Beneath us, as we hover on the edge of the deep bowl of sand, is perhaps one of the most architecturally unique cities I have ever seen. The buildings are not square skyscrapers like on land, but remind me of a mix of a helter-skelter at the pier and a lighthouse. They are built of white sandstone that is interspersed with different coloured dots that sparkle under the distorted light from the surface. The city is circular with eight main roads leading to a large focal point which, from above, I can see is home to a large golden statue of a woman. I assume it’s Atargatis, because it’s similar to the one on the table in the ballroom of the Lunar Sanctum. Behind the statue is a large building, but I cannot quite make out what is so special about it from this distance. I notice the roofs of the turret-like structures that make up the bulk of the city remind me of extremely delicious ice cream cones, swirling around until they reach soft rounded tips.
“It’s …” I exhale, no words able to describe what I’m seeing. I inhale again sharply, feeling overwhelmed as the dots of coloured light that are contained within the sandstone of each turret gleam like Technicolor stars in blue, red, green, and white.
“I forget. It’s nice seeing it through your eyes.” Orion is looking at me and I blush slightly at the sentiment as it passes through the water between us. I am still wondering how I feel as though I can speak normally without drowning, but this question moves to the back of my mind as Orion takes my hand and leads me downwards in a curve, tracing the side of the sand bowl.
As I descend with him by my side, I notice that there is a small visual abnormality around the city, like a blur. Along with the domed sand bowl, it creates a bubble around this place. I wonder if it is some kind of magic that keeps it hidden. As if reading my mind, Orion follows my gaze and then proceeds to answer my unasked question.
“There is a glimmer surrounding this city, no one who is not a mer could gain access. Saturnus maintains it. We can leave without paying a toll, but you must always pay one to enter.” He explains gently, still leading me downward. I nod, wondering if the psirens mentioned in the myth he told me in the chapel can enter here. He had said some of them were once mer. “The psirens cannot enter; they lose their voices … under the water at least.” Orion explains again. A knot forms in my stomach.
“And above the water?” I ask in a whisper. Orion looks as though he doesn’t want to answer, like he’s worried about scaring me.
“Let’s not talk about that now. You’re going through a lot as it is.” He deflects and I nod, wondering if ignorance truly is bliss. We level out at the bottom of the basin and I see the full grandeur of the city: not sparkling dots as I had originally thought, but rather the bases of hundreds of bottles embedded into the walls of the skyscrapers. The paths that are defined by many tiny pebbles strewn across the ocean floor and the bottles that intersperse them catch the light and refract it in multi-coloured hues. I wonder how long it must have taken to collect them all and cannot help but love the ingenuity of this design.
We continue down the pathway, hovering horizontally a few feet from the sandy bottom of the ocean floor and I notice that other mer are around us too, moving effortlessly and silently through the water, chatting in pairs. It occurs to me as we pass through the streets surrounded by the helter-skelter surface scrapers that this is my new home. But what will I do here three and a half weeks out of the month? How much entertainment is there underwater anyway? The bubble enclosing the city seems a little more cage like at this thought, and the tail connected at my waist becomes heavier. Are there malls underwater? I doubt it very much … and what of my family and friends?
The small round face of Kayla sails through my mind and my heart skips a beat. I frown for a few moments and then wonder if tonight rather than spending it entangled in Orion’s embrace I should go and see my mom, explain to her that I can no longer be her daughter. That destiny has taken me from her. I sigh, feeling the sting of reality after the last 16 hours of my new fantasy life have whisked me away on a rip tide that is now slowing. I’m left wondering what my life will consist of from now on. Orion squeezes my hand, which is entwined with his, and my heart becomes a little lighter, whatever my future at least he will be there.
We are approaching the central circle of the city and I can see the statue of Atargatis a little clearer. As I hover above the bottle-studded street I examine her face, she is beaming, her eyes huge and her face full and round. Hair that resembles the waves tumbles down her back and her body seems like one fluid movement as it curves perfectly within the material that wraps around her form. The statue is magnificent. I cannot help but wonder if this had never happened to me, if destiny had never marked me for Orion’s soul mate, would I have fallen for Daryl like any normal girl would have? Gotten married at 25, had two kids and worked in the same old, same old job for 40 years? Would the feelings I have for Orion exist in their pure unstoppable form for someone else? Or is the magnitude of what I feel because I was made specifically for him, from the other half of his torn soul?
I breathe deeply, wondering if Orion had never found me whether I would have, or even could have, fallen in love with anyone else. The thought scares me.
We reach the circular courtyard and notice a change in the path beneath us; the ground is now made of what appears to be gold ingots. They are a bright yellow and shine brightly around the statue, which stands in the middle of a fountain that releases air bubbles in a circle surrounding the golden body of Atargatis.
“What’s that building over there?” I ask, jerking my chin towards one of the largest and tallest cylindrical towers, which lays on the edge of the city limits.
“That’s the Hydraball stadium. I’ll take you some time, you’d like it.” He says and my mind stumbles, Hydraball? What the hell was that? I feel so out of place, my heart sinks. It’s like I’ve been dropped off in a foreign country with a passport that claims I was born there.
“You okay?” Orion asks, looking at me with concern in his face; lines of worry mark the otherwise perfect forehead that lies beneath his mahogany tousled hair.
“Yes, it’s just hitting me how my life has been turned completely upside down.” I confess and he nods, looking deeply into my eyes with an understanding gaze.
“I think you will enjoy your life here Callie, I promise you.” I smile, feeling slightly better, wanting to trust his instincts.
“But what if … I get bored?” I ask, feeling slightly selfish as his face drops once again. I feel myself flush under his sad expression.
“Bored of me?” He asks and I feel dread fill my stomach a little at his misunderstanding.
“No! Of course not of you! I just mean … there can’t be that much to do underwater.” I explain my fear and relief spreads across his face as he relaxes. I wonder how he cannot understand the depth of my feelings for him. Maybe I need to make more of an effort to show him? I haven’t yet, but then again I have had rather a lot going on.
We stop outside the fountain and Orion takes both of my hands.
“You’ll adjust Callie, I’m going to do everything I can to help you. But it will take time.” I sigh, trying to forget all of my worries and focus on my surroundings again. I have been so inside my head, somewhat short sighted, missing the crown jewel in the diadem of the city. It ascends upwards abruptly about seventy metres from the fountain of Atargatis, and is surrounded by guards. I wonder how I missed it. Little Miss observant, that’s what they should call me.
Towering above the Occulta Mirum in all its splendour is a gargantuan palace, it looks big enough to fit Cinderella’s castle in at least twice and is a stunning shade of bottle green. The walls look fragmented like a giant mosaic and it takes me several moments to realise that the entire thing is constructed from broken sea glass; it throws varying colours from one end of the spectrum to the other and is completely breath taking. The spires that grow to ice cream cone swirls at their peaks must be at least 13 stories and they are numerous, surrounding the central courtyard, which as I swim u
pwards to get a greater perspective, I can see. I can also see it is hexagonal in shape. The double doors that guarded the entrance with a merman at each side are vast too. I wonder what would require a door to be so large.
“That is where my father, Starlet, and Shaniqua reside. It is known as the Alcazar Oceania, which roughly translated means, the ‘Grand home of the ocean.’” Orion explains.
“It’s beautiful.” I exclaim, unable to take my eyes off it.
“Yes, I think so too.” Orion smiles and I breathe out, finding relief in his gentle eyes.
“Can we go inside?”
“One day soon.” Orion replies smiling kindly at my eagerness, creases forming around his lips.
“You didn’t want to live there too?” I query, watching him turn over this question for a few moments in his mind before replying.
“It’s bad enough, the possibility I may have to live there if anything were ever to happen to my father. I want my freedom.” He states this proudly. I wonder what he did before he met me. Probably skulked the beaches ensnaring beautiful women, my subconscious snaps at me. I slap her back down into the depths of my mind, trying not to dwell on it.
“So you’d have to …”
“Take over as Crowned Ruler. Maybe. To be honest, it isn’t my choice; it is up to the mer community as a whole. There is a vote. My guess is that Saturnus would probably take over. He’s my father’s advisor now for obvious reasons. I’ve never really had much taste for leadership.” He explains this as I stare up at the palace, taking in its grandeur and I sense his hesitation. I wonder how he can say he’s not built for leadership. I’ve never met someone so in control and self-contained. I’ve known his touch, how he dominates my motor function, how he commands me to do as I know not how. I wonder, is he really as self-conscious as he seems? He certainly doesn’t exude it.
“So you’re kind of like a prince.” I ask, a smile slyly taking hold of my lips.
“I’m no prince.”
“So I can’t be a princess?” I faux pout.
“Would you want to be?” His eyebrows rise in surprise.
“Nah, too many forks for my liking. I enjoy slobbing out too much to be royalty.” I dismiss his question with a dramatized wave of the hand and sharp exhalation, blowing out air into the surrounding water.
“Regardless of the forks, you can be my princess.” He pulls the endearment from thin air and I cringe, it’s so sickly sweet, just a little too much. Kind of like how I feel about him actually.
“I’m not exactly princess material.” I laugh, raising my eyebrow provocatively.
“I’m sure I can think of some royal duties.” He purrs back and I bite my lip, desire pooling in my chest. “I think you fit the role just fine. Besides, in my opinion, a princess needs to be two things; sexy and stubborn.” He adds this and looks under hooded lids down at my face. I shiver internally, enjoying the delicious stir of my lust.
“Okay, I’ll do you a deal, seeing as I fit these new criteria. I’ll be your princess. If … You let me have my way with you.” I bargain and I know it’s unsuccessful when his eyes slide suspiciously over my torso. Looking me up and down.
“Or how about you just submit to the idea of being adored?” he suggests, stroking my shoulder. The tension between us has turned sexual so quickly, it’s a wonder my heart still beats a steady rhythm.
“Never.” I vow.
“You aren’t like other girls.” He muses.
“Right you are.” I shoot back and he looks ambivalent for just a fraction of a second. Trying to work out how I tick. How he can break my stubborn streak.
I look back at the palace once more and appreciate it for a few moments. I can only imagine how long something like that would take to construct with the proper tools, and I have absolutely no idea how that would work underwater. Each of the swirling cylindrical turrets that are topped with an ice cream swirl roof glint like a precious stone, reflecting the fragility of the city below and what it stands for. As beautiful as this city is I try not to forget that it is what stands between human kind and the dark, powerful magic that lies just beneath the lapping waves.
We move lower toward the sea floor and I get to admire the palace from the ground. The whole building is surrounded by gardens of colourful coral, small fish, and molluscs, and is vibrant with life on a miniature scale, a city within a city. I see the mermen guards’ closer now, one of whom has a tail green as fresh mowed grass, and the other whom I recognise from the ritual. I think his name is Cole, but I can’t quite remember his second name. He stands with armour holding his body rigid, the metallic panels bound to his rippling muscles. He holds a spear in one hand, and his helmet in the other, his onyx tail glistening with violet sheen.
“I know him.” I say and Orion nods.
“Good people to know those two, both heads of the Knights of Atargatis. Cole is the deputy commander; he translates for Ghazi who is the commander in chief.”
“If he’s commander in chief then why is Cole translating for him? Doesn’t he speak English?” I blurt aloud, sounding incredulous.
“Ghazi doesn’t talk. Period. He’s a mute. We think anyway …” He trails off, turning back toward the central square at the front of the palace that holds the golden statue of Atargatis that is spewing air bubbles with her hands upraised.
“Oh …”
“Would you like to see your new home?” Orion asks, gesturing to a building just off the left side of the courtyard. I am glad we are close to the Alcazar; it’s so beautiful I wouldn’t mind staring at it some more.
“Sure, lead on.”
“I can’t wait to be home.” He smiles and picks me up in his arms. This is the first time in many hours my tail has been still, not working to keep me stationary or powering me through the ocean and I’m glad for the break. The constant movement is something I’m just not used to, and it is tiring.
Orion carries me past the statue and to the first tower on the left behind the courtyard. The heavy door is made of a white material I don’t recognise and as Orion opens it and moves through skilfully, I am surprised by the inside of the tower. I don’t know what I had expected, but the first room in the tower is decorated by a vase on a sandstone block in the middle of the room that contains some coral and sea flowers arranged decoratively. Orion continues to move with me in his arms and I can see above. The ceiling is complete above us except for a narrow opening at the far end of the room. Orion darts over to it swimming above the vase carefully with me still in his arms before we ascend up through the opening. It is then I realise that the tower is segmented vertically, each segment containing an apartment. As we pass through levels in our ascent, creating distance between ourselves and the lobby, I notice many different coloured doors leading into the homes of mer I’ve probably met but whose placards I don’t recognise. We continue to rise through the ceilings of each floor until we reach the top floor.
“Home at last.” Orion whispers in my ear, stroking my shoulder with absent-minded fingers.
“Penthouse suite too, very nice.” I compliment and he grins.
“There are perks to being as old as I.” His grin widens and I continue to smile like a lovesick idiot.
Content at being held in his strong embrace, he moves forward and I notice that upon the pale blue door, which is made of a thick varnished wood, our names are carved in swirly gold font. I smile, seeing our relationship in print, something so immovable and definite; I know that this man cannot be a dream. The sandstone walls that surround the door are bare and the effect of this is one of perfection for the front of my new home. I feel a little anticipation; what must a mer living space look like? My curiosity piqued, Orion pulls open the door toward us and an unexpected view greets me. Rather than being able to see any of what is contained behind the door, my eyes rest upon a mer woman, smiling smugly at both of our surprised expressions.
“Marina!” Orion gasps and drops me in surprise; I gasp a little and then scowl as I hit the floor with
a dull thud.
“Whoa, darling!” Marina takes my hand as I set myself horizontal with a flick of my aqua tail. I see Orion flush a tad under his normally cool complexion.
“I’m so sorry Callie!” He gushes and takes my hand in his; giving it a squeeze before turning to the mermaid that he called Marina. I take a moment to admire her; she has lustrous black hair that tumbles to her waist where a scarlet red tail fin connects to her olive skin. Her eyes are a huge pool of dark brown warm chocolate, made even earthier by the surrounding scarlet scales. Her smile reminds me of Chloe due to her blindingly white teeth, revealed by her dark red lips parting in a smile, as she introduces herself to me.
“Ahh Callie! My name is Marina Tuliano, I’m so sorry I couldn’t have met you sooner at the ritual but I’ve been awfully busy preparing things for your arrival.” She explains and I move to shake the hand she holds out to me, before she grabs my hand pre-emptively and pulls me into a hug.
“You are so beautiful!” She exclaims and I blush scarlet, matching her tail, not quite sure what to say to this Italian stallion of a woman. She reminds me of a more attractive version of those mothers you see on the lasagne commercials on TV.
“It’s lovely to meet you.” I reply simply and then my mind registers with what she had just said. “You were preparing for me?” I wonder what kind of preparation she is talking about.
“Yes, I thought I would have a little more time, but The Banished …” I hear her stutter to a stop and catch the end of a harsh glare from the frosty eyes of Orion as he squeezes my hand a little tighter. “Anyway … I have actually just finished the renovations to this place.” She explains, moving to my side to reveal the room behind her.
The walls are made of sandstone, intricate patterns carved into each one making them look ancient and there is more furniture than I would have imagined could be possible underwater. The design is simple; two large white leather sofas take the main space of the room. There are bookshelves pushed against the furthest wall that are packed full of leather bound volumes. A giant gold harp stands silent, much to my surprise in the left hand corner in front of a large, glassless window that reveals the city spread below. I move over to it quickly, my curiosity taking me over and examine it more closely. The body of the instrument is carved to look like the body of a mermaid arching her back and the strings are thick and silver. I run my fingers across the strings gingerly and the notes expelled sound normal. I am confused about the nature of the science behind this, it seems crazy, especially now that I am pretty much a creature of legend, but I still crave to know the inner workings of such magic. I wonder if magic could just be science that is not yet understood. I move over to the bookshelves and pick up a leathery volume from the first shelf. I open it. The pages feel thicker, tougher than in a normal book. This is mad, I think to myself, sofas, harps, and books underwater; I’m going to find out they have televisions next!
The Kiss That Killed Me (The Tidal Kiss Trilogy Book 1) Page 20