“Okay.” I said and hung up.
“Morgan.” There was that voice again. No one was even near me and yet I had heard it clear as day. I made my way back to Sam and Liesa who had started to make out like kids.
“Sam, do you know where I can rent a boat to take me back to Vero?”
He looked up and frowned. “At this hour? I doubt it. Why?”
“It’s begun.”
“What has?”
“That war I told you would happen.”
Liesa stopped nuzzling Sam’s neck and stared at me with huge eyes. “War? Are we at war?”
“No,” Sam said, sliding her out of his lap and standing up. “No we’re not at war. It’s something else we were talking about. I’ll be back in a while.”
He took my elbow and guided me away from the party.
“Are you absolutely sure, Morgan?” He asked, letting go of my elbow and resting his hands on his hips.
“I just spoke with my mom. I have to get home now.”
“We can swim it.”
“No, she said I couldn’t chance it.”
“Morgan.” The voice was really beginning to bug me.
“Do you hear that?” I asked, spinning around looking for whoever was calling me.
“Hear what?” Sam looked about with me.
“Morgan.”
“There!” I cried. “Do you hear it?”
“Yes,” Sam pointed into the palm trees forest. “He said it.”
Looking to where he was pointing, I saw nothing but palm trees and then Thayde stepped out from the shadows.
I gasped in horror. Deep cuts covered his body.
“Thayde!” I cried and ran toward him.
“Morgan,” Thayde said. “What are you doing here?”
“Me? How did you know I was here?” I asked, stopping short in front of him. “What happened to you?”
“My father, he’s started a war.” Thayde put his hand behind my head and pulled me to him, kissing the top of my head.
“I’m so glad you’re safe.” He breathed into my hair.
“We need to patch you up,” Sam said. “Liesa’s a nurse.” He motioned and called toward the house. “Liesa, get your med kit out!”
Her head appeared from behind the screen door and when she saw us walking the battered Thayde toward her house, she popped back in. People stopped what they were doing and stared. A Jimmy Buffet song happily bubbled along on the stereo.
“What the hell happened to you?” A skinny guy holding a half-eaten banana asked as we passed.
“I got jumped.” Thayde brushed the comment off as if it was a common occurrence.
“Damn.”
People watched us walk into the house. Liesa motioned for Thayde to sit on one of the stools.
Easing down, he sighed. “I don’t think this is going to end well,” he said.
Liesa hesitated before she placed the cotton gauze filled with antibiotic down onto the first cut.
“I’m sorry if this hurts,” she apologized from behind his back.
Thayde shook his head. “It’s ok.”
“Thayde, what’s going on?” I asked and he looked at Sam and Liesa doubtfully.
“It’s ok. They’re merpeople like us,” I said and he seemed to relax.
“Did you tell Akin you were going to kill him?”
Dread filled me. “Well, yes, but it was because he tried to hurt me again.”
Thayde looked furious as I filled him in on what had actually happened. By the time I was finished, he shook in anger.
“He’s never going to stop,” he said angrily and winced as Liesa began to stitch some of the deeper cuts.
“Who did this to you?” Sam asked.
“One of my father’s friends. I went home to talk to them and they’d already assembled all their friends and followers. When I tried to reason with my father, Lot attacked me.”
“Lot?” Sam seemed deep in thought as if trying to recall the name. “Lot. Lot Abiseth?” Thayde nodded and Sam’s eyes grew wide.
“You’re lucky you’re in such good shape. You must be very strong to withstand his type of punishment.”
“How do you know of him?” I asked, shifting my attention to Sam.
“I’ve heard of him. You always hear of the trouble makers, especially in Vero Beach. It’s not exactly a large town. Lot is one of Limus’s best friends and he’s a nasty one at that.”
“Akin told my father you threatened to kill him, and that pushed him over the edge.” Thayde said. “He’s livid you had the nerve to threaten his family. The fact that you’re Elan and Tammer’s daughter didn’t help things either.”
“Well I’m Elan’s daughter, not Tammer’s,” I added and sighed. Thayde was right – this was never going to stop. Akin was completely out of control. He’d already told me how he’d go about hurting me.
“I have to go back and stop them.” Thayde watched Liesa circle in front of him and start cleaning the cuts on his chest. “Thank you,” he said, making her blush.
“And just how do you expect to do that?” Sam asked. “You can barely take care of yourself!”
Thayde narrowed his eyes at Sam. “Just because I choose not to fight back doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself.”
“Why don’t you fight back?”
“I don’t think fighting is necessary. Not when it can be talked out.”
“It seems that the time for talking is over, Thayde.” Sam pressed.
Liesa had finished and was looking over her work. “Do you feel like anything’s broken?” She asked.
“I don’t break,” Thayde answered.
She raised an eyebrow at his comment and began to clean up the mess left over from caring for him.
“Thank you again,” Thayde said and stood. “We’re going to have to get some allies to help us stop my father.”
“But who?” I twiddled my hair between my fingers. “He’s pretty powerful, Thayde.”
“People are sick of him, Morgan.” Thayde leaned against a counter and stared at Sam. “I feel like I know you.”
“I guess I have that kind of face.” Sam shifted uncomfortably.
“Have we met?”
“No.”
Nodding, Thayde breathed in deeply. “We have to get back tonight. Swimming is our only option at this point.”
“Mom didn’t want me to swim.”
“It’s faster than a boat. I’ll swim for the both of us.”
“Are you sure you’re in any condition to fight?” Liesa asked.
“I’m fine,” Thayde answered, pushing away from the counter. “They’re just cuts.”
“Thank you so much for helping me out, Sam.” I gave him a hug and he nodded.
Liesa pulled me into her embrace. “You be careful,” she said.
“I’ll see if I can rally some people to help,” Sam offered, putting his arm around Liesa.
“Thank you for the offer,” Thayde said taking my hand. “We could use the help, but I also understand this isn’t your battle. I appreciate the both of you helping Morgan and me.”
With that, we left Sam and Liesa and began our walk to the beach.
Chapter Eleven
The Link
The swim back to the mainland was terrifying. The ocean was complete blackness and though Thayde’s strong grip around my waist was comforting, I couldn’t get over my fear of the dark water. Thayde swam fast - too fast for me. It made my eyes sting and my heart race. It probably took a half hour before we surfaced in front of the house.
As we walked up the steps to the gazebo, Thayde pulled me to him and stroked my back.
“I’m sorry, but we had to get here as fast as we could.”
“It’s all right,” I mumbled into his chest.
We quickly made our way to the living room where Mom sat on the couch, her legs drawn up to her chest. The instant she saw me, she leapt up, throwing herself into my arms.
“Oh, baby!” She cried, squeezing the air out of
me. “I was so worried!”
As she pulled away, she noticed Thayde’s bandages and stitches.
“Thayde! What happened? Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” he answered. “Has Tammer come back yet?”
“No!” She sniffed, wiping tears from her cheek. “I haven’t seen him yet. I’m so worried! For a few weeks now, he’s been rallying people, staying out late trying to take care of this. We knew this was coming. Limus’s hatred knows no bounds.”
“All this is because of me?” I asked, disbelieving the fact that this had gotten so out of hand.
Mom nodded sinking into the couch.
“You guys haven’t told her everything, have you?” Thayde was shaking his head. “It’s about time you did.”
“I can’t,” she said.
“Then I will.” He turned to me, putting his hands on my shoulders, gently making me sit with him.
“Morgan, everything seems ridiculous because you’ve been told nothing. Tammer is your real father. Richard took care of you and your mom when Tammer and they had to be apart. Richard and your mom were never married. He didn’t know anything about merpeople – he just knew that Mom and Tammer needed help.”
I heard what he said but felt numb. I just stared blankly at him.
“The reason you were not allowed back to Florida was that my father and his followers knew you could possibly be The Link and that terrified them. Better to believe you were a Halfling and want to destroy you because of that, rather than entertain the thought that you were one of the most powerful merpeople who has ever lived.”
Powerful? I couldn’t even stop myself from crying. I was not powerful.
“Do you remember me telling you that our histories foretold of a merman who would bring peace and order to our world?”
I simply nodded and he continued.
“This merman is supposed to replace Troen and reign over us for many, many centuries. He’s supposed to be the most powerful merman who ever existed. Can you imagine Limus’s reaction when Vitahl hinted you were not a Halfling? Limus’s worst fears were confirmed. That’s why things have gotten so out of hand. They fear you and want you destroyed.”
“How on earth do you know all this?” I asked, incredulous that this could be real.
“I told him while he was recovering,” Mom said. I’d forgotten she was even in the room. “He figured the rest out on his own.” She smiled faintly at Thayde. “He’s got brains, this one.”
Thayde turned to me again. “Now we need to stop this war Limus has started. There’s no doubt in my mind that he and his followers are already on their way. I know it’s frightening, but we have to protect you and you’re going to have to hide.”
Hide? Not on your life.
“There’s no way I’m going to hide. Aren’t I supposed to be the all-powerful one?” I felt ashamed I’d said it.
Thayde hesitated and then seemed to change his mind.
“Morgan, you haven’t even begun to come into your powers yet. We don’t know what you are capable of doing. We don’t want anything bad happening to you. What if you destroyed yourself? I couldn’t live with that, especially when right now I’m able to actually do something to help you.”
And that was that. What could I say? He was right, I suppose, but I didn’t like the idea of hiding while everyone fought for me. It sounded cowardly and that wasn’t who I was.
“We want you to take care of Naira, Morgandy.” Mom stood, her hair messy and tangled. “Can you do that for me?”
“Of course,” I agreed. “But I can’t just let you guys fight for me!”
“Hopefully, there won’t be any fighting at all.”
I was doubtful, but there wasn’t any more to be said. Naira was in her room and Mom asked me to stay there with her. Gathering her into her arms, Mom kissed her and told her to do as I said. After holding me briefly, she left.
Thayde held my face in his hands.
“Please don’t leave this room, Morgan,” he said, his face inches away from me. “I think we’ll be able to stop them without any violence.”
“I don’t want you to go,” I complained and he kissed me. I kissed him back, terrified this might be our last.
“I’ll come for you,” he said, releasing me and backed away.
“I love you,” I cried out, desperate for him to know.
“I love you more,” was his reply and he shut the door.
An hour had passed and Naira was getting tired of playing with her Barbie’s. I wasn’t putting much effort into it and finally she gave up and lay down on her bed.
“Where’s Mama and Daddy?” She asked, cuddling a stuffed sea lion.
“They went for a swim,” I said, faking reassurance. “They’ll be back soon.”
Her big green eyes stared me down. “Why you so scared?”
“I’m not,” I lied.
Instead of answering me, she curled into a little ball. I sat next to her and stroked her pretty, blonde ringlets.
“They’re fine, Naira. They’ll be home soon and we’ll all go for a swim in the pool ok?”
“You’re scared. Me too.” Her little voice echoed my thoughts.
I was scared. Did they really need an hour to talk things out? I could feel that something was wrong. I promised Mom that I’d watch Naira, but I needed to do something. It wasn’t right, hiding away when you’re the cause of the problem. Standing, I called for the housekeeper.
“I’ve got to go, Naira, but I want you to stay with Shirley, okay?” I said when she arrived.
“Please stay in this room with her,” I asked Shirley, who promised.
Giving Naira a hug, I ran all the way to my room. What could I take? I didn’t even know where I was going. I didn’t have to wait long for my answer. The skies began to rumble and lightning streaked across the water. Tammer was bringing a storm. That had to mean one thing; talking was no longer an option.
Grabbing the dive knife Tammer had given me, I strapped it to my left arm and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I dove off my balcony into the sea and made my way to the Dartmoth house.
Hardly five minutes had passed when I saw another merperson in the water, swimming quickly in my direction. With the sun beginning to set, it was difficult to see far, but once I saw the red hair, I knew it was Tiesa. She seemed frantic and horrified once she saw me heading in her direction.
“What are you doing?” She grabbed my arms. “You can’t go there!”
“What’s going on, Tiesa? It’s been over an hour and I can’t take it any longer!”
“It’s awful, they’re fighting!”
“Who?”
“All of them!”
“What happened?”
“Tammer showed up with a bunch of friends and once Limus saw them, he blew! They talked for maybe ten minutes when Limus had enough and attacked!”
“Wait, how do you know this?” I asked, surprised she knew that much.
“I was there from the beginning. My family and I joined up with Tammer the instant he asked us. My Dad’s friends with him remember?”
“Yea, but you’re younger than I am!” I was incredulous.
“You’re more important,” she said.
That took me back a few steps. More important? She knew all along!
“Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” I asked and she looked down at her purple tail.
“Does it matter? You know now. My father sent me to be with you. I have to make sure you stay at the house.”
“No chance in hell,” I said and started to swim around her.
“Morgan, stop! You can’t. If you get hurt, it’s over. You can’t go!”
“I have to! Thayde and my parents are there!” Tearing out of her grip, I pushed past her. “Take care of Naira!”
I didn’t look back; instead, I swam as fast as I could toward the sparks of light in the distance. I knew there wasn’t much I was going to be able to do, but my mind kept going back over what Geiruna had once told me - t
hat I could do anything I set my mind too. I hoped she was right.
The fight was taking place in deep water. Arriving at the edge of the scene, I was reminded of looking into a fish bowl. Everyone seemed held within a bubble, a few hundred feet wide. Flashes of light flew about and when one didn’t hit its target, it was contained as the edge of the bubble absorbed it.
Peering past the strangers who were fighting, I looked for Mom and Tammer. It was too difficult to make anyone out with the sun nearly gone. A merman a few feet in front of me cried out as a brilliant light hit him in the chest. He was flung backwards against the bubble wall and hung suspended in the water for a few seconds before he disintegrated right before my eyes!
I nearly screamed. Thayde had been right. This was way over my head. How was I supposed to protect myself from this? I was torn between fear and a sense of duty. I was tired of living in fear - fear of Akin, fear of what was going to happen to me, fear of Thayde getting hurt.
Staring into the fight, I recognized Akin. He was in the middle of beating another merman to death and I was consumed with rage. I made my decision in an instant. Swimming at him as fast as I could, I burst through the side of the bubble, ramming into his side. He released the merman and was knocked flying. Stunned, he shook his head and righted himself.
“You!” He growled, his lips pulling back over his teeth in an ugly snarl. Quick as a whip, he was swimming toward me, hands reaching for my head. As I darted upward, he passed under me, snatching at my fins. I pulled my dive knife from its sheath and dove toward him. I wanted to hurt him, to funnel all my rage into him. He turned and grabbed my wrists, squeezing so hard, I dropped my knife.
“You’re out of your league, Halfling!” He yelled and grabbed the back of my neck with his other hand.
Closing my eyes, I focused my energy and the golden orb instantly shot from me. The Fire encased his entire chest and face and he released me, screaming in agony.
“Morgan!”
Gavran swam below me at full speed. I prepared to focus on him, but when I opened my eyes, I stopped short. He was pulling my mom behind him. She was so white, she looked dead.
“Let go of her!” I cried and he stopped in front of me.
“She’s hurt!” He yelled, pulling her into his arms. A loud roar deafened his words and the bottom of the sea floor started to roll. Only Vitahl knew how to move the earth. Severely strong currents followed the rolling and we were thrown about. Lightning spliced through the water, hitting someone and making him disintegrate.
Fins Page 14
