“Geez, don’t go easy on my account,” said Mom, smiling nonetheless.
“Oh, of course not, Camille. Going easy would be an insult to your intelligence. Now, where was I? We were there, then my brain thought that, and landed here…ah, got it! Everyone in here may be testifying tomorrow, along with practically the entire town of merfolk. As I’ve said, Marina and Trey are the primary targets. Wouldn’t surprise me if King Zale has instructed his followers to try and get you two removed from Saxet Shores,” said Doctor Tenly.
“But, he collects Normals,” said Trey. “I haven’t gotten my extra power yet, and Marina is like hitting the lottery. Wouldn’t he still have hopes of employing us for whatever scheme he’s got going?”
Doctor Tenly nodded. “Possibly, yes. But he has also collected quite a bundle of Normals over the years, and I imagine he wouldn’t exactly oppose being rid of a lie-detecting, clue-solving Normal with the ability to transform into a sea-friendly creature and, naturally, the mythic Siren Savior.”
“So, basically, we have no idea what outcome King Zale is after, if any at this point,” said my mom, sipping her water.
“That pretty much sums it up,” said Treeva, still sitting with Mom. “The one thing we do know is the Imperia’s desire to exert authority is endless. The Imperia is all about showing you who’s in charge, and so long as it doesn’t step on Merpeople’s fins, trust me, those bastards are putting together a hearing for the history books.”
“Which is why we could have this meeting without them noticing,” said Doctor Tenly. “While they work out a way to scare, we’re going to hatch an escape plan, should one be necessary. Trey, Marina—I want you two to try and combine your talents. Between the two of you, we should see an uplifting, inspiring escape option emerge! Use your instincts…imagine them coming at you, trying to cuff you both. Now, join hands.”
The second I took Trey’s hand, he transformed into a tiny, fuzzy baby seal. “Oh, that’s absolutely fantastic. If he’s going to turn into a bouncy fluff ball every time I touch him, we’ll be labeled a middle grade magic show and then enter that little realm called doomed.”
Returning to his human form, Trey faced me, and said, “Maybe you should try and transform with me! Maybe it’s my power’s way of telling you to follow my lead…that transforming is how we’d escape!”
“And how would we do that? Pounce around, look cute, and finally fart-rocket our way out?” I said, folding my arms across my stomach.
“Doctor?!” shouted Trey.
“Well, son, she has a point,” said Doctor Tenly, pacing while running his hands through his hair. “The most you’ve done as a seal is pass wind and inappropriately touch. Any ideas, Tree?”
Treeva and Mom looked like they were having an intense conversation. “Huh? Oh. What happened? Did he transform at Marina’s touch?”
“You expected this to happen?” Trey was seriously getting pissed off. I’m fairly certain his guy ego was tired of transforming into nothing but a harmless fluff ball.
“Kind of, yeah,” said Treeva. “David and I made a bet. I won.”
“Means you both need far more training than I originally anticipated,” said Doctor Tenly.
“It’s not your fault,” said Troy, facing Trey. “Her Savior talents just need taming.”
Why was the image of Troy wearing nothing but a ring master’s hat while cracking a whip suddenly popping into my mind? I’m a sick ticket.
“If you were to hold hands or touch in an everyday context, you wouldn’t change, Trey,” said Doctor Tenly. “Under life and death situations, however, her Savior powers heighten her touch talent, thus stirring a Normal’s power a bit too much.”
“Sort of like flooring a mermobile in a school-of-fish zone,” Troy added.
“Marina has the ability to control both the degree and outcome her touch will have, according to situation. It’s something she must learn…meaning, you two cannot hatch an escape plan together, as I had hoped.” Doctor Tenly plopped down on a rock.
“Manakel is a go with our backup plan,” said Treeva.
“Yes, yes, I know, but that’s strictly for any transport outside the courtroom. I’m much more concerned with what may transpire inside the courtroom.” Doctor Tenly studied Trey and me, obviously disappointed.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling a terrible mix of guilt and failure.
“It’s not your fault, Marina.” Troy stroked my hair, instantly soothing the cluster headache that was forming behind my right eye. “You just need training.”
Doctor Tenly agreed. “Indeed. If anyone is to blame, it is I. We should have found a way to train this past month.”
“Not with the Imperia blanketing the town,” I said.
Meikle, leaning against the drippy wall of the tunnel, chuckled rather loudly. “Not to sound cocky, but why are we even worrying about what Marina can and cannot do right now when there’s a witch and a time-freezing, soon-to-be ninja ready and able?”
“She’s got a point, David,” said Treeva. “A combination of spells and freezing time could provide Trey and Marina just enough of a window to make an escape.”
Doctor Tenly didn’t respond for a few minutes. “Ophelia, can you manage sudden time-freezing?”
“When it means saving friends, yes, I can handle it,” she said strongly.
Staring hard at Meikle, Doctor Tenly said, “I need to know you will be aware of the—”
“Cheaters?” supplied Meikle.
“Precisely. You are exceedingly powerful, Meikle, but all it takes is a single dirty move to unseat you and your spells.”
“Don’t worry.” With a wink of her left eye, the seaweed that had encased her earlier was now weaving itself in a tight braid around a smiling Doctor Tenly. “Lesson taught, learned, and mirrored.”
Laughing, Doctor Tenly broke free, the seaweed falling around his feet like wet rags. While Meikle looked at me, proud and calm, I noticed the seaweed rapidly slithering towards her with chomping fangs emerging from both ends.
“Really?” Meikle simply snapped her fingers at the snake-like seaweed strands, transforming them into long strings of twinkle lights.
“Oh, nice touch, turning the fangs into twinkle lights!” said Doctor Tenly, clapping. “I think we have an escape hatch in the form of a witch and tick-tock freezer.”
“Complete faith on my end,” I said.
“Same here,” said Trey.
“Good! Go on! Go home! Get some good sleep. That’s an order,” said Doctor Tenly, wagging a finger.
“Mom? You ready?” I called.
Mom seemed distracted by her own thoughts. “Actually, I’d like to stay and talk to Treeva and Doctor Tenly for a bit. You can ride home with Troy. I’ll petal it back.”
“Aw, yeah, I can arrange for that.” Doctor Tenly stood by my mom, gently smiling at her.
“You sure?” I asked, worried.
“I’m sure, baby girl.”
“Your mom and I have a lot in common, Marina. We’d like to girl talk a while. Think your mom might need it,” said Treeva.
“And I just like to listen. It’s a soap opera to me…intensely entertaining,” said Doctor Tenly.
“Uh-huh, okay.” I smiled, rolled my eyes, and took Troy’s hand.
Leaving my mom behind to talk to Treeva and Doctor Tenly bothered me. I gripped my stomach as we walked towards Troy’s truck. Once safely on the road, my stomach flipped around even more. I squirmed in my seat to keep from barfing on his dashboard.
“It’s your Savior senses,” said Troy.
“So, should I expect to shoot webs from my wrists anytime soon?”
Smiling, he said, “Ever the wise ass. You worry about your mom, especially given everything she has learned. It’s your Savior senses creating an extra need to protect her.”
“Sounds about right,” I said, clutching my stomach.
A few minutes later, Troy pulled into his driveway and cautiously walked me to my bedroom window, just in c
ase any Imperia members lurked about.
“You going to be okay tonight?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine. Just have to shut off my mind.”
“If you need me, you know where I am.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Okay.” He kissed me slowly and deeply. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Touching my lips, I nodded and climbed inside. That may have been the last time I would ever feel his lips upon mine.
Mom still wasn’t home, but I knew I couldn’t wait up. I needed to try and sleep before tomorrow. After changing into my pajamas, I left her a note on the kitchen counter, shot a freaked-out look at Mom’s image on the couch, and headed to bed. When your pillow feels like rocks against your skull, you know you’re in for a long night. As the proverbial tossing and turning dance began, I knew I needed something—music, food…a non-florescent green bedroom might be nice.
Then, the something I needed so badly entered my room. His voice humming Behind the Waves softened my pillow. His strong body molded to mine; his bare chest against my back, hand around my stomach, and warm breath against my cheek fast-forwarded my mind to a place where tomorrow never happened. I felt safe within a false reality…a façade I wanted—needed—to make real.
Rolling over to face him, I softly ran my hand down his chest. “If this is our last night, I want to remember it past my last breath.”
I raised my hungry lips to his; his moans encouraged my hand to continue its southbound travels, and I had no desire to stop it…or anything else. I wanted to share my everything with him; I needed his soul inside of mine.
Taking my wayward hand in his, he gently rolled me onto my back. The weight of his body on mine was an indescribable heaven. As our breaths and kisses grew more desperate, more yearning, I slipped a leg around him.
“Wait, wait,” Troy whispered, searching my eyes. “Your first time…our first time together…shouldn’t be out of fear. You deserve something extraordinary, never ordinary, and certainly nothing forced by evil.”
Though my body screamed angrily, my racing heart sighed with relief—he was right. “We. We deserve something extraordinary.”
“We,” he repeated, kissing my forehead.
Turning back over on my side to settle for some spooning, I groaned, “Why’d you have to be such a dang saint?”
As I cuddled against him, he said, “Believe me, a saint is the last thing I am. Now, if you make that a damned saint, you’d be about right. And I’m fairly sure you can tell just how difficult showing self-restraint was for me.”
“Difficult? Think that’s the right word?” I teased, my body now fully backed into his.
“I was attempting to avoid the crudeness of the obvious word.”
“And you say you’re trying to shed the gentleman and resume your Neanderthral ways. Not likely.”
He nuzzled my neck and gently traced his fingers around my bellybutton. “Sleep, now, Rubylocks. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. If they try anything, I’ll unleash a few tricks to rival those of Meikle—tricks, that once in place, the Imperia will wish to all of heaven above not to have seen.”
I put my hand over his and held it against my heart. Our heartbeats were in perfect unison. In that moment, life felt right. It was the last thought I had before drifting to sleep in his arms.
Chapter Five
Hear Me Out
The hearing. The courtroom looked both larger and darker than before. Once again, the whole town was present and divided—Merpeople to the right, Normals to the left.
“Mom, why don’t you go ahead and sit with Trey and the others. I just want to stand back here and observe for a minute,” I said.
“Of course, sweetie.”
Watching her sit down next to my friends, I noticed something off about how they were sitting. Trey had the soles of his sneakers securely propped against the back of the empty bench in front of him; next to Trey, Meikle sat with her left knee up and turned to the side; Ophelia, leaning against Meikle’s knee, had her legs stretched flat out in front of her. Judging by the angles of their legs, I imagine a spell was currently in progress. I wish I could say it gave me more relief than it actually did, though I suppose some relief is better than none.
“Try not to worry. In an hour, it will all be over,” said a man from somewhere behind me.
“It’s the definition of ‘over’ that worries me,” I said, groaning.
With a slight chuckle, the man said, “I can certainly understand why. Though I do have faith in the system.”
“Then you really don’t know…the…Imperia.” When I turned to face the mysterious, yet strangely calming voice, pure shock slowed my speech. This man wasn’t simply handsome or good-looking...this man was beautiful. He was broadly built, standing about six feet tall, with light brown hair and dark eyes that could undoubtedly see into one’s soul. In other words, he was head-to-toe sex in a suit…an Imperia suit. “You’re one of them. What, did they think bringing in the hot Imperia dude to personally administer some form of top secret punishment would melt our girly little hearts and have us jumping through fiery hoops?”
“Well, they obviously gravely underestimated the strength of your mind…and tongue for that matter. No, I’m only here to see that things go smoothly and fairly. As in any governmental branch, there are those who have a different mindset from the majority.”
“Perhaps,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“Luxton Vipor,” he said, smiling. “Call me Vipor.”
“Marina Valentine. Call me toast…or fugitive, depending on how things go tonight.”
“Well, Miss Valentine, toasted, fugitive, or otherwise, it has been a pleasure.” He bowed before heading off to consult with the albino, Prax Graytone.
The Imperia elite, having replaced their usual gray shirts with disturbingly dark red ones for the occasion, took their seats at the high bench, with Mr. Anderson, Principal Jeepers, Treeva, and Kyle Zale assuming the same seats as last time.
“We should probably take a seat. Looks like they’re about to begin,” said Troy, placing his hands on my hips.
“You’re cutting it close. Where have you been?” I asked.
“Last minute prep. Nothing for you to worry about.” He kissed the top of my head and took my hand. “Come on.”
“Nothing for me to worry about,” I said, walking with him to our respective seats. “You do realize that just turned my worry bug into a beast, right?”
Troy simply smirked and kissed my hand before letting go. Even though we were only sitting across the aisle from one another, it seemed like a canyon had grown between us.
Slamming his marble gavel three times, Prax Graytone spoke in his smooth, venomous tone that made my skin crawl. “Doors, lock now.” The sounds of locks clicking into place made the quiet courtroom feel like a coffin being lowered into its final resting place. “I’d like to welcome two new faces to today’s hearing. First, we have Luxton Vipor, Imperia Guardian.”
Vipor, seated next to Mr. Anderson, stood, bowed to the room, and deliberately met my curious gaze with a nod. I quickly shifted my attention to Troy, who glowered dangerously at the new Imperia representative.
“Mr. Vipor is here to ensure every side of every story is heard and reasoned. Consider him our devil’s advocate. We are very pleased to have our next guest with us tonight. Not only has she graciously aided us with her special talents for tonight’s proceedings—like acquiescing door locks—but she has also provided much needed insight into the minds of the banished students—Madame Helena Hambourg.”
“And the night just keeps getting better,” Mom groaned.
The smallish door behind the high bench opened and out walked the woman I hoped to never see again. With her lime hair piled high atop her head, and her icy, orange eyes piercing each Normal through the skull like icicles, Madame Helena slinked into the courtroom wearing her signature smug smile. While Ophelia whimpered and diverted her eyes, Trey, Meikle, and I gladly met Ma
dame Helena’s arctic glare with those of our own. She sat next to Vipor and removed a green journal from inside her purple and peach silk jacket. Treeva watched Madame Helena with great amusement before shooting Mom a humorous little ‘OMG’ look; even Kyle Zale stared at Helena Hambourg as though she walked out of a corny science fiction film. Doctor Tenly, on the other hand, made quite a production of leaning forward to ogle her.
“May I help you?” Madame Helena asked Doctor Tenly, stroking her purple and peach checkered nails along her highway of a nose.
“Hard to say,” said Doctor Tenly. “Perhaps when I’m next cooking cinnamon raisin bread, you could be so kind as to let me know when it’s done,” he said.
Well, that did it—Treeva, Troy, Airianna, Trey, Benji, Mom, and I lost it, successfully offending most of the room with a combination of giggle-coughs, snorts, squeal-laughs, and even a few full-fledged belly laughs. Hell, even Kyle (shock) and Vipor used their hands to ineffectively conceal large grins.
Madame Helena didn’t flinch. I often wondered if the woman was a statue in her past life. “And who might you be?” she asked Doctor Tenly.
“Principal Jeepers. I run the school.”
“I see. Not very good at it, are you? We wouldn’t be here if you were.”
Doctor Tenly smirked, half-nodded, sat back in his chair, and allowed that smirk to stretch into a full cat-that-ate-the-goldfish grin. I could almost read his mind for once—he knew how easily he could crush her. Oh, if only the evil hag knew who she was dealing with! I’d pay good money to see her take on the doctor.
“Right, then, moving forward,” said Graytone, reclaiming control of the hearing. “In combination with our observations over the last month, we will be looking to ascertain three conclusions from today’s proceedings. First, there must be no threat or danger between the banished and Merpeople. Second, we must see an earnest desire from each group to learn from one another. Third, in order for the banished to remain in this town, we will need to garner a sense of calm from all inhabitants. Naturally, we will determine who is at fault for violating clause ten of the Banishment Charter—revealing the existence of Merpeople to the banished—and the appropriate punishment. Based on our surveillance, we have narrowed the witness list to nine. The chairs, if you please, Madame Helena.”
OVERFALLS (The Merworld Water Wars, Book 2) Page 6