Rising

by Kelly, Holly

  “I have to tell you something first. And after I do, you may not want to marry me after all.”

  Xanthus looked surprised. Well, he was about to be even more surprised. “I’m not a Dagonian. I’m not even half-Dagonian.”

  “How do you know?” He was calm. He certainly didn’t look surprised. Sara didn’t know what to think of that.

  “My mother told me about my father.”

  “And what did she say?”

  Curiosity burned in his eyes. “She said he had blue eyes. He also had human legs, like you do, when on land. She thinks she saw a fin as he swam away, but she wasn’t sure. If she’s wrong, I could be all-human. But, even if she’s right… You said Triton gave you the ability to change on land. So if my father had blue eyes, legs on land, and a fin in the water, it has to mean something. I don’t know what, but I mean… Don’t you think it means something?”

  “Yes, it does mean something. Sara, I don’t want you to repeat what you told me to anyone. I have to straighten a few things out first. So until then, I’m telling you to say nothing about your father—no matter what happens.”

  “So you understand that I’m not a Dagonian?” Sara asked.

  “Yes, I agree you’re not a Dagonian.” He took her face in his hands and pressed his soft lips to hers. When he pulled away, he looked at her as if he were in awe. “But you’re not human either. You’re a mermaid.”

  “What? But I thought they were extinct?”

  “They were. Poseidon ordered them all destroyed.”

  “But then where did I come from? Who is my father?”

  “We spoke of this once before, but I dare not repeat it now until I know the details.”

  “My father is Triton, isn’t he?” She spoke the realization as soon as it came to her mind.

  “Shh.” He took a quick glance behind him, as if he expected someone to be eavesdropping. He turned back and sighed. “Yes, he is your father. But Sara, it’s very important that you keep this to yourself and tell no one. Do you understand?”

  “No, I don’t understand, but I’ll do as you say.”

  “Good girl.”

  Anger clouded his features. “Now, I need to know exactly what happened to you after my brother took you from your mother’s home.”

  “Why do you need to know? It’s over now,” Sara said, not wanting to relive the horror.

  “Sara, just tell me.”

  “Okay, but I’d really rather not talk about it.”

  Xanthus scowled when Sara hesitated.

  “Where do you want to me to begin?” She braced herself for the nightmare.

  “Start at the beginning.”

  So she did. Sara told Xanthus everything that had happened at her house and about how Gael had knocked her unconscious. She told him that when she awoke, she found herself in a cage next to a shark. Xanthus didn’t look too happy with that statement, but he let her continue. When she told him his brother wanted to have some fun with her before he killed her, Xanthus looked appalled.

  “Did he touch you?”

  “No. He said he’d as soon mate with a sea cow than a human. I guess I should have been insulted, but I was very relieved.”

  Xanthus seemed to share her relief.

  “What he meant was he wanted to torture me.”

  Xanthus’s eyes narrowed. He looked like he was about to explode. But he held his composure and his tongue.

  “He wasn’t very successful at the torture part though. He took my hand and put it through a metal ring between a shark’s cage and mine. He meant for the shark to bite off my hand, I suppose. This is the strange part—the shark did come toward me, but only to brush against my hand. I was very frightened at first, but after he gently brushed my hand several times more, I realized the shark was no threat to me.”

  “No shark would ever harm a mermaid. Sharks are very loyal to Triton.”

  “That’s good to know. Well, then Gael…” Sara looked toward the door and thought that maybe she shouldn’t have used his name. Adelpha might be listening.

  “Go on.”

  “He got angry because the shark refused to attack me, so he tried to entice the shark with my blood. He cut me.” She showed Xanthus her hand. A red line streaked across three of her knuckles. The cut was healing nicely. Maybe Chara’s drink was healing her hand too.

  “When cutting my hand didn’t work, he got angry, pulled me out of the cage, and carried me out into open waters where other sharks could get me. And that’s about it.”

  Xanthus shook his head. Sara noticed he looked about a decade older, which was still much younger than his actual age, when you thought about it.

  “And how, pray tell, did you get the injury in your stomach?” Xanthus raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh, I already told you that one, Gael did it.” Sara shrugged.

  “Tell me again.”

  “He just stabbed me. I had no warning. I didn’t even see the knife until he was pulling it from my belly. Then he said don’t worry about his safety; he was going to watch the sharks rip me apart from a safe place. I think that was his sick attempt at a joke. He said he would retrieve my body when I was dead, and then he swam away. Everything after that was a bit hazy. I don’t think I was conscious for very long, and when I woke up, I was here.”

  Xanthus looked at Sara, conflict raging in his eyes. He pulled her into his arms. “Sara, as soon as we are wed, I’m going to leave you here for a short time. I will make Gael pay for what he did to you. And, this time, I won’t make the mistake of leaving him alive. Then I have business to take care of. But I will be back as soon as I can.”

  “Business? Right after we’re married? But won’t we have our honeymoon?” Okay, the thought of the honeymoon scared her a bit, being a virgin and all. But darn it, a woman wanted to feel irresistible and Xanthus seemed to think business was more important. Sara found herself feeling undesirable.

  “Yes. We will,” he said as he leaned forward. His eyes darkened when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her hard against his body. Sara gasped. Xanthus took advantage of her open mouth and kissed her, passion driving him. This kiss was a different—more intense, more exiting, and it fairly overwhelmed her. Xanthus had always showed a certain amount of restraint when he touched her, but this time he nearly lost control, bordering on desperation.

  Xanthus suddenly froze. He tore his mouth away from hers as he pushed her away, his breathing ragged and his jaw clenched. Sara used every ounce of strength in an attempt to hold him close. It didn’t make a bit of difference. He was too strong.

  “Do you understand now how much I want you?” he asked.

  Sara had a hard time processing what he was saying. That kiss had rendered her unable to form a coherent thought. When she realized what he’d asked, she nodded, amazed. As much as she wanted their honeymoon, he wanted it more.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. The closer we get to our wedding, the harder it is. You’re still healing. You need to rest, not be assaulted.”

  Sara smiled and reached out to take his hand. “I like being assaulted by you.”

  He answered her with a scowl.

  “You didn’t hurt me.”

  “I could have.” His eyes were saddened by regret. “You should get some sleep before the priest comes.”

  Right, the wedding. Sara couldn’t believe she was getting married today. “I wish Gretchen and my mother… Oh my gosh, they have to be worried sick. Xanthus, how are we going to let them know I’m all right?”

  “Don’t worry, Mou. I’ll call them while you sleep.”

  “How can you call from here?” Sara looked around but didn’t see anything that resembled a phone.

  “I have a dry room with a satellite phone down here. I’ll show you where it is and you’ll be able to call anyone anytime you like.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  The corner of his mouth tugged, almost smiling. “There you go wowing me with your lips again.” Then his almos
t smile turned into a scowl. “You’d better not be fertile when I get back. Now’s not the best time to bring a baby into the mix. But so help me, a Dagonian can only wait so long.”

  Xanthus dimmed the lights for her and left her to sleep before the priest came.

  As if she could sleep right before her wedding. Not a chance.

  Xanthus and Sara were married just a few minutes after she awoke.

  Sara had to admit, she’d never dreamed that one day she’d get married in a dark tunnel that looked like something out of the Phantom of the Opera, wearing a borrowed, mermaid-like costume with a mother-in-law that looked as if she wished her dead. But a girl can’t have everything, right?

  Her mother-in-law’s eyes pinned her with daggers throughout the ceremony. Sara just knew that if Chara could change the past, she would have let her die from her knife wound. The way she was looking at her, Sara didn’t doubt Chara now wanted something along the lines of clawing her eyes out.

  It was some consolation that Adelpha seemed to be pleased with the marriage. Sara guessed two out of four wasn’t bad. Xanthus and Adelpha wanted her. On the other hand, Chara and Gael wanted her dead. That was a bit more extreme than most families.

  The priest fidgeted as he stumbled his way through the ceremony. He couldn’t bring himself to look Sara in the eye and then he left immediately after. Xanthus told her the priest was honor-bound not to reveal her location to anyone, even the law. He answered to the gods alone. Sara wondered if Xanthus had had to threaten him in order to convince him to marry them. Heavens, she hoped not.

  The ceremony passed with Sara in a daze. She had answered “Vei” (the Atlantian version of yes) when Xanthus signaled. He’d then placed a gold ring on her finger, kissed her, and she was a married woman. Or mermaid. Whatever she was, she was a married one.

  Sara had no idea what she’d vowed to do in this marriage.

  When the wedding was finished, Adelpha and Chara didn’t linger, but left immediately, leaving Sara and Xanthus alone.

  “So what did I actually agree to?” Sara asked Xanthus. “I don’t have to swim naked through the streets of Atlantis now, do I?”

  He laughed and pulled her into his arms, “No, thank the gods. Do you have any idea how many men I’d have to kill if you did that?” He smirked. “You simply agreed to see to my every want and need, including scrubbing barnacles from my tail.”

  Sara was glad to see he was in better spirits now. “Is that something like grooming an old person’s gnarly, fungus toenails?” She scrunched up her nose at the thought.

  “Something like that.” He chuckled. His smiling lips brushed over hers. “Seriously, you agreed to something on the order of loving, cherishing, obeying, and being faithful to me.”

  “Oh, that’s not so bad. But do I have to obey you? Like everything you say?” Sara thought about how different his culture was from hers, where women didn’t have much say in their lives. She was a bit nervous about how much freedom she would have.

  Xanthus’s eyes softened. “Dagonian women are subject to their husbands and must always obey them. But I understand you come from a different culture. I will do my best to ask things of you and not give you orders. You may ask the same of me. Does that ease your mind?”

  Sara nodded and looked up into his eyes. Her throat constricted when she realized how lucky she was. She couldn’t say her dreams had come true. Sara had never dreamed anything half this good.

  She wrapped her arms around Xanthus neck. “I love you.”

  Xanthus held her tightly against his body and his eyes burned so hot she felt scorched. “I love you too, Sara Dimitriou. I never knew love could be this strong. I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

  His lips lingered over hers.

  “Don’t you want to kiss me?” she asked, wondering at his hesitation.

  “I don’t trust myself to merely kiss you. I now have one less reason for waiting to… to… Hades, I need to leave before I forget my reasons for waiting.”

  A thunderous crash from beyond the room echoed through the door and interrupted their interlude. Her feelings turned from intense desire to quick fear as she squeaked out a cry.

  In that moment, Sara was looking at Xanthus’s broad back. “Sara, wait here. I’ll be…”

  A thunderous voice bellowed in Atlantian. It was a voice of anger, a voice that promised violence to anyone that crossed it.

  “Who is it? What do they want?” she asked.

  “It’s my father,” Xanthus said.

  “Xanthus, where is the cur? Where is that filthy cur? Your mother sent me a message, telling me what you were trying to do. And we on the counsel cannot allow this. I cannot allow this. Bring her to us now and you will go free. If you try to protect her, you will die.”

  Xanthus knew Sara couldn’t understand a word of what was being said. Still, she had to be terrified. There was no mistaking that kind of anger.

  Xanthus rushed to a large trunk, removed an arsenal of weapons, and began strapping them to his body. Sara was frozen, too shocked to move.

  “Come, brother,” Gael’s voice joined his father’s. “I’ve told them how she seduced you. I’ve told them of her power. We know you are blameless. Just bring her out to us and you will be spared.”

  His father spoke again. “We understand you tried to marry this human witch. But your mother saved you from that unholy union. The priest was not a true priest. You are not married. You do not have to accept this witch’s punishment. You are not bound to her.”

  “Xanthus, what are they saying?” Sara asked. “They’re here for me, aren’t they? Your mother told them. You need to let me go. Maybe they won’t hurt you if you do. We don’t have to tell them we are married.”

  “No,” he shouted. “I will not turn you over. You don’t have any idea what awaits you.”

  “Death?” she asked boldly.

  “Death is the easy part. What comes before death is the bigger worry.”

  “Xanthus,” his father shouted. “I have my personal army standing by my side. You will find no friends among them. There is no one to help you here. If you cannot break from this witch’s spell, they will not hesitate to kill you, son. You need to try to break from it. You must bring her to us.”

  Xanthus was relieved that he would not have to kill any friends today. He had no respect for his father’s soldiers. They were heartless killers, each one. His father was careful when choosing those who fought alongside him.

  Xanthus led Sara into the tunnel.

  “Sara, I will protect you. But you must do what I say. If I say move, do it without question. If I say stay, don’t move. I must know where you are at all times.”

  “But…”

  “Sara, if you don’t, you put us both in danger.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll do it. But I really think you should turn me in.”

  Xanthus growled. “That’s not going to happen. Keep close to me and trust me to protect you. This is what I do.”

  Xanthus pulled her in for a quick, crushing kiss. “I love you, Sara, never mistake that. And whatever happens, I will do all within my power to make you safe.”

  “Should I tell them about my father?”

  “No,” Xanthus snapped. “Whatever you do, don’t do that. Your life would be worth nothing. No, just keep quiet and if worse comes to worst, I will figure out a way to get word to your father. Now follow me.”

  Xanthus moved as quickly as he dared. Sara still wasn’t a very strong swimmer. His tail brushed against her outstretched hands while they swam through the tunnel. The light grew brighter as they neared the exit. He knew that the bulk of the army would be meeting them there. His mother would have told them where the exit was. She’d obviously let his father and the others into his castle. He couldn’t chance going through it. He’d made it nearly impenetrable, but that also meant that getting out would be a problem.

  So the place of battle would be amongst the coral.

 
Xanthus smelled the soldiers before he saw them. There were three of them ahead in the tunnel. He drew his weapon. It was a butterfly dart gun that could shoot two dozen tiny, poison-tipped darts. The moment they were in range, he fired. He heard cries and grunts from the Dagonians.

  Xanthus and Sara swam toward the exit of the tunnel, passing by the floating corpses of the three Dagonians. He slowed his approach, grabbed Sara’s hand, and pulled her against his body as they hugged the side of the tunnel.

  The light was blinding as they reached the mouth of the cave. Xanthus tucked Sara behind his back. He could feel her jump when the army sounded a battle cry.

  ***

  Sara focused on breathing steadily and not panicking. The last thing Xanthus needed right now was her falling to pieces.

  “Stay here,” he ordered, and then he was gone. She heard the clanking of metal as she felt currents of water pushing her from one side to the other, and from above. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Sara saw Xanthus flying like a ghost through the water. He clashed with Dagonian after Dagonian as they came at him one after the other. Each warrior’s face was contorted with rage, anger, and bloodlust.

  Xanthus clutched a trident in one hand and a sword in the other. He met and deflected each strike, each spear, even each harpoon that was being shot from a distance. Sara had no idea how skilled a warrior Xanthus was until now. Countless soldiers surrounded him, yet they couldn’t land one strike against him. But every blow delivered by Xanthus met its mark, slashing flesh, and dismembering limbs.

  Sara was sickened when Xanthus took the head off one soldier and then in the same swipe, the armed hand of another. Red, billowing clouds filled the water. Out of the clouds, Sara saw a spear come straight for her head. She screamed—fear and horror driving her wailing cry. Xanthus deflected the spear at the last second.

  A moment later, the sounds of battle ceased. Sara continued to scream as she felt an arm clamp around her waist and a hand slap over her mouth.

  Then there was silence.