Hidden Depths

by L. M. Brown

  Finn made his way through to the far end of the tunnel, Lynna close at his heels. He found his father and Justin at the head of the queue.

  Justin frowned as Finn approached. “Didn’t you find Kyle?”

  Finn nodded. “I’m going to go back for him when everyone else is safe. His leg is broken.”

  “We can only shield you from the humans for a limited amount of time,” Cari said as she appeared in front of them. “It should be long enough for everyone to reach the ocean. There won’t be time for a return trip.”

  Finn didn’t care whether he was shielded or not. He had no intention of leaving Kyle behind. “Can you help Kyle?” he asked. “Can you heal his leg?”

  “I shouldn’t,” Cari replied.

  “I didn’t ask whether you should. I asked whether you can,” Finn snapped.

  “Yes, we can,” Caspian said as he too appeared.

  “Caspian, you know we’re not supposed to interfere so directly,” Cari scolded.

  Caspian glared at his sister. “I don’t care. It’s not Kyle’s fault this has happened. The blame lies entirely at the feet of the immortals. Besides, we’re already interfering by doing far more than healing Kyle.”

  “It’s not the same thing,” Cari argued. “Antar is using the power he was given to help the mer, just as I use mine and Andaman has used his. You are the God of Justice. Your power is to bring about justice, not to go around healing random mermen. If you help him, you’ll be punished. You know the older gods are far stricter than the rest of us when it comes to tampering with fate. If it wasn’t for the more pressing issues, they’d have had something to say about your meddling long before now.”

  “I took a vow to help all mer who come to land. The whole pantheon knows this—or they certainly should by now. Kyle is a merman, on land, who requires assistance. To deny him this would be to break my word.”

  “You’re bending the truth quite a lot there,” Cari said. “I’m not sure all the other gods would agree with your interpretation.”

  “They can disagree if they like. It makes no difference to me. Now, where is Kyle?”

  Finn stepped forward. “He’s trapped in a chamber near Medina’s temple. His leg is broken.”

  Caspian gave him a grim smile. “I’ll go help him.”

  Cari gestured out at the ocean. “You don’t have much time. Look at the clouds. Antar has already started the magic.”

  Finn looked at where Cari was pointing and saw the clouds building up quicker than he had ever seen before.

  “I’ll go find Kyle,” Caspian said. “Everyone else needs to get ready to run.”

  “Is it safe to go now?” King Nereus asked after Caspian had vanished.

  Cari raised her hand. “One, two, three,” she counted under her breath.

  Lightning struck out at sea. The wind picked up so quickly that it howled as it blew down the tunnel.

  Then it was quiet. Too quiet. The silence was eerie and Finn shivered with unease.

  “Run to the water,” Cari said. “As fast as you can, run!”

  King Nereus, Justin and Finn stepped out of the tunnel and into the open. They stood to the side as they waved the rest of the merpeople past, pointing in the direction of the water.

  “Go with Lynna,” Justin said.

  Finn yearned to linger, to wait for Caspian to return with Kyle, but to do so would be breaking his word to Kyle. He ran with Lynna, taking the squalling baby boy from her arms as they raced through the burned gathering fields, the few untouched sea fruits already beginning to wilt in the air, away from the salt water that nourished them.

  There must have been a few hundred merpeople making their way to the sea. Finn wondered how many were already in the ocean, and how many hadn’t survived the raising of the island.

  The merpeople were so few in number that to lose any was a tragedy. Finn knew many of his people didn’t believe in the curse, but he had seen too much to scoff at the idea. Are we being punished, and if so, what for?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kyle watched Finn disappear through the gap in the rubble. It took every ounce of his willpower not to call him back, telling him he had changed his mind.

  He closed his eyes and gripped the hammer Finn had left him. He concentrated on pleasant memories of his two lovers to try to distract himself from the pain.

  Then, suddenly, his leg no longer hurt. He opened his eyes to see Caspian towering above him.

  “You might want to hurry to the sea,” Caspian said.

  “Did you fix my leg?” Kyle asked as he scrambled to his feet.

  “Yes. You need to head to the tunnel from the kitchens.”

  “Thank you.”

  Caspian rolled his eyes. “Now someone thanks me. Kyle, listen to me. You need to run.”

  Kyle nodded and hurried past Caspian, hoping he remembered the way to the kitchens. Everything appeared so different traveling on foot.

  He ran through the palace, the kitchens and into the tunnel. He couldn’t see anyone around.

  Kyle rested a few seconds when he reached the open air. At least he was no longer in danger of having a building collapse on him.

  “The sea is that way,” Caspian said. “What are you standing around here for?”

  “I needed to catch my breath,” Kyle replied.

  “You’re a healthy young merman in peak physical condition. Run now and catch your breath later.”

  Kyle had no intention of arguing. He raced across the land, cursing as he tripped and stumbled on the uneven ground. His bare feet hurt as the sharp stones cut into his soles.

  Caspian appeared ahead of him. “My grandfather can’t keep time frozen much longer. You only have a few more minutes.”

  Then suddenly Caspian disappeared. Kyle heard a loud ‘fuck’ from him, but he hadn’t time to worry about what had happened to the god.

  It wasn’t enough time. No one could run as fast as that. When time began to move, the cameras would almost certainly pick him up, running naked across the island and disappearing into the ocean. The thought spurred him on, even though he knew it wouldn’t be enough.

  * * * *

  Jake had stayed near the television in the kitchen all morning, watching the news channel as they reported from the newly discovered island, while at the same time keeping up a steady supply of meals for his guests.

  The two men who had been exploring earlier were identified and taken in for questioning by the military. It seemed they had had their fifteen minutes of fame and now had to pay the price for it.

  As Jake watched the news, his worries increased. How in the world were the mer remaining on the island going to escape without being caught on camera?

  “We interrupt our interview to bring you breaking news.”

  Jake drew in a sharp breath as the reporter disappeared from the screen and an aerial view of the island appeared.

  “It appears that despite the military presence and the warnings to stay away from the island, yet another person has been spotted on the western side of the land mass. We now go live to our reporter on the scene.”

  Even from the distance of the helicopter, Jake recognized Kyle immediately. To avoid offending the viewing public, Kyle’s privates were pixelated, but there was no hiding the fact that he was completely naked as he raced toward the distant water.

  Jake couldn’t see anyone else, and the reporter referred to a single man. What had happened to Lynna, the baby and Finn? Why is Kyle on his own?

  He watched in horror as the news crew changed the camera angle to show a second helicopter swooping down. Even Jake could tell this one belonged to the military.

  “Run, Kyle,” Jake begged, even though his lover couldn’t hear him.

  The camera zoomed in, showing a clear view of Kyle’s face.

  A few moments later Kyle’s mobile phone, sitting on the dresser, rang persistently. Jake checked the screen and saw it was Kyle’s colleague, Natalie. He ignored the call and switched off the phone.

/>   Back on the television, the two helicopters circled Kyle, one filming while the other appeared to be coming in to land.

  With a final burst of speed, Kyle sprinted along the newly created beach and into the water.

  By the time the helicopter had landed and the soldiers were on the ground, Kyle had disappeared below the waves, thankfully without showing a trace of his fins.

  Jake’s own mobile rang, and he saw it was Natalie again. She must have gotten his number from Kyle’s employee file, where Kyle had him listed as his emergency contact. He let it go through to the answering service, but when she immediately rang again, he decided to get it over with and answer. He could brazen it out.

  “Natalie, what can I do for you?” He kept his voice as polite as possible, while at the same time gritting his teeth.

  “Is Kyle with you?” Natalie asked. “Can I talk to him?”

  “He’s out with Finn at the moment,” Jake said. It wasn’t entirely a lie. Jake hoped Finn was already in the water and Kyle had gone to join him.

  “He’s not answering his mobile,” Natalie said.

  “That’s because he left it here,” Jake told her. “I’ll ask him to give you a ring when he gets in.”

  “Do you know when that’ll be?”

  “No. They left before I woke up this morning. I’ll get him to call you.”

  “Do you know where he’s gone?”

  “No. What’s this all about?” Jake didn’t even bother to hide his annoyance. Why can’t this woman take a hint?

  “Have you been watching the news?” Natalie asked.

  “Some of it, why?”

  “Are you watching it at the moment?”

  “No, I’m talking to you on the phone,” Jake replied sarcastically. “Do you have a point? I’ve got to leave for work soon.”

  “Oh, I have a point,” Natalie said with a light laugh. “You might want to check the latest news about this mysterious island that appeared, because if I’m not very much mistaken, our friend Kyle is running around that island, stark naked, for the whole world to see.”

  Jake forced out a laugh that he hoped sounded convincing. “Kyle was here this morning. I assure you, he’s not running around some island, naked or otherwise.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Natalie asked. “Because if it’s not him, it seems your man has a twin brother.”

  Jake sighed impatiently. “I don’t have time for this. I’ll tell Kyle you called.”

  He hit the End Call button and crossed his fingers that Natalie wouldn’t phone back. Thankfully, she didn’t.

  Back on the television screen, the news showed a still close-up of Kyle’s face. Natalie wouldn’t be the only person to have recognized him. It wouldn’t be safe for Kyle to return here, not right now, maybe not ever. The risk of him being taken in for questioning was far too great.

  Jake’s stomach churned as the implications of what had happened hit him. What the hell are we going to do now?

  * * * *

  Kyle caught up with the rest of the merpeople on the way to the caverns.

  Finn saw him approach, and after passing Cian to Lynna, he swam back to meet him. Kyle threw his arms around his lover and held him close.

  “Time began to move again before I reached the water,” Kyle said. “My face may have been caught on camera.”

  “That’s not all that they’ll have caught if it was,” Finn teased.

  “I’m less worried about being arrested for exposing myself as I am for being outed as a merman,” Kyle replied. “What are we going to do?”

  “Let’s get to the caverns first. If the humans start searching the waters for you, we’ll have bigger problems than your cock being shown to the world.”

  Kyle agreed, and they quickly joined the rest of the merpeople as they swiftly sought sanctuary in the caves.

  Lynna found Xane and his family, who had indeed been swept from the island when it had risen.

  Leaving his sister in the safe hands of her mate’s family, Kyle and Finn found a small cozy cavern in the network and Finn curled up in Kyle’s arms. Kyle knew exactly what Finn needed, because he yearned for the same thing. He wished Jake were with them. He desperately wanted to feel the safety and security of having both of his lovers close by.

  “What are we going to do?” Finn asked quietly. “If you’ve been caught on camera, someone will probably have recognized you already.”

  “I know.”

  “We need to get a message to Jake, but I don’t know how. We can’t go back to the city, which means the only way to return to England is to swim there again.”

  “We can’t risk it while they’re so many humans watching the island,” Kyle pointed out. “They’ll be studying the entire island, including the surrounding waters.”

  “Do you think the gods might help us again?” Finn didn’t sound very hopeful, and Kyle didn’t blame him. It was thanks to the immortals they were in this predicament to begin with.

  “I’m going to try to get some sleep,” Kyle said. “I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get much last night. My leg hurt way too much.”

  “How is it now?”

  “As good as new, thanks to Caspian.”

  “I’m glad,” Finn said as he rested his head on Kyle’s chest. “But I would have come back for you, you know?”

  “I know,” Kyle replied. “After all, you already did come back for me. I know you could have stayed safe in England after the gods raised the island.”

  “I couldn’t leave you there. I love you so much. I loved you from the moment you swam into my father’s audience chamber, and I’ve never stopped. My feelings for you have only grown stronger over the last few years.”

  “Mine, too. I don’t know that I’d survive without you and Jake in my life.”

  “Me neither. I hope Jake isn’t too worried about us.”

  “He’s probably frantic.”

  Finn grimaced. “What if we can’t go home?”

  “I don’t know, Finn. My home is with you and Jake, so wherever you two go, I’ll be there.”

  “It might be a little difficult if Jake is on land and I’m in the ocean,” Finn pointed out.

  “We’ll find a way. We have to.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Medina appeared in Jake’s bedroom with her usual flurry of robes and perfume.

  “I assume you know Kyle has been seen on the island?” Jake asked.

  “Yes, but they don’t know what he is. I’m sorry. Caspian tried to transport him out of there when time started again, but Mariana stopped him by pulling him off the island with a rather obnoxious summoning spell.”

  “She did?”

  Medina nodded. “Such a spell should only be used in genuine emergencies. Caspian is furious that she prevented him from transporting Kyle to safety. Unfortunately, many of the immortals are angry that Caspian interfered to such an extent at all.”

  “What happens now? If Kyle comes back here, he’ll be taken in for questioning, and it’ll only be a matter of time before they figure out he’s a merman.”

  “Yes,” Medina agreed. “Cari has had several visions of the future over the last few hours and many of them have included the brutal exposure of the mer.”

  Jake cringed at the confirmation. “It’s not safe for Kyle to return here, is it?”

  “No.”

  “What are my options?” Jake asked as he began to pace the floor again. He suspected he’d be wearing a groove in the carpet soon.

  “You need to decide,” Medina replied.

  “Decide what?”

  “How much you love your two men, of course.”

  “Is this what I need to do to prove I know the meaning of love?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

  Medina smiled. “Only you can make this choice. I know you’ll choose wisely.”

  Jake wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to lose either of his lovers, but was he strong enough to le
t them go?

  When he turned on his heel, Medina had disappeared.

  Jake sighed and decided to go talk to Malcolm. Finn’s father had been like a surrogate dad to Jake, and he knew he would give him the best advice he could without holding back, even if his words weren’t the ones Jake wanted to hear.

  Malcolm was rushed off his feet in the sandwich shop and Jake felt a twinge of guilt at leaving him in the lurch.

  “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Malcolm commented as he served a customer. “What’s happened now?”

  “You’ve not been watching the news, have you?” Jake asked. If he had, Malcolm wouldn’t need to ask what the problem was.

  “No. I barely had time to grab a coffee this morning. What have I missed?”

  “You’ve not seen the news?” the customer on the other side of the counter asked. “A whole new island has been discovered in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s been on all the news channels.”

  Malcolm gasped and stared at Jake. With the customer listening intently, Jake was limited on what he could say. Alex, at the other end of the counter, looked at them questioningly.

  “Can I borrow Malcolm for a bit?” Jake asked.

  Alex shrugged. “Sure. It’s pretty quiet at the moment. But don’t forget you already owe me for working on my day off.”

  Jake grinned and steered Malcolm into the house at the back of the shop. “I won’t forget with you reminding me,” he called back.

  Once they were alone, Jake sat beside Malcolm. “The gods raised Atlantis from the bottom of the ocean.”

  “I take it from the influx of mermaids in your house yesterday that you had advance warning of this?”

  Jake nodded. “Yes, but not enough to get everyone out of the city. Kyle was there with his sister when the island was lifted from the ocean floor.”

  “Is he all right?” Malcolm asked. “What about Finn?”

  “Finn was here at the time, but he went back to Atlantis this morning to find Kyle. The island is all over the news and so is Kyle. He was filmed running from the city to the ocean.”