by Julie Cassar
I had a sudden flashback of when I was trapped under the boulders at the end of the jetty. I knew the fear she felt, and I knew I had to get us the hell out of that cavern. I swam to the rock and pushed and heaved and shoved. Amidst the violent shaking of the rocks, I was able to loosen it just enough, and Freya broke free and took off like her tail was on fire. My lungs were feeling full, and the pressure was beginning to build. I must have been under water for at least 20 minutes now. I knew I was going to need air soon, so I didn’t waste any time swimming out of that cavern. Cutting myself up even more along the way, the only thing on my mind was getting air. As I exited the cave, I saw Freya burst through the surface above, and I knew I had lost. My chest was on fire, and I focused on just getting to the surface. Before I could get too disappointed, I felt a hard, sharp boulder hit me from behind, like Babe Ruth himself had swung his wooden baseball bat and made direct contact with my spine. I felt myself float downward as I peered up, not feeling any pain at all. I looked up at the wooden platform above getting farther and farther away from me. I wasn’t panicked. I wasn’t scared. It was like I was watching the entire thing happen through someone else’s eyes. The words Brennan whispered to me when we were standing on the platform just minutes before echoed in my head, “Superior never gives up her dead…” I was weirdly calm. There was no feeling of panic…no burning feeling in my lungs. Huh. I suppose this is where my body will forever rest. It was as if my soul knew it would be leaving soon…. A wave of serenity rolled through my sinking, falling body. My vision became darker and darker, as if a black circle was closing in all around me. Just before the light went completely out, I saw a blurry figure leap from the platform and dive into the water accelerating with great speed towards me.
And then, there was nothing.
Chapter 28
What a weird dream. In the midst of my floating blackness, I seemed to be having a strange dream. I suppose it wasn’t really a dream…Can you consider hearing voices, but not seeing any pictures a dream? It sure felt like a dream. I heard the most beautiful words, clear as day, spoken so softly to me that it sounded like someone was saying a prayer or making a wish. I heard, “Grá mo chroí go deo, grá mo chroí go deo,” in an almost tearful whisper. I couldn’t remember what they meant. I knew I heard the words before…but I couldn’t place them. And who was whispering that wish in my dream? It sounded like a male voice. Was I simply remembering something the Mermaids said? I struggled with my darkened thoughts, and I remembered Bexin saying those words. Yes. It was Bexin. But it wasn’t Bexin’s voice I was hearing now. Whose was it? And what did those words mean? I almost didn’t care, in my dreamlike, blurry-black numbed state. I simply felt restful in my weightless, floating, dark dream.
And then, before I could think any more, I felt sharp pangs of electricity zing through my body, jarring me to sudden alertness. I began gasping, choking on water before I realized I had to shut my mouth. I was still under water and holding in choking coughs. My eyes shot open in terror, and I saw Brennan’s fiercely determined face inches from mine. He must have used some Fairy magic to heal my injuries. His voice, clear as day, echoed in my head, (and also sending shearing pain through my body as I realized I was suddenly conscious). He said, “Kansas! Come! You must swim fast!” He was pulling at me, leading me towards the surface. “The pain will subside in just a moment,” Brennan said in my head. He and I swam like a torpedo being launched from a submarine, with such power and force that if anything got in our way, we would surely obliterate it.
We broke through the surface and grabbed onto the wooden platform. Anya and Jeremy quickly helped me over the side, and Celestine, Bexin and Simon were quick to aid Brennan. I collapsed onto the platform and noticed that Freya was kneeling, with the King and Queen by her side. Grobel looked unaffected. What a heartless ass. Although, I suppose he wouldn’t shed one tear for me if I had died under the water. After all, he was the creepy stalker who had been trying to kill me anyway. Even though Anya and Brennan had made certain he couldn’t follow through with those plans, I’m sure he wouldn’t feel any great loss if I had been left in the Shipwreck Graveyard below us.
Before I could even catch my breath, Jeremy was all over me, hugging me, and speaking without taking a breath, “OhmysweetLord! I thought for sure you were gonna win. We felt the platform start rocking a little and then you jetted out of those rocks. It looked about hundred times worse down there than what we were feeling! And then, like a crazy person, you went swimming back in! I thought you had lost your mind! When we saw Freya swim out and you followed, we thought everything was okay. And then the shaking started again and Bam! Rocks started exploding everywhere and, suddenly, you were floating away from us! My GOD, Ruby! Don’t ever scare me like that again!” I was shaking my head, finally able to breathe again, and I said, “Don’t worry! I have no plans to.” Then, I turned to look at Anya and Brennan, who were huddled around me now as well, and I sputtered, “What the hell was that?! What was all the rumbling and shaking?” Jeremy was nodding wildly too, as if demanding an answer.
Brennan looked slightly frazzled, but had an expression of obvious relief, and answered, “Underwater earthquake.”
“An EARTHQUAKE!?” I squealed, “Are you freaking kidding me?!” I tried to lower my voice, but I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. But, Anya and Brennan were both nodding, and Brennan continued, “I’m afraid it was. Lake Superior was created in a valley that rests over the Great Lake Tectonic Zone.” I sat there, staring dumbly at Anya. What? Am I supposed to be a geologist now?
Anya broke in, sensing my confusion, “Ruby, it’s true. Earthquakes can happen here. They usually only last a minute or two though.”
“Oh. That makes me feel better,” I sarcastically replied. Anya must have missed the sarcasm, because she just smiled and continued on with her little geology lesson, “Yeah, did you know that lava has even erupted from one of the rifts?” I shook my head at her incessant babbling and retorted, “Oh, well, at least I didn’t get any hot molten lava spewed on me! What the hell!? Whose freakin’ brilliant idea was it for us to swim through that stupid earthquake cave anyway?” I was irritated. But who wouldn’t be? I just lived through a near-death experience, and Anya was droning on about the wonders of underwater earthquakes.
Brennan cut in, speaking in a low voice, “Ruby. Calm down. Earthquakes are unpredictable. Even you know that much. No one could have known that would happen. Please show some respect.” He gestured with a slight nod of his head and moved his eyes towards the King and Queen, who were standing mere feet away from our little huddle. The look on their faces showed only concern, and I instantly felt horrible. I noticed that Simon was standing protectively over our little group. Looking serious and ready for anything, he stayed between us and the members of the Water Court, as well as the Trolls. Humbled, I put my head down to hide my embarrassment and, most likely, reddening cheeks. I really need to work on hiding my emotions better if I’m going to hang with mythical creatures.
Once everyone seemed to have recovered from the drama, the King held up his hands to get everyone’s attention. Ten pairs of eyes stared at the King, waiting for him to speak.
“Thankfully, both of our Challengers have returned to us safely,” he began, “However… (he cleared his throat uncomfortably) However… There is still the matter of who is to be declared the winner of this third Challenge, and who shall be declared Champion of the Grá mo Chroí Dúshlán.” We all stared and were silent, waiting for him to continue. I was afraid to even breathe. The King took in a large breath, and stood a little straighter before he spoke his next words.
“The winner of this Challenge is…the Water Court.” Gasps of upset were loudly heard. Jeremy was perhaps the loudest. He stood up, fists clenched, and nearly stomped his foot, (thank goodness he didn’t) while he protested, “No. Way. No freakin’ way. That is sooooo unfair! Ruby made it out of the cavern first. She went back to help your Water Court competitor!” Anya tried to comfort
Jeremy and jumped up to hug some calm into him. Freya was already standing, but looked uncomfortable. Celestine began quietly weeping as she leaned into Bexin’s chest, burying her head in his shoulder. He tried to soothe her and gently ran his hand through her hair. Grobel, ever the stony sculpture that he was, even seemed to be a little ruffled and grunted in dissatisfaction. My heart sank. I knew I had lost, but to hear it said and see Celestine and Bexin so broken-hearted sent pangs through my chest. Tears welled up in my eyes as my shoulders slumped forward. Feeling defeated, exhausted, and now sick to my stomach at the thought of what will happen to Celestine and Bexin, I wondered how I would move on from this. At these words from the King, Brennan jumped up, walked towards the King and started to protest. But the King held his hand up to halt any further words escaping Brennan’s mouth. Brennan closed his mouth tightly, obeying the King’s silent order, gave a slight nod and took a step backwards. Simon took a step forward and stood next to Brennan. I watched the scene unfold before me with weariness and sadness.
The King spoke again, “Rules are rules. It was said that whoever reached the platform first would be declared the winner of this Challenge. Regardless of the circumstances, Freya reached the platform first. My ruling stands. However,” the King paused a moment, and Brennan stood stone-still, tension and anger coming off of him in waves. The King slowly looked around at each of us before he continued, “Although Freya is the winner of this Challenge, due to the unforeseen and unfortunate circumstance of the earthquake, and due to Lady Ruby Blue’s heroic effort of returning to aid Freya, I am calling a draw to the Grá mo Chroí Dúshlán. Neither the Earthen Court nor the Water Court shall be named the Champion.” There were huge gasps from everyone standing on the platform. Celestine spoke up immediately, “But what of Bexin and I? How is our betrothal to be determined?”
The King nodded, “I understand your concerns. We have no other choice but to run the Grá mo Chroí Dúshlán again.” Celestine, Freya, Bexin and myself all shook our heads in frustration, mumbling words of disagreement. I guess none of us were feeling too good about this. I know I sure wasn’t. No way did I want to go through that again! Before too much upset occurred, the King spoke up again, waving his hands at us, trying to get us to settle down, “Silence, silence! Of course, running the Grá mo Chroí Dúshlán must involve new competitors. It is the only way to ensure complete and total fairness.” He looked at Brennan and Simon as if to emphasize the point that he wanted to be fair to the Earthen Court and not cause any unrest. (More grumbling.) The King turned his attention to Jeremy, who, up until this point, he had pretty much ignored. “What say you, Consort Jeremy, of Lady Ruby Blue? Will you be the next competitor?” Jeremy gasped loudly and actually eeked like a little girl who had just seen a spider. Panic spread across his face as he began to stumble backwards and stutter nonsense. “I-it-he-noooooo. She? Swim?” (Gulp) He grabbed his throat with his hands, like he was choking, and looked pleadingly over to Anya and Brennan. Before Jeremy could utter another sound, Brennan spoke up. “Certainly, Majesty, we can arrange a new Challenger. However, Jeremy, will not be competing for the Earthen Court.”
Jeremy let out a huge sigh of relief and sank down onto his knees, his nerves obviously shot. He was even more pale than usual, and he looked as if he was about to pass out. I breathed a sigh of relief. It looks like I was off the hook. (No fish joke intended.) Thank God.
But then, I looked over to Celestine and Bexin, and guilt set in again, making my chest hurt. It felt like an anvil was dropped on it. Crap. It didn’t matter that I got out of the next competition…I still felt like a slug. And Celestine and Bexin had to go through this torture all over again. And, who knows who the next Earthen Court competitor would be…would they be as good of a swimmer as I was? Anya and Brennan said I was faster than them, and that it’s pretty rare for the Earthen Court to win. The thought of crushing Celestine and Bexin’s dream being together was just awful.
Before the King could say anything more, Freya stepped forward to speak, “If I may, Sire?” she bowed deeply and serenely to her King. The King nodded and replied, “You may speak.”
Freya nodded and spoke to the group, “As you know, the King has ruled that I am the winner of this Challenge, but that the Grá mo Chroí Dúshlán must be run again. However, I do not think there is such a need.” The King and Queen started to interrupt Freya, obviously disagreeing with her statement. But, Freya held up her hand, motioning them to hold their comments while she continued to speak, “When Lady Ruby Blue came back into the caverns to help rescue me, she, indeed, saved my life. For that, I am indebted to her. I must repay the life debt and grant her any wish she desires,” Freya smiled knowingly at me, while Celestine and Bexin both had hopeful expressions. Freya continued, “As you all are aware, it is the way of the Merpeople.” The King and Queen nodded, not looking very thrilled at this new development. Freya walked up to me, grabbed both of my hands and looked into my eyes as she spoke, “Ruby Blue. I am indebted to you for saving my life. As such, you are granted one wish.” Her eyes burned into mine, as if willing me to understand her deeper meaning, as she continued to speak, “Whatever it is you may wish for, I shall have to grant. So say I and the ways of the Water Court.”
I looked at her, my heart feeling like it was going to explode out of my chest as the warmth and happiness of her words broke through into crystal clear understanding. I gulped and blew out a big breath as I calmed myself before I spoke. Now, all ten pairs of eyes were glued to me and what I was going to say. The silence was deafening. I took another steadying breath and spoke loudly and clearly, so there would be no misunderstanding, “To repay the life debt you owe me, I wish that the Mermaid Celestine and the Troll Bexin be allowed to marry each other, live where ever they want, and be free to return to Fey whenever they want.” I probably could have worded that more elegantly or royally, but I couldn’t worry about the pomp and circumstance. I was getting my wish, and Celestine and Bexin were getting the happy ending to their fairy tale!
When I thought about how Freya just took off in the cavern after I freed her, I was kind of pissed at first …but then I realized that if she had stayed to help me, she wouldn’t have owed me the life-debt. She wouldn’t have been able to grant me the wish. Freya tightened her grip on my hands, smiled generously at me, gave a slight bow and said, “So say you, I grant that it shall be done.” With that, I felt a tingle of energy swirling up around my ankles, twisting up and around Freya and I, encircling us in magical whirlwind. Our hair began blowing wildly as we stood, hands locked together in our little mini-tornado of magic. Then, the whirlwind of energy moved over to Celestine and Bexin, washing down over them, leaving them smiling, happy, and in love. I looked at the couple and a tear slid down my cheek. Freya let go of my left hand and reached up to brush the tear off my cheek. I turned to look at her, smiling, as more tears welled up in my eyes. She returned the smile, her purple eyes twinkling with happiness, and she reached up to stroke my hair, “Your wish has been granted Ruby Blue.” Then, she leaned in to whisper in my ear and stroked my hair again, “For your nobility. I thank you for the happiness my sister will know. We pay tribute to you for all time.” She kissed my cheek, then pulled away and went to join her sister.
I sighed again and wiped the tears of happiness from my face. Jeremy, Anya and Brennan crowded around me to give me a group hug, nearly suffocating me in the process. “Okay, okay already!” I said, laughing at their show of affection. Just then, the King interrupted our happy celebration.
With a flick of his shoulder-length dark hair, he said briskly, “It seems as if all matters have been resolved. Shall we return to the beach?” And he held out his arm to direct us to the boat.
Jeremy leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Yeah, let’s blow this floating pop stand!”
I giggled as I climbed into the boat with my friends. I settled into the seat, sandwiched between Jeremy and Brennan. Once my butt hit those soft leather seats and the blankets on board were d
raped over our laps, a heavy wave of exhaustion washed over me. Suddenly, the events of the night had finally taken their toll. My head began to bob as my heavy-lidded eyes fought to stay open. Every bone and muscle in my body ached with tiredness as we sped through the starry, black night. But, I was content. I was thrilled that I was able to give a happy ending to Celestine and Bexin. Brennan reached over, gently squeezed my leg, and quietly said, “Happy Birthday, Kansas.” I sleepily looked up to meet his searing gaze, blinking in response. Brennan’s lips curved up into a small smile as he said, “18 on the 18th.” He held out his wrist, which sported a big, black wristwatch, to show me the time. “Look, it’s well after midnight.”
I smiled at Brennan, too tired to even speak, and rested my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me, and I fell asleep, knowing that fairy tales really do come true.
Chapter 29
I awoke as the boat pulled up to shore and Brennan gently nudged me awake. I quickly leaned away from his shoulder and stretched out a bit, all the while yawning. I couldn’t wait to get back to Anya and Brennan’s cottage and collapse on Anya’s big, comfy bed. Unfortunately, the realization of the three-hour car ride hit me, and I almost started to cry. I just couldn’t imagine sitting squished up in the back seat of Brennan’s Mustang for three hours, when all I wanted to do was pass out and sleep. Just then, Anya spoke up, answering my silent prayers. “We thought it might be really late when things were finished here, so Brennan and I took the liberty of getting us some rooms at the motel just down the road. We’ll sleep there tonight, go out to breakfast in the morning, and then drive home, and have Ruby back in plenty of time to celebrate her birthday with her family.” She smiled, and I could have kissed her I was so happy.