that thought. I need to go find him. Adrian’s hands tighten on my elbows as I try to pull away. He’s not going to let me go. He can’t. Not in front of this guard.
She swims closer, her eyes narrowing as she takes in my appearance. “She looks like her, doesn’t she?”
“You’ve seen my mother?” I blurt out.
The locket laying against my chest heats up to an almost unbearable degree as her lips lift into a snarl. I feel the pressure of Adrian’s hands increase slightly, as if in warning. He pulls me back as she lifts her hand, balling it into a fist.
“You dare speak to me, mongrel?”
“Ora, the king ordered me to bring her to him unharmed. He will not be pleased if I deliver her with bruises.”
Ora’s fingers uncurl and her hand drops back to her side, but the angry look on her face does not dissipate. Her eyes promise retribution. I hope I’m long gone before she has a chance to deliver it.
“Very well,” she says, turning her back to us. “I will deliver you to the king myself. Let us go.”
I turn my head slightly and widen my eyes at Adrian, hoping he can read the panic there. With an almost imperceptible shake of his head, he pushes me forward, falling in behind Ora. Thankfully, she ignores us, swimming ahead without looking back.
We never came up with a plan and now it’s too late. I have no clue what I’m swimming into. Adrian didn’t have a chance to tell me anything. I could die very soon and I haven’t seen my parents and I have no idea where Bryce is and why he isn’t responding to any of my telepathic messages.
In other words, I’m royally screwed.
Opulence. I never thought I’d have a chance to use that word in real life. Who uses that word anymore, anyway? But as I swim into the royal palace through archways glittering with what look like giant diamonds and the path beneath me is lined with what can only be gold, that’s the only word that comes to mind. Opulence.
Adrian had released my elbows and allowed me to swim on my own until we reached the city limits, but now I’m back to being held in front of him like a prisoner. It’s stupid, really. I came here of my own free will to save my parents. Why would I try to run, I mean, swim away, now? I guess this is just a show and we all have our parts in it. Adrian needs to play his and I need to play mine.
Our procession through the city to reach the palace was intense. Adrian had whispered for me to keep my head down, but that was impossible. There were merpeople everywhere, being propelled through the water with fins every color of the rainbow. Red, orange, blue... I even saw one that was hot pink! They all stopped to stare as our trio swam past, each face displaying an identical sneer.
I saw small shops, their windows adorned with strings of shells and tops made of the same seagrass Ora is wearing. There were what appeared to be homes, covered with brightly colored coral. I caught a glimpse of a child playing with a school of seahorses before her mother shooed her inside one of these homes while shooting me a glare.
I come back to the present as we glide beneath the last shimmering archway, spilling us out into a large open area. It can’t really be described as a room because there is no roof. Just dark, vast ocean as far as I can see. There are walls, but instead of reaching straight up, they lean out at an angle, like flower petals… or open clamshells. I bet the city’s population gathers here for entertainment. They could line the angled partitions and see everything. Shows. Sporting events. Executions.
For now, the place is empty save for a large throne-like chair situated in the middle of the arena. There sits a beast of a merman, watching me from below hooded green eyes. Black hair sways around his face where it juts out beneath a golden, three-spired crown. As we get closer, Adrian slows and puts pressure on my arms as he pulls me to the floor in front of the king. My rump hits the cold, metal surface as I fight to straighten my tail out to the side. Adrian bows slightly before straightening.
“Your majesty, I present your prisoner, Kailani Ericson, Daughter of Merryn and the human Dante Ericson.”
Fear pulses through me. This could be it. King Merric could strike me down, right here, right now and there would be nothing I could do about it. I keep my eyes glued to the floor, not wanting to see it coming. Ora’s golden tailfins shimmer in my peripheral vision. She hasn’t said a word, so this is the only way I know she’s still here.
“Leave us.”
The voice is deep and rich, full of authority. Ora’s tail disappears from view, so I assume she has obeyed the command and left. I can still feel Adrian’s presence behind me, hovering. He doesn’t want to desert me. My chest fills with gratitude. I really can trust him.
“Adrian? Did you not hear me?”
“My apologies, your majesty. I assumed the order was for Ora alone, and that you would want me to stay and escort the prisoner to her cell.”
“I shall escort her myself. Thank you for your service this day. You are dismissed.”
“Thank you, your majesty,” is all Adrian says before swimming away, leaving me alone with the king.
“Am I so terrible to behold that you must stare at the floor?” he asks once we’re alone.
My eyebrows draw down of their own accord, confusion edging out the fear. His voice seems lighter, less menacing now that his minions are gone. I slowly lift my eyes to his, their green depths striking a somewhat familiar chord within me. I force myself to hold his stare.
“Ah, you’re a brave one, aren’t you? Looks like your face isn’t the only thing you have in common with her.”
“Where is she?” I ask, injecting as much strength as I can muster into my voice. “Where is my mother?”
“Oh, Merryn?” he asks, motioning me to rise from the floor. “She’s fine. On that you have my word.”
Giving my tail a hard flick, I push myself upward but keep my distance from the king. Despite his current passive behavior, he still has the power to execute me on the spot. Something about his choice of words is bugging me, though.
“When you said I have her face, you were talking about my mother, right?” I ask.
I know the answer to that before his head shakes in the negative. My mother and I share the same hair color, and there is a resemblance, but no one could ever say we share the same face. I always assumed I look like my dad, but now I’m not so sure. I remember the locket around my neck and grasp it as I look down. The picture inside shows a man with my eyes, but little else of a resemblance.
Wait, the locket isn’t hot. I meet his majesty’s eyes again, feeling more confident now that I realize he means me no harm. At least, for the moment.
“Whose face do I have, then?”
His hand lifts, pointing to something behind me. I turn and my eyes land on a giant painting gracing the wall behind me. It’s King Merric, a truly authentic smile gracing his lips, with his arm around… me. How is this possible? The woman in the painting is one hundred percent me. From the red hair to the blue eyes to the smattering of freckles across her nose. How do mermaids get freckles? Oh my God, my mind is going haywire. Get it together, Kai.
I turn back to the king with what I’m sure is the most incredulous expression I’ve ever worn. I lift my hand and point at the painting. “Who is that?” I ask, flinching at the squeak in my voice.
“That,” he says, leaving his throne and swimming over beside me, “is my late wife, Genevieve. She was beautiful, a kind and generous soul, a beloved queen.”
I look back at the image of Genevieve as he describes her. The artist captured a sparkle of mischief in her eyes just as clearly as the demure position of her folded hands. Her back is straight and her lavender tailfin is bent gracefully to the side, the perfect image of a stately queen. But those eyes…
“Why does she look like me?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“Because, my dear Kailani, she was your grandmother.”
Chapter Nine
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
I squeeze my eyes into tight little seams until my face muscles ache from the exertion. Blinking a few times, I refocus, but I’m not in my bed. I’m still in this giant, ceiling-less room with the king who ordered my execution now claiming to be… what? My grandfather? It’s too much.
“Kailani.”
His voice is gentle. Too gentle. This can’t be real. He’s trying to trick me. Lull me in
to a sense of security before wheeling out the guillotine. Or the hangman’s noose. Or a fishing spear.
“Merryn is your daughter,” I say, refusing to turn and face him. My eyes are glued to the painting of myself… not myself… on the wall.
“Yes,” is all he says.
“I’m your granddaughter.”
“Yes.”
White, hot anger spears through me as I turn my head to look at his face. “We are your family, yet you have my parents locked up in a dungeon somewhere and you’re threatening to kill them unless I offer myself up in their place? Am I getting all of this right?”
I don’t care. I don’t care that I’m being rude and he could strike me down at any moment. I don’t even care what his answer is. I want to punch him right in his royal nose. Consequences be damned. I ball my right hand into a fist, preparing to let it fly when his face lights up with a bright, gleaming smile.
“You really are just like my Genevieve, a spitfire in a beautiful, delicate package.”
I deflate as the anger melts away. “Are you going to kill me?” My words are barely more than a whisper.
Merric’s eyes move from the painting back to me, sadness shining in their green depths. “No. Not if I can help it.”
He lifts his arm, directing me to a pair of benches pushed up against a wall. I swim ahead, pondering his words. What did he mean by “not if I can help it?” What? Is he going to trip and accidentally stab me? What is the mermaid equivalent of tripping? Oh, God, I’m losing it.
Bryce?
There’s no response to my call as I lower myself to one bench and the king sits on the other. I’m worried, especially after what Adrian told me about the pull of the city and its people on humans, but I need to concentrate. I need to save myself first, then I can search for Bryce.