Silent Mermaid: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 5)

by Brittany Fichter

  The trees offered just enough protection from the wind and rain for Arianna to give the prince a more thorough examination. Though her swim had felt unending, her rescue of both Claire and Prince Michael couldn’t have taken more than a minute or so altogether. Surely humans weren’t so fragile as to die in such a short time underwater.

  Were they?

  He continued to cough and sputter. Once she was convinced that he was truly breathing, however, Arianna was more interested in his head. As she lightly ran her fingers alongside the gash above his right brow, his eyes opened, and Arianna found herself held captive by the clearest hazel eyes she had ever seen. Not dark, like she’d originally thought them to be, they were brown with specks of green and yellow exploding out from the center, like rays of the sun moving out into an outer ring of blue.

  Even if she could have spoken, Arianna didn’t know what she could have said. She knew she should gesture to see if he felt all right or ask if he could move his limbs correctly, but the way he was staring at her made her feel the same way she had back at the ball when he’d looked in her direction. There was no plant to hide behind this time, however, and no other girl to entice him away.

  Briefly she tried looking elsewhere, but that was of little help. Her eyes moved from his face to his person. The contours of his chest and arms were visible through his soaked shirt, and she fought the sudden urge to touch him, just to see if they were as hard as they looked. She never got close enough to see mermen her age. He was perhaps a year or so older than she, but close enough. Did young mermen also seem so . . . transitional? His face, though serious, still held some of its boyish roundness, but his body looked as though it belonged to someone else. Lean muscles clung to his bones, but he was still thin enough to look as though a strong wind might blow him away.

  Her stomach felt as though minnows were flitting around inside of it, and she sensed her face growing an embarrassing shade of pink.

  No, it was better to look at his face instead. But when she returned to studying his face, he was still staring at her as though looking might unlock her soul.

  And for a moment, she felt that it just might.

  Too soon, however, the prince’s eyes seemed to grow heavy, and Arianna’s wonder was replaced with worry as she tried to awaken him again. She only received brief flutters of his eyelashes, however, before he was back down again. Frightened, Arianna could only watch for signs of life and pray for the storm’s abatement as she cuddled Claire, who was so cold her teeth chattered. And as they sat there together, and Arianna stared at the two new legs that had inexplicably replaced her tail, she felt even more helpless than the night Rinaldo had died.

  Arianna hadn’t known it was possible to be so cold. The ocean changed temperature in the winter, of course, but the gentle rise and fall in the tides’ warmth had never come so quickly. Nor did it bite like this wind. Raindrops came so fast and hard that they clawed at her skin as Arianna tried her best to shield Claire from the brunt of the storm.

  Why is this happening? Arianna prayed through tears. Why won’t you make it stop? Did her parents think she was dead? Had any of the other humans made it to the surface? Arianna couldn’t imagine that her people had managed to somehow miss all of the humans floating helplessly below the surface when their charms fizzled out, and she took comfort in deciding that they must have been bringing the humans to the surface further up the coast.

  As she looked again for signs of life in the prince, a small dark object on his chest caught her eye. Arianna picked it up and examined it, though seeing the object clearly was nearly impossible in the growing dark. When she touched it, however, she realized that it was a charm. From what she could tell using her fingers, this charm was just like her brother’s had been. It was a little auger’s shell, no larger than her thumbnail, with smooth sides and a sharp point just at the bottom. The song should have leaked out from the shell’s point in order to preserve the spell. But instead of the remnants of a song, there was nothing. Arianna held the shell up to her ear, but even after a long minute of listening there was still nothing. The shell was empty.

  Arianna threw the charm into her bag, which had somehow survived all of the day’s dangers. If Arianna were ever able to get home, she would show the shell to her parents and aunt. But right now, she was needed for another, more important job. She returned to trying to warm the little girl.

  How many hours they spent huddled against the large boulder, Arianna couldn’t tell. She did know, however, that her newfound legs began to cramp from being bunched up tightly for so long. Claire’s cries eventually fell to whispers, and though Prince Michael never opened his eyes again, he fidgeted in his sleep just often enough to assure her that he wasn’t dead. Slowly, so slowly the storm began to lift. So slowly it was excruciating.

  Arianna had nearly dropped off into her own light slumber against Claire when a sound jerked her awake. When she peered into the darkness, off in the distance a light bobbed in a line that was coming toward them. She panicked for a brief moment as her father’s warnings about humans came back to her. But she couldn’t just leave the unconscious prince and his little niece there alone, particularly as the niece had fallen asleep curled up against her chest. Her heart slowed a bit, however, when the humans’ shouts became audible and she realized that they were calling out with fearful voices for her two charges.

  Gently shaking the little girl awake, Arianna pointed to the group. Claire rubbed her eyes and refused to look at first, but as their voices grew louder, her large brown eyes popped open, and she jumped up and ran, shouting out their names as well. As she did, Arianna threw one more glance at the prince before crawling back to the waves.

  When she was waist deep, Arianna stopped. What if you can’t turn back? a mean voice whispered in her head. Then not even your aunt will be able to pretend you’re one of them. But Arianna paid no heed to it until she saw that the prince had been discovered. Servants she recognized from all her time spying on the castle descended upon him with loud praises for the Maker and cries of dismay at his condition.

  With that, Arianna used her weak legs to push herself deeper. She didn’t get very far, though. The currents kept sweeping up her body as though she weighed nothing and pushing her back to the surface. There was also the problem of breathing. For the first time in her life, Arianna choked as she plunged into the water’s depths. Soon she wanted to scream in frustration as the water rejected her again and again. Why do you hate me so? she silently shouted up at the Maker. Why do you want me to be alone? But there was no answer, only dark shadows that passed beneath her now and then as she waited at the top.

  Only when she had nearly given up and decided to paddle back to the beach did she feel the prickle on her ankles once more. The change was faster this time. Once again, she felt as though someone were slashing her legs and feet with knives and rocks. She welcomed the pain, however, for after two excruciating minutes, Arianna tried to kick both legs only to find that her fins were once more propelling her through the water.

  Jubilant, she sliced through the water at top speed. She would skip the tower and go to her parents’ room. Though she wouldn’t be able to remain there long, she would at least be able to assure her mother that she was safe.

  7

  Charms are Fleeting

  “Arianna!” Giana appeared as soon as Arianna had just begun to make out the shape of the underwater cliff her tower was cut into. Before she could react, her mother’s arms were wrapped tightly around her, the algae lantern in her hand pressing hard into Arianna’s back. But Arianna hugged her mother just as tightly. An hour before, she hadn’t been sure whether she would get a hug again, ever.

  So it was surprising when Giana pulled away. In the yellow light of the lantern’s glow, Giana’s face was pinched and drawn, and her eyes had the darkest circles beneath them Arianna had ever seen. “I’ve found her!” she called over her shoulder. Then she glared at Arianna. “Where were you?”

  Without a wor
d, Renata appeared behind Giana and handed Arianna her pressing stone, a waxy leaf, and her knife. Arianna threw her aunt a look of thanks before writing her answer. Her mother seemed to forget from time to time that she had no voice. This made Arianna’s explanations, which somehow always seemed to be complicated, rather difficult.

  I saw the charms fail, so I saved two of the humans.

  She considered telling them about her legs but decided it was too complex for a moment like this. She herself would need time, she was sure, before she was able to make sense of it.

  “You weren’t supposed to be near the surface at all! Today of all days, why couldn’t you just listen?” Giana’s voice was nearly shrill, but Arianna couldn’t blame her. Not just a few days after losing her son.

  Just then, Arianna remembered why she’d been charging back to the city. She carefully pulled the charm from her bag and handed it to her aunt.

  “What is that?” Giana asked impatiently.

  I found it after the storm, Arianna wrote. It looks just like the other charms. But there’s something—

  “We’ll talk about these later.” Renata tucked the shell into her camicett before Arianna could finish writing.

  “But what is it?” Giana held her hand out.

  Renata looked for a moment as though she wouldn’t answer. But finally, she let out a little huff and handed it to Giana. “I realized an hour ago that someone tampered with these after I finished making them. I just wish I knew who.”

  But what happened to all the people? Arianna wrote. And why was the storm so bad?

  Before they could discuss it more, an urgent song came from below.

  “We’ll be there,” Giana called over her shoulder. She turned back to Renata and Arianna. “It appears the charms will have to wait. But we will be discussing this again, and in depth.” She gave Renata a scathing look before taking Arianna’s hand.

  Arianna shivered as the three women swam down to the mansion’s main theater. Reluctantly, she let go of her mother’s hand to take her usual spot on the open roof. To her relief, however, her mother and aunt sat on each side of her as well. Usually, the sun’s strength kept most of her family from joining her on the open roof’s high ledge. But it was night now, and the fear that roiled in her stomach made her crave company more than usual. Much of that fear, she realized, hadn’t been present until she’d seen her mother’s accusatory glances at her aunt. Maybe they would find out now if her father knew something that would make more sense of it all.

  Amadeo took the stage. With sad, tired eyes he stared up at the many levels of seats that arched around him. The crowd quieted as Amadeo cleared his throat, and Arianna hoped her father would be quick. She couldn’t stay at such a depth for more than a few minutes. But this night, she was determined to stay for her father’s whole speech even if it knocked her unconscious.

  “Today was a day of confusion and fear,” Amadeo began.

  That was an understatement.

  “What should have been a day of sacred mourning for our twelve souls lost to the pirates . . .” Amadeo’s voice broke, “. . . became one of only more tragedy and heartache. And unfortunately,” he turned his eyes up to where Giana, Arianna, and Renata were sitting, “now there is mourning multiplied, and it appears that we might be mourning for quite some time.”

  Arianna leaned forward and frowned, trying to ignore the press of the ocean on her shoulders.

  Her father drew in a deep breath. “It seems that many were injured in the storm today, and twenty-three humans have died, including the Sun Crown’s granddaughter, Princess Maura, and her husband.” He sighed. “The Sun Crown’s son-in-law, Queen Drina’s husband, is dead as well. We were able to save some, but . . . others are still missing.”

  Arianna closed her eyes. Little Claire had survived only to lose both parents. Was this Arianna’s fault? Could she have saved them, too?

  “The Sun Crown also does not believe that this storm was an act of the Maker,” Amadeo continued, “despite my insistence. He has declared this storm our response to the attack of the pirates, a petty attempt to heal our injuries.”

  The death of the Sea Crown’s grandson . . . her brother . . . hardly counted as a mere injury. Arianna suddenly had the urge to slap the Sun Crown for his callousness. Until she remembered that he, too, was grieving.

  “So what is it that he has said?” one of her father’s advisers called out impatiently from the front row.

  “He’s convinced that we used Sorthileige to conjure the storm on purpose.”

  Whispers broke out among the crowd.

  “He also believes that we purposely spooked the dolphins so they would flee, and we would have an excuse to ignore the humans as they drowned.” Amadeo’s tail flicked as he paused, his eyes scanning the crowd. Finally, they rested upon Giana once again.

  “The Sun Crown has declared war.”

  In that moment, Arianna knew that despite her aunt’s insistence and her brother’s unwavering faith, there was no power in the world or beyond that could convince her that the Maker was good.

  8

  Remain

  Arianna tried to keep her eyes only on the merpeople as they bustled around loading their bags and their children onto the great line of sleighs that had been prepared for them. The mood was almost hopeful, better than she’d seen in years, and the scene brought a smile to her lips. Smiling at her people was far easier than looking at the ruins that had once been her beautiful city of coral and pearl.

  She tried not to look at the smashed roofs and broken streets, or the pearl and kelp farms that were overflowing with untended crops. She shut out the crying and songs of sorrow sung constantly by those who were mourning the loss of sons and daughters and fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and lovers. Instead, she pretended to hum her own song of hope, the one she would have sung if she could have.

  “These clouds are a gift of the Maker, Ari!” Giana chimed as she joined Arianna on her tower’s edge. “This is going to be a wonderful day!”

  Arianna gave her mother a placating smile, but secretly she ignored her mother’s praise to the Maker who had sat back and watched five years of war ravage her people.

  “Oh, don’t look so gloomy!” Giana laughed, brown eyes shining and her curls bobbing gently in the current as she also looked down at the train of sleighs below them. “You’ll love the capital city! Gemmaqua has towers all over, and they’re just as tall or taller than yours! Your grandfather keeps them there for guards trained to watch the surface. You might even find some new friends!”

  Arianna couldn’t help silently chuckling at that. She had never made friends before, hidden up in the tower she shared with Renata, but her mother’s enthusiasm was contagious. It was hard not to smile back.

  “Are you all packed?”

  Arianna nodded back at her bag.

  “It’s small.”

  Arianna just shrugged. She didn’t have many clothes. No merperson did. And there was little in her tower that she wouldn’t be able to find again in the capital if it was as wealthy as her relatives all claimed. A pearl-handled hair brush, her few camicetts, a doll from when she was a child, a necklace from Renata, and a pretty shell that Rinaldo had given her the year before he died. Her collection of human items—a mirror and other little baubles—was unnecessary, though. Besides, with the Sea Crown as her grandfather, there was little she could really lack once she arrived.

  Most of them lost everything, she wrote. I shouldn’t be the one to weigh the dolphins down. Our people deserve a new start as soon as they can get it.

  Giana pulled Arianna in for an embrace. “You’re a good girl, Ari. I—” She stopped as the last sleigh in the line pulled away from the others and began to climb up toward them. “Here’s ours!” Arianna looked at her mother in surprise, but Giana only laughed. “At least while it’s cloudy. And see the driver? Your father had a Grower create a full body covering for him so he may keep you higher while we go.”

  A
rianna looked back down at the driver to examine such a suit more closely, but for some reason, he’d pulled the dolphins to a stop halfway up.

  “Is something wrong?” Giana called down. Without waiting for his reply, she left their ledge and went to meet him. Arianna felt her heart fall, however, when they began to argue. She couldn’t hear what they said, but the way he continued to wave his arm up at the surface gave her a bad feeling. She left the ledge as well and floated behind her mother who was glowering at the burly driver.

  “Look, Your Highness, I need to know exactly how far she can descend,” he was saying.

  “And spend any length of time?” Giana looked at Arianna. “Go show him the depth you would be comfortable traveling at.”

  Her heart pounding fast, Arianna swam down a few more fathoms before looking back up at the sleigh.

  But the driver shook his head and scratched his dark beard. “Still too high.”

  “What do you mean it’s too high? You’re here now!” Giana gestured at his sleigh.

  “Her tower is built into the rocks, Your Highness. We won’t be. Any human sailing above would see her for sure.”

  “You can’t be serious! What are you suggesting? That I leave my daughter here by herself for the humans to find?” Giana straightened and pulled her shoulders back into her most regal posture. “Are you refusing to carry the Sea Crown’s granddaughter?”

  “I am trying to convince you of the danger it would pose to us all. Including Princess Lalia. Do you want her baby to come during a chase with pirates?”

  Giana’s face went white.

  “Your husband may only be an ambassador,” the driver rubbed his temples, “but as you said, she is the granddaughter of the Sea Crown. That would fetch a hefty ransom for anyone, voice or no voice. Driving the dolphins so close to the surface would attract the attention of anyone who would look. It would put our entire party in danger.”