Fins

by Ashley L. Knight

  “Come, Morgandy.” Vitahl was by my side. Gently he lifted Thayde’s broken body into his arms. “Tammer!” His voice rose above the wind, “That’s enough. Let’s go.”

  Mom put her arms around Tammer’s chest and that seemed to snap his focus away from the Dartmoth’s. He focused on me, his icy eyes looking me over carefully.

  “Morgan, are you okay?”

  Mom put her arms around me and held me for a moment. A tingly, warm feeling flowed from her into me as she tried to put some energy back into me. The sick feeling went away.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” I said and Mom drew back.

  “Please don’t ever do anything so stupid again!” Her voice quivered. “You could have been killed.”

  I nodded and followed them to the road where Vitahl’s green Range Rover was parked among the thick brush. As he lifted Thayde onto the seat, a pained groan escaped Thayde’s torn lips.

  “Is he awake?” I shrieked, frantically scrambling into the seat next to him.

  “No,” Vitahl shifted Thayde to the middle and then got in, closing the door. Tammer and Mom jumped in the front and started the car.

  “He’s going to need a lot of time to get over this,” Vitahl said to Mom.

  “I’ll help him heal.” The worry on Mom’s face was scary. Did this mean he was near death?

  “Is he going to die?” I asked, not wanting to hear her answer.

  “I won’t let him die,” Mom said, turning around in her seat to face forward.

  That terrified me. How could they have done this? The Judgment was too harsh. There was no doubt about it. I couldn’t let the Dartmoth’s go unpunished.

  The first day of school sucked. It seemed so inconsequential now. I couldn’t remain focused on anything, knowing that back at home Thayde lay in a coma in our guest bedroom. Mom was taking care of him, but she said that because he was a willing participant in The Judgment, he had completely let his defenses down and was very badly hurt because of it. She said he would live, but she wasn’t sure when he’d wake up. It had been four days now, and he hadn’t moved a muscle. The only way I knew he was alive was that I could hear him breathing.

  Every day, when I returned home from school, I went to his side. I talked to him and told him of the dreams I’d had about him before we met. My pleas with him to wake up went unanswered. Eventually, I just lay on the bed next to him and held his cool hand. Most of the time I was with him, I felt sick with worry.

  On the fifth day of school, the Dartmoth clan appeared. They ignored me completely which was fine with me. When I told Tiesa what had happened, she had cried.

  “I told you they were nasty! I can’t believe that Akin! He should go to jail for what he did.”

  “You know the laws here. There’s nothing we can do, for some reason.”

  “Oh, there is, but you’d be stirring a huge pot of trouble by doing it.”

  I stopped her in her tracks.

  “What do you mean?”

  Shifting uneasily, she kicked a locker.

  “You could always contact Troen, but that’s almost impossible.”

  “Why?”

  “Because no one knows where he is.”

  “What’s the point of having all that power if you refuse to do anything about it?”

  “I don’t know,” she sighed, and we began to walk down the hall, “Something about wanting us to solve our differences on our own.”

  “But Thayde did nothing wrong! The Dartmoth’s are acting like this is their world and they can do anything they want.”

  Tiesa didn’t answer. My feelings of frustration were overwhelming.

  “How do you keep this secret?” I asked.

  “It’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve never had a problem keeping it.”

  I said nothing. When we reached her classroom, we stopped and Tiesa gave me a hug. “It’ll all work out, you’ll see.”

  “I don’t know, Tiesa. Thayde’s still in a coma.”

  “But your parents are taking care of him.”

  “They have him in the guest bedroom.”

  “Just keep visiting him. It’ll do the both of you some good. And don’t forget, you have powers, too.” She turned on her heel and walked into the room. I stood there watching her, deep in thought. What was it that Mom had said a few weeks ago? Something about people being attracted to me because I could heal? I had forgotten about that. I’d visit Thayde as soon as I got home.

  Thayde lay peacefully on the full sized bed in the guest bedroom. I entered the room quietly, leaving my backpack at the door. Making my way to his side, I surveyed his body. After Mom had cleaned his wounds, she’d dressed him in a pair of soft gray pajama bottoms. He lay on the white sheets with a light blanket pulled up to his waist.

  Carefully, I sat down on the bed, facing him. He looked so peaceful, yet battered. Bruises had formed about his face and the cuts about his eyes and mouth were still bright red. His lips were split where Akin had kicked him in the face. A large, painful bruise radiated out across his chest and down to his stomach. His ribs were wrapped with white tape as many of them had been fractured from the beating. On his arms, deep red marks from the ropes that bound him to the stake scarred his skin.

  Despite all the damage, he was still beautiful. His full, long eyelashes lay in a pretty fan on his cheeks. His chest rose and fell with his deep breathing. A black tattoo ran down his left arm from his shoulder to his elbow. It flowed with his body, accentuating the muscles in his arm.

  Mom had told me that his jaw and cheekbone had been broken, but she’d been able to fix them and now they looked completely normal. She wanted me to know that no human could have possibly have gone through all the torture Thayde had endured and lived. She’d said, “He is either extremely powerful or loves you very deeply and it’s not his time to go.”

  “What if it’s both?” I had asked her.

  “Then the Dartmoth’s are very lucky he was a willing participant.”

  Now, alone with Thayde, I leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. There was no movement what-so-ever.

  “Thayde,” I began, “you have to wake up. You’re scaring me.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “It’s funny, but we haven’t even been on a date yet.”

  Smiling, I traced a finger along the muscles in his arm.

  If I had the power to heal, why wasn’t he fixed? What did I have to do? Maybe if I laid my hands on his chest and imagined him getting better, imagined him waking up?

  I placed my hands lightly over him and closed my eyes. Relaxing, I cleared my head, focused my energy and concentrated on healing. Soon, I could feel the energy within me, pulsating, trying to be released. The golden light began to run down my arms, out my hands and into his body, making him glow. When it was over, I was breathless.

  Thayde didn’t move. His deep breathing continued. I took his hand in mine and felt the tears begin to form. Maybe this was too soon. Maybe I was just fooling myself. What more could a Halfling do anyways?

  Then there was a slight change in his breathing. It wasn’t as deep anymore. His eyes were still closed, but he was frowning slightly. A small grunt of pain escaped his lips and slowly, he opened his eyes.

  “Thayde,” I whispered.

  He blinked a few times, looking around the room. When his eyes focused on me, his frown disappeared and he relaxed – a slight smile forming on his lips.

  “I’m here,” I said, not sure what to say.

  In the barest whisper, he tried to talk.

  “Wh. What did. You do to. Me?”

  “I’m not sure. Did I hurt you?”

  “No.”

  “What does hurt?”

  Thayde closed his eyes and his breathing quickened.

  “Everything.”

  “I’m so sorry.” My heart was breaking for him. “Why did you let them do this to you?”

  “Had to,” he said haltingly.

  “No, you didn’t.”

  He looked through me with those dark blu
e eyes.

  “They would. Have come. After you.”

  I wanted to scream in anger but looking down at Thayde struggling just to speak, extinguished my anger in a heartbeat. Instead, I rubbed his hand and asked him what he needed.

  “Water,” he managed to say.

  Jumping off the bed, I grabbed a glass and filled it from the pitcher of fresh water on the nightstand. He’d already closed his eyes again. I brushed his forehead lightly and he didn’t move.

  “Thayde,” I said. His eyes flew open at the mention of his name and he struggled to sit up.

  “No, don’t!” I said, but it was too late. Crying out in pain, he grabbed his ribs with his hands and fell back into the pillows. I set the glass down and rearranged the pillows for him. “Mom said several ribs on both sides are broken. You’ve also had damage to the muscles in your chest. I’m surprised you can even sit up.” I picked up the glass and held it in front of him. He took the glass from my hand and brought the rim to his lips.

  “I feel like my jaw’s broken,” he said, and took a slight sip.

  “It was,” I nodded, “but Mom fixed it. Your nose and cheekbone were too.” His hand started to shake and I took the glass from him. Looking down at the scarring on his arms, he shook his head.

  “They sure did a number on me, didn’t they?”

  I just stared at him. Wasn’t he furious? Didn’t he want revenge?

  “What?”

  “Why did you do it?” I asked, almost whispering.

  “They would have come after you next. If I faced them willingly, they agreed to leave you alone.”

  “Why would they come after me?”

  “Because they don’t like you.”

  “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Akin’s accusing you of lying about the attack. That and the fact that I chose a Halfling have them very angry. They are out for blood.”

  I sat down next to him and stared at my hands. “Life would be easier then, if we weren’t together.”

  When he didn’t answer, I nodded.

  “This is going to get really bad if we stay together. What if they try to kill you again and they’re successful? It’d be my fault.”

  “They weren’t trying to kill me, Morgan.” He took my hand in his. “I took the punishment so they would leave you alone. You’re everything to me. Please don’t talk about us being apart.”

  It’s the only possible way, I thought. What if the same thing that happened with Mom and Tammer happened with us? It was too horrible to even imagine. But facing the possibility of never seeing Thayde again made my heart want to rip in two.

  “What are you thinking about?” Thayde brought me back to reality.

  “Nothing.”

  He shook his head. “You’re thinking something that’s hurting you. I can feel it.”

  I didn’t want to hurt him. This whole cording thing had its setbacks.

  “I’m sorry,” I said and he squeezed my hand lightly.

  “Don’t be. It means we are meant to be with each other.”

  Smiling faintly, his eyes grew heavy and I took the glass from his hand. He seemed exhausted from talking.

  “I’ll let you sleep,” I said, starting to get up.

  “Stay with me?” He asked.

  “Of course,”

  I stayed by Thayde’s side until I heard his breathing deepen and slow. Straightening the blanket around him, I lightly kissed him on the cheek and pulled away. I picked up my backpack, looking back at him before I left the room.

  I was going to see Geiruna. Mom said she had great powers. Maybe she could help me. The taxi dropped me off at her shop and, nervously, I walked through the glass door. A little bell tinkled prettily as it closed behind me.

  “Hello?” I called. The stuffed animals in the children’s section stared back at me as I scanned the room. “Geiruna?”

  “This is a surprise.” Her ancient voice came to me from a back room.

  I peered over the display cases to the doorway and watched her uncurl herself from within a deep chair.

  “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

  “I wanted to talk to you,” I said.

  “Indeed?” She shuffled toward me, stopping when she reached where I stood. The display case rocked slightly as she grasped the edges.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, a little concerned she might fall. “Do you want to stay sitting?”

  She looked me up and down.

  “You’re not like the others, you know.” She bit her lip and motioned for me to follow her.

  I walked around the cases and followed her into the back room. She sank back into her chair and I sat upon a stool. Around us, packing boxes lay open and paper was strewn about the place.

  “Are you moving?” I asked.

  “No, just getting ready to sell the place.”

  “Really? Are you going somewhere?”

  Geiruna cocked her head and stared at me. “I’m old. It’s my time.”

  “Your time?” I asked, puzzled. “Time for what?”

  She stared at her hands, holding them up.

  “They used to be so beautiful. Look at them.” She turned them around so I could see the backs of her hands. They were wrinkled and covered in age spots. “Time passes so quickly. Even for mermaids.”

  She looked at me and nodded. “Yes, I know about you.”

  I was a little shocked.

  “Even I don’t know about me.” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

  “They haven’t told you everything, then?”

  “I guess not. But that’s not why I’m here. First, my mom and Tammer think you cursed them.”

  “I did.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s not wise to upset me, my dear. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy.” She sighed. “I suppose I was just so angry that I let it get the better of me.”

  “They say you wanted Mom’s soul.”

  “Initially, yes, that’s what I wanted, until I realized how important she was going to be. Just how much have they told you?”

  I told her everything and she listened patiently, nodding her head at times and shaking it at others. When I was finished, she paused before she spoke.

  “It was a different time and I wanted your mother to owe me. I knew she was to play a huge role in the future of our race and I wanted her to be beholden to me for my future’s sake. When I cursed them, Tammer came to me to bargain on Elan’s behalf. The only thing that would undo it was a Judgment.”

  “Who went through The Judgment?”

  “Tammer. He loved your mother so much that he did it for her. Just as Thayde did it for you.”

  My thoughts raced back to Thayde who lay bruised and battered in our guest room. A wave of guilt coursed through me.

  “Tammer is your mother’s protector, just as Thayde is yours. Thayde will always be your protector – it’s his destiny, whether you try to run from it or not. There is much you will discover, Morgan, but you must know this: you are not who you think you are. Merpeople are much different from humans. They have to face the perils of the ocean at a very young age and many are always on the verge of turning feral. Occasionally, they’ll give in to it, as happened with the Riddick’s and the Dartmoth’s that fateful day. Merpeople are also superstitious. For instance, that pendant you wear. You liked it because you thought it was pretty. Your mother bought it because she believes it is a protecting stone. I wanted to give you that stone as a gift because I know who you are.”

  “And who is that?” I asked, unnerved.

  “It’s not for me to tell you.” She chewed at her lip and folded her hands. “What else did you want to ask me?”

  “How do I stop this feud between the families? If it doesn’t stop, I can’t be with Thayde and I want to be with him more than anything.”

  Geiruna eased back and rested her head against the back of the chair. “It’s not impossible. Their fight has been going on for a very long time. The Dartmoth’
s have been trying to produce a special Being from our history for centuries. This Being is not something you can create. It is stupid to try to control something so uncontrollable, but they try just the same.”

  “Shouldn’t Troen sweep in and take care of it?”

  She grunted and then chuckled. “He’s trying to teach everyone to take care of their problems and not rely on one ruler to solve all their differences. I don’t think we are a mature enough race to handle it.”

  “What can be done?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t answer that. Only one person can solve this dilemma and it’s not going to be solved overnight. Even if it could, wouldn’t that defeat the purpose?”

  It was obvious Geiruna wasn’t going to give me any more information. I nodded in silence, not really knowing what else to say.

  “Believe in yourself and know that you can do anything you set your mind to,” she said, leaning forward in the chair. “You are much more powerful than you realize. One day, you’ll understand everything. Of that, I’m sure.”

  She seemed finished, so I stood and smiled at her.

  “Thank you for seeing me.”

  “Thank you for not judging me,” she answered. “You have a friend in me.”

  “I’d like that.” I smiled at Geiruna, extending my hand. She shook it lightly.

  I left Geiruna’s shop with more questions than I’d had going in. Everything was so difficult to understand, as practically nothing of the past had been revealed. I decided to walk home to clear my thoughts. A breeze from the ocean swept across me, and I breathed the salty air in deeply. At least it was a beautiful day – sunny and warm. A car horn honked behind me and Tiesa pulled up in her Jeep.

  “When are you going to get a car?” she asked and I climbed in beside her. “Where’ve you been?”

  “I went to see Geiruna.”

  “The sea witch?”

  “She’s not a witch. She’s really nice.”

  “Ah,” Tiesa smiled, shifting into first. “Then she likes you.”