I push through my thoughts and jump from the stream of water. How could we come so far from what we were meant to be in such a short time? My sisters’ lack of empathy weighs heavily on me. Maybe I’m the one who changed. They all seem to have come together while I watch like the outsiders the humans are.
Fighting off a wave of sadness, I angle myself toward the beach. This should be the time when the men come to work out.
As I exit the water, Neo’s blue eyes catch mine, and he rushes to meet me. He scans me quickly before placing his hands on my shoulders. “Are you okay? We haven’t seen you in almost a week.”
“A week? I’ve only been gone a couple of days.” Time moves differently for those of us who are immortal, but I thought I had a handle on how long I was gone.
“No. The festival’s in about a week. We’ve been busy trying to monitor all the people coming from the countryside down for the festivities as well as people coming from the outer islands. We worried one of the boats caught you or that drunk men took you away.” Neo pulls me into a hug, his body relaxing as his arms wrap around me.
I melt into his strong frame, comfortable to be embraced by such thoughtfulness. My worries over my sisters melting away as he holds me.
After a few moments or it might have been minutes if my internal clock is that far off, he steps back, but reaches for my hand. His smile lights up his face like the sun lights up the morning horizon. “You’re wearing the ribbon from our present.”
“Yes.” I lift our entwined hands to bring the bow to eye level. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Did you like the candy?” His eyes widen as he asks me the question. “Mara makes the best candies.”
I bring my fingers to my mouth, trying not to bite my nails. I don’t want him to know my sisters took the candy from me. “I loved it. It’s some of the best I’ve had, and I’ve eaten lots of sugary goodness.”
As impossible as it seems, his smile brightens. “I have something else for you. Whichever one of us came down here each morning would carry it.” Digging in his pocket with his free hand, he pulls out a thin rope with three shells strung on it.
So many questions float through my mind as I take the gift from him. “It’s beautiful. Nacre is one of my favorite substances.”
Neo furrows his brow at me. “I thought it was just part of an oyster shell.”
“It is. I believe you call it Mother of Pearl.” I hand him back the necklace and spin to face the water, raising my hair at the same time. He takes the hint and ties the necklace around my neck for me.
Turning back around, I grab onto one of the shells and flip it back and forth. We watch the swirls of color in the shell change with each angle. “See how it can change color in the light?”
“I didn’t know that was the name, but I do now. I’m glad you like it. The others will be glad as well.”
“Where are they? Did something happen?” Panic blossoms in my chest and regret laces my nerves as I realize how selfish I am to think about the necklace before worrying about the others.
Neo brushes my hair out of my eyes. “Hey, no frowns. They’re fine. We’ve just been training some new volunteers. With the number of festivalgoers coming in this year, we’re worried about everyone’s safety. We’ve taken turns showing everyone the basics. It’s good to have a backup plan even outside of festival season.”
Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, I nod. “I’m relieved something didn’t happen. I’ll have to pay more attention to my time so I can be around to help. I’m still trying to work on a way to help with your wagon.”
“Kaveth’s been working on that. He has the side patched, and a new wheel almost finished. He’ll be here tomorrow since Harun and I are on training duty.”
“Will you ever get to come back here together? Didn’t you say you get a better workout down here?” I glance up the beach and see it’s quickly filling. Most mornings, the beach is empty until the sun is high in the sky.
“We’ll be down early to patrol. We’ve tried to block the beaches off so people aren’t down here too early or too late. It’s harder to protect them if we aren’t able to watch.” His eyes drift from the newcomers to the sea that’s now filled with boats waiting to dock. “Your sisters’ games are drawing people down to the water earlier than we’re used to. With the new volunteers, we can work to keep people in their inns longer.”
“Would you like me to talk to my sisters?”
“We’ve tried, but it doesn’t do much good.” He shrugs, but the crease stays between his eyebrows. “They aren’t causing problems. But with the number of people gathering to watch them, we worry trouble will naturally happen.”
Neo turns at the sound of laughter. Small children run ahead of their parents as they race down to the water.
“I’ll see what I can do. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” My sisters won’t listen, but at least I can try.
“Thank you, Thelsa. I have to go, but I hope to see you again soon.” His hand runs down my arm until it lands on the ribbon tied around my wrist. As his thumb slides over the ribbon, goose bumps rise on my arms.
Before I can say bye, his eyes darken, and he spins to walk toward the new visitors on the beach.
4
“Cyanea, why won’t you listen?” My hands open and close into fists, frustration shaking my whole body.
“I’m listening, I’m listening.” She lifts one slender arm, her finger pointing. “Fetch me that string of pearls.”
With an annoyed huff, I stomp over to her treasure chest and snatch the yellow pearls up before stomping back to thrust them into her hand.
She casts me an amused look from the corner of her eye. “You’re in a mood today. What has your skirts tangled?”
A frustrated screech catches in my throat. “I just told you!”
“Right. The festivalgoers.” Smiling, she leans closer to her vanity mirror as she deftly threads the pearls through her hair. They join the four strands already there. Along with her large, red coral comb, all the bobbles almost obscure her golden tresses. “They’re delightful, aren’t they? The festival gets bigger and bigger every year.”
“They bring such interesting gifts,” Charybdis calls from her seat at the vanity, three down.
She lifts her hands to either side of her head, creating a swirl of air that lifts her dark locks into a delightful twist.
She’s calmed down over the years, giving up on her deathly whirlpools that once sank ships. The loose chains around her wrists clink quietly, remnants of her feud with father, now a distant memory.
Nervous, I glance between her and Cyanea. “Are you also playing with the beachgoers, Charybdis?”
“I thought I’d investigate the sailors.” She licks her bright red lips, and the hint of sharp teeth flashes. “I always did like the sailors.”
Cyanea releases a loud, belly laugh. “Just remember to let them back up before they try to breath water, dear sister.”
“Or don’t drag them under at all!” My hands move to my hips, furious at Cyanea’s blithe attitude. “We’re meant to protect the humans!”
“It’s all in good fun.” But darkness glints in Cyanea’s gaze, remnants from her years chained to the seabed.
When she returned to our palace after Father left with the other gods, she lost her playful whimsy. Too much conquest for a creature meant for merriment. I wasn’t sure she was fully sane anymore, but the others trusted her.
Of course, the others held little care for human safety anymore. Perhaps immortality was a curse, as well as a gift.
I grip the back of Cyanea’s chair and lean closer to her, my voice low. “Please, Cyanea, just keep our sisters below water until later in the afternoon. It will help the watchmen and keep the humans safe.”
She waves a hand to shoo me away. “Stop with this incessant chatter. It makes me tired when I want to play.”
“Yes, let’s play.” Charybdis grabs her comb, a dagger like spike of coral, and stab
s it through her hair. Rising, she shakes out her dark skirts and glances up at the ceiling, her eyes narrowed as if she can see the boats that wait to dock on the surface of the sea.
When Cyanea rises as well, I grab her arm to whisper fiercely, “Please, at least promise to keep an eye on her.”
“You worry too much.” She flicks me between the eyebrows, and startled into retreat, I release her. “If you’re that worried, come to the beach with us and keep an eye on things for yourself.”
“Fine, I will.”
Grumbling as they leave, I hurry down the circle of mirrors to my own vanity. Unlike my sisters’, my mirror’s edges lack the shiny bobbles they use to adorn themselves and draw attention. The small treasure chest that sits on the tabletop is there only for show. No treasures fill its square walls.
As I settle on the padded seat, I glance around to make sure I’m alone before reaching beneath the vanity for my one treasure. From a secret cubby, I lift out the discs of rainbow coral I found and trace my fingers along the golden comb I attached to the underside with string. The blues, purples, and oranges are as beautiful as I remember, and I swiftly brush out my blue hair, twist it into a thick rope around my head, and secure it in place with the coral.
When I turn my head, the colors shift like a rainbow. The comb goes well with my new necklace, and I smile as I touch the delicate shells. Neo looked so happy when he gifted it to me. How long did they search the beach to find three matching pieces? It couldn’t have been an easy gift to create, and guilt slides through me once more that I worried them with my absence. I wouldn’t leave them alone again for so long, no matter my own selfish concerns. What would I do if I lost complete track of time and they disappeared before I knew it?
A shiver of fear rolls down my spine. Humans live such short lives. And they’re so delicate, so easily harmed.
Suddenly overcome with the need to make sure they’re safe, I leave my vanity and run to the outskirts of the palace. I catch the current that will bring me to the surface quickly and pop up into fresh air and sunshine within minutes.
Song fills the air from where a dozen of my sisters perch on a sandbar farther out to sea. Laughter weaves through the harmony as humans splash in the water and swim out to reach them. More laughter fills the beach as my sisters’ bright heads weave through the beachgoers, playing chase and staying just out of reach of their pursuers.
Off to one side on a dune, Cyanea lounges, her skirts spread wide with a bevy of humans perched at the edges, their attention held rapt by her beauty.
“A new nereid!” shouts a male voice.
I turn to find a young man pointing to me. He runs forward, and I shrink back into the water, unprepared for the invasion into my personal space. He splashes into the water after me, his arms out as if to pull me to the beach.
Panic shoots through me, and I cast a geyser of water at him to drive him away. It catches him in the chest, shooting him back toward the beach. For a brief moment, his head disappears under the water, then he pops back up, shaking wet hair from his eyes, and laughs with delight.
“Again!” he shouts and dives forward once more, swimming toward me.
My eyes widen. Do these humans have no sense of self-preservation?
I shoot another geyser at him, harder this time, and send him all the way back to the beach. Others join him, happy grins on their faces as they run back into the gentle waves.
“Thelsa!”
My head whips toward the sound of my name, my eyes catching on Kaveth’s bright red hair. He waves from the edge of the water, a worried frown heavy on his brow. Light fingers brush my arm, and I twist to find one of the swimmers already at my side, his companions close behind. Panicking, I send them all back to the beach with another geyser, then duck beneath the water’s surface before they try again. Their confused disappointment ripples through the water as I angle away from them.
When I next surface, I come out of the water farther down the beach from Kaveth. Hand up to shield his eyes against the sun, he scans the water where he last saw me. With most of my sisters congregating on the other side of the beach, we have a semblance of privacy over here. But that won’t last long if those men spot me again. I creep onto the sand and take refuge next to a dune that blocks me from view.
“Kaveth,” I call softly.
When he continues to gaze out to the sea, I lift a small pebble and throw it gently. It bounces off his calf, and he jumps with surprise, spinning around to search the beach. I stick out a hand to gain his attention, and relief spreads across his face. He jogs over, crouching in front of me. His large body blocks the sun and casts me in shadow.
I shiver, and he immediately moves to sit at my side. “Thelsa, are you okay? I saw those men chasing you.”
Surprised he caught onto my distress from such a distance, I turn to face him. “Why didn’t you assume I was playing like the rest of my sisters?”
His face turns pink, his freckles standing out across his nose and cheeks, and he glances away. “You don’t seem to like frolicking like the others. Sorry if I misunderstood.”
“No, you’re right.” I reach out to place a hand on his bare arm, and his sun heated skin comes as a shock.
It reminds me of the rocks I once lay on to nap and makes me yearn to curl up against him, to absorb all that delicious heat. I pull my hand back quickly, unnerved by the sudden urge.
He glances up, his green eyes suddenly bright, and he catches my fingers, entwining them with his. “I’m glad you joined me.”
I lick my lips, tasting the salt of the sea on them. Now, it’s my turn to glance away as heat warms my cheeks. “I’ll always join you when you ask.”
The confession slips from my lips, and embarrassed, I move to pull free. His fingers tighten on mine to keep me trapped, and my heart lurches. “I’ll be sure to ask more often.”
The thick timber of his voice pulls my unwilling gaze to his. I’ve never heard that tone from him, and the way his hooded gaze watches me makes my heart pound faster. I lift my free hand to cover my breast in an attempt to calm myself, and his eyes drop.
Slowly, his fingers lift to touch the necklace at my throat, right over my racing pulse. “This looks lovely on you.”
My hand flutters and lifts, brushing against his. “Thank you for the gift.”
His fingers trace across my cheek, then rise to my hair. “This, too, is lovely. Did someone give it to you?”
While he sounds calm, an underlying current of tension fills his body. I sense it in the fine tremor of his hand in mine and the way his shoulders square. He doesn’t like the idea of someone else giving me gifts.
I reach up to touch the coral comb and find the back of his hand instead. Hesitant, I press his palm to the rainbow disks. “I found a beautiful coral bed near a hot crack in the ocean floor. I wanted...” I glance down, embarrassed by my vanity, then determinedly meet his gaze. “I wanted to be different from them. I am different from them.”
“Yes, you are.” His voice gruff. “It suites you.” His hand drops to my cheek, and my breath catches. “You’re a treasure all on your own.”
Gaze on my mouth, he bends closer and excitement shivers through me. This will be my first kiss with one of the watchmen, and to have it with Kaveth... My eyes flutter shut.
Shouts of terror break through the laughter and singing, and Kaveth jerks away from me and bounds to his feet. I scramble to stand, and we search for the sound.
Off in the distance, the water ripples and churns in a tight whirlpool, a man caught in its outer ring. His companions shout from outside of the spiral’s grasp, waving their arms for help.
“Charybdis,” I swear and run for the water’s edge with Kaveth tight on my heels.
“What’s going on?” he calls as we splash into the waves.
“My sister is taking her play too far.” I hesitate and pull him to a stop. “It’s dangerous. You should stay here.”
“It’s my job to protect them, too.” His hand c
overs mine, gives me a tight squeeze, then he dives into the waves.
My heart swells with pride as I follow him beneath the water. I can swim faster than him, so I take the lead, creating a funnel of water to pull him along faster. We slow as we reach the outskirts of the whirlpool, and Kaveth grabs the first of the swimmers, pointing him back to shore.
“You take care of these ones,” I shout over their distress. “I’ll take care of my sister.”
I wait for his tight nod of acknowledgement before I dive into the depths. It doesn’t take long to spot Charybdis on the sea floor, her hair a dark spiral in the water’s current. A mad grin spreads across her face as she feeds the whirlpool. Soon, it will grow larger to drag in more of the festivalgoers. Someone will be hurt.
I grab her arm. “You must stop this!”
She brushes me aside with more strength than I expected, sending me several yards away.
Determined, I fight the current to return to her side. “Charybdis, stop!”
She ignores me, her arms lifting to embrace the vortex of her creation. I stare up at the swimmers on the surface. One of those pairs of legs is Kaveth. He won’t leave the water while humans are in danger. He can’t be hurt.
Abandoning my sister, I swim opposite the direction her whirlpool spins, using geysers of water to propel myself faster. The counter current breaks the strength of her whirlpool, and the last of the swimmers escape.
I continue my efforts until the sea lies quiet once more.
“You ruin all the fun, sister,” Charybdis growls.
Before I can reprimand her, she catches a fast moving current and flees farther out to sea. I hesitate, unsure if I should follow her to ensure she doesn’t cause further mischief. But worry for Kaveth pulls me in the opposite direction.
I can’t save all the humans, but the few who gather here will be protected.
5
After making my way back to the surface, I scan the crowd and spot Kaveth with a small child on his back and another in his arms. He made it to shallow enough water that he can now walk onto the beach. Neo and Harun wait at the water’s edge, ready to meet him. With the waves now calm, all the swimmers head back to the beach to find their loved ones. I trail behind to help anyone too shaken by the whirlpool, but everyone seems to be settling down.
Realms and Rebels: A Paranormal and Fantasy Reverse Harem Collection Page 143