Underwater

by Brooke Moss

  Luna, I can’t.

  My hasty promise to Isolde flashed in my mind, and I cringed. I’d promised her I only wanted Saxon to come say goodbye. Guilt flickered in my chest, but I smothered it with pure adrenaline. “Listen, you have to think this through. You’re going to die. You’ve done nothing wrong, and they’re killing you. She’s been evil for years. You said so yourself. Let her take one for the team!”

  I have to face the ramifications of what I’ve done. That’s the honorable thing to do.

  “Honorable?” I grabbed his arms, digging my nails in. “You can’t! You have to fight!”

  He drug a hand down the length of his face. I can’t go up against the Council. It’s not possible. They’ll bury me and anyone who fights for me. That means you, your sister, Hayden, Ian…keeping the existence of Mer a secret is of utmost importance, even if it means lives lost.

  “So you’re giving up? You’re just going to let them take you?” I dropped my hands and sat back in my seat. My voice was weak. “I can’t believe you’re giving up.”

  He flinched, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. I don’t have a choice. Surely you understand being caught in circumstances that are out of your control.

  “I didn’t give up and die.” I announced hotly. “After the accident, everybody thought I would. The police, the EMTs, my parents. They all thought I would never recover, that I would either die in surgery, or they’d have to pull the plug on me because I was brain dead. Crap, the priest at the hospital came and gave me my last rites even though we aren’t friggin’ Catholic.”

  His light eyes searched mine for something. My point, maybe? I didn’t know. I just went on. “But I wouldn’t die. I didn’t care that I was going to wind up in this stupid chair and have to roll myself around everywhere I go. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that everyone thought I was going to die, and I proved them wrong. I didn’t die. And you shouldn’t, either. So the hell with what the Council says! Screw them. Prove to them they don’t get to determine your fate. Choose to live!”

  They’ll find me. The minute this dance ends, and I am away from the crowd, I’ll be caught, and so will you. There is no escape.

  A ball of terror formed in my throat. “I won’t die without a fight. And you shouldn’t, either.”

  Saxon raked his hands through his combed hair, standing it on end and making him look more like himself. A minute passed, then two. I could hear the thud-thud-thud of the base playing inside of the hotel and imagined all of the kids dancing without a care in the world. When Saxon brought his eyes back to mine, a determined line was set on his forehead.

  You’re right.

  My mouth dropped open. “I’m…what?”

  He drew in a ragged breath, then released it slowly. I have to run. Now.

  My heart caught in my throat. “What?”

  Can Hayden get me to the bus stop? He fingered the door handle.

  “I…I’m sure he can, but wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Are you serious? You’re running?”

  He nodded. Just once. If you didn’t give up, then I can’t give up.

  Throwing my arms around Saxon’s neck, I pressed my face against his neck. “Oh, thank God!”

  He nuzzled my hair. I told you that you inspired me. I’ll never forget how amazing you are. I’ll carry that with me wherever I go.

  “Wait.” I pushed him back and stared him dead in the eye. “You’re not going alone.”

  He threaded his hand into my hair and covered my cheek with his palm. Warmth spread from his skin to mine. I love you so much. I…I can’t take you away from your family.

  “You won’t.” I jutted my chin out at him. “I’ll come back to see them. I’m eighteen and legally free to go where I want.” I leveled my gaze at his face. “I’m going with you.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but I pressed my fingers to his lips. “Do you love me?”

  His eyes flashed. Of course I do.

  Swallowing thickly, I grabbed the handle of my own door. “Then don’t argue with me. I’m going to go get Ian. You’d better go wet yourself down again. The bus station’s about forty minutes away, and it’s going to be a dry ride.”

  All right. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I love you.

  “I love you too. Let’s go.” I pushed my door, and it stopped with a dull thwack just a few inches open. “What the…?”

  A heavy hand clamped down on my wrist, sending a bolt of pain up my arm. A voice filled my head, but it wasn’t Saxon’s. The tone was eerily deep and sinister, and it sent a chill down my back. Stay in the car, little girl.

  Saxon’s busted-up face paled. Bascom.

  “Who?” I jerked my wrist free of the clammy hand and slid as far away from the man, er, Mer, standing outside my door.

  The Council is here. Saxon placed his arm protectively in front of me just as the man leaned down and peered into the car.

  I don’t know what I expected members of the Council to look like, but his modest appearance surprised me. His clothes were obviously old, worn, and used only for emergencies like this, but his physique was a different story. Bascom wore a shredded T-shirt and worn cutoffs that barely covered his bulging and corded muscles. His long hair was jet black, dripping wet, and hung down over his very, very angry face. Get out of the car, Saxon, and we’ll let the girl live.

  “Out the other door, out the other door!” I blurted, pushing Saxon in the opposite direction.

  Saxon went to open his door, but a meaty hand pressed against the window. All of the air in Saxon’s lungs came out in a long whoosh. Darrow.

  My stomach turned when a second Mer stooped down, snarling at us through the glass. His hair was a blondish green like Isolde’s, but surrounded a face with a long, diagonal scar running from his temple to his chin. “Push past him, Saxon, hurry!” I screamed.

  Darrow narrowed his milky eyes at me. Unless you want to watch your boyfriend die, you’ll shut up and do what we say.

  There was no mercy in either of their faces. They looked at me as though I were a bug that needed squashing, and judging by the size of their arms, it wouldn’t be difficult to do. I clamped my hands down on Saxon’s arm, terror rippling through my body. “S-sax?”

  There’s another two Council members outside the car. Saxon’s breathing was labored, and his head bounced between windows. We’re surrounded, Luna.

  I started to cry. “Don’t get out. Please…”

  Don’t listen to her. She’s gonna get you killed. Bascom leaned into the car a few inches, filling the cab with the scent of lake.

  Darrow sneered into the window on our other side. She already has.

  My breath hitched in the back of my throat, and I covered my mouth with a shaking hand.

  Saxon gulped audibly. I know that you’ve been sent here to do a job. I know what you’re expected to do. But if you let me go—let us go—I swear to you that we’ll be gone from Pend Orielle by nightfall. And I’ll never come back. They’ll never know you didn’t kill me.

  Bascom bared his teeth at us and growled. He reminded me of a wild animal. You’re asking us to betray the Council? This just gets better and better. Sacrificing you will feel very gratifying. A Mer who turned on his own kind.

  I turned toward him. “Saxon never turned against your clan! He—”

  Silence! Darrow gave Hayden’s old Honda a shove, rocking it back and forth.

  I felt sick to my stomach. Where were all of those prom chaperones now? Inside drinking the spiked punch while we got assaulted by a pack of mythological beings in the parking lot?

  Don’t even speak, human. Bascom said the word human as though it tasted bad, and I shivered. These dudes looked as if they wanted to kill us both for fun.

  Don’t talk to her like that. Your vendetta is against me, not Luna.

  Darrow shoved the car again. She knows too much.

  “We’ll never tell a soul about your clan.” My voice was shaking. Tears started rolling down my face and dripping onto my dr
ess. “We swear to you…you’ll never hear from us again. Please…just let us go.”

  The Mere Monstrom demands a sacrifice tonight. Darrow pointed a thick, waterlogged finger at Saxon. And your betrayal to this clan won’t ever be forgotten. The Council doesn’t tolerate this behavior. They never have, and they never will.

  Saxon was silent for a beat. I could almost hear the base inside the dance again, but my heart was beating so wildly in my chest, it filled my ears. Finally, he spoke. We don’t have to act like savages. We can coexist with humans and search for a cure. Our females could carry on our posterity again someday, eliminating the need to beguile humans. It can be done. I know it can. I’ve researched, and—

  Your so-called research is dangerous and reckless. Darrow punctuated his sentence by pulling his fist back, then driving it through the window with an ear-piercing smash.

  I screamed, releasing Saxon’s arm to cover my face from the shards. It was just enough time for him to grab Saxon and drag him out of the car like a ragdoll. Reaching for Saxon’s leg, I scraped at the fabric of his slacks and flopped onto my stomach on the seat. “No! You can’t do this! No!”

  Stay there, Luna! Saxon’s voice yelled in my head. Just stay there! Don’t make them angry!

  Bascom grabbed my skirt and drug me back to the center of the seat. Don’t make a scene, human. If your people come out of that building, I’ll snap your neck, and the neck of anyone who spots us. Do you understand?

  A vision of my sister in her red dress flashed in my mind, and I pressed my face down on the fabric, stifling my cries. I couldn’t risk having anyone else hurt. The thought of these goons touching Evey made my blood run cold. “Saxon.” I whimpered, my voice muffled by the dirty old Honda’s seat.

  Darrow laughed manically. Your little human mate doesn’t know when to shut up, does she? She’s almost as stupid as she looks.

  Saxon strained to break free, his shoes shuffling on the cement. Watch your mouth or I’ll—

  Or you’ll what? He yanked Saxon’s arms upwards, making him cry out in pain. We’ve been ordered to bring you back to Cape Horn for the sacrifice. Every word you say solidifies what was already known about you. You’ve betrayed your own kind and deserve to be punished. Tonight when the moon is high, you’ll meet your fate.

  “Stop!” My head shot up off of the seat. Saxon’s face was contorted into a grimace, making my heart seize. Every time they put their hands on him, my insides ached. The helplessness was agonizing. “Stop hurting him! Please!”

  Bascom drug his hand through his hair, sending icy droplets all over the inside of Hayden’s car. Garak, Oded! The other two Council members I’d not yet seen stepped forward. One was shirtless and dripping lake water onto the pavement, and the other popped his knuckles as though he’d been waiting all day to participate. Standing upright, Bascom tapped on the roof of the car, making me jump. Take the traitor to the Cape. Darrow and I will stay behind to do the cleanup work here.

  Saxon widened his eyes in horror. Cleanup work? You said she wouldn’t be hurt.

  The Council member who’d been hanging around at the back of the car approached Saxon and drove his fist into his stomach. We said she’d live. Not that she wouldn’t be hurt. He bent down and leered into the car at me. A nice head injury will wipe her memory clean. And if not, she’ll be banged up so good, people will think she’s crazy when she talks about our kind. And if not…we’ll have to come back and finish the job. It’s called damage control.

  Again, Saxon started thrashing. Stay away from her! You heard her. She said she wouldn’t tell anybody. I’ll go! I won’t fight you anymore if you don’t hurt her!

  Garak and Oded grabbed Saxon’s arms, yanking him in opposite directions until his arms popped. Oded used his spare hand to punch Saxon’s jaw with a sickening crack. He writhed in pain, dropping to his knees and hanging limply in their grip. Luna. His voice was weak, and he didn’t open his eyes. Just let me go…do as they say, and they’ll leave.

  Not before a head injury wipes out everything she knows about Mer. Darrow smiled down at me, his grin sinister. Can’t have the little freak spilling all of our secrets, now can we?

  I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Saxon was going to be sacrificed to the Mere Monstrom, and I was going to have my head bashed in. This situation defied all reality. Adrenaline and fear chugged through my veins, making it impossible to hold still in my seat. I had to do something. Escape, scream, beg for mercy…I didn’t know what. No matter what I did, the wrath of the Council would come down on me…and everyone inside the prom.

  Leave her alone…she won’t tell. We can trust her. Saxon’s voice was, and it made my heart pull in my chest.

  Too late, lover boy. Bascom cackled. You should have known we would be forced to take drastic measures. You’re lucky the Council hasn’t ordered her to die.

  It can still be arranged. Oded grinned. They all laughed like as though it were hysterical, and my stomach cartwheeled. I’d faced death before, but this was the first time facing it at the hands of someone so inherently evil.

  Saxon’s eyes bore into mine from his spot where he dangled a foot above the ground. I’m so sorry, Luna. I never meant to cause this…

  I looked at him through blurred eyes, still shaking. My mouth opened, then closed again. There were no words.

  Get him out of here. Now. Bascom flared his nostrils at me. Say goodbye, human.

  A sob escaped. “I love you.”

  I love you, too, Luna. I always will. Saxon was dragged away from the car, kicking and thrashing. I turned in my seat, cries shaking my body as I tried to catch a glimpse of him before they disappeared into the brush. His dark suit was a stark contrast to the thick white arms of the Mer binding him, but the forest swallowed them quickly, and I was left in Hayden’s Honda alone before I knew it.

  “Oh no, no, no…” I wept, crumpling in my seat, and using my purse to cover my face. It was over. Saxon was gone. And now I was going to get my skull smashed in. Sadness rushed over me, crushing my chest and pinching my heart between the splintered bones.

  Come here, human. Darrow’s singsong tone dripped with hatred as he reached into the backseat for me.

  High-pitched laughter rang out, and his head swiveled over to the hotel entrance. A couple wearing matching pink dress and cummerbund ensembles approached their car with arms around each other. They looked as though they were headed for some make-out time, and the Council members surrounding me stiffened. Bascom bent down and pointed at me. His teeth were clenched, and when his voice reverberated in my head, it was low and ferocious.

  Don’t you move. If you do, we’ll see you and hunt you and all of your little friends down. Do you understand me?

  I nodded obediently as the sound of the happy couple approaching their car twenty feet away filled the air. Each of the Council members backed away from Hayden’s Honda, silently ducking into the thick brush that surrounded the parking lot. I was frozen in place. I couldn’t run, obviously. And getting my chair out of the car, and then me into the chair, was entirely too conspicuous. The Council members would punish me, as well as the lovers in the black station wagon down the row, within seconds. I buried my face in my purse again, and my forehead clunked into the familiar shape of my cell phone.

  Through all of my tears, an opportunity blossomed. I’d never been a quitter before today, and I wasn’t about to start now. Anger filled my chest, shoving all sadness to the side. They were gonna kill Saxon? They were gonna smash my head in to make me forget? Oh. Hell. No. Not if I could help it.

  Glancing out the windows that faced the tree line, I could see the pale color of the Council member’s worn clothing through the brush. I was going to have to be discreet. Very discreet. Letting my hands drop, I started to unzip my purse and tugged my cell free from the fabric, all while staring despondently through the windshield. If I got caught, I was likely going to die right here in the parking lot at the prom. But at least I would go down fighting, instead of weeping
in a car like some pathetic chick in the movies.

  I heard the sound of car doors shutting, followed by muffled laughter a few cars down. My throat pounded against my chest wall as I buried the phone in the folds of my skirt, glancing down just long enough to wipe my eyes on the back of my palm—and make sure that the text messages were open on the screen. There was a rustle in the bushes next to me, and a glimmer of muscular white flesh flashed in my peripheral vision. My eyes locked on a chip in the windshield, and I continued to sniffle and hiccup. I didn’t dare look down again as my fingers typed out a text message to Evey.

  Council is here. They took Saxon. Walk to car like nothing is wrong. You’re being watched…we have to get the hell out of here ASAP.

  I brought my hand up and swiped it underneath my nose, shaking my head and hamming up my fake tears just enough to look like a pathetic little girl. Which is what the Councilmen already thought I was. No use letting them know I’d outsmarted them. Yet.

  When my hand flopped back down I added a nice shake of my shoulders for good measure…and pressed send.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Where are you?” I mumbled to myself, scanning the parking lot for Evey and Hayden.

  Three more students had gathered on the far side of the parking lot to sneak a smoke, and the Councilmen in the brush were getting more pissed by the millisecond. I could tell by the way Bascom was pacing, just beyond the fern. I could actually hear Darrow cracking the knuckles on his beefy hands.

  My heart pounded so hard in my chest, I bounced in my seat. Where in the world was my sister and Hayden? Of all the nights for her to put her purse down and forget about her cell. If I got my skull cracked at the hands of a ticked-off Mer while Evey and Hayden did the Dougie…

  Worse yet, if Saxon died being sacrificed to the Mere Monstrom…

  I fingered my cell phone amongst the folds of my skirt and glanced at the brush. Bascom was watching me like a hawk, a venom-filled glare plastered all over his pale face. A shiver or panic rippled through me, and my fingers retracted from the phone. “Come on, come on,” I whispered.