To Enchant a Mermaid

by S. L. Williams

  Soon, we arrived at a towering iron gate made out of bars as thick as my arm. I had to bend my neck back to look at the lethal spikes that lined the top. An unexpected breeze carried a sickeningly sweet smell in our direction. At first, it was light, like spoiled fruit left out too long. The longer we stood there, the heavier it became until it was thick on my tongue. I gagged and lifted my sleeve over my nose.

  “We’re getting close to the city.” He looked at me with serious eyes. “Do you remember what I told you?”

  I nodded and clenched my jaw. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see the inhabitants of the underground city. Kamryn described them as deformed red-eyed creatures who were sensitive to bright light. They were like the merfolk who lived in the deep trenches. I just hoped they weren’t as vicious.

  “Good girl.” He turned and stepped into the city.

  I took a second to wipe the fear from my face and did my best to make myself look small and insignificant before following Kamryn through the rusted gate.

  ∞∞∞

  We stood at the top of a flight of stairs that led down to a dreary city that seemed to have been crudely crafted from the mountain itself. The houses were nothing more than smooth boulders with a hole for a window and another for a door. A crumbling temple with lean black marble pillars stood haphazardly in the middle of the city. Even from a distance, I could see the many cracks in the structure.

  Kamryn led our descent down the steps that threatened to collapse beneath our weight. I kept my head low and my eyes down. Subservient. I had to be weak and docile. A meager woman who was here to serve. Nothing more, nothing less.

  We made it down to the city where we found the source of the disgusting odor. Trash was piled in corners, buckets of waste sat beside doors, and stagnant water collected in the many craters in the roads.

  “Stop,” a harsh voice ordered when we turned onto a particularly muddy street. “Introduce yourself.”

  “I am Kamryn of Irkalla.” His voice was the edge of a fine blade. “I request council with the queen.”

  “The queen’s dead.” There was no emotion in the guard's voice.

  “I shall speak to whoever sits on the throne.”

  “Aight.” The guard spat.

  I studied the desolate city as we were led to the castle by the pungent guard. The buildings were worse from down here. The roads were a patchwork of jagged stone and what appeared to be broken glass. Kamryn had said the goblins loved shiny things, that they went to war over mines and treasure hordes. I didn’t see any of that splendor reflected in the city.

  The palace was no better. It was an ugly mound made of clay and stone.

  “Ya slave is ill-trained.”

  I looked up and tried my best not to scream. A grotesque man with a hunched back was holding a lantern in a twisted hand. His eyes were pale and ringed with red. His teeth were black and cracked, with more than half of them gone.

  “Stupid girl.” Kamryn snapped his fingers in my face. “Who do you think you are? One more mishap, and I shall strip the skin from your bones.”

  I lowered my eyes and hugged my chest. I could feel the goblin’s eyes on me. He bent down and sniffed. The odor that radiated from his body made my eyes water. Onions. Garlic. Old, wet leaves. He smelled like all of that and more.

  “The palace has grown uglier since my last visit.” Kamryn stepped in front of me. Disapproval dripped from his words. “Your ruler still sits on the riches you fought for without a care for your well-being.”

  “Mind yer bidness,” the crooked man growled and shuffled into the mound. “Get inside ‘fore I changes me mind.”

  “Careful,” Kamryn whispered under his breath before following the goblin guard inside.

  The interior of the castle was the complete opposite of the wretched city. From the heavy burgundy curtains that swept the golden-veined marble floor to the exquisite glass sculptures that lined the wall, every inch of the foyer screamed opulence.

  I stared at the back of Kamryn’s knees but managed to sneak a few glances in between. Piles of jewels and golden coins were scattered haphazardly through the halls, as if someone just emptied their pockets where they stood, and glass bowls held rubies and diamonds like one would display fruit or flowers.

  We were led into an empty room where everything was dark. There were no gossiping courtesans or twittering peasants you would expect in a palace. It was quiet—too quiet.

  “I am sorry about the late queen.” Kamryn didn’t sound like he meant it at all.

  “Mother was a wretch. We’re all happy the crone is dead.” The new voice seemed to reverberate through the room. Luxurious and warm, it wrapped around me and teased my senses. “What brings you to the Undercity, son of death?”

  “I’m sure you have heard of my brother’s return.”

  “I have heard…a few things here and there.” A shiver ran down my spine. I knew, without looking up, that the goblin king’s eyes were on me. “What is this?”

  Don’t move. Act like you don’t have any sense, I repeated in my head. Look away. I’m no one. I’m nothing.

  Kamryn pinched my chin and raised my head. “My mute little mouse.” His venom-coated words stung even though I knew he didn’t mean it. “Good for licking up the crumbs that fall on the floor…or your lap. Does my pet catch your eye, Tramere?”

  “Diamonds were once coal,” he purred. “Did you think I wouldn’t be able to sniff the royalty in her blood? If I wanted her, I would take her.”

  Something in the air changed. I looked up and shrunk back from the shadows that hovered over Kamryn like a shroud. They twisted and curled like tentacles that were ready to latch onto your skin and draw you in. My senses screamed that I was in danger. The man before me was more than what he appeared to be.

  “You overstep.” His voice was calm and collected. Somehow that made him scarier. He knew he was the predator in this situation and the ones around him nothing but prey.

  “What did you come for?” The little bit of color in Tramere’s face disappeared.

  My fear was joined by mild shock. Tramere wasn’t the hideous king of goblins I pictured he would be. He had smooth porcelain skin and bright green eyes that sparkled even though the room was dim and poorly lit by the mushrooms.

  He had thick golden hair that curled against his head in pretty little swirls. He wore a nicely fitted black long-sleeved shirt and matching leather pants. His shoes were clean and shined, two uncut diamonds sat on his fingers, and a thick gold rope hung from his neck. He was a gorgeous man.

  He looked back at me, smiled, and winked. “You’re a beautiful creature. Why don’t you come here so I can get a better look at you?” His voice promised things I wasn’t ready for. Things a decent lady wouldn’t even think of doing.

  “I’m the one who came to see you, Tramere. Your mother owed me a favor,” Kamryn hissed. “Since she is not here to fulfill it—"

  “I know the old law.” The click-clack of nails against stone echoed through the room. “What do you ask of me?”

  “An item from the royal treasure trove.”

  Unbodied laughter broke the tense silence. The many teeters and jeers of a lively court filled the empty room. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable with the weight of the invisible court’s stares.

  I knew how it felt to be watched, to be placed on a pedestal for all to see, to be feared. This was different. We were nothing but entertainment to them.

  “Once treasure is added to the trove, it cannot be removed,” the goblin king said with mirth. “Make another request.”

  “The old law states that once treasure is added to the trove, none from the earth or the sky may remove it.” Kamryn’s smile was cold and calculating. “It is time for us to settle our debt.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Kamryn

  I hadn’t been expecting to see Tramere on the throne when we walked into the city. I knew the queen had passed. I had watched her cross the river myself
. Before she left, she’d told me that Samara, her daughter, was set to inherit the throne. I believed her, but it seemed that even after death, she continued to be the same conniving old hag she had always been.

  I was surprised Tramere had given us a room to rest in after our five-hour descent. His hospitality had been a red flag. I didn’t let him know I was onto him. Instead, I thanked him for being a gracious host and almost dragged Sarai out of the meeting chamber before he devoured her with his eyes. We weren’t going to stay here longer than necessary.

  “I folded all your things and placed them in that bag.” I gestured toward a corner with my head. “I hate you have to go down there alone.”

  “You promised me bread pudding.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her dark eyes. “I just want to get this done and get back home.”

  Home. The simple word made my heart feel light. She didn’t say she wanted to get back to Rotan or Etan. She wanted to go home, and I knew, without a doubt, that she meant Irkalla.

  “I know. But we can’t rush through this. The trove is a network of underground caves the goblins use to store their plundered goods. There are hundreds of them down here.”

  She pulled her hair back into a bun and secured the base with a leather band. She looked distracted, and I knew she hadn’t heard a word I said.

  “Sarai?” I tapped on the top of her boot. “Are you listening?”

  “I hate it here. Everything in the palace is so pretty that it’s ugly.” She played with the edge of her tunic. “I hate the king. I didn’t like how he was looking at me.”

  “The goblins love beautiful things, gold, jewels, fine cloth, even men and women. I’m sure if they could acquire the moon and stars, they would.”

  Tramere had been drawn to Sarai like a moth to a flame. His cowardice was the only thing that kept his curiosity at bay. Tramere knew what I was capable of. He had seen me lose control of my power once, and from the looks of things, the city had never recovered.

  “They’re so greedy.” Her nostrils flared in distaste.

  “They are no different than anyone else. They just aren’t afraid to show their true colors.” Even so, I had no desire to stay down here in this crumbling city, especially not with her. “We will leave as soon as you get the mirror.”

  I could tell by the way she was gnawing on her lip that there was more troubling her than just the goblins’ greed. “What is really bothering you?”

  “What if I get lost? How will you find me?” She twirled her thumbs. “You said there are hundreds of tunnels.”

  “Trust me, I will know. Just remember what we practiced. Do you have the rod?” She swallowed and nodded. “Good. See, everything is going as planned. This will be easy for you.”

  She took a deep breath. “Don’t leave me lost out there.”

  I clasped her small hand between both of mine. Her fingers were cold and shaking. “You are stronger than you know. Don’t forget that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sarai

  It was cold and damp. The only sound that met my strained ears was my echoing footsteps. The small light Kamryn had given me drifted by my side. At least the air down here in the troves was clean. A faint mineral scent drifted from the wet rocks that jutted out from the walls. The steady trickle of running water and the muffled thuds of my bare feet against the cold dirt did nothing to ease my nerves.

  I stopped wondering how long I had been wandering hundreds of steps and stumbles ago. Time had no meaning in a place like this. The darkness swallowed the minutes and hours like a whale swallowed plankton.

  I sat down, crossed my knees beneath me, and pulled out the small dousing rod. I held an end in each hand and closed my eyes. Where is the mirror? Show me the goddess’s mirror. I tried to feel the pull that Kamryn assured would come, and for the fifth time, I felt nothing.

  I internally screamed. Frustration was driving me insane. Stupid, stupid girl. I hit my fist against my temple.

  We spent three weeks practicing with the rod, and I’d found every single item he asked me to find within minutes. If the mirror was here, I would have felt its pull by now.

  In the distance, the sound of rushing water pulled on my senses. I stood and rushed towards the music. I tripped over loose rock and walked around jagged stalagmites and stalactites.

  I bit my tongue as I hiked over mountains of pinching gold coins that slid beneath my weight. I trudged over piles of uncut jewels and metals that impaled the palms of my hands like knives. I stumbled through caverns full of perfumes, oils, and incense so thick, it felt as if I were breathing flames.

  By the time I reached the dark water, I was on my hands and knees, shaking with exhaustion. I pulled out the rod once more and tried to picture the infernal mirror. I asked it to show me which way to go, to at least give me a nudge in the mirror’s direction—and like before, it did nothing.

  Frustrated and tired, I cracked it in two and threw the short end into the lake. I’d wasted all that time training, just to fail when it truly mattered. I’d been so proud of my newly gained skill that I hadn’t worried about it actually not working. What was I supposed to do now? With misty eyes, I watched it float on the surface of the murky green water.

  “Worthless.” I sniffed and stood on my aching feet.

  I missed the warm tunic Kamryn had given me. The goblins were particular about what was worn into the trove, and a thin white shift that was riddled in holes was all I’d been given. The servant who had thrown it at me laughed when Kamryn demanded thicker clothing.

  “A waste,” she’d claimed. “She’s gon’ die down there noways.”

  She didn’t laugh long, not after Kamryn threatened to take her tongue from her rotted mouth.

  He had complete faith in me. When he said he believed I would find this mirror, his voice didn’t waver.

  “A mirror crafted for the Sea Goddess. The frame made of moonlight, diamond, and pearl. The glass crafted from the sun, sky, and wind,” I mouthed to the cavern walls. It seemed so whimsical, a thing of a merchild’s bedtime story.

  A loud splash had me jumping out of my skin. I stepped back and looked at the surface of the lake. Small ripples ringed out toward the shore, and the other half of the broken rod was gone.

  It made complete sense. A gift made for the Sea Goddess would reside in a body of water. I jumped up and down and clapped my hands. I was close. All that stood between me and the mirror was the lake.

  It wasn’t long before all the excitement at my discovery drained from my body. The lake was dark, and only the gods knew what kind of creatures lurked in its depths. But I was so close. I didn’t come all this way to give up. If I went back to Irkalla empty-handed, I wouldn’t be able to live knowing I had just given up.

  I sighed and looked up at the light. “I hope you’re waterproof,” I mouthed before slipping into the murky lake.

  The water was surprisingly warm and the descent easy. After the first few feet, the water cleared, and another world was revealed. Glowing fish of all shapes and colors swam away when I approached. The lake was deep, and the bottom was littered with chests full of all different types of treasures.

  There was a strange wooden horse with a hollow belly and large wooden wheels, an immense ship with a dragon figurehead, and a stone statue of a woman with golden horns and hooves. It was as if someone’s art collection had fallen from the surface and been submerged in the lake. Back home, I would have considered such a find a treasure trove. Here, in the goblins’ possession, it all seemed like such a waste.

  I followed the pull of the rod and admired the various statues until it led me to the heart of the lake, where a marble temple with long elegant columns waited.

  I quietly swam through the entrance and kept close to the wall. A layer of green algae grew on the pillars, crumbling steps led up to a grand entryway, and a chandelier with dozens of missing crystals hung from a cracked ceiling. The temple was empty, save for a large golden trunk that sat in the middle of the room.


  The rod quivered in my hand and pulled me in the direction of the strange chest. I uttered a prayer to the goddess before gently opening the lid.

  Nestled on a red velvet pillow was the hand mirror.

  “I did it.” I giggled with relief. I really did it. I found the mirror.

  I pulled it from the chest and studied the simple frame. There were no diamonds, pearls, or rubies on its handle. It wasn’t crafted from gold or silver like Kamryn claimed it had been. It was a simple mirror made of roughly carved wood, with strange words engraved on the back. I would have never believed it belonged to the goddess if I had stumbled upon it somewhere.

  I was startled by a familiar scream. “It was Sarai!”

  “Gia?” I choked on her name and looked around the empty temple. I was alone, but I had heard her name loud and clear as if she were right behind me.

  I placed a hand against my racing heart and looked down at the mirror. Its surface shifted and revealed a scene from long ago. My throat closed with emotion.

  “Momma, it was Sarai!” I watched as Gia pulled on Mother’s hand.

  “Sarai, was it you?” Mother stared back with her lips pressed into a thin line. Her dark eyes sparkled with suppressed humor. “Did you take Gia’s doll?”

  “No. She left it in the garden!” My younger high-pitched voice made me grind my teeth. Did I always sound so obnoxious?

  “Don’t lie to me.” Mother frowned. “I know when you’re lying.”

  “Momma.” I placed my fingers on the cold glass. I missed her so much.

  A different image formed. A young woman in a bright yellow dress spun in a field of flowers. Familiar mountains loomed in the background.

  “Please?” She dropped to her knees and clasped her hands over her chest. “Myrena, don’t be cruel. How will I live without you?”

  “Don’t be dramatic. I will only be gone for six months.” Mother rolled her eyes and helped her friend to her feet. “Get up, you will stain your dress!”