Forever

by Chanda Hahn

  Claire’s phone beeped, and she looked at the incoming text. Her face broke into a grin. “Never mind. The boss isn’t coming, and the others don’t care. We can kill you now.”

  Grey Tail made an excited snuffing noise, and Mina pushed out harder with her power, hoping someone would answer. But then Grey Tail’s head cocked to the side, and he slowly turned toward her, eyes dilating.

  “She’s using magic again,” he sneered.

  Claire reached out and grabbed her arm roughly. “You think you’re so smart? There’s no one to save you now.” Claire reached for Mina’s head and began to drain her.

  Horrible pain ran through her gut. This was what it had been like for Nan, although Nan was unconscious. Mina’s head flopped to the side, and she called and called and called—weaker each time—in a final, desperate plea for help. Her eyes fell across the dock to the water, which was bubbling and moving.

  Something large rose up out of the water. Riding the wave, it stepped onto the pier, its dark green hair braided. The light green skin almost glowed in the moonlight as the sea witch raised her hands and commanded the wave beneath her to rush over Claire, Mina, and Grey Tail. Mina had only a moment’s notice. But that was time enough to prepare for the rush of water that flowed over her. She held her breath.

  The wave moved like a living, breathing thing. It wrapped around Claire and Grey Tail and pulled them kicking and screaming back into the water as it receded into the ocean. Mina saw the green feet walk close to her face as she slowly closed her eyes for what she hoped wasn’t the last time.

  Chapter 30

  Mina woke, surrounded by darkness and a very damp smell. It took a bit for her eyes to adjust, but she realized she lay on a makeshift bed in a cave. Soft glowing stones lined the wall, and Mina could make out a dark figure shucking oysters.

  The sea witch. Mina watched her, wary but interested. There could only be one sea witch in the immediate area.

  “Are you Taz Clara?”

  The witch turned her black eyes on Mina. Her hair was just as dark as Nix’s mother—the only other sea witch she’d ever run into.

  Mina expected to feel intense hatred and anger roll off of her like it had with Nix’s mother, but she didn’t. Annoyance certainly, but she didn’t feel in immediate danger.

  “I am Taz Clara, and I don’t like being compelled by anyone to do their bidding. Even if it’s you, Mina Grimm.”

  “You know my name?” she said in disbelief.

  “Of course I know your name. Do you not think I would know the person who started it all? I lost my position as a maidservant because I tried to save the prince’s soul, and it didn’t turn out the way the Fates wanted it. Still, it was my best work, and I’m proud of it. And here you are, wanting to undo it.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “For great magic to work, there have to be rules set in place. Most everything done can be undone.”

  “Does that include the poisoned knife?”

  Taz laughed. “Ah, now the real questions start. You could have called for the sirens to come and help you, but no… you had to raise Taz from her nice warm bed to be at your beck and call. And now you expect me to help you again? I think not.”

  “Thank you for coming to my rescue.” Mina briefly wondered if Claire and Grey Tail had lived through it. But with Taz’s mood, it didn’t seem like the smartest idea to keep bringing up Teague, so Mina moved on to another line of questioning.

  “How come you’re not evil? I thought nixies become evil after they change, or do you prefer to be called a sprite?”

  “You just found out you’re Fae, and now you think you know everything.”

  “No, I realize how little I actually know, which is why I’m asking questions—so I can learn. I’m friends with a nixie, and he was scared of turning.”

  Taz’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Yes, I faced the same dilemma: lose my connection with water and die or start killing and feeding on others. But I found a way around it. I don’t have to kill and feed on lives; I can feed on fears. I lived quite happily for a while. I even grew close to the Fates. But after I couldn’t save their son, I was banished, and I came through the gate.

  “Here on Alcatraz, there was enough fear, and there were enough deaths to sustain me. When the prison closed, I almost gave up and died, but I found the fear of the tourists can sustain me. I don’t go far because of the danger of becoming hungry and hurting someone. So when people need my help, they come to me.”

  “I need your help.”

  “No,” Taz snapped. She moved away from Mina.

  “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.”

  “Yes I do. You want me to help you split the prince again, so you can be with the one called Jared.”

  Mina could feel her cheeks heating up.

  “Have you not been listening? I was banished because of you!”

  “I fail to see how you being banished had anything to do with me.”

  Taz turned her cat-like eyes on Mina, and her face took on a look of fury. “The Fates came to me for help, since I had succeeded in suppressing my dark nature. We hoped I could cast the dark, poisoned side of him into an object. They brought me his journal. How was I to know that the journal had once been torn in two, and its twin was on the human plane? That the one I held would mirror the other?”

  “You never meant to split them,” Mina said aloud, feeling as if her heart was breaking.

  “No, it was an accident. But a terrible one. The Fates let me take the blame for all of it. Prince Teague wasn’t as powerful without his other half, but I, still, had failed in my intent. I don’t plan on failing again, because I won’t try. I especially will not help you. I don’t want to be on the dark prince’s radar.”

  “But you’ve helped so many other people… like my mother.”

  “And I’ve gained the anger of all the sirens in the world. I’m done with you and your kin. Be thankful that I helped you on the dock. That is the one and only boon you will ever get from me.”

  Mina’s hands shook in anger. “Then what am I to do?”

  “You could kill him,” she said, as if it were nothing.

  “That’s what everyone says,” Mina sighed irritably.

  “Then why do you keep doubting yourself?”

  “I don’t want to lose him.”

  “If you don’t, you will lose so much more.” Taz spoke knowingly.

  Mina’s heart broke, and she started to cry. The sea witch came near her and cooed softly. The emotions she’d been holding back for so long poured out easily—her grief, anger, frustration. How dare everyone think that Teague’s life didn’t matter? Killing him now would be like killing off a part of her soul. She just couldn’t do it.

  She didn’t know how long she’d been crying, but she knew that Taz had sat next to her and wrapped her arm gently around her. She let Mina cry.

  “It’s okay, my little Grimm Siren. It’s okay,” she said softly.

  When Mina had cried herself out, she looked up and noticed a small tear in Taz Clara’s eye. The sea witch wiped at it gently and sniffed. “Those were some of the most powerful emotions I’ve fed on in a long time.”

  Mina gasped, and Taz shook her head, tried to calm her down. “No, I didn’t pull them from you. I only took what you were willing to give up. With the emotions of a siren and a Grimm, I will not have to feed for a very, very long time.”

  “Well, I’m sure that was worth something to you then,” Mina said indignantly. She shouldn’t have fed from her without asking.

  The sea witch stood and waved at Mina in irritation. “Fine, I’ll grant you a small favor of my choosing. But you must leave and never come back.”

  She beckoned with her hand and led Mina down a tunnel. Mina felt the press of power as they passed through a veil. They’d stepped out of a wall of rock that hid the entrance to Taz Clara’s cave along the rocky shoreline.

  It was morning, and fog rolled along the water, ma
king it almost impossible to see anything beyond twenty feet. Somewhere in the distance, a fog horn sounded. The boat was coming closer.

  “The morning tours will start soon. You should be able to make your way back on the ferry when they leave.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Mina answered awkwardly and started up the path.

  The sea witch’s gaze followed her until she turned a corner. She ducked behind the rocks, staying low when the first ferry arrived. When the passengers disembarked and followed the tour guide, Mina tagged along for the two-hour tour. She snuck on the ferry with them at the end.

  By the time she landed back at the pier, it was way past the agreed check-in time with Nan. Mina ran the whole way, knowing she would probably miss them, but also that her friends would be looking for her. Even when Mina got a stitch in her side, she kept on running until she could see the Zoltar machine. A crowd had gathered in front of it, and Mina slowed to see if she could see what they were looking at.

  Someone pulled on her arm.

  “Hey,” she cried, as Ever grabbed her and yanked her aside.

  “Where have you been?” Ever yelled.

  “Long story. Have you seen Charlie, Nan, and Brody?” Mina tried to pull away from Ever, but the pixie wouldn’t let go.

  “No, they didn’t come,” Ever answered. “Ternan and Winona are hysterical looking for you. Kino says something bad happened, and cops have been crawling all over the pier by the aquarium. Talk to me, Mina.”

  Mina pulled away from Ever and ran toward the machine. It was just a bunch of teenagers, putting money in and getting their fortune cards. She was about to turn away when she saw something that made her blood run cold.

  “They were here.” Mina jogged over to pick up the Superman action figure she’d shoved into Charlie’s backpack. She flipped it over and saw C.G. written in black marker on the red boot.

  “Charlie!” Mina rushed into the crowd, searching. “Charlie!”

  Ever joined Mina, and they worked their way out in a circle, shouting. Mina spotted Nan’s bug by a parking meter and checked out the car, but no one was in it. Just like she’d seen in her dream, though, Charlie’s jacket and a bunch of comics covered the back seat.

  “Ever, they have to be around here.”

  “I’ll go this way.” Ever pointed, taking off down the street and looking in boutiques. Mina ran back toward the gift shop and started to check the stores nearest their meeting point. Maybe they just got tired of waiting. Maybe they stopped for food.

  Maybe they were kidnapped by Teague.

  Oh, this was all her fault. If only she hadn’t had snuck out. She caught a glimpse of a familiar form in the window and stopped. She looked over her shoulder.

  No one was there.

  Mina continued to search for her brother, but this time she didn’t imagine seeing Teague. He didn’t bother to hide his presence in the reflection of the mirror.

  But she pretended she didn’t see him and moved along the shops toward the end of the pier. When she got to the end, she waited until she felt the prickle of power. She closed her eyes and turned to face him.

  He just stood there. His dark hair looked wet—it could have been gel—his jeans were well fitted, and he wore a homespun black shirt. His choice of clothes felt very Jared to her.

  “You came.” Mina spoke first. She wanted to try and reason with him, maybe find her friends.

  “I did, because you left.” His eyes lacked emotion.

  Her fear-level rose, and she tried to squelch it. “Against my will.”

  “That’s not what it looks like.” He lifted his hands and gestured to the pier. “You seem quite frantic looking for your brother and friends. I wonder where they could have gone.”

  “Please, I would have stayed. It was my grandfather who took me. He thought he was rescuing me. He didn’t understand, even though I tried to explain you’d blame me and try to hurt my brother.”

  “You’re right. I do blame you.” He stepped closer to her, his voice tapering off.

  “Please, don’t hurt them. I’ll do anything,” she begged.

  Teague became irritated. “We’ve been here before, Mina. I already made a deal with you, and you broke it. I can’t trust you.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “You’re a liar.”

  Mina closed her eyes and released the glamour, letting her siren side out. She wanted to see his face, his reaction when he saw her. She wasn’t disappointed. He looked surprised, and she saw a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

  But what that smile meant was a mystery.

  “I’m not lying or hiding anything anymore. You have my mirror. I can’t hide from you, so why would I run when I know you’ll find me?” This time she stepped toward him, closing the distance.

  “Don’t think you can use your power on me, because I won’t be lured in by your tricks.” She took another step closer to him and met his eyes. Finally, she could read the emotions. He was angry enough that he could hurt her, but the way he kept looking at her lips told her he still wanted to kiss her.

  Mina had to be careful. She was playing one of the most dangerous games ever. And with the most dangerous opponent.

  “Do you have them?” Mina asked softly again.

  Teague turned his head and looked across the water, refusing to make eye contact. “Careful, or I’ll destroy the whole pier. Shall I do what I did to your school here?”

  Mina didn’t take the bait. “I don’t care about this place. I want to go back with you.” She took another step forward and was almost face to face with him. His skin had turned yellowish, his veins dark blue. Annalora had to be right. The tip was working its way toward his heart. He was getting worse.

  Now he smirked. “Trying to bargain with me again. That’s not going to work. Maybe this will convince you I’m serious.” The fog still made it hard to see, but she could hear something. Very loud creaking of metal followed by popping sounds. Horns honked, and then the creak echoed across the water again.

  “What is that?”

  “The gate. I came through the same one you did.”

  “But the sirens and the timing…how?”

  “The sirens are gone. I had to move the stars and freeze the gate. My army must have finished coming through by now, so I imagine they are destroying it. Here, I’ll show you.”

  Teague waved his hand, and the fog dissipated enough for Mina to see the Golden Gate Bridge bending and torquing as two stone golems attacked it. One worked on the base, bending and pushing the post, while the other stood in the middle of the road causing all of the cars to crash and veer dangerously as it snapped the cables.

  “Stop it! People are going to get hurt.” What did he mean the sirens were gone?

  “It’s too late for them, Mina. You can’t save them all, just like you couldn’t save your brother, friend, and boyfriend. But why should you? You always were selfish.”

  Mina watched as the destruction kept on. A stone golem picked up the nearest car and tossed it into the bay. The fog continued clearing, and she could make out more of his army, of Reapers, giants, and beasts roaming and bashing the hoods of the cars. A bright yellow school bus was trapped on the bridge.

  Angry tears flowed, and she turned on him. The Fae power rushed to her—her hair whipped her face, and heat rose to her eyes as the power crackled off of her and she channeled all of it at Teague.

  Teague stepped back startled. “Your eyes!” His hand moved to his heart in pain. “Stop it!”

  “Call off your army!” she demanded.

  “Never!” Teague yelled back, his angry blue eyes glowing with power. He lashed out with a blast and flung Mina against the railing. She lost her focus, the air momentarily knocked from her, and he retaliated again. Another blast of power had her spiraling through the air.

  Onlookers screamed as she landed on the pier. Nearby people scattered. Teague roared, and the wood planks began to crack along the pier, separating her from anyone trying to help.
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  Mina got back up and tried to reach into Teague’s mind. Searching, calling for him, for Jared. For the goodness that she knew was still inside of him. When Teague ran toward her, she stood her ground. She needed to get close to him.

  “You are no match for me!” Teague stepped forward. With a wave of his hand, she slid across the pier and under the railing to fall into the bay.

  She grabbed the post at the last minute and hung on, her fingers clawing at the post. Her feet dangled twenty feet above the water. Using every ounce of strength she had, she swung her body to the side and got her foot up. Slowly, she pulled herself back onto the pier.

  “You’re no match for my power, no match for my hate. You are weak,” Teague taunted.

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” She stood up and wiped her hands on her pants. “You think hate makes you strong, and I understand. But love always wins,” Mina answered back. “Jared!” Mina called to him. “I know you’re in there.”

  Teague sneered, and she felt the squeezing pressure around her body as her feet slowly lifted off of the ground. Teague came forward, pulled out the poisoned dagger, and held it up in front of her. “You tried to kill yourself with this and rob me of my victory. I saved you. Now I will finish the job. Only I’ll do better than try.”

  Mina struggled to look out across the bay. The golems continued to wreak havoc on the bridge. They were only a few cars away from the bus. This has gone on too long. If I can’t have Jared, I’ve just got to die and give Teague what he wants. It’ll save everyone else.

  Just then, she heard a loud piercing shriek, and one of the stone golems burst into small pebbles. She saw the siren ship and recognized Kino at the bow attacking a third golem who’d appeared in the water. A giant wave surged up and over the bridge. As it passed, it deposited an army of very ticked off sirens. Cars began to rise up out of the water as if on lifts.

  Mina knew Ternan and Winona would do their best to fight off Teague’s army. But she also knew they were vastly outnumbered. There was only one way to stop this.