Her brow creased. “No, the King’s attendant will be. The King is escorting Tatiana down the isle.”
“What?” I let out a gust that flapped my lips. None of this was right. Dad should be taking her down the isle, not Leon. “And Tatch is going to let him?”
Mom nudged me in the side and gave me a hard look. “Fin—” She pointed to the front of the room. “Have a seat. I’ll handle the details.”
I rolled my eyes and followed her instruction, knocking over a sea star sculpture in the process.
Through the doors on the left of the room, a group of merboys filed in and hovered behind a huge harp. They were dressed in white long-sleeved shirts and stood stiff like statues. I tried to follow their example, but felt myself sliding off my chair. Instead, I leaned back and stared at the diamond chandelier that hung from the ceiling. Sunlight disbursed off the glistening stones and rippled in the water throughout the room. I wished the room was air-filled so I could exercise my legs.
The snake-haired lady nudged me. “Fin, it’s time.”
I opened my eyes with a start and maneuvered myself upright. Azor had taken his place on the stage already and to my surprise, our outfits matched. Still shrouded in a cloud of drug induced apathy, I swam up to him and gave him a big high five.
“Finley.” He grinned smugly. “Ready for the big day?”
“Righty-O, dog.” I formed my fingers into a gun and clicked my tongue.
He laughed half-heartily as snake-haired lady moved me over to the other side of the podium. Once she left the stage, the harpist, who had appeared from nowhere, began to play. The boys sang Natatoria’s anthem as a school of seahorses pulled a small pram with my sister and Lily sitting inside. They both wore very ornate head pieces and white dresses, but my sister’s head was tilted haphazardly back onto her chair and her mouth gaped open. The snake-haired lady swam over and jiggled her shoulder.
Tatch snapped her head up and shut her mouth. She canvassed the room and found me, then gave me a half-smile. But Lily’s terror-stricken expression sobered me up. Lily’s father swam to her side of the pram and escorted her to the entrance of the aisle. Behind them, the King entered and took up Tatch’s arm.
At the sight of the King, my heart began to pound. He never came last night as I’d summoned. I’d have to confront him in front of everyone now. The music changed to a soft ballad and the four swam down the aisle behind two merlings who tossed starfish onto the white sandy runway.
Lily gulped hard as they came to the end and behind me, the attendant asked, “Who brings these mermaids to be promised to these mermen?”
“Her Godparents do,” the King said and passed my tipsy sister to Azor.
I looked to my mom, who was horrified as Tatchi snuggled on Azor’s shoulder. Where was my courage? Why couldn’t I say anything?
Lily took my arm, her hand shaking as the attendant began the ceremony.
“We are gathered in front of friends and witnesses today to join Prince Azor and Tatiana, and Sir Finley and Elizabeth—”
46
ASH
In desperation, I decided I’d hallucinated the whole thing. Mermaids weren’t real. It was time to put the “strand of pearls” away and think rationally. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t crazy. And no guy, no matter how handsome or wonderful, would drive me to act foolishly. I had a life to live and so did Fin. For whatever reason he wasn’t with me, so I’d need to accept it and move on. Today would be day one of that journey.
I pulled out my homework and stared at the page filled with notes from my teacher. The words blurred and jumbled around, competing with the chaos in my head. Was a little peace too much to ask for? I flung my body back into the pillows and screamed at the sudden burst of pain from my leg.
I suddenly heard stomping and was startled when my door flew open. Dad stood in the doorway, terror splashed across his face. “What’s wrong, Ash?”
“Dad,” I said as the tears poured out. “I’m a mess. I can’t stop all these feelings of dread all the time. But there’s nothing I can do to fix the situation.”
He came and sat next to me, fraught with worry. “Ash, you’re not making any sense.”
“I saw them, the other night. They were taken by their family to some strange place against their will. Something’s wrong, I can feel it.”
He closed his eyes and caressed my hair. “Ash. You imagined you saw them. Remember? We’ve been through this. They haven’t been home. Mom would know. Jack hasn’t been seen for almost a month.”
“They weren’t with Mr. Helton. They were alone. It was their weird cousin and some others. Can you please just go over and ask?”
Dad tightened his forehead. “If that would make you feel better.”
I shook my head. “Yes, please.”
As he stood, the bed squeaked, as if adding a small plea for my case. He grimaced and left me alone. I listened as he closed the front door, imagining him walking down the path and around the corner. Within minutes he returned.
“No one is home, Ash,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
I rolled over and faced the wall, palming a hunk of hair and tugging. Something had to stop the madness and soon. The shell of my psyche was cracking and at any moment, I knew it would shatter to pieces.
“Why don’t you come out and spend some time with me in the living room?” he asked.
I moaned but didn’t move. He waited a minute and sighed, then shut the door.
47
FIN
“Phaleon, what is this all about?” A loud voice boomed from the doorway, interrupting the ceremony.
Everyone turned to stare at my father. I watched, my adrenaline trying to press past the drug barrier and kick in some liquid courage.
The King swiveled around, startled. “Jack, so nice of you to join us. Please—” he gestured. “Take a seat.”
“No. I will not,” Dad said with hard eyes. “Why wasn’t I told my children were being promised today?”
“I’d sent word. Obviously you got it.”
“Word?” Dad laughed derisively. “Was this the same word that was supposed to be sent back to my family about my wellbeing?”
“Your messages weren’t being delivered?” The King looked towards my mom with raised eyebrows. “I’m going to have to check into that. But still, let’s not ruin this joyous affair—” He faced forward and motioned to the attendant. “Oberon, continue—”
“No, we will not.” Dad moved into the aisle, taking a sympathetic look at each of us. “Fin, Tatiana. Do you wish to be here today?”
I gulped and shook my head. Tatiana remained stiff and bleary-eyed; she didn’t respond.
Dad tightened his eyes and looked back at the King. “My children don’t agree and I won’t allow them to make a life decision under duress.”
The King bristled. “It’s not up to them anymore. They’ve broken the law.”
“And what law is that?”
“Leaving Natatoria unchaperoned and without permission.”
Dad’s painful glance darted between Tatch and me, catching the glint of gold from the bracelet on my arm. My gut quivered. “Since when is the punishment an arranged promising?”
The King took a deep breath and flared his nostrils. “I know we are friends, Jack. But you’ve got a lot of nerve arguing with me. This is what I want to happen.”
“With all due respect, I am still their father and get to decide who they are promised to. That is the law. Did you even ask why they’d left? Maybe they were concerned because they hadn’t gotten word from me.”
The King’s face turned red with anger. “It matters not. They’ve accepted and will be promised today.”
“And Maggie agreed to this as well?” Dad gestured to Mom who stayed frozen in her seat. “She probably wasn’t aware that the parents’ desires trump everything else in this situation and I’m stopping this ceremony right now. Don’t press this, Phaleon.”
“You are treading in dark water, Jack.”
They stared at one another in silence, neither moving as the King’s chest rose up and down. Dad stood firm, unwilling to cower in his presence.
When neither backed down, Dad lowered his head. “I have been a faithful servant to Natatoria and to you my entire existence, even when you were prince. You and I both know this goes further back than my children breaking the law. Even if you are king, you can not break your own laws voted in by the people—your parents saw to that.”
“Are you lecturing me?”
They drifted closer, now only a foot or two apart. The royal guard snapped up from their previous relaxed stance and poised themselves for an attack.
“So be it,” Dad finally said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Maggie, Finley, Tatiana, let’s go. We’re leaving.”
“No!” the King shouted. “You will all stay where you—”
Dad moved to get into the King’s face; his personal guard held him off. “You’ll what? Have us banished? So be it. I resign from the Council. Me and my family will be leaving now.”
Dad signaled us to leave the room, but the royal guard moved between us.
“Arrest them!” the King yelled.
The guards rushed in all directions. Dad let out a cat-call and mers dressed entirely in black charged into the room with spears drawn. The king’s guards were outnumbered two to one, pinned against the wall.
The King bristled. “This is treason!”
“We have no wish to fight,” Dad said while taking Mom’s hand. “We only want to leave in peace.”
A scuffle broke out at the door as more of the King’s soldiers tried to enter the ballroom. The King’s personal guard whisked him out the side door. In the hall, the King continued to bark orders to attack and rescue his wife and son.
“Come on, Fin,” Dad called, holding open a door located on the opposite wall of were the King just left. “We haven’t time.”
Mom was at his side, motioning for us to come quickly. I turned to fetch Tatch, but Azor had his hand wrapped firmly around her waist.
My head whirred, still thick with drugs, unable to concentrate. More men tried to force their way past the stronghold and the guards along the walls fought back, pressing the rebels into the center. Someone grabbed Dad from behind and pulled him through the doorway. Mom screamed.
Lily dropped my hand and stared at me, as if I should do something. Should I rescue her too? Kiernan, the merman assigned to help me with community service, appeared from nowhere—his black hat askew and makeup smudged—and pulled her into the throng of bodies and, I hoped, towards safety. I stood, still half-dazed, trying to determine who these rebels were as mers from both sides clashed weapons together. Something seemed off with the fight, like they weren’t really in combat but performing a practice exercise on Azor’s field. Fighting was against the nature of our race, and with brother against brother the unspoken goal became “stun your opponent.”
But with sharp weapons and the heat of battle, high pitched keening filled the room as blood clouded the water. Mermen of both sides began to drop one by one. Were they dead? A larger rebel dressed in black appeared at my side with an extra spear.
“Get yer sister outta here, lad,” he said while placing the weapon in my hand and pushing me toward Tatch.
Badger.
Azor fought a rebel mer while Tatiana stood dazed and confused, leaning against the wall behind him. Fear pounded into my veins watching him. In Azor’s eyes was the intent to kill. In the growing confusion, his attacker looked away for a moment and Azor plunged the spear into his chest. His high pitched wail changed the atmosphere of the room; one of ours had fallen to the hands of the King’s son. He fell to the ground writhing in pain, blood gushing from the wound.
I locked eyes with the dying man momentarily and I felt fire race along my scales. This was the moment I’d been waiting for—an excuse to avenge the wrongs Azor had committed.
I let out a battle cry and charged Azor with my weapon. He whipped my sister around to face him, putting her between us. His mouth went to hers, kissing her outright. She struggled at first, but then went limp. I yelled for her to fight him, but it was too late. Tatiana wove her hands up into his hair, fully accepting the promise.
“No,” I yelled, then cursed. “You’re a dead man now, Azor.”
He laughed victoriously as Tatch floated next to him, looking lovingly into his eyes. Then she spotted my weapon.
“Oh, no you don’t!” she screamed and came at me, nails bared.
One swipe caught my cheek before I could catch her hand when she tried to do it again. The spear fell from my grasp. She thumped me in the gut with her tail, then picked up the weapon and floated in front of Azor, guarding him.
“I should have done that a long time ago,” Azor said and placed his hands on her shoulders. She relaxed into his touch. Seeing them together washed dread over me.
“You’re nothing but an animal,” I said. “As long as I live, I’ll hunt you down for taking my sister’s choice away from her.”
“Oh, will you?” He arched an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for? Let’s do it right now.”
“I’ll never let you touch him,” Tatch growled. “Get out of here. I don’t want to have to hurt you again.”
Her interference made fighting him difficult. I raised my tail anyway, my head still thick with whatever they’d used to sedate me.
“Fin! Tatiana!” Dad called from somewhere behind me over the horde of fighting men. “We haven’t time.”
“You heard him,” I said and tried to snatch her hand.
“No!” She pulled her arm away from my reach. “I’m staying with Azor.”
I turned my head quickly, catching my Dad’s frantic eyes. Could he not see Tatch was guarding Azor? “She won’t come with me,” I called out.
“Leave her,” he said. “Just come.”
I tried to grab her again, but she hit my hand with the spear and moved closer to Azor’s side. “Please come with me, Tatch.”
She looked back at me, sorrow in her eyes. “I’m sorry. You’re right. The promise changes everything. Go while you can.”
I gulped down my emotion, unable to accept my defeat. “I won’t leave you here. I have to defend the honor Azor’s stolen.”
“No, Fin. I’ll be fine. I can’t explain it, but I have to be with him.”
“You won’t get far.” Azor’s laughter burned in my ears as I turned to escape with my parents. “Maybe I’ll ask the King to pardon you when they drag your sorry ass back, since you’re my extended family now.”
I clenched my fists as Dad yelled for me to hurry again. It took all my self-control to let Azor have the last word and to leave Tatch behind. Next time he wouldn’t be so lucky.
I swam to the doorway through the bloodied water. Now I could see why Dad insisted we leave. The soldiers blocked the door and he had to fight to keep the royal guards at bay long enough for me to escape.
Mom squeezed my neck as the three of us swam from the palace with a group of rebel mers behind us. Dad headed directly towards the Tahoe gate. I remained quiet, stunned he’d leave my sister so easily until her piercing scream came from behind us. I turned. Two rebel mers had her within their grasp, writhing and thrashing her tail, as she demanded they let her go.
“Tatiana,” Dad said as they approached. “This is ridiculous. You’re coming with us, so settle down.”
“No! I want to stay!”
One of her handlers attempted to pass her off when she sunk her teeth into his flesh, ripping out a huge hunk. The rebel mer yelped, releasing her. Free, she bolted away from us.
“Sorry, Dad. I can’t go with you,” she called out.
Dad’s shoulders sunk as he watched her swim out of sight. He turned and pulled a grouping of kelp fronds out of the sand, yelling something inaudible.
“I’m sorry, Captain,” the rebel mer said as he applied pressure to his wound with his other hand. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let her escape.”
“No, Jacob.” Dad turned, his composure collected. “It’s my fault. Please, go see Sandy. She’ll tend to your wounds.”
Jacob bowed before he swam away.
“The rest of you can go as well,” Dad said to the rebel mers scattered among us.
One by one, they shed their black garb and wiped away their make-up, each giving Dad a quick bow, calling him Captain. I recognized them all—volunteers in Azor’s army. They quickly swam away and blended back into society as if nothing happened.
I looked at Dad, stunned.
Mom put her hand on his arm. “Jack. We should go while there’s still time. Once we’ve regrouped, we’ll return for Tatiana. She’ll be okay for the time being. Besides, you’re injured too.”
He looked down at the huge gash across his torso. “It’s just a flesh wound. But we need the antidote first.”
“No, Dad,” I argued as rage flooded my body. “We can’t leave her here. I know how to fight. Badger taught me. We need to get her back. Summon your men.”
Dad’s eyes met mine and glazed over. “I can’t sacrifice any more lives. We have to put together a plan.”
Mom kneaded her hands as she and Dad watched the palace off in the horizon, too far to see any activity. Dad put his arm over her shoulder. “He’ll be here soon.”
She sighed.
“Dad,” I begged again. “We can’t leave Tatch!”
Dad looked at me with pain in his eyes, but something over my shoulder made his face relax. “There he is.”
I turned to see a rebel mer swimming in our direction.
“Aye, Captain,” the rebel said and he embraced Dad. “There be no one followin’ and I brought ya the ‘lixer. Fin will be needin’ it after ya cross the gate. Give it to him right away, or he’ll have one nasty headache after he wakes up.”
“Badger?” I asked.
He smiled at me under the black make-up. “You best be leavin’. I need to be gettin’ back to the palace and figure who needs wounds attended. The girls have already doused the place with octopus ink, so they can pull out the victims. Don’t want anyone dyin’ on us or gettin’ captured.” He bowed his head.
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