As I lie down I'm struck with the thought that I am on the wrong side. Even Alex isn't so sure that things will work out in my favor. I close my eyes willing sleep to come but instead my brother's face fills my head. He's been on the right side all along. I hope he's alright.
As I doze almost losing consciousness, Jack comes to my mind. I feel the need to go to him and tell him how sorry I am for not believing in him and choosing the wrong side.
***
I wake to a huge crash. The sound vibrates through the water as if a wave crashes through the castle walls. I sit straight up not sure what to do. A silence fills the room then an even louder crash. I scurry up and grab my quiver and bows. I grab the helmet and take off through the maze of hallways toward the doors leading out of the castle.
The thought I had before falling asleep is still with me and more urgent, now than ever before. I need to find Jack.
I make my way to the double doors and see movement through the blurry glass. A weight descends upon me as I push the heavy door open and see the mass amounts of mer-people in front of me fighting. I glance around and see Erebus swimming in from all directions. They are all wrapped in dull silver armor with varying weapons. I watch in horror as they attack Lior in the streets. Some are fighters in the same gold armor as mine but some are unarmed, in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I fit my helmet over my head and swim out into the open. I'm about to close my eyes to 'travel' to find Jack when I feel a hand on my arm. I spin toward it and find yellow eyes boring into me. The hand tightens around my arm and he pulls a knife out of his belt. I quickly find the gilted dagger, Alex gave me and stab his stomach before he has a chance to use his knife on me. His hand falls from my arm and his limp body falls to the sand releasing the knife in his hand. Nausea suddenly rises in my throat and I let go of the dagger. My hand covers my mouth. Oh my god, I just killed someone. I sink to the sand and dry heave. I can't do this.
A hand grabs my shoulder. I wince and look for the dagger. It lies in the sand in front of me. I fumble in the sand for it and grab turning, ready to use it. But before I can strike, my eyes meet the unmistakable eyes of Alex. I lose the dagger again and collapse. He catches me and whispers in my ear, "They got through the shield and I went to find you, you were gone, I was so afraid..."
I bury my eyes in his chest and take a deep breath, "Alex, I...I killed someone, I can't do this."
He pulls away and glances at the Erebus lying a few feet from us, "If you didn't, it would have been you lying there."
He turns to look into my eyes, "I'm so glad you're alright. Ever, you can do this."
I back away so confused. I can't do this and I can't hurt this wonderful man any more than I have.
He grabs my hand and pulls me in the direction, away from the castle.
"Wait." I swim away from him back to the sand and grab the dagger, placing it back in the spot at my waist.
A small smile spreads across his face and he takes a deep breath, "I'm glad I gave that to you."
I swim up beside him kiss him on the cheek and whisper, "Thank you for everything."
Pulling away from him I close my eyes and think, Jack, I envision his beautiful, almond shaped blue eyes in my mind as if I just saw them a minute ago.
Chapter 49
James
I turn ready to whale on him, for Sara and for Ever. He doesn't deserve to live here or anywhere else. I raise my fist and a look of defeat crosses his face. I push my fist with all I have, ready to connect with his face, when a huge crash vibrates through the water. It pushes the water around us and knocks all of us off balance. My fist connects with nothing. I glance back behind me and see first Sara's startled expression and then past her by the shield, hundreds of fighters clad in silver and gold start mixing together. They finally did it, the shield is gone. I gather my bearings and face Jack again. He looks past me at the fighting and meets my eyes.
"After this you can beat me to death if I'm not dead already, I give you my permission."
I nod my ascent and let him swim toward the fighting. Hopefully I won't ever see the guy again. I turn to Sara, she has fear in her eyes. I'm not sure if it's from what I was about to do to Jack or from the absolute war that has just broken out. I swim toward her and squeeze her arm. She leans in kissing me briefly before taking an arrow from her quiver and loading it into her bow. I watch as she releases it and it strikes a golden fighter through the chest fifty feet away. He falls to the ocean floor, expressionless. I turn back to her with absolute admiration but it quickly turns to fear and anger. A gold mer-person is approaching her from behind. I pounce on him, taking all the anger in me and loading it onto this guy. He loses consciousness as blood leaks into the water around me and he sinks. This whole thing seems to energize me. I glance at Sara and she smiles, sure of herself as she loads another arrow. I'm not sure if she can get any hotter than right now in this moment.
I swim into the fighting and tackle another Lior. This one falls too. As I spot a third, attacking an Erebus, I jump on his back but another Lior punches me in the gut. I lose my grip and feel another hand connecting with my stomach. I'm unable to hold myself up momentarily and find myself falling to the sand. I look up knowing another connection is coming but it doesn't. I see Jack swim up and take out the Lior attacking me, with one strike to the head. He turns to me and nods. Then he takes out another unsuspecting soul.
The thought that Jack could probably beat my ass occurs to me and why he didn't when I attacked him, crosses my mind as well. But I don't have time to dwell because I feel another connection with my back. I turn angry and spot a rock close to where I'm treading. I whip it across the water and hit this Lior in the back of the head with it. He slowly falls to the ground. My eyes follow him as he falls. The sand is slowly filling with bodies both covered in silver and gold, it's hard to see if either side has a leading advantage.
***
I fight with Jack for what seems like hours. We team up on some of the Lior. He can definitely fight, which is not what I had expected from him.
I glance over at Sara occasionally. She seems to be holding her own. The Lior aren't getting anywhere near her.
The fighters are moving further into the city, but the three of us seem to have a silent understanding, no one is following.
I turn to punch probably the twentieth Lior that has come near me and I see a mermaid covered in gold armor, appear about twenty feet away behind him. I glance away but look back again realizing she looks a lot like Ever. The Lior catches me off guard and hits me in the face knocking me to the sand. Blood spurts out of my mouth. I look up at the guy and tell him, "You're really going to wish you didn't do that."
I swim up and double fist him punching his face, never letting up. Finally he passes out and falls to join so many others.
As I watch him fall I hear my sister's voice screaming, "Jack, watch out!"
I turn and look in Jack's direction. He's getting his ass beat by three of them. It's hard to see him because of the blood in the water. I swim over because I can't let my sister down, as much as I'd like to let them end him. I jump in and knock one out. This gives Jack a chance and he's up again pummeling another in the gut. We take all three out and end up bumping fists.
He looks me up and down, "You don't look so hot."
I smile, "Maybe you should look in the mirror, not so good yourself." His upper lip is swelling and I can see blood dripping through the water from a cut in his side. He shrugs, fear and sadness cross his face.
I turn to see Ever waiting a few feet away from us. She gives me a questioning look. I shrug my shoulders, turn the other way and look to find Sara.
I spot her as I hear her scream, "NOOOO!" and an arrow is sailing through the water toward my sister. I can't move. It's as if we are all in slow motion. I close my eyes thinking of the only thing I can do to stop the arrow. I travel to the spot in front of Ever, praying this will work. The pain pierces my side and blood spreads around me. Ever is screaming in my ear
and her hands grasp my shoulders before I pass out.
Chapter 50
Ever
I appear in the water to see James fighting a mer-person with golden armor. Confusion fleets through my mind for a minute because he's fighting a Lior wearing the same armor, mirroring my own. But I push it away and focus on the other mer-man a few feet away from him. Jack is as beautiful as I remember him. But three gold figures start to approach him. I yell out panicked, "Jack, watch out!"
He looks startled when I call out and his eyes meet mine, surprise and confusion cross his face. A Lior punches him in the face. Another comes up punching him in the side over and over. I wince not able to watch. James swims over and clasps one from behind depleting his oxygen. Finally, Jack wakes up from his trance and turns toward one of the fighters doing the beating, and punches him across the face. I watch as he falls to the floor of the sea. I look out over the expanse of bodies covering the sand. This can't be right. How can so many lives be lost?
Quickly, my attention is back on Jack. He punches the last Lior in the gut repeatedly and the guy falls to the ground.
I watch as James and Jack fist pump and say something about how their appearances have seen better days. I can see from here, they're both in pretty beat up shape but it doesn't take away the flood of feelings I've held in, flowing through me, at the sight of him. I glance over at James trying to silently ask him how things are. He shrugs and glances the other way.
I swim closer and Jack turns with his amazing eyes meeting mine. I'm entranced and my heart is about to explode. I approach a little apprehensively as doubt floods my mind. What if he doesn't love me anymore? What if he hates me? I slow my speed trying to savor this moment at seeing him. I'm afraid now of more rejection and lies.
Suddenly, a scream echoes through the water, "NOOOO!" The voice is familiar, it sounds like Sara. I turn to the scream and James is suddenly in front of me, falling into my arms. I hear more screaming and realize it's coming from me. Blood spreads through the water all around me and my brother is losing consciousness.
Everything happens so fast. Jack moves past me swimming straight for Sara. I hear her pleading voice, crying, "No, no, you promised." Her voice slowly fades away and all I can focus on is James. We are on the sea bottom among all the dead bodies, Erebus and Lior all blended together. Tears are coming in droves and I can't see anything clearly.
I start pleading with my brother, "James, wake up, come on James, don't do this, we promised each other." Then realization hits me and I can't breathe. I reach for the arrow through his side but flinch. It was meant for me. He wasn't there a second before. I'm gasping for breath now. This can't be happening. I start to rock and plead over and over, "Wake up James, Wake up, wake up, don't leave me, please."
It seems like forever, I sit like this cradling my broken brother. I can't move him or take the arrow out. I check his breathing every minute. His breaths are shallow but he's still hanging on.
Numbness spreads though my body and I can't focus on anything. I know what I saw but I can't imagine why Sara would shoot at James, I thought she cared about him. The tingle starts to spread up through my fin when the fact that if I wasn't here, this would have never happened, hits me. I push it away and focus on James and his breathing. I bend over him and concentrate on his breaths, holding mine in between his. Waiting and waiting more for each one to come. Willing him to hold on in any way he can.
A while later I feel the water move as someone swims up behind me. I pray it's not an enemy, whoever that may be at this point. Jack clears his throat softly, "How is he, Ever?"
I look up into those piercing eyes. He looks so sad. I glance back to James, "His breathing is shallow but somewhat steady."
He swims in front of me and crouches down, "We have to get the arrow out."
I nod and he rolls James onto his stomach so he can pull it out from behind. He pulls it out fast, like the peeling of a band-aid, just a lot bigger. As soon as it's out, James gasps and moves his hand to his side. Jack rolls him onto his back again. His eyes flutter open and he focuses on my face.
"Ever, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"
I smile and gasp, so glad to hear his voice.
I ask, "How are you feeling?"
He smiles wincing, "Well truthfully, I've been better, maybe a little sore, you know an arrow to the side, will do that to you."
"I think you might just be fine, if you can joke at a time like this."
Jack crouches down again to examine the wound, "Actually James, you might be a little more than fine."
I look over to where the arrow exited my brother's side and the blood has stopped. The wound is slowly closing itself up. I look up and meet Jack's eyes, "It...It's healing, fast...how?"
Jack half grins and my breath hitches. I look away not able to face him.
"You guys are related to Metea, so maybe you have some of the same traits. She has healing abilities in her blood. She's the only one able to do that."
I look over and meet James' eyes. He smiles basking in this, "Well, this is a nice discovery. See, Ever, I told you when we were kids, I'm Super James."
I roll my eyes and push his shoulder, he winces, "Hey watch it, still not healed."
"Sorry."
Jack leans down, "James do you mind if I talk to Ever for a minute."
James looks over to me with the question in his eyes.
I nod and get up, glad to let the blood flow through me again.
I follow him until we are well past the field where the fighting was. It's eerily quiet. He stops at a bed of coral which of course reminds me of Alex. Sadness spreads through me for what I can't give him but my focus is this unbelievably good looking man in front of me. I forgot how incredible he is. This is the first time I've been able to see him with his fin and admire his chiseled body in his home. He takes my breath away just looking at him. I glance at his face as he sits on the coral and green creeps through his cloudy eyes. I know that to be his telltale sign that this isn't going to be good.
He pats the spot next to him on the coral and I sit making sure there is lots of space between us. He chuckles when I sit down and scoot further away. I look up and meet his eyes. No matter the color, I can still get lost in them.
He takes a deep breath and sighs, "Ever, I owe you an explanation and an apology. I was never really completely truthful with you."
I wait absorbing every word, afraid that he will twist my heart to the point of shattering. My eyes focus on the beautiful fish swimming through the bed, unfazed by the battle still taking place not very far from here.
"I lied to you when I said that I never failed in my job as a guardian. I was to make sure everyone chose to stay on land. There was one that I failed. About a year ago, I was assigned to be a guardian for a girl in Los Angeles. She had family tied to the sea somewhere in her history. I thought it would be an easy one, but she found out about the sea. I'm not sure initially how she found out but she was sneaky and she tricked me into telling her details, she should never know. She decided she was in love with me and wanted to come to the sea. I didn't return her affections, so she got angry. She got us both kicked out of the school and police charges against me for stalking her."
The news article about Jack that I found, pops into my mind. I remember vague details that he had a police record and was kicked out of a school before coming to Pahrump.
He continues, "The charges weren't a big deal. Her following me to the sea was a big deal. She made her choice on her birthday and came to the sea."
He takes a deep sea breath and says softly, "Seamus was furious. He kicked us both out of the city. Amber didn't know about it."
He tells me softly "I had nowhere to go, but to the Erebus."
He pauses for a reaction but I wait to see if he is going to add anything. There are still so many unanswered questions.
"When I found you, the first thing I thought was that I'd redeem myself to Seamus. He had been looking for his family line for a l
ong time. He lost it long after his son chose land, but your grandmother brought it to light again when she went to the sea."
"I would help you choose land and show him that I can still do my job successfully."
"But the minute I saw you, I knew I wouldn't be able to stay away."
He turns to face me and blue creeps across his eyes, "Ever, I fell in love with you the minute I saw you. Everything I told you about my feelings was nothing but the truth."
My heart soars at his words. He has always loved me. I want nothing more than to devour his lips right now but I hold back and brace myself for the rest. Usually that's when they drop the gut wrenching bad news, right?
"I couldn't stay away and the more I got to know you, the deeper I fell. When I came to you, it was for my own selfish reasons, redeeming myself with Seamus. Soon after though, Jaspen learned that I was on land watching over you. He used this to his advantage and decided he would start sending guardians to the land too."
"I then found myself doing Jaspen's bidding instead. He wanted you on his side if you were going to choose the sea. He knew how powerful you would be. Then he started messing around with James."
He sighs, "I was ready to leave you alone and never go back to the land again if it would mean to keep you safe and out of all of this."
I finally find my voice, "You made it sound as if you were against the Erebus whenever we talked. Why would you side with them?"
He nods, "I was, the story about my parents, it's true, I fought for the Lior for so long, that's all I knew and I wanted back into the city. Then you started making valid and good points. Every time we talked about it, my mind became more and more confused. I started to see how you thought fighting for the Erebus was right. I just hated Jaspen so much. In the end, I just wanted you to stay on land and forget I ever existed."
Silence spreads between us.
Finally he adds softly, "I stayed away because I hoped you would stay with what you knew."
Barely Breathing (Just Breathe) Page 19