Hidden Depths

by L. M. Brown

  Kyle, armed with a trident, fell into his former position as his bodyguard with ease.

  His father appointed a second merman to guard him, as well, for the duration of their journey, much to Finn’s annoyance.

  “Your Highness, perhaps you might like to stay in the middle of the group,” Keshet suggested.

  Finn sighed as he swam back where he was told, instead of exploring the shipwreck to the east. “I can take care of myself,” he grumbled. “I’ve managed perfectly well without a bodyguard since I left the city.”

  “I’m sure you have,” Keshet agreed. “But you’ve been living on land, where the danger from sharks and squids is probably rather minimal.”

  Finn didn’t bother arguing. Even though Keshet was a guard who had joined the ranks after Finn’s departure from the city, their short acquaintance made it clear he was as immovable as every other bodyguard who had been appointed to protect him.

  He glanced at Kyle. Or nearly every bodyguard, he amended. Kyle had been much more open to the idea of mischief in the form of slipping away for some time alone.

  Finn watched Keshet as the guard divided his attention between Finn and another merman who Finn didn’t recognize.

  “He’s very handsome,” Finn commented when he caught Keshet gazing longingly at the orange tailed merman again.

  “He is, indeed,” Keshet agreed.

  “Maybe you should approach him,” Finn suggested. “See if he might enjoy what you have to offer?”

  Keshet chuckled. “Nice try, Your Highness, but I’m not going to neglect my duties.”

  “You’d risk losing your chance with him, just to babysit me?”

  Keshet smiled and shook his head. “Gilad and I have been lovers since before we came to the sunken city. I’m not leaving your side until another guard takes over for the next shift. And I doubt you’ll want me to encourage my replacement to take over any sooner than necessary.”

  “Why?”

  “Otus has the next shift.”

  Finn groaned. Of all the guards to be lumbered with, Otus was the worst. He’d been insufferable as a regular guard, but since the unfortunate death of the leader of the Atlantean guards, he had become even more pompous. It wasn’t as if he had been officially appointed to the role, either. From what Finn had heard, he’d taken over without any formal appointment being made, and in the ongoing chaos, no one had bothered to challenge him.

  “I didn’t think so,” Keshet teased. “Now, are you going to behave, or am I going to have to call Otus to take over watching the unruly prince?”

  “I’ll behave,” Finn replied. “You’re much better company than Otus.”

  Kyle laughed from his other side. “And here was me thinking I was His Highness’ favorite bodyguard.”

  Finn smacked Kyle on the shoulder. “Oh, you’re definitely my favorite, but not if you call me that again.”

  “Of course, Your Highness.”

  “Kyle!”

  “What’s the matter, Your Highness?”

  Finn stuck his tongue out as Keshet roared with laughter.

  “Poor baby,” Kyle teased. “Come here.”

  Kyle pulled Finn into his arms and kissed him softly. Finn whimpered with pleasure as their fins tangled together.

  “I hate being a prince,” Finn said as they continued swimming, hand in hand. “I never wanted that, not ever.”

  “I know, but no one can help the position they are born to.”

  “I wish we were swimming the other way, back to England where I’m plain old Finn Mitchell.”

  Kyle squeezed Finn’s fingers, rubbing his thumb over Finn’s inner wrist. “I’m sorry I wasn’t quick enough to get to the water without being seen.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t help being injured.”

  “But if I’d not been caught on camera, we could go home to Jake.”

  “We’ll find a way to return to him. I promise.”

  Finn nodded, though he didn’t know how they could manage such a feat. The sudden appearance of Atlantis was worldwide news. Kyle would be recognized wherever he went.

  * * * *

  Although many of the merpeople who were staying with him chose to spend a lot of time in the water, Jake noticed that the Oracles were much happier walking around on two legs, enjoying being able to see the world around them.

  “Ula, do you have a minute?” Jake asked as he approached the Oracle of the Future and Undine, the Oracle of the Past. They were giggling like a pair of teenagers over one of the magazines Summer had left in the living room the previous week. Jake knew neither of the Oracles could read English, but apparently the fashion disasters on the red carpet needed no translation.

  Ula looked up from the article and nodded. “What can I do for you?”

  “I was wondering whether you might have had a vision of the future of myself and Kyle and Finn.”

  Ula sighed. “I’m sorry, but I can only have visions when I’m in my mermaid form. With the increase in our powers in recent weeks, I’m rather relieved to take a break from them.”

  Jake couldn’t say he blamed her. “That’s okay. I just thought I’d ask. I guess I’m worried that our futures no longer coincide.”

  Ula patted his hand consolingly. “I have had many visions of Prince Finn, and I have never seen him happier than when he is with you and Kyle. I don’t need to see the future to know you three are meant to be together.”

  “That doesn’t necessarily mean we will be,” Jake pointed out. “Look at Marin for the proof of that. From what everyone has said, he and Calder were perfect for each other, but fate has torn them apart.”

  Ula gazed out the window to where Marin sat, alone with his thoughts in the garden. “Sometimes I truly hate my visions. Especially when, with all the power I have, I can’t save someone as strong, kind and loving as Calder. I consider myself blessed to have known such a merman, and my heart breaks for Marin.”

  Undine nodded, her eyes watery. “The Goddess of Sea Creatures has a lot to answer for. She should be protecting the merpeople, not bringing about our demise.”

  Jake hadn’t gotten the answers he wanted, but the Oracles had helped him. They had made him see that there were worse fates than being separated from his lovers by distance.

  Leaving the two mermaids to chuckle over the magazine once more, Jake walked outside to see if he could take his mind off his own problems by helping Marin. It also had the added benefit of getting him out of the house and away from all the inhabitants who spent way too much time thinking about love and sex, thoughts that resounded in Jake’s mind all too often, despite his best efforts to shut them out.

  “Mind if I join you?” Jake asked.

  “If you like,” Marin replied with a shrug.

  “How are you holding up?”

  Marin sighed. “It’s too crowded in there for me to risk training with the trident. Every room in the house is filled. Since I can’t practice, I’m going out of my mind with boredom, when all I want to do is swim right back to Atlantis and kill that murdering bastard.”

  “I doubt the sea dragons are on the island now,” Jake pointed out.

  “I don’t care where they are. I’ll swim every body of water on this planet until I find him.”

  “Is that what Calder would have wanted you to do?” Jake asked.

  Marin glared at him. “You never even met him, so don’t you dare tell me what he would have wanted.”

  Jake held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to change your mind or anything. If it had been Finn or Kyle, I’ve no doubt I’d want to tear apart whoever was responsible.”

  Marin stood and stared down at Jake. “One way or another, I’m going to return to the ocean and track him down, and not even those gods who think they can control our lives will stop me.”

  Jake believed him. There was a steely determination in Marin’s eyes. Shame washed over Jake again at the strength he saw in the young merman before him.
/>   “I’ll help you, if I can,” Jake offered.

  “Thank you,” Marin replied. “I may take you up on that offer.”

  Jake rose and held out his hand to Marin, who shook it briefly.

  When Marin had returned to the house, Jake lingered in the garden a little longer, walking the paths as he searched his soul for answers. The arrival of Caspian, who had never been one for frequent house calls, worried him more than he wanted to admit.

  “Marin is not to return to the ocean,” Caspian declared without preamble.

  “Isn’t that his choice?” Jake asked. “Everyone else here is going to be able to choose whether to stay on land or go join the rest of the merpeople. What makes Marin so special?”

  “If Marin returns to the ocean, he’ll swim right for Atlantis, where he’ll die at the hands of Calder’s murderer,” Caspian said. “My sister Cari has seen his future and if he continues to seek his revenge, his life will be woefully short.”

  “He wants justice for Calder’s murder,” Jake said. “You’re supposed to be God of Justice. Why aren’t you helping him?”

  “I’m helping him by keeping him alive,” Caspian snapped. “And if you care about him, you’ll discourage him from this suicide mission he seems determined to go on.”

  Caspian vanished, leaving Jake staring at an empty space.

  “You’ll have to forgive my brother,” Cari said.

  Jake spun around, swearing under his breath at the way these immortals kept popping in unannounced.

  “He took a vow to help all of the merpeople who come to land. Unfortunately, his way of helping Marin isn’t want Marin wants.”

  “Is Marin really going to die if he goes after Urion?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there any way to change what will happen? If Marin knew beforehand where the attack came from, he might be able to avoid it.”

  “Fate cannot be avoided.”

  “Then why try to keep him on land?” Jake asked. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

  “Yes, it is,” Cari agreed. “But I’m not the one trying to alter the future. That would be my brother.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s stubborn as a mule,” Cari muttered, right before she vanished into thin air too.

  “Immortals,” Jake muttered. All he needed was Medina dropping in with some more bad news, and right now he didn’t think he could take much more.

  Deciding to stay outside for a little longer to enjoy the peace and quiet, Jake sat back down and tried to concentrate on blocking out the voices in his head. Maybe he should try to make the house a sex-free zone, ban the lot of them from any form of intimacy. Perhaps then he might get a few minutes alone with his thoughts.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The luminescent foliage lining the outside of the caverns could be seen from a mile away.

  “Is that it?” Lynna asked.

  Kyle nodded. “I think so. It’s as Cari described it.”

  “It looks rather exposed,” Lynna said. “Not safe like the sunken city was.”

  “Compared to an invisible city, everything is exposed,” Kyle replied. “We’ll be doing what we can to secure the safety of everyone in the colony.”

  “I know.” Lynna sighed. “I thought once we’d arrived in the sunken city, we’d not have to be swimming all over again, especially not with a new baby.”

  “At least we’re nearly there,” Kyle told her, “which means you’ll be reunited with Maurissa again.”

  “I hope she’s well.”

  “I’m sure she is. Jake wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

  “You trust him?”

  “Of course. He’ll be treating Maurissa like she’s his own family, because in a way, she is.”

  King Nereus gathered everyone together at the edge of the caverns. “Guards, I want you to search the caves, clear out anything dangerous and report back here once the area has been secured.”

  Kyle swam forward to join the guards, but King Nereus halted him. “You and the other bodyguards are to stay here. You’re needed to protect the rest of the mer while we’re exposed.”

  Kyle nodded and, along with the rest of the bodyguards, took up a position around the edge of the group of mer. Finn stuck close to his side.

  “What are we going to do now that we’re here?” Finn asked. “Do you think it’s safe to return to England?”

  “I don’t know. I wish I did.”

  “I miss Jake.”

  “I know, baby, so do I.”

  “What if it’s still not safe to go back?”

  “Then I’ll stay here with the colony,” Kyle said.

  Finn wrapped his arms around Kyle’s waist and rested his head on his lover’s chest. They hadn’t been to land once during their journey to the new colony. King Nereus hadn’t believed it safe to swim to islands unnecessarily. Finn hoped they could make up for lost time soon.

  “What about you?” Kyle asked. “What have you decided?”

  “I haven’t,” Finn admitted. “I love you both so much. How can I be expected to choose between you? I can’t even split my time between the two of you because we’re so far away from England now.”

  “I’m not sure any of us would be happy with that arrangement,” Kyle admitted. “Despite our problems, we are a ménage, and I only feel completely content when I’m with the both of you.”

  “Me, too.”

  Kyle hugged Finn close, ignoring the occasional stares from the rest of the mer. Sometimes he forgot that it was so recently that the laws of the mer of Atlantis had been changed to allow them to love openly.

  “I don’t want to leave you,” Finn said.

  Kyle stroked his hand down Finn’s spine. He didn’t want Finn to leave him, either, but he felt saying so would be selfish. If Finn had to choose, Kyle couldn’t bear to make it harder for him.

  “I’ll think about what I’m going to do after the solstice,” Finn said. “If I’m swimming back to England, the last thing I want is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with no land in sight when the mating fever arrives.”

  “If you’re swimming back to England, I’m coming with you,” Kyle replied. “I may not be able to go to land, but there’s no way I’m letting you make the journey alone.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I’m your bodyguard,” Kyle reminded him. “And we both know the king would never let you leave alone.”

  “I know. Oh, Kyle, how did we get in such a mess?”

  Kyle felt guilt wash over him. He was the reason Finn was in this predicament. If he hadn’t hurt his leg, he’d have been with the others, safely in the ocean, instead of getting caught on camera and ruining all their lives.

  The spent their waiting time talking and swimming around an area that Kyle felt was much too confining. It took several hours for the guards to confirm the caverns were safe, after which the rest of the mer slowly made their way to the main entrance.

  The guards put up thick netting across the large entrance. It wouldn’t keep out the biggest and most dangerous of predators, but it would slow them down until the guards could send them on their way. They would need at least three guards on the entrance at all times.

  Kyle stared about the large cavern, brightly lit with the fluorescent plants, and saw many tunnels off the main room. It didn’t seem very comfortable, but he had certainly lived in worse during his nomadic life before seeking sanctuary in Atlantis. Finn, on the other hand, had rarely lived in such conditions. Raised in Atlantis, he had then swum to England where they had the luxury of human houses and furniture. The journey to the colony had been the longest and harshest of Finn’s life, not that his young lover had uttered a word of complaint.

  “There are larger caverns over there,” one of the guards who had searched the place said. “One might be suitable for an audience chamber, and the others off that one for the royal residences.”

  “Shall we take a look, boys?” King Nereus asked.

 
; Justin snorted. “Somehow I suspect this time I’m not going to be missing much while I’m blind.”

  Finn patted Justin’s arm. “One cave is pretty much like another, I guess.”

  Justin nodded. Until the evacuation of Atlantis, he had pretended to be blind on land, so no one knew he was actually blind because he was part Oracle. Now that secret had been revealed, as well, and he was being treated as reverently as Cari’s serving Oracles, who were safe in England at the moment. Finn had confided in Kyle that he was pretty sure Justin was as frustrated with the attention as Finn himself. Neither of them truly relished being heirs to Atlantis, though they both did their duties these days.

  Looking around the cavern, Kyle wondered what King Nereus would do now. Still a leader, the King of Atlantis could no longer call that city his home.

  “Come on,” Finn urged. “I’m tired. Let’s find somewhere quiet and get some sleep.”

  Kyle could see that no one was standing on ceremony and many of the mer had already disappeared into the network of caves. He took Finn’s hand and they followed their example, eventually finding a cozy little cave where they could curl up together.

  “Tomorrow we look for a sponge bed,” Finn said.

  Kyle laughed. “You can go look for one if you like. I intend to sleep for at least a week.”

  Finn chuckled and burrowed closer to Kyle. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  * * * *

  Finn heard the chattering and caught his name, but he couldn’t see who was talking in the cave next door. Whoever it was, they were making no effort to keep their conversation private and probably didn’t know the subject of their gossip was so close.

  The mer had been in the cavern for a couple of days now. Everyone had been working hard to make the place secure and safe, so their families could join them. Finn knew his time to make a decision was running out. He thought he had considered every aspect of his life, but the discussion next door, clearly not meant to be heard by him, highlighted something he hadn’t even considered.

  “I’ll bet the king won’t let him on land again,” one of the mermen said.