Ahead, laughter rings out in the hall, and two of my sisters, Ligea and Iaera, appear from between two pillars. Ligea holds a strand of pearls over her head, while Iaera chases after her in good-natured fun.
The two pause when they spy me, and Ligea tucks the pearls behind her back as if afraid I’ll covet them. She blinks large, lavender eyes at me. “Thelsa, what are you doing down here?”
I arch an eyebrow. “Is this not my home?”
“Well, yes.” The two share a look, then Ligea adds, “But you’re usually on the surface right now. With those watchmen.”
Iaera’s nose wrinkles with distaste, and irritation makes my hands shake. They don’t even know Harun, Neo, and Kaveth. I’ve tried to get them to come with me, to see the good the watchmen do for the town, but they would rather sleep the morning away and come only to the surface when the fun-seeking festivalgoers or vacationers arrive.
I tuck my hands into the folds of my skirt. “Yes, but it’s already mid-day. They’ve gone back to their watch station.”
Iaera’s lips form a mew of fake unhappiness. “How easily they abandon you.”
“It’s because she never sings,” Ligea whispers, her voice loud enough for me to hear. “They can sense she’s flawed.”
“They can look at her and see her flaws,” Iaera whispers back.
“I’m standing right here, you know,” I snap, angry for their comments.
“So you are.” Iaera sniffs. “I don’t suppose you’ll come splash the beachgoers with us?”
“Or play Save the Sailor with us?” Ligea covers her mouth to mask an excited titter. “I do love that one.”
“Yes, so much fun.” Iaera reaches behind her sister’s back and snatches the string of pearls. “I will be the savior today!”
“No, you will not!” Ligea lunges after her, and they run away, laughing in their game with me already forgotten.
Not that I want to play with the beachgoers. As soon as the rains stop, they flock to our quiet harbor every summer and fill the beach with their trash. For months after they leave, glass bottles and paper sacks drift through our underwater palace. My sisters like to collect the prettier ones to display as modern treasure.
I reach the outskirts of the palace walls and stick an arm out until I find a warm stream of water pulled from the surface. Eyes closed, I let the current sweep me away from my home and out into the deeper parts of the sea. It carries me upward until my face breaks the surface of the water, and the sun dazzles my eyes.
For a time, I let my body drift, the water carrying my worries away. The sea fills my ears with the swooshing heartbeat of a mother, and I shrug off my sister’s warnings. I’ll never be lured away from here, no matter how many gifts the humans offer me.
Briefly, Neo’s blue eyes fill the space behind my eyelids. Soft and calling to me like the embrace of the sea. My chest tightens with unfamiliar warmth, and I tuck my body, arrowing back into the sea’s depths until my heart beats with exertion and drowns out the confusion the watchmen cause me.
It doesn’t matter that Neo, with his powerful thighs and lithe speed, reminds me of the message runners of old. Or that Harun’s shoulders could likely hold the weight of the world. Or that Kaveth shines like the first fire stolen from the gods, with a mind to challenge even the great Greek inventors of the past. For thousands of years, I’ve watched the rise and fall of man, and not one has tempted me more than the comfort of my watery home. Not even the gods themselves could pull my sisters and me away, even when we knew we would be left abandoned among the mortals.
Down into the deeps I swim, outrunning the memories of centuries gone by, until the water becomes dark and my eyes struggle to see. Here is a secret part of the sea floor no man will ever touch. I trace my fingers through the sand in the floor, laughing at the pointy scuttle of creatures who dance over my hands and flee.
Eventually, the water warms, and I follow it to the crack in the floor where bubbles flow out. The shadows dissipate, pushed back by a faint red glow, and the coral reef that surrounds the crack shimmers in the light cast by the underwater fire.
Orange, purple, and turquoise. Colors unlike any found on land. They form pebbly discs that overlap, one on top of the other. A treasure trove to put all of the coral combs my sisters wear to shame. The talk of pearls, and the pointed reference to my lack of them, stung. But I don’t need pearls with jewels such as these. Let all the other nereids adorn themselves with milky baubles bound together on stolen string. I’ll show them what it means to wear the sea’s bounty.
With nimble fingers, I test the ridges of the coral bed until I find a loose disc and pull it free. Two others come with it, curving gently as if designed to be worn close to the head. Blindly, I hold it against my hair to test the size, overjoyed when it fits perfectly.
“Thelsa.”
My head cocks to the side as the current brings the call to me. What could my sisters want now?
I consider ignoring it, but maybe Cyanea changed her mind about helping the guys? If she can teach the water to hold its shape for them, it will make Kaveth’s invention work more smoothly and save all of them time in a crisis.
Tucking the piece of coral into the waistband of my dress, I find the current that will take me back to the palace.
It doesn’t take long, and soon the shining arches and domes come into view. It rests in a crevice on the sea floor, its pillars sunk deep into the bedrock so not even the rage of a tsunami will budge its walls. Gold covers the highest dome that sits at the center of the palace, once the favored gathering place for us to sing to Father. Now, most avoid it, choosing to sing at the outer corners, where the passing sea life might stop and listen for a time and dance to our tunes.
Or, better yet, my sisters venture to the surface to perch on buried jetties of sand and sing to the festivalgoers, who clap, swim out to greet them, and touch their skirts or press gifts into their hands for luck.
I’m not sure when thinking nereids bring luck became the fashion. A simple jest that turned into a story that became a superstition for the locals. Even Kaveth, Neo, and Harun buy into it, though I’ve tried to tell them it’s not true.
When the current nears one of the outer walls, I pull away from it and follow the outer ring to where my sisters gather. After I step into the palace, it takes a moment for my legs to remember the gait of walking. Graceful, I am not.
I find ten of my sisters in what used to be a garden, but the stone beds now lay empty of even one sea anemone. I miss their bashfulness, the way they hide their colorful interiors. And they taste delicious when cooked on a sun rock.
My steps slow as I near my sisters and spot Cyanea at their center. My small hope she changed her mind dies. Even if she were willing to help, she’d never say so where the others could hear.
I keep the disappointment from my voice, mad at myself for expecting more from her. “You called me back, sister?”
“Yes. We’re having a disagreement and need an odd number to break the tie.” She lifts a red coral comb in one hand and a slightly different, but still red, coral comb in the other. She holds them up, one on either side of her head. “Which do you think brings out the rose in my cheeks better?”
The muscle next to my eye twitches, but I force a smile. “Neither compares to the blossoms in your cheeks.”
“See?” she crows victoriously. “I was right!”
“Then we must find a better coral bed!” Iaera announces. She now wears the strand of pearls coiled within her dark braids, so she must have won the race earlier. “One better suited to highlight our beauty!”
Eurydice turns to stare at me, one hand on her curved hip. “Thelsa, you float around a lot. See any beautiful reefs in your ventures?”
My hands itch to stray to my belt, and I grip my skirts to keep still. “None anymore red than what you have here.”
“Perhaps we should entreat the humans?” Eurydice turns back to the crowd, dismissing me from further conversation. “They venture o
ut beyond our town. They must have seen better reefs.”
“Yes!” Bouncing up and down, Iaera claps with excitement. “Let’s make a contest of it!”
“Oh, what should be the prize?” Ligea covers her rosy lips with one hand and titters. “Shall it be a kiss?”
Giggles erupt, and annoyance shoots through me. We’re meant to help the humans, not send them on pointlessly dangerous scavenger hunts. If one of them slips and falls, will one of my sisters save them from a watery grave? Before the gods left, I never questioned their actions. But now I wonder. How many would lift a hand to save a human from drowning?
Not many, and it turns my heart heavy.
“Do you need me for anything else, Cyanea?” I call, desperate to be away from them.
She waves a distracted hand in dismissal, and I leave them to their fun.
When did living here become such a disappointment?
3
Even though the watchmen left the beach, I swim back there to bask in the sun. As I step out onto the soft sand, light reflects off something glittery near where I lay earlier. Walking to the spot, a small box with a blue bow on top rests there. I bend to pick it up, and the bow shimmers as I hold it up to the sun.
Is this what my sisters were talking about? No one’s given me a gift, but this appears to be from them. At least, it was left where I usually sit to watch them. Maybe they intended it for someone else? I should leave it here. Delicately, I place the gift back where I found it.
Behind me, Harun calls out. “Thelsa!” His warm baritone sends chills of delight through me. “You found the gift we left you.”
I spin to see him standing on the crest that separates this side of the beach from where the festivalgoers gather. A light wind ruffles his blond hair, and he grins as he waves to catch my attention. Crossing my arms over my chest, I step away from the glittery temptation.
Could my sisters be right about what the gifts mean, too? Do the men want to lure me away from my home?
Panic tightens my chest as Harun begins to pick his way down to me. The man himself is more of a lure than any trinket. Without responding, I pivot to race back to the safety of the water, but Harun catches me, his hands warm on my arms.
Fear makes my body shake. I won’t be tempted into leaving my home or tricked into being someone’s toy. I shake the hair from my eyes and twist to glare at the man, but his expression gives me pause.
Concern etches Harun’s face as he examines me. As soon as I find my balance, he puts his hands up and roots himself in place. “Hey, I’m sorry if I scared you. Are you all right?”
Unsure of his intentions, I scramble for an answer. “I’m fine.”
My eyes stray back to the box lodged in the sand. I notice now the bow matches my skirt and hair. It must have taken them time to find something so pretty. My fingers tingle with the desire to pick it up once more, to take it somewhere safe and stroke the fine material.
My hands clench into fists as I fight to stay focused on the truth behind the gift. “Did you forget something? I thought you were working at your station.”
“No.” His gaze shifts back to where he came from. “My job today is to monitor the beach.” When he scrubs his hands through his blond hair, his shirt rises slightly, showing off his muscular frame. “Are you sure you’re fine? You seem out of sorts right now.”
His sincerity rings through my resolve, chipping at the crumbling walls of my reserve. How can he see me so clearly when my sisters, who I’ve lived with for millennia, look right past me?
I bow my head. “I’m not sure.”
Sighing, I peek up at Harun to find his brown eyes clouded with concern. “If there’s someone bothering you, I’ll take care of it.”
His voice hardens as his watchful eyes take on a deeper search of the beach for any threats that may be lurking.
“I’m just having a bad day. Do you mind if I walk with you?” Having someone to connect with is strange. I’ve missed this with my sisters. We’ve drifted apart more and more as our time away from the gods has passed.
Harun reaches down and picks up the box. “We thought you might like these as a thank you for offering to help. If you don’t like them, we can find something else.”
His hand stretches toward mine. Gingerly, I place my hand under his. He turns his hand over, brushing his knuckles across my fingers, and places the box into my palm. My heart flutters with excitement. What would these thoughtful men who protect others choose to give me?
Examining the box once again, I run my fingers over the rough paper before tugging on the silky, iridescent, blue ribbon. When it unravels and slips toward the ground, I capture it to keep it safe as I lift open the lid. Inside are individually wrapped treats of blue and deep red. The sugary sweet scent of candies greets me, reminding me of spring.
“Blueberry? Cherry?” I pick up one of the wrapped confections and bring it closer to my nose.
The grin on Harun’s face broadens. “Both. I think there are some strawberry in there as well. My sister makes taffy treats each spring using fruits she picks from her garden. She sells them at the festival.”
He digs a candy out of his pocket, unwraps it, and pops it into his mouth. His eyes close with pleasure as he chews on the small confection, and my eyes drift to his lips. The bottom one is plumper than the top and pink like a strawberry. My heart flutters again, and I drop my attention back to my gift to avoid staring.
I choose one of the red ones and focus on untwisting the ends before I tentatively bite into one end. The sweet and tang of cherry bursts on my tongue, and I understand in an instant why they like these. I risk a glance back up. He watches me with an excited expectation, and warmth fills my cheeks.
“Thank you. This is delicious.” I eat the rest of the piece, then fold the lid back down on the box.
“I can always bring you more if you want some.” His eyes drop to the box as he gives me a small smile.
“I’ll do my best to make these last.” The box is heavy; there has to be about twenty pieces in there.
As I shake the box to determine the number, the ribbon floats back and forth in my hand. I pause and switch the box to one hand to lift the ribbon toward Harun. “Will you tie this on my wrist?”
The fabric matches my dress perfectly; a perfect keepsake to remember today.
“Of course.” Hesitantly, he slides the ribbon from my grasp and wraps it around my wrist. His hands shake, his thick fingers awkward as he works to tie a simple bow to secure the cloth. “Done.” He cringes a little as he stares at the lopsided knot. “You might ask Neo to help you make it look nicer. He has a knack for this sort of thing.”
Biting my lip to hide my smile, I swing my arm around, the bow flowing with my arm. “It’s perfect. I don’t want to change it.”
Just as he’s about to respond, a loud ringing reaches us. Harun stiffens as he spins toward the inland. “I’m sorry, Thelsa. I have to go. The emergency bell’s ringing. Someone needs me.”
“Please be careful!” I yell as he races away from the safety of the shore.
Once he disappears past the dunes, I trudge back to the water, hoping to find a good hiding place for my present.
Before I can dive in, Ligea and Iaera break the surface. I quickly move the box behind my back.
“What do you have there?” Ligea glides out of the water and onto the beach. Her lavender eyes match her short-cropped top and just as short skirt.
Backing up a few steps, I angle my body so they can’t see behind me, but Iaera darts one way as Ligea moves the other. Ligea pokes my arm, distracting me, and Iaera snatches the box from behind my back.
“A present!” Iaera’s voice screeches as she spits out the word. “I thought you’re too good for presents.”
“I never said that.” My hands move to my hips, and I fight to control my anger. “Please give those back.”
“Didn’t your men abandon you? Are you stealing our gifts from the festivalgoers?” Ligea flips open the li
d to my box and takes out a blue candy. “These aren’t good for you. We’ll keep them safe.”
“That’s mine!” Reaching between them to grab my present, I miss and nearly fall on my face, causing raucous laughter to peel from my sisters. “No one left me behind. Go find your own things!”
My sisters swirl around me like they do the young men who beg for their attention. I stop playing their game and glare at them.
“I think she’s mad at us.” Ligea doesn’t fight the giggles that pop through.
“So she is.” Iaera waves her hand at Ligea, and Ligea tosses the box to her. Before I can stop her, Iaera takes out a red piece and eats it, dropping the wrapper on the beach.
I bend and pick up the trash. I always assumed it was the beachgoers who ruined our coast, but it appears my sisters are just as bad.
“That’s right, Thelsa. You pick up the trash. We have more games to play.” Ligea points toward some young men who head our way. With my present still in their grasp, she and Iaera skip up the beach to the newcomers as I search for a trash container to clean up the mess left by my family.
Several days pass as I avoid both my sisters and the beach. After the theft of my gift, I’m ashamed to face the men and admit how easily I lost it.
In the days away from everyone, I hoped to come up with a solution for Kaveth’s problem so I didn’t return to them empty handed. But the more I think about it, the more issues I find. Since the others worked with him too, maybe they came up with a solution in my absence.
Unable to stay away any longer, I swim to return to the surface.
I take a wide berth around the gold and silver palace that no longer feels welcoming. Closing my eyes, I relax and let the warm current guide me. When the gods and goddess were still with us, they sent currents to let us know when someone needed our help. Even when the gods were at their most distant from the humans, they still worked to protect them. Most humans were ignorant to the fact they were being helped, but it always made us feel better.
Realms and Rebels: A Paranormal and Fantasy Reverse Harem Collection Page 142