Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3)

by C. L. Scholey

  “Humans name us mermaids, myths. They wrote stories about us and how we would save lives—or take them. Wouldn’t your people be surprised if they really knew the truth of our existence? It’s why father made the ban; humans were getting too close to the truth. Your kind adores the water; I grew up listening to the numerous stories. Now it’s a moot point. Earth has nothing left to amuse my people. Until I discovered you.”

  Bethany growled as he strode away. She bashed her open hands on the solid wood door and screamed at him. “You had to help me breathe to get here. Those bubbles you created are why I survived. You have to know that. Why are you being such a jackass and so stubborn? Damn you, come back here and talk to me. Finn’s going to kick your ass.”

  Arax was gone. She turned to look at her bleak surroundings. The grey stone walls dripped with moisture. Greenish scum hung limply in patches, as she watched dark goo slid from the wall to splat on the floor. She wrapped her arms around her with a sudden chill. Her clothes were soaked. The only air came through the small square barred hole in the door. Her breath increased as she spun and grabbed the black bars, pressing her face against them. Water lapped at the edge of the flat stone breaker only feet away. Other cells lined the sides between the flowing dank river standing a mere foot above the edge. A wave splashed up the side, the trickle of water flowed under her door to tickle her bare feet. Bethany stepped back as the teasing droplets slithered to settle in a corner before disappearing down a crack. Bethany was gasping in short calming breaths, the water was already rising.

  He thinks I’m lying.

  Bubbles rose where the water vanished in her cell. Moving slowly forward, Bethany crouched to peer in the brackish water below the cracks. She gasped when she saw a multitude of glowing green things swimming. All were various shapes and sizes. She screamed and dropped back on her ass when one of the creatures jumped displaying black sharp teeth. Beady, dark purple, bulbous eyes stared. It hissed, and then was gone. Bethany scampered back when the glowing green brightened as more creatures gathered beneath the crack.

  She wasn’t alone.

  * * * *

  Finn had never moved so fast in his life. He was used to all kinds of terrain but this planet’s surface was beyond irritating. The ground squished one moment, he was underwater with his next step, then climbing over fallen logs. The air was musty; he was soaked and stunk of marsh sewage. The cobweb vines clung to his body in a sticky mess. There were a few brief moments of panic when he found himself covered in slimy moss scum but the scum here didn’t have the need to attack as it did on his planet.

  “Intruder,” came a thick voice.

  Finn pulled up. Before him stood a humanoid strange being. The male was shorter than Finn, broad as hell and was covered in small black stripes against grey skin. Its eyes were yellow. Silver spiked hair on his head reflected the sun. His lips were black. When he spoke, Finn saw rows of sharp-looking pointed teeth.

  “Zargonnii. What are you doing on my planet?” The creature spoke passable Zargonnii and Finn understood.

  “As I was falling from the sky I failed to notice your name on it,” was Finn’s sarcastic response.

  “Has Arax called mercenaries to exterminate us?”

  “If Arax is the bastard who stole my mate, he’s going to be exterminated. How the hell do you know I’m a Zargonnii when I have no idea who or what you are? How do you come to speak my language?”

  The creature shrugged. “If there is water on a planet we know all about their kind—your kind, anyone’s kind. I am Crash, leader of the Tiger sharks. The guppy Arax is leader of his people. He has long been a thorn in my side. He is mine to kill.”

  “Get in line.”

  “You do not belong here, Zargonnii. Retrieve your mate and leave.”

  “Gladly.”

  Finn was on the move again until Crash shouted at him. “Zargonnii. The pond before you is a portal. It will take you to Arax.”

  “How do I know it won’t just send me to a new planet?”

  “If Arax has your mate it means he has a new toy. He’s miserable when his toys are taken. I prefer it when he’s miserable. Although I don’t understand him toying with a Zargonnii female, he must be insane.”

  “My mate is a human female.”

  “Interesting. He will be doubly pissed when you take her from him. Human females have a certain appeal, but are too fragile for this world. Let’s hope he is careful with her. Arax doesn’t always treat his prisoners well. If he hurts or kills her, you will remember it wasn’t my people who took her and it was a Tiger Shark who pointed you in the right direction.”

  Crash grinned, showing off his rows of teeth. He dove into a swampy pond and was gone. From Crash’s devious tone and suggestions Finn doubted he was lying. He was definitely looking for allies. Finn looked at the open water before him. No matter what he did he was going to get his feet wet. Finn sucked in a huge amount of air and jumped.

  Chapter 9

  The pounding waterfall did nothing to deter Finn. The slamming flow against his hard flesh was nothing stronger than the shower stalls on his planet. The falls flowed deep, rushing a number of feet back into a mountainside. As Finn passed halfway through, he caught movement from the corner of an eye; he saw what appeared to be a smaller version of the water-man creature outlined in the heavy flow which continued to pound against them both. The young being was hardly more than a teen if size was any indication in this species. The water teemed over both of them as Finn stopped. Finn’s red glowing gaze settled onto the features of the young fish-man.

  The being was male, perhaps five foot six. His shoulders were slim. He was wearing small pants of some kind. The material was plastered to his skin outlining his smallish manhood. Tiny grey scales adorned his chest glistening silver in circular patterns. The patterns gleamed, becoming almost hypnotic. His hands and feet were webbed. The tips of his ears curled. He had the same head of white, short hair as the being who stole Bethany, Finn knew the hair would spike if dry. The grey film over his eyes barely covered the brilliant blue that blazed beneath. A dorsal fin slid in and out of his back as though it was a nervous habit. Finn smelled fear.

  Finn knew he looked intimidating when the young male being gasped as he moved slowly closer. Finn chuckled feeling his hair, even saturated, dancing wildly about his body. His deep growl rumbled amidst their surroundings, the mountain acoustics adding definition. He lifted his arm to point a finger at the male. The water-creature looked ready to bolt. Finn was faster. He grabbed the young man and closed a huge hand over his mouth to silence him. The dorsal fin tried to protrude but Finn pushed it back. The scales of the being were deceptive, the young male was soft to the touch, warm and—its flexible bones breakable.

  “I can see your resemblance to Arax,” Finn growled as he lifted the youth higher.

  They stepped from behind the waterfall. Immediately, the male tried using his powers to call water to encircle Finn. His slight body expanded as best as he could while wrapped in Finn’s brutal embrace. Finn tightened his grip, squeezing the young male without mercy. The air expelled from the youngster as he deflated. He whimpered a pleading sound as the water he had tried to call dropped into a puddle harmlessly at Finn’s feet.

  Finn allowed the youngster to crane his head to look up at him. Finn’s eyes began to heat the young male’s face. Within seconds the male was panic stricken. He attempted to shake his head no and for a moment Finn let him.

  “You would be a tasty morsel if cooked,” Finn threatened. He purposely displayed his huge jagged teeth for inspection.

  The young man crumpled in his arms, paralyzed with fear. Water began shooting from the male’s eyes in streams. For a moment, Finn thought it was another tactical maneuver until the male sobbed. He was crying. Tear spatters hit Finn in the chest, his face, his throat. The warm stream was endless. Realization dawned the being was younger than he had first thought.

  “Enough now,” Finn chided. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
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  He loosened his grip and strode with the boy to a dry corner in the mountain. He set him down on a small boulder, releasing him. The boy’s arms wrapped around his bare legs as he gasped for breath.

  “Tell me your name,” Finn commanded.

  “Trex.”

  “You understand me?”

  “Yes, but I don’t speak your language well. Water warriors have some understanding of different languages because we can open portals to other planets. I have only just learned yours, but I struggle.” In fact, the boy was good.

  “I don’t speak yours at all.”

  “Why did you grab me? I’ve done nothing to you. This is my planet, not yours.”

  “Our vessel was attacked in space by the Gorgano and rogue Tonan warriors. Our escape shuttle slipped into a black hole and crash landed on a planet. A water funnel brought my mate and me here to your homeland. We mean you no harm. Arax has my mate captive. I want her back.”

  Trex shot him a surprised glance. “My brother captures first and asks questions later. It’s why the Tiger Shark people are always so annoyed with us. I know your kind are mercenaries; I was worried you were sent to eradicate us. My father died recently leaving Arax in charge. If Arax would spend as much time negotiating as he does capturing, the war would cease. The children of the planet could play together again. I could have my friend back.”

  “A female Tiger Shark friend?”

  “Maybe,” Trex mumbled.

  “Will your brother hurt my mate?”

  “A female? Never.” Trex looked appalled. “She might not like his dungeon much; in fact, I can guarantee it. When the tide comes in the water stinks but it won’t hurt her.”

  “She can only hold her breath for a few moments. Like me, my mate is an air breather; unlike me, she can’t survive for a long period of time underwater.”

  “Aren’t female Zargonnii like their males?”

  “This female is human.”

  “I would ask if Arax knows this but he no doubt feels he can play with her after the tide goes out again. He needs to work on his listening skills. He’s also distrusting. If she mentioned she would drown he will think her lying to avoid the dank water. He wouldn’t mean to be cruel enough to kill her. Arax is a bully, not a murderer. If he kills her, there would be panic among the people. Fear of being at war with your race. Especially if you were to join forces with the Tiger Sharks.”

  Finn had been right, Crash was definitely in the market for an ally. If Arax was so offhand about prisoners, he wouldn’t care Bethany was helpless in water. She could be killed. Panic soared.

  “I have to get to her now.”

  “Yes. We have to hurry.”

  Finn felt his heart rate increase as he raced after Trex. Bethany would drown if he didn’t get to her in time.

  * * * *

  “You have to let me out,” Bethany shouted.

  Her hands gripped the bars to her cell so tightly her knuckles were white. The water was around her waist.

  “Stop your strange babbling. The water stinks but will offer relief.”

  The words were to her left from another cell. “I’ll drown.”

  “Nonsense.”

  The being wasn’t speaking Arax’s language. Bethany had never heard it before but after a few words she understood the being. “I’m an air breather. I can only last a few minutes underwater. I need air.”

  “Then you have a serious problem.”

  “You think?” Bethany howled.

  “It was nice talking to you. But since you will die there is no point in us conversing further.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Bethany muttered. “Let me out,” she screamed.

  “Can you not die quietly? I mean, really, where is your honor, man?”

  “I’m female and I will scream until there is no more breath in me.”

  “Arax is killing a female?” The voice was subdued.

  “If I drown, then yes, he is killing a female.”

  “But that’s impossible.”

  “I know the gender between my legs, you idiot. I see it every day when I take a piss.”

  “This will lead to global annihilation. Murder of a female, any female is against the laws of nature. Even Arax wouldn’t risk such a venture. Why would any creature kill something that brings life? It could lead to the non-existence of a great leader. You are not of my species or Tiger Shark. You speak my words, but what are you?”

  “A human.”

  “Oh, I am sorry, then there is no problem, although this still saddens me. Humans are almost extinct. There will be no repercussions; you will produce no offspring of your kind. Your race has been chosen for extinction—it’s news all over the galaxies. Still, Arax has never been this cruel. Perhaps your demise is a blessing. You are all alone; there are no humans on this planet. Poor little lost, alone female. If it makes your transition to death easier, I will continue to converse with you until your demise. It’s the least I can do; your kind has never harmed mine.”

  “I’m mated to a Zargonnii.” Bethany wasn’t altogether positive she was, but she felt smug saying it—until the creature screamed in a way her hair stood on end and her flesh dotted with goose bumps. She almost screamed back in terror, but the creature began to yell at the top of its lungs.

  “Annihilation, eradication. The Zargonnii will kill us all. Let the female go before we all die.”

  Bethany heard numerous howls from the cells. Too many words in too many different languages were making her head reel. The more languages spoken, the harder her head began to pound. If she could have, Bethany would have fallen onto her ass, but the water was past her waist and steadily rising. Her hands clamped over her ears as the howls and screams rose to a fevered pitch.

  “Zargonnii. Death. Eradication. Annihilation. No mercy.”

  Voices of doom resounded around the flooding area. One thing became apparent to Bethany, Finn’s kind was known. The cell dwellers seemed to be under a different impression than she. They thought of the Zargonnii as soulless warrior monsters. She supposed mercenaries could be, but her hard-ass, not-warrior was a cupcake—with sprinkles.

  The swirling water lapped at her breasts. The stink was the least of her worries as she wrinkled her nose in distaste. The floor beneath her feet was slippery and only her vise grip on the cell bars kept her upright. There was two feet of space above her that was disappearing fast. She would have to let go soon and swim.

  “Arax, you bastard, let me out,” Bethany screamed.

  “Arax, please save her,” the being in the next cell cried out.

  “What are you so afraid of?” Bethany demanded.

  “My species was eradicated on another planet. A Zargonnii named Zane spared my life when he saw the material the inhabitants had sought to hide. He left me there unharmed but swore if he saw me again he would finish the job. He took the material I had…um…found, and left me. I ran and fell into a water portal Arax had opened. I’m a prisoner, but it amuses Arax to let me live. He allows no one to hurt me, he feeds me well.”

  “You’re his toy,” Bethany said in disgust.

  “I’d rather be a toy, a well-liked toy, than dead.”

  The water seeped through Bethany’s fingers. She pulled herself up and tried to slip her toes through the bars to hold on. The water had formed waves which rocked her back and forth. Her arms pin-wheeled back while she tried to keep her balance. The spray soaked her face and she couldn’t see.

  “Arax,” she bellowed, and then gasped as her mouth filled with putrid water.

  “He’ll never come now. The river water is bad enough but this water carries the filth the creatures below have accumulated during the day. There are amphibians who feed off waste. Arax would never swim in waste.”

  Bethany threw up. She choked for a moment on her vomit as it was thrown back at her. The creatures words were so desolate she believed him. Her head banged the ceiling of her cell. Bethany turned her face sideways. Her toes released the meage
r hold they had on the bars and Bethany pawed at the water and ceiling. Tiny amounts of water trickled down her throat as her lips skimmed the ceiling.

  “Finn,” she gave in and whimpered.

  The water closed over her. Terrified, Bethany put her hands over her face. She curled into the fetal position and felt her body sink to the floor as her shoulders bounced against the sides. She would have to release her last breath soon. Sounds invaded her final thoughts. The being in the next cell was still screaming for Arax uselessly. It was no use, Bethany could hold her breath no longer, her lungs were in agony.

  Her hands slipped from her face, her body went limp. She rolled with the undercurrent. Her eyes formed slits and Bethany saw the creatures coming. The light glowing green beings with fanged teeth. One hovered in front of her for a moment. It came closer as Bethany released the air from her spent lungs. She hoped to drown before being feasted on. Her air bubbles popped and floated away. The slimy leech-creature pressed its rounded belly against her mouth and nose as her breath expelled the last of her air. It clung tight forming a seal. Bethany blinked as the leech-creature applied pressure Bethany assumed would suck blood from her. It didn’t matter she surmised, she was already history.

  Bethany gasped for air knowing there was none. Her hands flailed trying to grip the leech from her face but it was too slimy to get a grip on. It was then Bethany realized she was breathing. Sweet air filled her lungs. The leech settled further when Bethany exhaled. It was feeding on her expelled breaths. Bethany shuddered as she floated. She would go insane if the creature continued. She was in limbo.