“What?” He asked.
“Just admiring the view,” I answered and he snorted.
“Don’t you get tired of all the scars?” As he held up his arms, his biceps and triceps flexed slightly making him look like a Greek God. The scars that clung to his torso were but a mere memory for me as I hardly noticed them.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?” I said, in awe of him. Thayde dropped his arms and smiled at me.
“You’re the beautiful one,” he knelt next to me, taking my face in his hands. “My Pearl,” he whispered and ran his lips against mine.
Silk, water, flower petals.
You think the strangest things when I kiss you, Thayde pulled me to my feet, not letting his lips leave mine.
You have perfect lips, I thought and he actually grinned.
You need to take your clothes off to get in, remember?
I stepped back and let him watch me strip down. When I finished, he turned the water off and stepped into the bath. The water reached the middle of his stomach, lapping against him as he walked deeper into the bath. Steam rose, curling around his shoulders and arms. I nearly dove in. He phased before I reached him, his fins fanning out, tickling my toes as I neared him.
He took my hand, kissing my open palm. It was such a delicate expression of love, it made me phase without trying. Methodically, he pulled me into the gel area and I wrapped my tail around his as we sunk beneath the surface. Nestled into his arms, with the gel at our back and our tails together, I realized that it didn’t matter where in the world I was, as long as I was with him. As long as I was with Thayde, I was home. I closed my eyes and sent him a message of love, happiness, and peace before falling asleep.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE ELDERS
“What do you mean she chose to stay in limbo?”
Mom was going to kill me.
“I pulled her into limbo with me and she wanted to stay. She can’t feel pain there, Mom.”
“She’s going to die quicker now, you know that, right?” Mom swayed on her feet. Tammer placed a hand at her back, steadying her.
“I’m trying to make everyone happy here,” I tried to explain, but she wasn’t listening.
“Happy? Happy? Naira is dying! No one is happy!” She shouted making Thayde stiffen like a chalk board beside me.
“Elan!” Tammer attempted to pull her to him and she shoved him aside.
“My baby is dying Morgandy! You’ll never know what that’s like, will you?” Mom’s thin white hands clutched the air as if trying to hold onto something for strength.
“Elan!” Tammer cried out. “That’s enough! This is not Morgan’s fault.”
“She could stop this! She’s The Link for God’s sake!”
“I can’t stop this,” I argued. “Even if I could, I’m not so sure Naira would want it that way anymore.”
If Mom were capable of conjuring The Look, she would have killed everyone in the room. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s fallen in love. With an angel,” I added.
“That’s impossible! She’s four!” Her gravelly voice betrayed how tired she’d become.
“Not in limbo. She’s twenty five in there and he’s in love with her.”
My parents’ silence spoke volumes. Love was a huge matter for merpeople – they regarded it with the upmost respect.
“What’s his name?” Tammer’s curt voice broke the quiet.
“Paul David.”
“She’s in love with an angel?” Mom’s face displayed several emotions: confusion, anger, sadness. It was too much for her to bear.
“Naira is choosing to stay in limbo so she can be with him. It’s the only time they will have together. When he takes her to heaven, they will be apart. As this is the only time they’ll have together, she chose him.” I stole a glance at Thayde knowing if the decision were mine to make, it would have been the same. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He felt as I did.
Mom sank into the couch and pulled her legs under her pale pink skirt. Her tank top slowly melted from pink to white as it neared her neck. She looked like a wilted flower. Tammer plopped down next to her and dragged her hand from her crossed arms. Desperation filled her eyes and she leaned into him.
“What are we going to do?” She whispered to him.
“What we can.” He whispered back.
“She’s just a baby,”
Tammer didn’t answer. Instead, he held her hand to the side of his face and closed his eyes.
Not able to take it anymore, I turned and left, taking Thayde with me. Watching my parents suffer was too much. I knew how much Naira’s impending death was hurting me. Trying to understand what they were experiencing was incomprehensible.
Thayde laid his arm across my shoulder and pulled me into his chest as we ambled toward the gazebo. We stopped as we reached the edge of the fence and stared out to sea. Seagulls hovered on the breeze, calling to each other and diving down through the sea-green waves gathering fish. The wind chopped at the water, causing it to spit and spray.
Thayde rubbed my arm. “Babe, you’ve got to control your emotions.”
“This isn’t me,” I replied.
“Yes, it is. You’re anxious. You’re tied to the elements now, like Tammer.” Placing a kiss on my head, he breathed me in and sighed. “You don’t even know how powerful you are, Morgan.”
I didn’t answer. Thayde had a lot of confidence in me. Experiencing the past year had taught me much and I knew anything and everything would come to me, but my impatience often overruled. I needed to focus. Pulling from Thayde, I lost myself briefly in his beautiful eyes.
“Thayde, I need to be alone for a while,” I began and he raised an eyebrow. “I need to focus. It’s nothing against you,”
He smiled, catching me off guard. “I understand,” he raised my hand to his mouth. “I need a swim.”
I barely felt his lips touch my skin before he had pulled away. Quick as a barracuda, he was undressed and within moments, he dove into the seawater, phasing as his feet disappeared beneath the surface. Like a professional diver, the splash he caused was barely a ripple. I could only dream of one day being as agile in the water as he.
Tracing his pathway to the water, I sat on the top step and crossed my legs. The waves lapped two steps below me, spraying my face with a fine mist. The urge to swim rushed through me like a freight train, but I held back and closed my eyes.
Focus. Breathe.
I felt my world around me – sensing the air, tasting the salt on my lips, hearing my parents whisper to each other in the living room. Bubbles popped on the surface of the ocean, the whisper of air flowed over an eagle’s feathers, the sizzle of the sun baked freshly laid pavement. With my senses hyperactive, I allowed my orb to circle me and relished the feeling of being able to know everything that was going on for miles around me.
A few houses across from our estate, a man and woman were discussing having a baby. It was their first and despite the fact they had tried for nearly a year, nothing was deterring them. Two doors down, a lady was talking to her cat. I giggled as the image of his whiskers pushing forward in response to her scratching him under the chin came to mind. She was baby-talking, calling him “Georgie Porgie”. In the hospital, only three miles away, a man was given the news that his heart bypass was a success. Relief swept over me as I experienced his emotions. Inside a small, dank apartment, a high school girl was being tempted with her first puff of meth. No, I projected into her mind and watched as she ran from the room.
Vero Beach was buzzing with activity and as quickly as I tuned it in, I tuned it out. I had too much to think about and saving the souls of Vero would have to wait until later. But what more could I do for Naira? I wracked my mind, trying, yet again to remember through thousands of years if there was anything else I could do. There was nothing – nothing but a memory of a hallway. Tall white columns rising out of the seabed reaching gracefully toward each other and joi
ning at the ceiling, creating a beautiful circular room. A single row carved from mother of pearl wrapped around the columns and from behind the row, sat the Elders. Their long beards flowed like anemone tentacles in the water. They stared at me, their eyes questioning.
I opened my eyes. Neridia. I had to go to Neridia and call the council of elders together. They were my last resort. They could also advise me as to what I should do with the problem brewing with Herra and Akin.
Uncrossing my legs, I scanned the surface of the sea. Tammer, I have to go to Neridia. Can I take one of the horses with me?
His answer was instantaneous. Take Yanix – he has the most experience. Speak to him in Sanserian and tell him you need him to accompany you. He’ll stay with you as long as he can.
How do I do that?
You’ll know how when you see him.
That didn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Standing, I dusted off my butt and sent a message to Thayde.
Thayde, I have to go to Neridia. Will you go with me?
His message took a minute to get back to me. Of course I will! Give me a few to get back.
Where are you?
Miami.
What are you doing there?
I’ll explain later.
It didn’t take me long to reach the barn and all five of Tammer’s Andalusian horses poked their heads over the fence. They stood tall and strong, snorting away. They knew something was up.
Here goes nothing, I thought.
“Yanix,” I hesitated and his ears pricked forward waiting for me to finish. I thought about what I wanted to say. Can you please go with me to Neridia?
“Irida salen nact Neridia?”
This is too easy!
Yanix pawed the ground with his hoof, shaking his massive head, making his long black mane tumble over his face.
“I hope that wasn’t a no,” I mumbled, reaching for the gate. What was I supposed to do, just let him out? I thought about asking Tammer, but decided against it. He was consumed with his grief along with Mom. Interrupting them to ask a stupid question I could handle on my own was ludicrous.
Pulling the lever back on the gate, I slid into the paddock, and closed it behind me. The tiny white horse, Ren, muscled her way past her brothers and pushed her nose into my chest.
“Well hello!” I rubbed her face with my hands and kissed her nose. In response, she dipped her petite head down low as if to help me with her halter.
“I can’t take you this time,” I said and she impatiently pawed the ground. “Maybe next time, okay?”
Her sister, Willow, nickered softly and nuzzled the edge of my shirt. “What are you doing?” I asked. Her mouth made a hollow, cupping sound as her lips tried to grasp the corner of the fabric. I stuck my finger in the edge of her mouth and tickled her tongue making her yawn. A longing for the ranch in Idaho washed over me and homesickness tugged at my heart.
I’m here, Morgan. Thayde’s thoughts interrupted my time with the horses.
Yanix shuffled closer to me, waiting. He was so impressive in comparison to his brothers and sisters, I couldn’t help but reach forward and run my hand the length of his muscled neck. His big brown eyes focused on me as I stroked his velvet coat. When I spoke to him in Sanserian, he held his breath.
“I have to meet with the council. Thayde will be with me. I know you take care of Tammer. Will you take care of us?”
The horse actually nodded.
“Thank you, Yanix.” Not sure what else to do, I patted his neck once more and moved to the gate. The other horses stepped aside, making way for him and Yanix followed. Holding the gate wide enough for him to pass, he walked carefully through and stopped as I closed it.
Clearly, I had no clue where to go from there. Yanix looked back at me as I hesitated. His look said it all: what are we waiting for?
“What now?” I asked in English and he practically rolled his eyes. When he moved forward, I trotted alongside him to keep up, placing my hand on his shoulder. He guided me through the grounds back to the pool where his shod hooves clomped loudly on the smooth marble.
You’re taking one of the horses? Thayde thought.
I feel better with more numbers.
If that’s the case, you’re going to be very happy with me.
I looked past Yanix to Thayde, bobbing up and down in the turbulent water. Beside him a woman with bright red hair was waving both arms. My heart leapt in surprise as I recognized my best friend, Tiesa. Ezen, her fiancé, surfaced next to her and raised a hand.
Yanix paused, waiting for me to open the gate leading down into the water. When I pulled it aside, the massive horse calmly descended the steps and fell into the sea as if he’d done it all his life. He swam to the small group and waited. Tiesa squealed in delight.
“I can’t believe he’s coming with us!” She shouted. “It’s so cool!”
I couldn’t help but grin. Tiesa’s joy had always been infectious. Even during the darkest of times, she made me feel happy. I stripped down to my bikini and plunged into the waves, phasing underwater. Twisting in the warm bubbles, I looked up through the light. It was strange to see Yanix treading water with merpeople. I’d never seen a horse swim from this angle before. Yanix was elegant, his long legs pumped through the current. Curiosity got the better of me and I hovered in the water, waiting to watch him phase into a pilot whale.
Thayde descended, allowing gravity to pull him down to me. Ezen and Tiesa wrapped themselves around each other and followed suit. As soon as the three of them were within reach, Yanix dipped his head in a dive, morphing into a pilot whale, his legs gliding up into his torso and pushing out from the sides, forming fins. There was no light, no shimmering or shaking vibration. He simply melted into a black whale – it was extraordinary to watch. When he was finished, he dwarfed us.
Tiesa uncurled from Ezen and squeezed me like an orange. “We were in Miami picking out my wedding dress! It’s fabulous! You totally have to come with me and see it. Ezen thinks it’s lovely, don’t you bunny?” Her grin would have lit up the mall at Christmas time.
“Bunny?” Thayde chuckled and Ezen looked about as thrilled as I would have been if I had learned my tattoo was on my face.
“Yeah, she says it’s a cross between baby and honey.” His tone was clearly a warning to Thayde to be quiet.
“Bunny. Honey bunny,” Thayde said to himself and Ezen punched him in the arm.
Yanix squeaked suddenly, drawing us back to the matter at hand.
“I can’t wait to see your dress,” I hugged Tiesa and then got straight to the point. “Naira is in limbo.” Ezen and Tiesa’s faces fell. “She’s fallen in love with an angel and she’s dying. There’s not any way I can bring her back that I know of. Also, Herra’s building an army to try and defeat me. I have a lot of questions and I need to confer with the Elders.”
“They are supposed to have their decade meeting this month sometime,” Ezen interjected, “you could always call them into the meeting now.”
“Call them?”
He nodded. “Send them a mental message. They’ll be there by the time you arrive.”
“That’s pretty short notice. How?”
“They have their ways. They are obliged to assist The Link.”
“I’ve never met these people before. How am I supposed to send a message to someone I don’t even know?”
Ezen looked at me as if I were an idiot. “Morgan, you do realize you’re The Link, right?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Thayde tugged on my fin. “It means you need to stop doubting and just do what you know is right.” His voice was kind. “Now hurry up and get to it. We don’t have much time.”
“Thank you.” My sarcasm made him smile.
Turning away from my friends, I faced the depths of the ocean without a clue what to do. I focused on the rippling surface and was reminded of how much I had grown to love the ocean. The way the silky waves glided against the air holding it down had always been
one of my favorite images; it made a beautiful, undulating canopy.
I’d never been drawn to the ocean. My childhood was spent in the mountains of Stanley, Idaho. The closest body of water was the beautiful Redfish Lake. The ocean had never factored into my life plans. Now, as I looked out across my second home, I couldn’t imagine existing without it. Then it came to me.
I pulled my arms out straight from my sides and created my orb. The beautiful burgundy light grew from the size of a small dime to encompass my entire body, and I held tightly between my hands. Relaxing my mind, I repeated my message:
The time has come to assemble
I call all of you to meet me in the great hall.
I would not change the date if it were not
of upmost importance.
Please be there immediately.
Finished, I released the orb and it flew from my arms, speeding forth, flooding the water like a red dye dropped into liquid. Moments later, it disappeared.
“That,” Tiesa said, “was awesome!”
“That,” I murmured, “was unexpected.”
“Pretty cool, nonetheless.” Ezen nodded in agreement with Tiesa.
“So now we just show up at Neridia?” I asked, barely believing it could be that easy.
“It is that easy.” Thayde’s strong arm wrapped around my waist, anchoring me to his side. “You ready?”
“What about Tiesa and Ez?” Neither could speed swim and leaving them behind was not an option.
They have Yanix. His deep voice resounded in my mind. Ezen and Tiesa took hold of the large pilot whale’s dorsal fin and he took off, leaving us bobbing behind in his wake.
Wow! I tried to wrap my mind around his speed. He’s incredible!
He’s the fastest in the world. But he can’t dive all the way to Neridia – it’s too deep.
What does he do then? Stay at a certain depth and wait?
Thayde looked back at me, the side of his beautiful face accented by the sun.
“Exactly,” his smile was brief before he shifted his gaze back to the ocean. I held my breath.
Forever Page 7