by Dee J. Stone
Damarian and I nod.
The Sapphire nods to the Violet, who grudgingly follows him. We swim after them, and when we reach an area with piles of debris, I know we’ve reached the entrance. Even though it’s hard, I force myself to examine my surroundings, to see the devastation I caused. It looks like someone bombed the place. There is absolutely nothing left.
Damarian pulls me closer to him and cups my cheek, lifting my head toward his so our eyes meet. “I understand how much you wish to help. I feel it as well. But I do not believe there is anything we can do.”
I gently free myself from him and swim deeper into the colony, past the Guards. They call after me, and so does Damarian, but their words go right past my ears. I slip through a gap between two large pieces of rock, hoping and wishing things aren’t so bleak further inside. But all I see before me is more destruction.
“Cassie.” Damarian is at my side and is about to reach for me, but I make a sharp turn to the left and dash to a cave—or what’s left of it. While one side has been blown up, the other side is still somewhat intact.
“Cassie Price,” one of the Guards says as I swim closer to it. “I advise you to keep your distance.”
I’m not listening to him. It’s like my body is acting on its own. I move closer and duck underneath the collapsed entrance, swimming inside.
“Cassie!” Damarian calls, panic in his voice.
There is so much debris around me. So much damage. This cave was someone’s house and now it’s gone. All because of me.
“Cassie,” Damarian gasps.
I look down at my hands and realize they’re spread wide open, as much as my webbed fingers allow. They are curled a little and are trembling. Some of the debris starts to shake as well.
“Cassie.” I feel him at my side. I don’t look away from the pieces of rock that are starting to bounce. The more my hands shake, the more they bounce. It’s putting so much pressure on my fingers that they feel like they’re about to snap in half.
“Cassie, enough. Please!” Damarian yells. He reaches to push my hands down, but I grab one and link my fingers through his. An electric pulse zaps through me. “What are you—” He’s cut off when a heavy groan passes through his lips. I feel it, too, another pulse zipping through me, though this one is painful. I cry out and try to free my hand from Damarian’s, but they are glued together. The water around us starts to grow unstable, as if we’re caught in the middle of a maelstrom.
“What is the meaning of this?” I hear one of the Guards yell. Like before, I can’t break my gaze from the rubble that is still bouncing, though now they look like they’re ready to leap out of the ocean. I assume the two Guards must be caught in the maelstrom, too.
There’s a flash of electricity, and I realize it came from our interlocked hands. Some more crackles and shoots to different pieces of debris around us, causing them to break into even smaller pieces.
“Cassie!” Damarian’s voice sounds so far away, like he’s at the other side of ocean. But I know he’s right next to me because our hands are still glued together.
There’s another flash of electricity, this one hitting the rubble in front of us. Before my eyes, I watch how the pieces rise in the air, like I have telekinesis. Electricity crackles around us as the pieces rise higher and higher. Then they drop down and start forming together, piece by piece, as though I’m building a house. But it’s not a house—it’s a cave.
Our hands thrust to another pile of debris, and once again the pieces rise up before falling down and forming another cave. Our bodies, still crackling with electricity, lift off the ocean floor and swim to more piles of debris.
My hand breaks off Damarian’s with so much force that I’m thrown back and collide into someone—the Violet Guard. We crash to the ground and slide across it until we hit a wall of one of the caves.
“Sorry,” I say as I pick myself off him. My chest is expanding and contracting violently and my gills work overdrive as they try to provide me with the oxygen my body desperately needs.
The Guard just stares at me with the most bewildered expression on his face. He no longer has even an ounce of hostility. When I glance at Damarian, I find him on the floor a few feet away from me, his face holding the same expression as the Violet, huffing and puffing like me. The Sapphire floats behind him, blinking at me.
“Cassie.” Damarian gets off the floor and swims over, locking his arm around my shoulders. I turn my head right and left as I examine the Ruby colony, and my heart rate, which was already beating at an unnatural pace, quickens. Holy shit. The entire colony has been completely restored. Not a single piece of debris remains.
My eyes snap to Damarian’s. “How…?”
He caresses my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I could ask you the same question.”
My mouth moves, but I can’t seem to form a single word, let alone a sentence. I examine the area again. “We…we did this,” I say.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my hair, though there’s no point because it floats in the water. “You have done it, my love.”
I look down at my hands. “All I know is that I needed to come here. I needed…I needed to fix the damage I caused.” I lift my hands and look at him. “Our powers?”
He slides his hand in mine and brings it to his mouth. “Our bond is even stronger than it has been, for we have tasted the full power of the king. I assumed it would leave us as soon as I relinquished the crown, but I suppose some has remained with us.” He takes my face in his hands. “Determination and hope is one of the strongest weapons a creature can have. It was your hope and determination that has returned the colony to the Ruby clan.”
I gape at him. Me? I was the one who fixed the Ruby colony? All I wanted was to help them. I didn’t think I’d actually find a way.
I place my hands over his that are on my face. “I couldn’t have done it without you. The two of us have returned the colony to the Ruby clan.”
He nods. “The closer I grow to you, my beautiful Cassie, the more and more my love for you increases. I did not think I could love you more than I had, but it seems I was mistaken.” He pulls me to his chest and wraps his arms around me, kissing the side of my neck.
“Likewise, my merman,” I whisper.
Since we have a small audience, we reluctantly pull apart. Damarian swims over to the two Guards, who float side by side, their faces still holding the same befuddled expression. “Send word to the palace that the Ruby colony has been restored,” he tells them. “I am certain they will be joyful to return home.”
The Sapphire nods before swimming away.
The Violet’s eyes move between the two of us. It looks like he wants to say something but chooses not to. I get off the floor and move closer to him. “What is it?” I ask.
“Forgive me…I did not behave appropriately toward you. I apologize.”
“It’s okay,” I assure him.
“My sister had fallen during battle.” His voice is so low and so choked up that I can barely hear him. “She was brave, Natla. So very brave. She was to join the Guards in the next moon.” He shakes his head and lowers his gaze to his tail. “I implored her not to fight, for I did not believe she was prepared. But she refused to heed my words because she was certain she would succeed.” He lifts his eyes to mine. “I held you accountable for my sister’s death, but now I understand you are not to blame. You have sacrificed a lot for the children of the sea and were determined to restore the Ruby colony. You are one of us, Cassie Price of the Sapphire clan.” He lowers his head. “You have my respect for all eternity.”
I stare at him, not knowing what to say or do. As much as I appreciate him no longer wanting to spear me with a swordfish, I don’t deserve his praise or respect. Maybe I rebuilt the Ruby colony, but I’ve done so much damage and caused the deaths of so many people, including his sister. I can never be completely forgiven.
“Thanks,” I say.
“May I escort you to the Sapphire colony?” h
e asks. “Or is it your wish to remain here?”
I’m about to answer when I sense a merperson nearing.
“Syren,” Damarian and I say.
Two seconds later, he zips through the entrance to the Ruby colony. “Cassie!” he calls. He stops short and stares at the Ruby colony. “You have…you have managed…” He shakes his head. “Never mind this at the moment. Cassie, you and Damarian must come at once!”
“What is the matter, Father?” Damarian grabs my hand and swims over to him.
“Did something happen to Zarya?” I ask, my heart pounding so hard I think it will burst.
“It is your brother and sister,” Syren says. “They have been located.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
We’re zooming through the ocean so fast I’m surprised I haven’t crashed into a large rock. I feel the occasional fish or other sea creature hit different parts of my body, but I can’t slow down. Syren told us Ruthie and Bobby are close to death.
It’s not because all the sea serpents are dead. It’s because they don’t know how to survive down here. Even though physically they carry the sea serpent form, I have no idea what form they are in their minds. With all the sea serpents gone, they are completely lost. And probably scared out of their minds.
“I cannot assure you that you will be able to placate them,” Syren tells me as our tails pump behind us. “It seems they are confused. Perhaps in shock.”
“I’ll get through to them.” My hands fist at my sides. “I’ll help them.”
Damarian nods. I see it in his eyes—he will do everything and anything he can to help me.
After what feels like forever, I see merpeople in the distance. As we move closer, Callen comes into my view. “They are still dangerous,” he says as he comes up beside us. “Be cautious.”
We continue swimming until Callen holds out his arm in front of me. We all make a short stop, mine so strong I nearly chop Callen’s arm off. Before me is a wall of extremely large rocks, guarded by about twenty merpeople and sharks. I swallow hard. Little Ruthie and Bobby must be behind there.
“I advise Cassie and I go alone,” Callen says. “A large party confuses them and causes them to behave more volatile.”
Damarian’s faces washes with dread. “I cannot leave Cassie.”
I take his hand. “I’ll be okay. You have to trust that I’ll be okay.”
It looks like he doesn’t want to give up without a fight. But he must see the desperation in my eyes because he nods and kisses my hand. “I will remain here and will leap the second you need aid.” He touches my cheek. “Be cautious, my love.”
I press my cheek into his hand. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
I nod to Callen, who returns it. Damarian and Syren watch as Callen and I swim higher until we reach the top of the rocks. Peering over the edge, I see two small figures on the ocean floor, guarded by jellyfish, sharks, and Guards. Callen swoops downward, and after taking a large breath, I follow. It takes everything I have not to cry at the sight of them. They don’t look like sea serpents anymore. I have no idea what they do look like. Scales still cover their bodies and they have their tails, but they just don’t look right.
“What’s wrong with them?” I croak.
“We do not know,” Callen says. “It is as though their bodies are rejecting the sea serpents but the sea serpents refuse to surrender.”
And the result is mangled bodies. “We need to remove the sea serpents from inside them,” I say. I have no idea how, but maybe the same way I was able to suppress Cassila.
Callen nods. “But first, you must attempt to soothe them. They have already harmed ten of my Guards.”
They bare their teeth and hiss. If there is a hint of human Ruthie and Bobby, I’m not seeing it. Hell, I don’t even know which one is Bobby and which is Ruthie.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I tell Callen.
Four large sharks flank me as I move an inch closer to my little brother and sister. They continue to hiss as they try to fight the tentacles shocking them. I close my eyes for a second because I know how painful this must be for them. I need to do this. I’m the only one who can.
“Bobby, Ruthie,” I say, moving even closer. Some of the jellyfish part to give me room, but they don’t loosen their holds on my siblings. “It’s me, Cassie.”
One of them—I guess Bobby because he’s slightly bigger, bares his fangs and snaps his mouth. Then he cries out when a jellyfish shocks him. It only causes him to grow angrier.
“Let him go,” I find myself saying.
Callen’s eyebrows rise. “Pardon me?”
“Holding them hostage like this is only fueling their anger. They’re kids. They need to be shown love.”
Every single Guard is looking at me like I fell from the moon and landed in the ocean.
“They are not fry,” a Diamond says. “They are beasts.”
“I know their human sides are in there somewhere,” I say. “But I can’t get through to them if they’re treated this way.”
“I apologize, but I cannot risk releasing them,” Callen says. “They have already injured ten of my Guards.”
“Then only free one and leave me alone with him.” My eyes move to the smaller sea serpent. “No, not Bobby. I can get through to Ruthie. I know I can.” Even though I was pretty close to my brother, I was closer to Ruthie. If I can get through to her, maybe she’ll be able to help me reach Bobby.
Callen looks at some of his Guards.
“This is absurd,” an Emerald female says. “Perhaps it is her wish to join them.” Her eyes flash to mine. “She was one of them. Perhaps she still is.”
Ouch. Though I guess she has a valid reason to think that way. “Please,” I ask Callen. “Just a few minutes. I don’t want to put your Guards in danger. Leave me with the smaller one.”
He frowns. “I do not like this.” He glances behind him at the wall. “If Syren and Damarian were aware I allowed this…”
“Don’t protect me, Callen. That’s not your job. Just help me.”
He rubs his forehead. “Very well.” He nods to the Emerald. “Clear the area. Four sharks shall remain.” He looks at the jellyfish holding Ruthie down. “Take your leave of the smaller sea serpent when I instruct.”
He swims over and presses his back against mine, holding out his fists. “We are to commit suicide,” he mutters.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
“I will not leave your side.”
“Callen—”
“You are a fine warrior, Cassie Price. It was an honor battling alongside you. It is not my nature to abandon a friend in need.”
“Don’t sacrifice your life for me. Please.”
“There is not a lot to sacrifice.”
I just look at him, though it’s hard since we’re back to back.
“I do not have a family. My parents were elderly when I entered the world. They have recently perished.”
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“My life is dedicated to serving the royal family. And you are a member of the royal family.”
“Thanks.”
We focus our attention back on Ruthie, who is struggling against the jellyfish, though she’s not as aggressive as Bobby. I swallow the saliva gathering in my mouth. I only have one chance to save them. If I fail, Callen and I won’t be the only ones who will die. Bobby and Ruthie will eventually, too.
“On the count of three,” I say, nodding to the jellyfish and then to Callen.
“Understood,” he says.
I take a deep breath. “One.”
The sharks take on a more offensive stance.
“Two.” Callen and I raise our fists, though that’s useless against a sea serpent.
I take another breath, this one deeper and let it out slowly. “Three!”
The two jellyfish guarding Ruthie remove their tentacles from her and dash away. She bares her fangs and releases a large hiss, jumping onto what looks like three legs.
“I
f she wants to come to me,” I say to the sharks. “Let her come to me. Don’t try to stop her.”
“Cassie—”
“You have to trust me, Callen.”
Ruthie lunges toward us. Using all my energy, I shove Callen away and bound toward Ruthie.
“Cassie, no!”
She races toward me, and just as we’re about to collide, I make a sharp turn to the left and circle around her. “Ruthie, it’s me!” I yell. She tries to claw at me with what looks like broken claws, but I dodge her attack. “It’s your big sister, Cassie. Maybe you don’t recognize me because of the tail, but don’t you see? I’m a mermaid. You love mermaids.”
She hisses and whips her tail at me. I rush to the side, but I’m not fast enough. Her tail slams me into the wall of rock behind me. My entire body vibrates with pain, and it takes everything I have to pick myself up and turn around to face her.
She floats before me with an evil gleam in her eyes. They’re not yellow but gray, and it looks like there’s some blood in there. I’m engulfed in panic. How much time do I have before their bodies shut down? “Ruthie!” I call to her. “Remember the dollhouse I bought you last month? Remember how we went shopping to look for the perfect dolls to fit the house? Remember how we drove the saleslady nuts? She threatened to kick us out of the store if we didn’t make up our minds. Remember how fun that was?”
Her tail whips out and wraps around me. I see Callen ready to jump to my rescue, but I shake my head. I can do this. I know I can.
“I know I promised to give you my Barbie doll collection. And I swear I will. And then we’ll play together, just the two of us. I can’t wait. Can you?”
She lifts me toward her mouth.
“Just you and me, Ruthie. Big sister and little sister.”
Something flashes in her eyes, and hope sparks inside me. But it passes a second later. She opens her mouth, ready to throw me inside.
“I love you, Ruthie! Very, very much. And all I want to do is take you in my arms and give you a big hug.”
