by Amy Bearce
“Odessa, I’m going, and you can’t stop me.”
She then spoke directly to Tristan. “But I’ll return. I give you my word of honor. As a merfolk.”
His eyes were wider than sand dollars; his tail went completely still. A thousand words were in his eyes as he lifted his hand in farewell, but all he said was, “I am selfish enough to be glad of it.”
Well, of course he wanted Phoebe’s help for his people, even if her powers frightened him now. No one else could do for them what she could. That didn’t make him selfish. It made him a loving leader for the merfolk, one the fools didn’t appreciate.
Heart heavy, Phoebe swam off, leaving the merfolk behind her. Her magic whispered their hope and fear to her as she went. But she couldn’t tell which they felt the strongest.
The moonglow of Phoebe’s skin faded as she sped toward the shore. She tried to use the new part of herself that controlled the light to reach out her mind to Queenie, showing her images of where Sierra should go. Hopefully, the message would get across to them.
As Phoebe swam, she yanked down her coiled braids, never feeling less like a princess in her life. As confident and exhilarated as she had felt when all that magic blazed through her, stark reality was setting in. Even though they accepted her help now, she knew the merfolk weren’t happy about her transformation and increased powers. And she still might not be enough to defeat their enemies.
When she surfaced, the small tent on the rocky shore stunned her, along with the hundreds of tiny lights surrounding it. Fairies were everywhere. The tent looked like it had been there a while, coated with salt and sand. Someone burst out and ran toward to the water.
Sierra. It was Sierra. She was waiting for Phoebe.
Relief poured through Phoebe, and if she had still been human, her eyes would have overflowed with tears. Now all she could feel was a tightening of her throat and stinging at the back of her eyes. She waved at Sierra, who ran straight into the sea without stopping, sending droplets flying everywhere. Stark fear, anger, and relief flashed across Sierra’s face as she rushed deeper into the water without any sign of discomfort from the cold. Phoebe swam until she was shoulder-deep, then stopped, waiting. Any farther and scales would show. Her hair plastered her neck and shoulders, covering her gills and the vivid tattoos. Good. She wanted to break this to her sister as gently as possible, but Sierra was about to get the shock of her life.
“Phoebe! By all the stars, where have you been? What were you thinking?” Anger was clearly pushing relief aside as Sierra reached Phoebe and grabbed her by the arms. “I’ve been out of my mind with worry! None of the merfolk would tell me anything except you were with them! Are you okay? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Phoebe moved her mouth, but of course nothing came out. She patted her neck and shook her head, trying to communicate, but the water was too dark for Sierra to see below her shoulders without careful examination.
“Tell me what’s going on!” Sierra’s voice rose.
Phoebe did the one thing she could think of. She backed up slightly and then dove down, letting her tail rise about the water for a long moment. She even flicked it in her sister’s direction. When she rose back out of the water, Sierra was paler than the white rocks along the shore.
“Is that… a tail?” she managed.
Phoebe motioned for Sierra to come under water. She simply knew her own magic would support Sierra the way Tristan’s had so often supported Phoebe. Sierra didn’t budge. Phoebe finally lost patience and pulled Sierra under the surface.
To her credit, Sierra didn’t panic, but she did look wild-eyed at Phoebe’s fin. Who could blame her, really? The change was still shocking to Phoebe, no matter how natural it now felt. Phoebe finally could speak.
“I’m so sorry, Sierra. Tristan was dying from a water wraith attack. I saved him, but the magic of the sea took my human life and turned me into a mermaid in exchange for his healing.”
One side of Sierra’s lips curled up in a trembling smile, as if desperately awaiting the punchline. Her gaze moved to trace the many merfolk tattoos swirling over Phoebe’s shoulders and arms. “This has to be a joke, right? People don’t just… grow fins! It’s not possible!”
“I know it sounds crazy, but I swear, it’s true. I entered the water first with a merfolk tear―they do truly exist―but I didn’t change until I told the magic of the sea to do whatever it took to save Tristan.” The tale did sound outlandish, but her sister had to believe. Phoebe called out, “Queenie, tell her for me!”
The fairy queen flew over and floated just above the clear water. A wash of comfort slid through Phoebe. Queenie was telling her it was okay. Phoebe considered how to send images of her time under the water to the little creature, to share with Sierra. Focusing on the way she felt when she connected with Tristan, Phoebe followed the thin magical line connecting her to Queenie. Though the link was far, far fainter than hers with the merfolk, it was enough.
Frowning in concentration, Phoebe relayed an image of the water wraith. Queenie squealed and did a backflip.
Sierra cried out, “What? What is it?”
Quickly, Phoebe followed that image with others, more beautiful ones: the coral cliffs, the dancing seaweed, a smiling Mina, a serious Tristan.
Queenie hummed, trilled, and then glowed more brightly.
Sierra closed her eyes as she received the torrent of images from her fairy queen. When she opened her eyes again, they were full of amazement―then blazing fire.
“Who gave you the right to throw away your life like that? Did you ever stop and think what it would do to me to have my sister stuck in the ocean forever or die at the hands of a sea monster? I would give up anything for you―” She cut off abruptly as her voice broke.
“That’s just it, isn’t it?” Phoebe said, compassion robbing her of any anger. “You’ve given up so much for me. And I’m grateful. But you have your life with Micah and your fairies. And now I have mine with the merfolk. It’s not that I wanted to stay forever, but I do love the ocean and, Sierra, I have real magic now.”
“Maybe you could still have your magic on land. With us!”
“No, Micah was right. I’m tied to the merfolk the way you’re tied to your fairies.”
“But I didn’t turn into a fairy!”
“Look, I know you think I’m too young to handle a serious problem, but right now, the merfolk need me to help. I can use magic in ways they can’t, and I’m willing to fight when they aren’t. The water wraiths have been stealing their people and sucking away their life energy, taking every last drop of their magic. The creature Corbin talked about, Baleros? The merfolk finally believe he’s waking up, but that’s not enough. I’ve got to stop him, or at least do my part even if the merfolk don’t really want me. They think I’m charming them against their will, but I have to help them anyway.”
The enormity of the situation struck, and Phoebe hung her head. The passion and desperation that had been pushing her gave way to a cold gloom. She wanted to cry but couldn’t. She looked down at the sandy ocean floor, struggling to compose herself.
Sierra started to scoff but then stopped. She lifted Phoebe’s head and looked deeply into her eyes.
“They hurt your feelings.” Sierra’s voice was flat.
Phoebe couldn’t force any words out.
“I’ll kill them. Every last one of those ungrateful merfolk―”
“Stop it, no. It’s not their fault. Don’t you see? They were slaves for generations. They’re afraid of what I can do to them. I’m afraid of what I can do to them. They think I’ll turn into some sort of slave driver. You know how your fairies used to fight you? I think this is sort of like that, but worse. They don’t want me around.”
At least the merfolk didn’t leave physical wounds like Sierra’s fairies had. Just emotional ones.
“Even Tristan?” Sierra asked with a raised eyebrow, lightening the moment a bit, pushing her shoulder against Phoebe’s
If only
Phoebe could laugh at the situation.
“His response is the most confusing of all. He seems to sense magic from me more easily than others―so effortless, it’s frightening―but I have no idea what he’s really feeling. I’m not sure how we could ever be bondmates now, not with my power over him like this. It’s not fair to either of us.” She shook her head sadly.
Sierra sighed. “Do you remember the day we got home from Bentwood’s? After I thought I would die in that earthquake?”
“How could I forget?”
“You asked me to me promise I’d never leave you. And I won’t. I won’t leave you behind anymore, Phoebe. Find a way to come home! You don’t need those ungrateful merfolk. How can I live up to my promise if you do this? Surely we can find some way to reverse this spell or whatever it is!”
“You haven’t broken your promise. You’ve never really left me, not where it counts. We can still visit, and I’ll miss you terribly. But I’ve made another promise, Sierra. And I’ve got to keep it. I’m not a child anymore.”
Sierra didn’t reply while the current played with her hair like Phoebe used to do as a child. Phoebe willed her big sister to understand. This had to be done.
All at once, Sierra folded Phoebe in her arms and held on tightly. They floated in the water, silent, because there was no need for words to express the love they shared.
When Sierra finally spoke, her voice was husky. “I’m proud of you, Phoebe. I hate that you’re risking yourself, but you’re right you aren’t a little girl anymore. You never really were a child again after Bentwood took you. You’re the same age I was when I went searching for Queenie. I guess it’s time I started treating you like that. I know you love magical creatures, and you’ve loved merfolk since the day you first laid eyes on one. And that particular merman seems to feel the same way about you. I hope they appreciate that you would do anything for them. You were always the better caretaker of the two of us.”
Phoebe’s eyes stung again. She summoned a weak smile. “Thank you.” She sniffed and added, “Tell everyone I love them.”
“Of course. Though Nell is going to kick my rear over this. Corbin, too.”
Phoebe thought back to the moment when Nell spoke the prophecy. She remembered Corbin’s sad, gentle smile.
“I think they’ll understand.”
“You could bring me with you. I’ll help you fight!” Sierra’s hands were like vises on her shoulder. Desperation edged her words.
Phoebe slowly shook her head. “Where I’m going, sweet sister, you cannot follow. Not this time. You have your role out there, on land, and with Donovan and others raising trouble, you and Queenie have to fight back. Don’t let them make you lose ground. Queenie and I can communicate, so I’ll call you through her when it’s all done, okay?”
Sierra grumbled, Sierra argued, but eventually Sierra gave in. She backed out of the water, and Phoebe waved one final time. Sierra stood on the sand, teeth chattering slightly from the water that felt like a warm robe bundled around Phoebe now.
Saying goodbye to her sister was like a giant door shutting on one part of her life. Now Phoebe, not Sierra, was the protector. And it was time to get going.
Phoebe blew her sister a kiss and dove into the water, flipping her fin in a farewell salute. Then she headed back to the merfolk. She knew just where they were. They glowed like a city on a hill in her mind’s eye, a beacon drawing her closer, closer, closer.
To home.
s Phoebe swam toward her new people, she pondered the situation. She wished she had used a little less bravado in the conclave meeting. What if she couldn’t help the others use magic as she did? Maybe only her two best friends were close enough to connect to her that way. What if she wasn’t really able to fight the wraiths herself? Her plan was full of holes.
As she approached the village, Tristan and Odessa were waiting. Before Phoebe could find a way to confess to him that she didn’t really know what to do next, he sped over to her with anguish written on every line of his face. His pain slammed into her like a physical force.
She gasped. “What is it?”
“Mina’s gone!”
“What? Mina’s missing?”
“She went out searching for Liam, we think, but she’s not returned at all. Mother thinks the wraiths have taken her.”
Odessa swam up next to Tristan, and took charge of the conversation. “Phoebe Quinn, this changes our plans. You must put your powers to work in a new way, sooner than I had hoped. You should both brace yourselves.”
Phoebe glanced at Tristan, wishing he would reach over and take her hand. But he didn’t.
“You must use your magic to find my daughter and to fight the beast that has her.”
Dread filled Phoebe, leaving her heavy and exhausted.
Tristan snapped, “You don’t know Baleros has her, or that the wraiths even took her. She was here during the convocation; she knew we had a plan.”
“When does Mina ever wait for plans?” Odessa snapped right back.
He groaned, covering his ashen face with both hands.
“Yes, the wraiths took her, I’m sure of it. She went out looking for that foolish seawee who is most likely dead, and now she’s gone, too,” Odessa said. For the first time, agony pulsed through the older mermaid’s voice.
“The wraiths took her? Did you see them?” Phoebe asked.
“I don’t need to see them to smell their foul stench,” Odessa said scornfully. “She went out, on her own, to the last place Liam was seen. And never came back. If Tristan hadn’t been so upset about you, moping about his room, he’d have known her plan and kept her from being so foolish.”
Phoebe cut her eyes to him, but he was too busy glaring at his mother to notice.
“Phoebe’s not a tool to use, Mother.” Tristan’s voice vibrated with warning.
Odessa lifted both eyebrows. “I believe she wants to help, don’t you?”
They both turned to look at Phoebe at the same time. Now that she knew their relationship, she could easily see the mother’s dark green eyes mirrored in Tristan’s. Her hair was streaked with silver now but had stripes of sable as black as Mina’s.
Tristan sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“How can I help?” was all Phoebe said.
“Tell me about your experiences with magic. How did you sense Tristan? You need to find Mina, even though she might be far away.”
“I can do one better than that,” Phoebe said, thinking quickly. “The wraiths descended into the midnight realm. Maybe they took Mina there. Once I sense her, and we plan exactly where to go―if you’ll help me―I’ll draw them away with my magic. Then, you all could have a team sneak in and take back Mina.”
“We’ll have to convince the elders,” Tristan said.
“No, not really,” said Odessa slowly. “Phoebe just has to tell them. They’ll come. They’ll have to. I can feel her call so strongly now. She can force them to agree with her.”
Phoebe was shocked. The very suggestion was abhorrent. “But I can’t do that!”
“Even to save Mina’s life?”
Tristan looked miserably at his mother then turned haunted eyes to Phoebe.
This was no kind of choice. If she forced them all to do her bidding, she was worse than Bentwood ever had been. Such an action would destroy any hope she had of showing Tristan she’d never abuse her power. Yet if Mina died because of Phoebe’s inaction, she’d never be able to forgive herself.
“Let me talk to the elders. Let me show them there’s a chance to save her.”
“Tristan, go gather them. Tell them to assemble at the next tide, for the young mermaid to plead her case.”
Now it was up to Phoebe to sway them―without unfairly using her magic. She’d better figure out what she was going to say. And fast.
Alone in Mina’s room, Phoebe tried to focus. How would she find her friend before the tide changed? It was one thing to feel all the merfolk in the chamber with her. But if Mina
were in the midnight realm, she was so far away. Maybe too far away to sense. Besides, there were many deep trenches along the ocean floor. Mina could be in any of them.
Right now, Phoebe sensed the merfolk as a giant group―like a pod of dolphins in dark waters. She couldn’t distinguish one from another. Finding a single mermaid would be like trying to focus on one lute out of an entire minstrel band. She hoped that being in Mina’s room and holding her belongings would somehow help distinguish her particular energy from the others.
Phoebe ran her hands over the knick-knacks Mina kept in her room. Baskets of woven sea grass held all her favorite things, hanging from the walls of the cave.
Phoebe smiled sorrowfully as her gaze landed on a small pile of items next to Mina’s bed. The knitted scarf Phoebe made―a totally useless item for a mermaid but something Phoebe wanted to make anyway―floated gently in the currents, held down by a heavy brass candlestick holder also given by Phoebe. Mina had loved every item from land, saying they reminded her of their friendship.
Mina’s comb lay on the rock by the bed, made of spiny sea shells. Phoebe picked it up and held it against her chest. Mina, Mina, she whispered in her mind. Where are you? Trying to find Mina’s voice among the cacophony of merfolk was impossible.
Flopping into Mina’s bed basket, Phoebe remembered the first time they’d met. Tristan had been at the shore the very next time she had gone to the beach after the rescue. She’d hobbled into the water, hoping the sea would ease the pain in her knee. She’d yelped when he popped above the surface, but his easy smile brought one to her face in return. Then Mina appeared, twinkling eyes peeking from behind Tristan. For all her light-hearted ways, Mina was the one who’d taken charge of Phoebe’s healing.
Mina forced Phoebe to keep moving her knee even when it hurt. Tristan might have let it slide, hating to see her in pain, but Mina had no pity. She’d say, “Bend it again, Phoebe. You’ve got to use it, or you’ll always limp.”