I took a deep breath. “Arwyn, I need you to get those vials, a syringe, and a compounding bowl. Is there someone you trust enough to enlist their help doing so?”
The dragon nodded. “Georgian helped me tonight with Kyler and will assist me again. He has always been loyal and I trust him.”
“Georgian is one of the finest landwalkers I know,” agreed Cyrus.
“Perfect. As soon as you have everything and it’s safe, come back down here,” I said.
Arwyn nodded. “I better head back up before someone notices I’m missing. I’ll come back as soon as possible. I imagine my father will be sidetracked with capturing the escapees.”
I bit my lip and said a prayer to Amphitrite. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to Cyrus’s family or the young mermaids I helped escape.
“Don’t worry, if they dove down to the sea floor, they’ll be safe,” said Arwyn.
“Thank you, friend,” said Cyrus, as he reached out and laid a hand on the dragon’s shoulder.
The small dragon nodded. “I will never forget your kindness.” Without another word, he turned around and trudged back out the same way he had entered the dungeon.
Once the door had clunked shut behind him, Cyrus leaned against the bars. “So, what’s your plan?”
12
“When do you think he’ll be back?” I asked, looking toward the other end of the dungeon.
“Hopefully soon,” said Cyrus. “He’ll have to be careful. If his father catches him, we’ll certainly be killed.” The dank water slapped the sides of the small tank he was crammed in.
CLUNK.
My eyes opened wide. Would Arwyn appear or could it be one of King Falcor’s guards?
A young man with red hair and matching freckles appeared. He was carrying a burlap bag over his shoulder. Arwyn followed behind him. The sickly dragon could barely catch his breath as he approached our barred cells.
“Georgian,” exclaimed Cyrus. “It’s good to see you, my friend!”
After setting down the bag, the man grasped hands with Cyrus through the bars. “I’m glad to offer my service.”
“Do you really think it will help?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at me.
I held up the silver kori. “We have to try. Please, hand me the stone bowl and the vials.”
Georgian dug through the bag and passed the supplies through the bars.
Not wasting any time, I opened three vials and dumped the liquid into the mortar. Next, I tore up the silver kori and mashed it into a paste with the stone pestle. “Needle, please.”
Georgian handed me the needle and watched with wide eyes as I loaded the syringe with the mixture.
“Arwyn, where is the best place to give you an injection?” I asked.
He shuffled over toward me. “Behind my neck,” he panted.
“Okay, please take a deep breath.” As Arwyn leaned up against the bars and inhaled, I carefully inserted the needle behind the small sickly dragon’s neck and injected the concoction. Next, I scooped up the remnants in the bowl and rubbed it against Arwyn’s pale and rotting scales.
“How do you feel?” asked Cyrus, the anxiety in his voice was palpable.
Arwyn opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, his jaw dropping even further in the process. “MY SCALES,” he exclaimed. “THEY’RE SHINING!”
Everyone’s eyes turned to the area slathered in medication. The once disintegrating scales were now gleaming.
“It worked!” I said, raising my fist into the air. “It really worked!”
Georgian let out an audible gasp. “How did you know that seaweed would help?”
I grinned for the first time since Cyrus and I had kissed. “Mermaids use silver kori all of the time. We usually use it in a cream form, but it all comes from this sea plant. It helps our tails shine and shimmer. It grows everywhere under the sea. When we tried to escape, I tried to strangle Kyler with it. I guess some of it wrapped around my tail after he knocked me unconscious. I didn’t know if it would work, but I had to give it a try.”
Arwyn straightened up his shoulders. “I feel so much better! For the first time since I can remember, I don’t hurt.”
Cyrus rubbed the dragon’s back. “I can’t believe I didn’t think to try silver kori. I’m so sorry, Arwyn.”
The little dragon wiggled his back. “You’ve done it, Aria! You’ve found a cure! We need to get news to my father immediately!”
I nodded. “And get this cure into mass production.”
Both Arwyn and Cyrus nodded.
“We’ll be able to save the dragon race,” Arwyn said. “It’s truly a miracle!”
“Right, but in order to do that, we’ve got to get out of here. Do you have the keys?” I asked with hope in my voice.
Arwyn chuckled. “Scoot as far back into your cell as possible.”
Following his advice, I pressed my body against the back of the tank. I cringed as my back brushed against the mildew covered brick wall.
Arwyn took a deep breath and emitted a flame-filled breath. The fire turned the bars of my cell a bright orange color. A moment later, he nudged them. They fell to the ground with a loud clang.
“YOU DID IT, ARWYN!” I cheered.
After repeating the same steps, both Cyrus and I were free to leave our cells.
Georgian threw a handful of clothing to both of us, turning away to give us privacy as our tails transformed into legs.
“What next?” he asked, once we had dressed and stepped forward.
My legs were shaky and I had to hold on to Cyrus for support. I desperately longed to get back in the sea.
Arwyn burped, letting out a cloud of smoke. “Sorry,” he apologized, waving it away. “Listen, I have to tell you something, but you’re not going to want to hear it.”
Cyrus and I frowned.
“What is it, Arwyn?” I asked.
He looked at Georgian before speaking. “My father has announced that we are going to war with the mermaids.”
Georgian nodded. “It’s true. He was so angered by the escape and with Kyler whispering in his ear, he declared war a few minutes before I snuck down here.”
“No,” I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth.
“I know,” said Arwyn. “It’s terrible.” He looked down. “The sicker I got, the more frustrated he became. He had been threatening war for some time, saying the more mermaids he collected, the sooner he would find a cure to help me and the other sick dragons.” Arwyn paused. “The mermaids escaping was the final straw.”
“How do we stop him?” I asked, the color draining from my face.
“They are planning to attack tonight,” he said. “They have gathered the landwalkers on special boats that go under water. They are going to gather as many mermaids as possible with massive nets and bring them to the surface.”
Bile crept up the back of my throat. The thought of the landwalkers and dragons attacking my people as they slept made me want to vomit. What a cowardly act!
“Arwyn, do you feel well enough to fly?” asked Cyrus.
The dragon’s scales shimmered against the torchlight. “For the first time in years, yes!”
“Aria, can you mix up the rest of the silver kori and the remaining vials? We need Arwyn to be as strong as possible for the flight,” said Cyrus.
“Absolutely,” I said, crouching down and digging through the burlap sack.
A few minutes later, I rubbed the remaining concoction on Arwyn’s back and I gave him two additional injections. His scales came back to life under the paste.
“Let’s do this,” said Arwyn as he pushed his wings back.
Leaving Georgian behind to mix more of the cure for the additional sick dragons, Cyrus and I followed Arwyn to a large balcony.
Sneaking past the guards hadn’t been difficult, mainly because there weren’t any inside the castle.
“It looks like he’s gathered all of the dragons and most of the landwa
lkers for the battle,” whispered Arwyn. “I’m going to head to the stable to grab a saddle. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as the dragon disappeared around the corner, Cyrus placed one hand on my shoulder. “Aria, I have to admit something… Something before we leave,” said Cyrus. “It will only take a minute.” His face twisted into a frown.
My heart started pounding in my chest. “What’s wrong?” He better not tell me I can’t go. I’d like to see him try to stop me!
Letting his hand fall from my shoulder, Cyrus reached up and unbuttoned a small pocket on his chest. “I’d like to give this to you.”
“Give me wha…” As my eyes landed on the small heart shaped ruby, my already wobbly knees went weak.
It had been encased in gold with a long chain that Cyrus easily slid over my neck. I didn’t recognize the chain, but I knew that stone the moment I saw it.
“It couldn’t be…” I trailed off.
“I knew it was you,” he whispered. “Your violet eyes were just as beautiful then as they are today.”
“Riker?” his name rolled off my lips.
He reached for my hands and brought them to his lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I wanted to, but I didn’t know how you would react. I was afraid you would think I was a traitor. But, everything I told you is true. My family was kidnapped and forced to live on land for over a decade. I wanted to leave so many times, but I would never go without my parents and sister.”
“But your name? Why did you change it?” I asked.
“We all changed our names when the dragons imprisoned us. We didn’t think they deserved to know the real us. I did tell Arwyn, but he’s the only one besides you now who knows my real name.”
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” I murmured, picking up the heart. “And, that you kept it all this time.”
Cyrus smiled. “It helped me through countless nights… In the beginning, working with dragons was terrifying. I used to come home and clutch this to my chest. At times, it was the only way I could fall asleep.”
A tear formed in the corner of my eye. Reaching up, I tried to take the necklace off. “Cyrus, I can’t—”
He shook his head. “Please, wear it tonight. I would love to tell your mother face-to-face how much it has helped me over the years.”
The tears began to flow. “She’s gone,” I whispered.
“What?” his eyes widened.
“She passed on,” I said, barely loud enough for him to hear.
Cyrus pulled me in for an embrace. “I’m so sorry, Aria.”
“If I can grow and become half the mermaid that she was, I’ll be an incredibly blessed creature of the sea,” I said, still holding the ruby.
Pulling back, Cyrus wiped another fallen tear away with his thumb. “Aria, I think you already are the most amazing mermaid under the sea and on dry land. Your courage and bravery are unmatched and your kindness and generosity remind me so much of her.”
Arwyn cleared his throat, causing me to jump. “Sorry you two, I hate to break this up, but we need to go,” said Arwyn.
“He’s right,” I said, tucking the heart under my shirt.
Cyrus kissed me on the cheek. “Are you ready?”
I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. “Yes, let’s go save everyone.”
Grabbing the horn of the saddle, Cyrus swung his legs up and over Arwyn like a pro. He held his hand out and helped pull me up.
“Hang on tight,” he instructed, “And tie yourself in with these straps.”
After securing the leather straps, I wrapped my arms around his waist, he looked over his shoulder. “Aria, if something happens…”
I pulled his body back toward mine and kissed him on the cheek. “We’ll be fine. Plus, how many mermaids and mermen can say that they saved the world?”
A nervous grin played on his lips. “You’re right. Let’s do this!” He reached down and patted Arwyn on the side. “Let’s go, buddy!”
“Hold on,” instructed Arwyn as he began flapping his wings. His freshly cured scales shimmered in the moonlight.
As the dragon took off, I kept my arms wrapped around Cyrus’s waist.
“You okay?” he shouted over his shoulder as the wind whipped through my hair.
“Doing great,” I said, looking down at the reflection of the moon in the water. It was incredibly still, almost eerily so.
After close to an hour in the air, Arwyn lifted his head and motioned ahead with his red horns. “I see my Father,” he exclaimed. “Look, straight ahead.”
“Oh no,” said Cyrus, pointing out in front of us.
As I looked, I let out an ear-piercing shriek. Flames shot through the sky as Zagnu hauled a large net of mermaids out of the sea.
“Hurry, Arwyn!” Cyrus yelled. “We need to save them!”
The dragon flapped its wings and charged through the air.
Fire continued to light up the night as we approached the warzone.
“Father,” Arwyn yelled. “Father! Stop!”
The Dragon King, oblivious to us, threw his head back and let out an evil laugh as another dragon flew through the air with a net full of mermaids.
Flying past the first of the King’s guards, Arwyn ducked his head and made a beeline for his father.
The gasps became audible as the other dragons laid eyes on Arwyn gliding through the sky.
“Is that…” bellowed one.
“It can’t be,” gasped another. “Could it?”
“KING FALCOR,” Arwyn yelled, “PLEASE STOP!”
After hearing his son’s voice, the dragon king snapped his head around, his mouth falling agape in the process. As rows of jagged teeth came into view, Arwyn flapped his wings, spinning around in the process.
“I’m better, Father. Just look at me!” He did one last spin before coming face to face with the king.
“Son, is that really you?” the king asked, completely in shock.
“It’s really me, Father! Cyrus and Aria saved me. We finally have the cure!”
King Falcor glanced at the large net of mermaids. “But how?”
Cyrus cleared his throat. “The temporary cure, we mixed it with silver kori. Mermaids use it to shine their tails.”
“Let the mermaids go,” pleaded Arwyn. “No one else needs to be imprisoned.”
“But how will we get more mermaid blood without any mermaids?” the King hollered.
“I volunteer!” The words tumbled out of my mouth. “I’ll give you as much blood as I can and if it’s going to save other lives, I’m sure my fellow merpeople will help!”
“Aria, is that you, my darling?” a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the darkness of the night.
I turned my head and looked toward the largest net. “Father!”
Arwyn flapped his wings, guiding us to the net holding my father. “You have to let them go! They are the reason I’m better.”
“How do I know she won’t go back on her word,” he snarled, staring me down with his blood red eyes.
“They are my friends,” said Arwyn. “They would never go back on their word.”
The King let out a loud huff.
“Please, show them what a fair King you can be,” pleaded Arwyn. “If you continue to attack them, we will never have peace!”
With the flick of his wrist, the King’s dragons lowered the nets back into the ocean. He threw his head back and let out one final flame-filled breath. “I hope you’re right, Arwyn. For your own sake, as well as your sick dragon brethren. If the mermaids go back on their word, our kin’s deaths are on you.”
13
“Aria, thank Amphitrite you’re safe!” exclaimed my father. He had wrapped me into such a tight hug, I could barely breath.
“I’m so glad to be home, Father.” I looked around the familiar castle walls.
“I have to admit, when Dyna and the other mermaids arrived, I didn’t believe them. I thought they were trying to trick me into letting them b
ack into the kingdom.” He looked ashamed the moment the words left his lips. “I’m glad you told them our special code word.”
I gave him a big squeeze before pulling back. “I know what King Falcor did was wrong, but he was desperate to save his son. And, while we were being held against our will, we were never hurt or hungry. He actually took really good care of us.”
He sighed. “After you went missing, I cursed myself for not listening to you. While I’m furious the dragons were kidnapping our people, I have to admit, I understand King Falcor’s pain. Losing or having a sick child is the worst pain a parent can ever experience. A hole the size of the sea formed in my heart the moment you went missing.”
Cyrus floated nearby. His parents had their arms wrapped around him and Azure.
“Have the guards found the mergirls’ families yet?” I asked.
He glanced at the mergirls sitting around a large table. They had been cleared by his royal doctor. “They should be back together and reunited at any moment.”
Dainese tapped her fingers along the large stone table. I could only imagine how anxious she and the other mergirls were to see their families again.
“YAZMINE,” someone cried from behind me.
As I spun around, mermaids, mermen, and small merchildren flooded the room.
Tears of joy stung my eyes as the families embraced their mergirls.
My father pulled me into his arms again. “Aria, you remind me of your mother more and more every single day.”
“Really?” I asked, as a tear of joy slid down my cheek.
“Absolutely,” he said, with a grin.
“ARIA!” another familiar voice shouted.
A moment later, my sister Gemma tackled me with a massive hug.
“I missed you so much,” she cried. “We were so worried!”
Embracing my sister, I smiled. “I missed you too, Gemma. And guess what?”
“What?” she asked as her hot tears dripped on my shoulder.
“You helped me save the day,” I said, stroking her hair.
She pulled back and looked at me, her eyebrows raised. “What do you mean?”
I laughed. “The silver kori. That’s the missing ingredient that saved King Falcor’s sick son, Arwyn.”
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