“Before that,” she said, sitting up. “I dismissed it. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because of stress. But no, he was there.”
“Do you know anything else? Catch his name?”
She nodded. “Jove Lostone. He’s Calix’s friend.”
“Wait,” Judas said. “He was with the Prince?”
“He was outside my room, watching me. And his sister was on the shortlist to marry Calix.”
“Shit,” Judas muttered.
“The first night when I was attacked in Triton, I thought it was just some crazy Siren acting alone. There’s no way that’s still a possibility, is there?”
Judas shook his head. “No, I’d say that’s not the case.”
Evan leaned her head back against the sofa, curling her legs into the seat under her. The weight of everything, the knowledge that the Sirens had been watching her all along, was too much for her. Her head felt heavy and her eyelids began to droop.
She felt Judas pick her up. He took her down the hall and put her in bed, covering her with a thin blanket. Before he closed the door, she was already asleep.
When Evan opened her eyes, the light coming through the window had faded to gray. She sat up and stretched, then headed towards the delicious aroma coming from the main room. Her growling stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten for awhile
“Good evening,” Caspian said, his back to her.
“Hello,” she replied.
Evan walked to the counter and traced her hand along one of the barstools. She gazed throughout the room, marveling at the luxurious wood used so freely throughout Caspian’s home. It was strange to her, as it was such a rarity under the sea, but he seemed to use it for everything.
Caspian turned from the kitchen and placed an orange plate in front of her, motioning for her to sit. “Eat up.”
“What is it?” Evan asked.
Caspian smiled. “This is a hamburger, and those thin strips are called fries.”
“It smells great,” she said.
“You bet it does,” he said with a chuckle. “This is the first meal I had when I came to land. One bite was enough to let me know I’d made the right choice in coming here. Now it’s the first meal I make for the Mer I help. I want everyone to find a little bit of the same comfort I found.”
Evan picked up the hamburger with both hands and took a bite. She closed her eyes while she chewed, savoring her first bite of real human food. After she swallowed, she smiled. “It’s really good.”
“Told ya,” Caspian said. He opened the large silver box by the sink and pulled out a glass bottle. “Try this with it.”
Evan took a drink of the liquid. It was fizzy and tickled the roof of her mouth. Evan’s giggle was interrupted by a hiccup.
“That’s a soda,” he said as he joined her with his own plate.
Once her stomach was satisfied Evan realized Judas had not joined them. “Is Judas still asleep?”
Caspian shook his head. “No, he’s already gone.”
“Gone?” she asked.
She could feel the panic rising in her chest, but Caspian said, “It’s okay. Judas is looking for information to help you. He can’t do that if he’s worried about your safety.”
“He could get hurt,” she said.
Caspian nodded. “He could.”
Evan looked at the man, thankful he didn’t try to patronize her. “What are we going to do to help him?”
“We aren’t going to do anything. I’m going to take you somewhere safe before I go out to do my part.”
“Somewhere safe? Isn’t it safe here?”
“Safe enough,” Caspian said, “but I think you’ll like the other place better.”
“Why?” Evan asked.
“Because we’re going to see your sister.”
Eleven
Evan’s heart thumped wildly as they made their way through the evening streets. Caspian took them through dozens of twists and turns, leaving false trails to confuse anyone who might be following.
When they stopped in front of a nondescript brick building, Evan assumed they were just planting another false trail. But instead of crossing the street or turning down an alley, Caspian climbed the stairs and rang a bell.
“Yeah?” a tinny voice said through a small speaker.
“It’s Cas.”
The door buzzed and Caspian ushered Evan inside. They walked to an elevator, but there was a sign that said it wasn’t working. With a groan, Caspian went to the stairwell instead. After four flights of stairs, Evan’s newfound land-legs had turned to mush.
Caspian opened a door and walked into a brightly lit room with large windows on one wall. On another wall was a fireplace surrounded by shelves of books. She turned to the third wall where a stocky man stood in a doorframe. He watched Evan with mild curiosity, a smile peeking through a massive red beard.
“You’re a Mer, huh?” he asked. “First timer, too.”
Evan nodded. “Are you a Mer?”
“No, but I’m married to one. I help her and Cas take care of your people when they’re landed.”
Caspian motioned towards her. “Will, this is Evannia.”
The man straightened, his mouth losing his smile and taking on a surprised expression. “Celia’s sister?”
“Yes,” Evan replied. “You know her?”
The man bounded across the room and wrapped his arms around Evan. “I’m so happy to meet you! Celia talks about you all the time. Remember the time you guys snuck into the maids’ stash of candy?”
Evan laughed. It had been years since she’d thought of that day, but the trouble she got in with Declan meant she wouldn’t soon forget.
Declan.
Her laugh choked away at the thought of him. Caspian jumped in and asked, “Where is Celia?”
“She went to the beach with Malcolm and Kedra to check for Mer. She’ll be back soon.”
Caspian nodded. “I need to get going. Would it be a problem for Evan to stay here?”
“Are you kidding? Celia would kill me if I said no.”
“Thanks, Will,” Caspian said. Turning to Evan he said, “Celia will be home shortly. Until then, you’re in good hands.”
“But Caspian, he’s a stranger,” Evan whispered, glancing nervously towards Will. She’d spent her life protected, surrounded by guards, and though at times she’d resented their constant attention, now she felt bare without them.
Caspian smiled and said, “So was I until a few hours ago. But I promise, you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t leave you if I thought you weren’t safe.”
Evan watched Caspian shake hands with Will before leaving. He turned back towards her at the door and smiled, then the door closed and she was left alone with a new person, in a new place.
Will turned back to Evan and said, “Bathroom is down the hall, food is in the fridge, and the remote for the TV is on the couch. Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you,” she said, though half of his words were foreign.
“I’ve gotta get back to my kid. It’s story time,” he said as he headed towards the hall. “Let me know if you need anything.”
Evan sat on the couch, fumbling with the small black rectangle beside her. She pushed a few buttons, but nothing happened. Tossing it to the side, she curled up on the cushion instead, her head on one of the small striped pillows decorating the furniture.
She wondered what was next. Go to land. Check. Get stranded with strangers. Check. Surrender to guilt and shame for abandoning those you love…
Evan closed her eyes, fighting against herself. She was bombarded with what-if’s as she struggled to make sense of the last few days.
A sharp ache throbbed through her head and her eyes burned with tears. After sleeping most of the day at Caspian’s house, she wasn’t tired; still, she wrestled with her body to stay awake. It wasn’t long before she lost the battle and sleep overtook her.
She opened her eyes to find Celia sitting on the arm of the couch, watching her in sil
ence. Evan wanted to grab her, hold onto her, cry against her about how much she missed her. Instead she squeaked, “Hi.”
“Hey,” Celia said. “How are you?”
“Cold,” Evannia said.
Celia tugged a blanket off the back of the couch and tossed it to her. “Temperatures change here, whereas it’s always the same in the castle. I didn’t like it at first, but you get used to it.”
Celia scooted closer and handed Evan a mug of steaming liquid. Evan eyed the brown liquid, encouraged when Celia tipped up her own cup. Evan held it up to her lips and took a long drink. She felt the warmth travel down her body, thawing her from the inside out.
“It’s good, right?” Celia asked.
Evan nodded. “What is it?”
“Hot chocolate. It’s one of the humans’ best creations.”
“I’ve had chocolate before, but never like this.”
“It’s mixed with milk,” Celia said.
Evan’s lip curled in disgust. “Milk? That’s so gross! Whose milk did I just drink?”
Celia looked at her in confusion for only a second before bursting into laughter. Once her amusement faded she said, “It isn’t someone’s breast milk. It’s from an animal.”
“Still doesn’t sound good.”
“You didn’t like the way it tasted?” Celia asked, a knowing grin on her face.
Evan conceded, “Yes, it was good. Even if it was mixed with milk.”
“Do you like cheese?” Celia asked.
“Of course,” Evan said. “I wish we could get it more often in Triton. The Proteans seemed to have it in abundance.”
“Cheese is made with milk.”
“You’ve made your point,” Evan said. “Maybe milk isn’t so bad.”
Celia smiled, but Evan’s mind moved from the frivolity of the conversation to the questions she needed to ask her sister. She pressed her lips together, donning the mask she wore when speaking with nobles. Evan pressed her gift against her sister to read her emotions.
It didn’t work.
She tried again with no success. Evan felt panic run through her as she searched for the ever-present gift that seemed to no longer be there. Evan took a deep breath to calm herself, trying not to give anything away to her sister, the person who had once known her best, who was now barely more than a stranger.
Celia’s eyes were full of sadness as she said, “It’s okay to say whatever you’re thinking. If you’re mad, be mad. If you have questions, ask. I’ve been where you are right now. It isn’t easy.”
“You haven’t been where am I right now,” Evannia said, surprised by the venom in her own voice, “because your sister didn’t abandon you.”
Celia put her hand on Evan’s cheek and said, “Yours didn’t either.”
Evan turned her face away. She was furious with Celia but hadn’t realized it until this very moment. “I worshipped you. All I ever wanted was to be just like you.”
“You’re doing a good job of it,” Celia said. “Let me guess: you waited until everyone was asleep, snuck out of the castle, and swam to shore. You plan to go back soon, because you don’t want your little sister to be stuck with all the responsibilities of the throne, but you want to see a little bit of the world before you go back.”
Evannia glared at her. “I will go back. I won’t let mother push Orielle into that role.”
“That was my plan, too. And for exactly the same reason,” Celia said. “I wanted to protect you, but life got in the way.”
“I wouldn’t know. My life is spent trapped in the castle. My closest friends are the guards who paid to spend time with me.”
“I’m sorry,” Celia whispered.
Evan gritted her teeth. “What’s done is done. But you’re wrong about why I’m here. I didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice.”
“Not when you’re being chased by Sirens.”
Celia gasped. “Tell me everything.”
Evan shrugged. “I don’t know much. They’ve attacked twice this week: first in Triton, then last night in Protea. Judas brought me to land.”
Celia asked, “Corinth? He’s the one who brought me to land, too. Where is he?”
“Caspian said Judas was out looking for others who might’ve ran.”
“So they’re only after you? Mother and Orielle are okay?”
Evan felt heat creeping up her neck. She hadn’t considered what would happen to her family when the Sirens couldn’t get her. Would they go after Orielle instead?
Celia put her hand on Evan’s. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”
Evan looked down at Celia’s hand. The gesture was familiar, a comfort from childhood, but it also felt like it was coming from a stranger. Eyes brimmed with tears, she asked, “Why didn’t you come back? I needed you.”
“They needed me here, too.”
“But they’re not your family.”
A door behind them creaked open and a small girl shuffled towards them. She rounded the couch and climbed up onto Celia’s lap. Evannia didn’t need to ask who the little girl was; her wispy black curls and violet eyes were a perfect copy of Celia.
“Mommy,” the little girl said, “who is this lady?”
“This is mommy’s sister, Evan. Can you say hello?”
She hid her face against Celia’s neck, peeking at Evan. She reached a hand forward, waving.
Celia smirked. “That’s probably the best you’ll get.”
“What’s your name?” Evan asked.
The girl mumbled, “Lucy.”
Celia ran her hands through Lucy’s hair. “Honey, go play in your room while we talk. When daddy wakes up we’ll have pancakes.”
Lucy ran and Evan said, “She looks just like you.”
Celia nodded. “But she acts more like her father.”
“How old is she?”
“Three and a half,” Celia replied.
“You couldn’t have brought her back with you?” Evan asked.
Celia shook her head. “She was born without gills. She couldn’t survive the trip to Triton. Besides, even if I could’ve brought her back with me, I didn’t want to leave Will.”
Evan nodded, but said nothing. She wasn’t sure why she was so surprised that Celia had moved on with her life, but the shock was there, nonetheless.
“I know you’re upset with me, and I’m sure part of you still doesn’t understand how I could choose to stay here with the humans instead of returning to the ocean. It wasn’t a choice I made lightly, Evannia. But someday you’re going to fall in love. When you do, you’ll understand how everything else in the world becomes less important.”
“I don’t understand,” Evan said. She looked up at Celia, trying to smile. “But I want to.”
Celia returned her smile. “That’s a start.”
After a moment Evan asked, “Do you think you’ll ever return?”
Celia shook her head. “I miss it, though. I go down to the water to stare at the waves. I’ve been watching for you.”
“I didn’t plan to come to land. Mother says this world is dangerous.”
“It can be,” Celia replied. “But it can also be beautiful, and magical, and exciting.”
“I don’t plan on seeing much of it. As soon as we figure out what’s going on with the Sirens, I need to get back to Triton.”
Celia said, “At least let me show you around the city and introduce you to some of my friends. You might change your mind.”
“I’m not staying, Celia. It’s almost time for me to take the throne.”
“You don’t have to take the throne,” Celia whispered.
“Yes, I do. It’s my responsibility.”
Celia sighed. “At least think about staying.”
Evan shook her head. “I’m sorry, Cel, but the ocean is my home.”
Celia turned away for a moment, and when she looked back towards Evan her face was an emotionless mask. The queen had taught her daughters well.
“I unders
tand,” Celia sighed. “For now, we need to find out what’s going on with the Sirens. We’ll know more when Judas and Cas return. If anyone can help, Uncle Caspian can.”
“Uncle?”
Twelve
Caspian’s story was sad, and all-too familiar. He ran from the ocean, disobeying well-meaning parents who wanted to marry him to someone he didn’t love to improve their social standing. Twenty-seven years had passed, but the tale was as likely today as back then
He had taken to the streets and survived through a combination of begging, stealing, and odd jobs. His brother wasn’t so lucky: he came to find Caspian but found death instead. Caspian blamed himself for Boon’s death and the loss sent him into a deep depression. Although it took many years, he found his way out of the pain by helping Mer who came ashore.
“That’s how you met him?” Evan asked.
Celia nodded. “Judas and I had been on land two days. We were hungry and had the unfortunate timing of landing during winter. We wouldn’t have survived without Cas.”
“So he found you, took you in, and told you he was your long lost uncle?”
“Not quite like that,” Celia smirked. “We’d been here about three months when I figured out who he was. We were talking about traditions and arranged marriages. Cas told us about his family. With a few questions, we realized his sister and our mother was the same person.”
“Did he never try to reach out to her?”
“He was full of guilt for leaving and for Boon. He wasn’t sure she would want to see him.”
Evan paused, weighing the question repeating through her mind. She took a deep breath and asked, “Do you feel guilty for leaving us?”
Celia stared out the window, downing the last dregs of her hot chocolate. She put her mug on the table, leaned back, and sighed. Turning to Evan she said, “No.”
Evan pressed her lips together, unsure what to say. It had not been the answer she expected.
Celia continued, “I did for a long time, but not anymore. I grieved for you and Orielle, for the sea, for all I’d left behind. I thought you’d hate me and never understand why I left.”
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