Dark Oceans (Ocean Series Book 1)

by Rhonda Nelson

  Studying its intricate designs and patterns engraved into it. Alyssa wondered whose it was, maybe a contestant in the Millay. Who else would it be? "Where did you get that?" Kelsie asked, jolting her out of her thoughts.

  "I found it," Alyssa replied, trying to be heard over the noise of the banquet hall.

  Kelsie narrowed her eyes at it. "May I?" she took it in her hands and examined it closely. Alyssa watched her in confusion; Kelsie was never one to be interested in necklaces, or jewelry of any form. Was this one hers somehow?

  Kelsie's eyes sparkled and she stared at Alyssa with an excited expression. "Can I keep this? Or borrow it for a while?" she pleaded, making Alyssa even more mystified. What was it about this necklace that was so appealing? Alyssa had many other necklaces that were ten times prettier than that.

  "Um..." Alyssa wasn't sure, the necklace intrigued her and something about it made her want to look after it.

  "Please Alyssa! I can pay you!" Alyssa blinked, unsure of what she was hearing. Maybe the noise in the banquet hall was distorting her words? The old Kelsie would never have bribed Alyssa for a little trinket.

  "Just take it, I don't mind. You don't have to pay me," Alyssa said finally, making Kelsie's face light up in a grin. She gave her a sudden hug that surprised Alyssa even more and then got up from her seat and exited the hall. Well that was weird... Alyssa push her chair back, hoping to sneak out after her. A hand suddenly stopped her, frantically; she looked around at the person.

  "Where are you going?" Tristan hissed.

  "None of your business," Alyssa replied rudely and stood up from the table. She felt his eyes digging into her back as she rushed out of the hall, trying to find Kelsie. She stepped out into the cool evening courtyard, shadows formed all around her, due to the setting sun. Kelsie was just leaving the entrance of the yard and turning towards the empty market street. Alyssa hurried down and kept to the sides of the houses as Kelsie entered the inn on the market street. It was still open and busy; the commoners must've been having a party of their own inside. Maybe Kelsie wanted a change of atmosphere? Or she preferred to eat dinner with the peasants of Mylvehil. A figure of a man as running up to her, Alyssa stopped where she was and looked closer at him. Ben.

  "Alyssa!" he called, stopping in front of her. He looked happier than usual, more carefree and easy going.

  "Hi," she replied, trying not to feel embarrassed about the kiss. Apparently, it was nothing to him. Not that she should care though...she was already engaged. "How's your wound?"

  "It's completely fine!" Ben laughed good naturally. Why was everyone acting out of character today? Ugh...it was messing with her mind way too much.

  "That's good," Alyssa said awkwardly, trying to fit in with the cheery mood.

  "What are you doing now? I was just going to hang out with a friend for a while – from the Millay – you can join us if you want," Ben didn't seem fazed by her lack of attitude. He just continued to smile as if he had no cares in the world.

  "Well..." maybe she could join them, but she didn't want to feel like a third wheel, and she was desperate to find out what Kelsie was up to.

  "Come on! It'll be fun – the inn manager has hired the local bards, you'll enjoy it," Ben took her hand and pulled her into the inn before she could protest. She was immediately met with a wave of warmth and delicious smells of roasted meat and vegetables. Raucous singing filled her ears, mixed in with the lively playing of instruments. Alyssa suddenly felt very out of place in her tight fitting, laced, silk dress.

  "Jason!" Ben called to somebody over the noise.

  "Ben!" a man called back; his voice was heavy with alcohol. "Come 'un git a pint, it's the best money can buy..." he stumbled over towards them, almost crashing into a table.

  "Sure, I'll pay," Ben offered, helping his friend to stand up straight. "Shall I get you something, Alyssa?"

  His friend stared drunkenly at Alyssa with shock. "Yer got the princess to come? Well that's a first," he said, his head started nodding to the beat of the music in the background. Alyssa stared around the cozy inn with horror. It was completely uncivilized, there were elves that were dancing on the tables and occasionally falling off onto their backs. People were pouring beer on each other's heads, laughing uncontrollably.

  "Cheer up Alyssa," Ben said lightly, pulling her along to the bar tender. "Three pints of your best beer," he ordered, passing a few gold coins to him.

  "I don't want one," Alyssa put in, slightly disgusted by the chaos of the room.

  "Don't be such a spoil sport," Ben laughed, handing her a pint of beer. Alyssa took it cautiously, staring down at the frothy liquid. Well...it wouldn't hurt to try, would it?

  Chapter Forty

  Alyssa slowly sat up in her four-poster bed, trying to shake the pounding headache away. Her hair was complete mess, even more than usual whenever she woke up. The memories of last night were distant and vague; everything was a blur when she tried to think about it. She was still wearing her dress from yesterday, though her corset was on back to front and felt very uncomfortable. Unsteadily, she got up and tried to make her way to the door, blinking back the nausea and tiredness.

  "Hey, Alyssa!" Ben called to her, running up the stairs. She wasn't even sure how he had managed to get past the guards...ugh, why did her head hurt so much?

  "Hey Ben," she feigned a smile, though she felt absolutely shattered inside.

  "Jason invited me for dinner with his family tonight, he asked if you wanted to come," Ben said brightly, not really picking up on her mood. Alyssa tried to remember Jason. She had some vague idea of who he was. Blond hair? Blue eyes? Was he a contestant in the Millay? And why was he spending so much time with Ben? All this thinking made her even more confused.

  "Um...ok, yeah I'll come..." Alyssa said sleepily, staggering forwards and clutching the banister.

  "Are you ok?" Ben asked worriedly, staring into her eyes. "You look kind of ill."

  "I am!" Alyssa complained.

  "Maybe you had too much to drink last night..." Ben frowned as if he were trying to recall last night. "...but so, did we all..."

  "I'll be ok soon, just give me a few minutes," Alyssa yawned.

  "Sure, do you want to go back to bed?" Ben suggested, finally he was realizing how tired she was.

  "Yeah..." she replied sleepily. Alyssa felt him pick her up like a baby and carry her to her room. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep again

  The king of Alltalos tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for the young elf to arrive. He hoped that this boy wouldn't fail him; unlike Duke Devlin who he had been so close to killing in anger. There was a knock on his chamber door, three quick taps and then two regular ones. "Come in," he called, not bothering to get up and open it. A blond-haired boy poked his head through the door, and then quickly shut it behind him. His face was triumphant and pleased. His blue eyes sparkled with victory, as if he could smell the money that awaited him.

  "You were right, my lord," he said proudly. "He is not what people believe him to be."

  "Then what is he?" Caiden snapped, wanting to get straight to the point.

  "He's half elf but also half mermaid, you can tell by his aura." Jason told him. Caiden narrowed his eyes at the tall youthful elf.

  "There's no such thing as a hybrid elf," he spat. Jason remained calm, even under Caiden's terrifying glare.

  "Yes, there is, he openly admitted it to me. Check his aura next time you see him, half elf for sure but also half mermaid." Mermaid. Even the word brought back so many memories, even after so long he still felt the heart wrenching pain that it had caused him. Many elves had told him that he had changed, that Alltalos was never the same. But he ignored them, since he was the King and they had no right to judge him.

  Could this hybrid, which Jason talked about, be his son? Caiden wasn't sure what to think about that. He already had a perfectly good son, Tristan and he had a perfectly good queen as well, who he loved very much. But even after all this time,
could he forget the one true person who had stolen his heart? The answer was plainly simple. No.

  "My lord?" the boy asked, he looked frightened of what the King was going to say.

  Caiden made up his mind. "Kill him," he told the boy harshly. "I'll pay you double, just kill him. Poison him at your dinner tonight...stab him when he's asleep. I just want him gone."

  "Of course, my lord," the boy said with no hesitation, he looked gleeful at the prospect of getting double his money.

  "And Jason?" he said before the boy left.

  "Yes, my lord?"

  "Remember this afternoon; I want you at Alltalos by 2 o'clock sharp."

  "How does this work?" Kelsie asked, holding up the pendant to Leo. He stared at it with wonder and joy, his eyes were clearer than usual.

  "Put it around your neck..." Leo breathed. "Use your mind to summon the spirits..."

  Kelsie sighed, wondering if she'd ever get a straight answer from Leo. Nevertheless, she hung it around her neck and shut her eyes, trying to imagine it in her hands. The gold thrummed with energy in her hands and she suddenly, to her panic, felt her mind being pulled towards it. Into a freezing cold abyss of pure night and darkness.

  "Help me!" someone was screaming in the darkness. "Save me!" More screams echoed in her ears, they got louder and louder the longer she stayed there. She couldn't feel her physical body anymore; it was almost like she had a new body, trapped inside of this pendant of gloom.

  "Blood..." someone was hissing in her ear. She felt talons dig into her nonvisible arms.

  "Get off me!" she tried to say, but her mouth made no movement. She had to find Callie, she had to save Leo's mind. But her own mind was growing continually weaker and weaker; she could hardly concentrate on the task ahead of her.

  "Callie!" she managed to shout into the blackness, over the wails and cries of the invisible souls around her. There was a sudden gust of wind and something cool gripped her hand. The darkness suddenly was pressing in on her, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't move.

  "Release your magic," someone whispered to her soothingly.

  Chapter Forty-One

  With one last pull, she ripped her mind from the pendants hold and fell onto the bed panting and sweating in a very unladylike manner. Her vision suddenly came flooding back to her, though spots still danced in her eyes.

  "Kelsie? Kelsie?" someone was shaking her gently. Kelsie opened her eyes, feeling more exhausted than ever, her head spun with dizziness and her mind felt like it was being burned with fire. Leo stared down at her; his brown eyes were completely clear and bubbly, full of happiness and excitement.

  "Leo!" Kelsie said. Her mind lessened in pain slightly. "How are you?"

  "I'm great!" Leo smiled; it was only then until Kelsie realized the other person in the room. "Kelsie meet Callie, my...er...friend..."

  Callie blushed and looked down, embarrassed. "Thank you so much Kelsie," she said warmly. "I don't know how I can ever repay you for helping this idiot and rescuing me from death."

  Kelsie smiled at her; her exhaustion suddenly evaporated. "Hey, I'm not an idiot!" Leo complained childishly. Callie rolled her eyes. "Tell me again what you did whilst I was dead."

  Leo flushed with color. "I...um...experimented on people..."

  "Exactly," Callie replied with fake exasperation.

  "So... are you two a couple then?" Kelsie asked curiously.

  Leo blinked, looking nervously at Callie. "Um..."

  Callie glared daggers at him. "Yes, we are."

  Kelsie was silent for a moment, trying to figure a few things out. "So, you're a mermaid?" she accused suspiciously to Callie, who flinched at her tone of voice.

  "Yes," she said finally.

  "Then why aren't you evil? Just like the ones I've encountered," Kelsie asked, maybe this was a plot or a plan. Maybe she was truly evil and was using Leo to destroy all elfish kind.

  Callie paled, fidgeting nervously. "It's...a long story."

  Kelsie rolled her eyes, that's what people always said to get away with things. "I've got all day," she said impatiently.

  "I c-can't," Callie stammered, not meeting her gaze. "I was sworn to secrecy..."

  Kelsie clenched her fists in frustration. "Does Leo know?"

  Leo stared at her with a blank expression. "What? You mean the s-" he stopped when Callie glared at him. "...um...yeah, I know."

  "Then why aren't you telling me? I can't be that important, can it?" Kelsie burst out, her fury rising. Neither of them answered but looked away from her. Kelsie clenched her jaw in frustration, trying to hold back the mouthful of curses she longed to give them both. She hated being left in the dark, it was like they were both ganging up on her. "Ugh, fine. Whatever. I don't care," Kelsie got up and slammed the bedroom door behind her. She ran down the narrow wooden steps and out into the market street that was unnaturally quiet today.

  Soft flakes of snow drifted down from the sky, covering the roads with a thin layer of white dusting. The temperature was colder than usual, which was weird, since it was bright and warm yesterday. Kelsie rubbed her hands to keep warm as she walked briskly down the cobbled street and back to her mansion. Just outside her snow-covered house, a carriage was drawn up outside. The King of Alltalos was getting out of it, though she had no idea why he was so obsessed with her father.

  The double doors unlatched, and her father stepped out, dressed in a warm thick cloak and light weight clothing. A sword was strapped around his waist, along with several daggers and a brown leather bag. Something was wrong about this. She was sure that both of them were up to something...and she swore that she was going to find out.

  Ben ran down onto the lakeside, staring hopefully in the cold icy waters. Everything around him felt like it was a dream, the white landscape felt so unreal – but beautiful at the same time. "Mother?" he called, into the water. There was no reply. Ben sighed, feeling alone once again. Maybe she had gone to a warmer part of the ocean right now, she had told him that she preferred the sea to land. But to Ben, it would always be the other way around. Since he held no love for the dark stormy oceans, no matter how mysterious they might be.

  "Ben..." a voice whispered in the stillness. Ben blinked in surprise, pulling his sword out of his sheath.

  "Who's there?" he demanded, his eyes flashing in the blinding whiteness of the snow. The water by his feet rippled and a figure smoothly stepped out in front of him. She had long black hair with piercing green eyes. Her aura screamed 'mermaid'. Ben staggered back, holding out his sword at her neck. But the mermaid in front of him was so ethereally stunning, the water around her flowed around her body like a dress, constantly moving and flowing.

  "Get back," he warned through his teeth. The mermaid shook her head, smiling at him with perfect white fangs.

  "I know who you are Ben..." she whispered, stepping forward on human legs. She spoke with a slightly lilted accent, as if she rarely spoke the elfish language. "You've been living your life too long without seeing the world as it really is..."

  Ben frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

  The mermaid's smile widened, though it looked sort of twisted. "Stay with me..." she crooned. "You don't belong on land; you've always belonged to the oceans. Tell me, what good has it ever done for you, living on land?"

  Ben's sword dropped by his side. She was right. What good had it ever done to him? All he had ever felt his entire life was loneliness...until Alyssa came along. She was his first friend in his whole existence, he couldn't just forget about her. Could he? "You're thinking about your friends, aren't you?" the mermaid stated, her smile never once slipped from her face. "Let me tell you this. They don't care for you; they'll forget about you eventually. Once they find out who you really are...then you'll be like dirt to them."

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Ben nodded slowly. She did have a point and something about her made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Everything she said made sense, how could it not? She knew who he was, and she hadn't kille
d him yet...which was a bonus. "I... guess you're right..."

  The mermaid smiled dreamily at him and took his hand gently. If he had been in his right mind, he would've resisted. If he had been in his right mind, he wouldn't have believed her. But he wasn't in his right mind and he didn't care. The mermaid's power was affecting him. Badly. But to him, it felt like coming home after being in the dark for so long. "Let's get your first elf to kill..." the mermaid whispered in his ear, dragging him down into the ocean.

  Alyssa woke up suddenly, her maid was shaking her roughly on the arm. "Alyssa! It's almost eleven o'clock! You're supposed to be eating breakfast by now...ahh, we're so out of schedule! I don't know what to do and Azura's broken up with Beck and it's all a disaster! I must get down to the kitchens in five minutes! I don't have enough time to cook all the-"

  "Piper!" Alyssa groaned.

  "- chicken for tonight's meal! At least it's not the banquet like last night – talking about that – where did you go? Did you even get to try my Pavlova? I spent ages on it – and guess what? I had to work up to twelve o'clock at night washing all the dishes – it was horrible! I didn't even get to dance at the masquerade-"

  "Piper!" Alyssa said louder, sitting up and blinking back the sleep in her eyes. "Can you stop talking now?"

  Piper flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, I was just annoyed with the head cook for depriving me from sleep last night. I literally only had five hours sleep until I had to get up and start lighting the fires around the castle!" Piper huffed in annoyance and went and opened the curtains. "Hey! What's Kelsie getting out the fastest horse there is out of the stables? I was going to ride on that one today – ugh, now I have to spend my free time doing something else."

  Alyssa jumped up out bed hurriedly, now wide awake. "Kelsie's doing what?"