Fins

by Ashley L. Knight

  “What did you do to her?” I screamed, grabbing at her.

  “I didn’t,” he shouted back over the noise. “My father did it. I have to get her away from here or she’ll die!”

  I didn’t know what to do. This was a Dartmoth - they were untrustworthy and cunning, but the look in Gavran’s eyes said it all.

  “Take her to our house,” I ordered and he swam around me, in the direction of our home.

  I focused back on the battle that was taking place all around me. The water was filling with blood. Screams echoed off the protective bubble’s walls. It was overwhelming.

  A surge of white light in the center of the chaos started to build. Shielding my eyes, I watched as Thayde, hunched over his hands, slowly drew them apart. The white light grew. Straightening, he pulled his arms to his sides and quickly twisting, released the light that flew in all directions away from him, immobilizing everyone it touched. When it reached me, I felt it wash over me, but I remained able to move.

  He hung in the water, breathing deeply and when he looked up, he saw me.

  “Morgan!” He cried in disbelief and began to swim to me.

  I made my way around the floating bodies, seemingly frozen in time.

  “What are you doing here?” He cried when he reached me, grabbing my hand. “You have to leave!”

  “Thayde, what have you done?” I was unable to stop staring at the drifting merpeople.

  “It won’t last long. We have about a minute left. Please, go home.”

  “No.” I pulled away from him. “I won’t hide like a coward. This is because of me and I have to take care of it.”

  “Just how do you expect to do that?” He yelled, lifting his hands up in defeat. “You don’t even know what you can do!”

  I didn’t know. Maybe if I just tried something, anything, it would work.

  “You’re going to get yourself killed,” he said and his voice caught in desperation. “I can’t do this.”

  “I won’t die. I promise,” I said stupidly, my thoughts distracted as one of the mermaids started to move.

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” He moved in front of me. “Stay with me, Morgan.”

  “Can’t you knock them out again?” I asked, peering from behind his shoulder.

  “No. I can only do it once each battle,” he said, quickly raising his hands to shield himself from a smattering of ink.

  The mermaid I had watched begin to move just seconds before suddenly arched backward in pain. Her bones began to break and seconds later, she disintegrated before my eyes.

  “It’s Herra!” Thayde yelled. "Herra did that.” He twisted in the water looking for his sister. "She'll crush you!"

  If only I could form a barrier around the ones I loved, I’d be able to protect them from any attack that occurred. I found myself wishing for any powers I could muster and that one seemed to form first.

  “Stay behind me!” Thayde shouted and instantly his upper torso went rigid as Herra’s pain began to target him.

  I focused as deeply as I could on forming a barrier, and seconds later, the golden orb was circling us and Thayde relaxed. Opening my eyes, I saw him turn and look at me in wonder and amazement. In the distance, Herra’s anger was mixed with surprise. She seemed to try harder to break through my barrier, but I hardly felt the strength in her power. It wasn’t too hard at all, and a few seconds later, she gave up and turned away.

  “There’s only one way that you could have done that,” Thayde said, but I didn’t answer. A few yards away, Limus was engaged in a fierce battle with Tammer. Lightning struck through the water and Limus shielded himself with the equally brilliant lightning from his own hands.

  Merpeople I knew and those I didn’t were fighting all around me and I felt helpless. When was it going to end? How was it going to end? With everyone dead? What more could I do? There had to be something. If only I had a power to stop everyone, to take away all their powers at once, that seemed to be the only way.

  Tammer was taking a terrible beating by Limus and he seemed to falter. I had to help. As I swam over the top of Thayde, I heard him call out, but I didn’t turn. Instead, I dashed toward Limus, hand outstretched. Praying I’d be able to do it, I focused on disarming Limus and a pink jolt of electricity flew from my palm, encasing him. He stopped fighting as soon as he realized he wasn’t able to use his powers. Turning to face me, he dropped his arms and glared.

  “You again, Halfling,” he snarled. “Is that all you’ve got?”

  “No,” I said. “Is that all you’ve got?”

  He lunged toward me but couldn’t touch me through the pink orb that held him. When he realized this, he sneered.

  “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” I followed the direction he was pointing, and froze. Why is it that when something awful happens, time always slows down? Mom’s warning echoed in my head: history will repeat itself.

  Thayde was grappling with an enormous merman, holding onto his hands, trying to keep the man’s rigid fingers away from his torso. Now and then, small sparks like those from a welder flew from the tips of his fingers. This had to be Lot Abiseth.

  Behind them swam a severely burned Akin – his arm raised with my dive knife in hand. He was going to bury the knife into Thayde’s back. Seeing what was about to happen, Tammer threw himself in front of Akin, the knife burying itself into his chest.

  “No!” I screamed. Tammer cried out in agony and the water around him turned red. He started to sink. I released Limus and dove toward him as fast as I could. Grabbing at his hand, I held on tight and dragged him upward. Above me, I could see Limus making his way for us. I knew he was going to kill us. The look in his eye was almost manic.

  It was then that a deep, deafening noise interrupted everything. It sounded like a bass sweep from a sub-woofer. Red light lit up the entire area, bursting the bubble and disabling everyone. The fighting had stopped, as all were forced to cover their ears. At the edge of the battle, arms outstretched, was Sam.

  No one moved. Straightening, I looked about. Everyone looked at Sam and didn’t utter a word.

  “Thayde!” I called out, not able to hold Tammer anymore. Thayde pulled Tammer out of my arms and I tried to steady myself.

  “He’s dying, Morgan.” Thayde’s voice was desperate. The knife handle stuck out of Tammer’s chest and he’d turned a pale shade of gray.

  “What do we do?” I started to panic. “Mom’s at home. I don’t have her powers.”

  “Let me see him.” Sam appeared next to me and placed his hands on Tammer. “He’s strong.”

  He took the knife handle into his hand and quickly pulled it out. Tammer didn’t move. Sam covered the wound with his hands. A deep red light spread over Tammer’s chest and when Sam moved his hands away, there was nothing left but a deep, red scar.

  “Take him home to his wife,” he said, motioning to Tiesa’s father, David. “She’ll be able to take care of him.”

  “My Mom’s been hurt!” I told Sam and he shook his head.

  “She’s fine, Morgan.”

  “I’ll take care of them, Morgan,” David said, gently taking Tammer from Thayde. “Don’t worry.”

  As I watched him swim away, I felt a giant lump form in my throat. I needed to go with them.

  “Sam,” I began and he stopped me, taking my hand in his.

  “Morgan, I need you to stay for a few minutes.” He turned to the crowd of merpeople who still hanging about in disbelief.

  “You’ve all forgotten what it means to be merfolk,” he said in a commanding voice, addressing everyone. “You’re caught up in avarice and violence. I cannot allow this to continue. I’ve returned because you are all acting like children and the time has come to finish this.”

  Sam continued to hold onto my hand. “You all know of the legend of The Link. You all know the time is approaching when I will be replaced. It is clear to me that you’ve all been able to figure out The Link is Morgandy, and not a merman, who will take my positio
n. It is reprehensible you have tried to stop this.” He looked at Limus. “Who are you to change our histories?” His gaze fell on Akin and Herra. “Who are you to bring such violence? Shame on all of you. You will be dealt with.”

  Sam turned to me, squeezing my hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Troen, and you, Morgandy, are The Link.” His eyes twinkled.

  Stunned, I stammered to find my words. “I can’t be,” I stuttered, “I’m not old enough, I don’t know how.”

  “You will,” he said.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were Troen?” I asked.

  “I knew you seemed familiar, sir,” Thayde said with his head bowed.

  “Please call me Troen, my friend.” Troen reached forward and shook Thayde’s hand. “I’m glad I was able to meet you both before this happened. I knew my time was coming to an end and I was returning to find the merman who would replace me. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was you, Morgan.”

  My head spun.

  “I’m too young,” I said and Troen smiled.

  “It’s okay, you will know what to do.” He placed a heavy hand on my head and closed his eyes.

  “I bless you with the knowing.

  I bless you with the right.

  I bless you and bestow you.

  I bless you with the sight.”

  The red light encased me in its warmth and a heaviness came over me. When I opened my eyes, the heaviness lifted and the light was gone.

  “All of you have witnessed this,” Troen announced. “It shall be done.” He patted my shoulder and turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “There are a few matters I must take care of before I leave. This will be my last act.”

  I swam to him and hugged him tightly.

  “Are you going back to Jamaica?” I asked.

  “Maybe,” he answered. “They do make one heck of a coconut drink.”

  Pulling away, he pointed to Limus, Akin, and Herra and they followed him into the blackness.

  The battle was over. I watched merpeople from both sides melt away into the blackness of the ocean as they made their way home. Thayde pulled me into his arms and kissed me deeply.

  “Morgan,” he said sternly when we pulled apart. “How am I supposed to be your protector if you won’t let me protect you?”

  “I don’t think I need protecting,” I realized out loud.

  “You do,” he disagreed. “More than you know.”

  We made our way home in no time, as Thayde swam for the both of us. When we reached the stairs, we phased and without missing a beat, pulled on our swimsuit bottoms and ran into the house.

  Vitahl, David, Tiesa, and Ezen sat on the couch. Naira was curled up in Vitahl’s arms. They looked uneasy as we walked in.

  “Geiruna’s in there with them.” David pointed to Mom and Tammer’s bedroom.

  I opened the doors to the bedroom, expecting a catastrophe, but instead, it was as if I’d opened into another dimension – one of peace and love. The room seemed to twinkle as if someone had thrown glitter into the air. Both Mom and Tammer lay on the bed and Geiruna stood at the foot, arms outstretched. She was mumbling a song and when she moved her hands, the glitter sparkled even brighter.

  Quietly, I inched to her side. With her eyes closed, she seemed even more haggard than the last time I’d seen her. I continued to watch and when she finished, she dropped her arms and the glitter faded away.

  “Hello, Morgan,” she croaked.

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  “I healed them both.”

  “Why?”

  She turned to me and looked me up and down. “Because you gave me hope.”

  We both looked toward the bed.

  “They’ll be just fine in a few days.”

  She started to make her way to the door.

  “Geiruna?” I called and she turned slightly.

  “Thank you.”

  She nodded and left the room.

  Mom and Tammer were in a deep sleep. Their color had returned and they looked at peace. Sleep was probably the best thing for them, so I left the room, shutting the door behind me.

  “Where’d she go?” I asked the others and they pointed out the door.

  Thayde followed me outside to the gazebo steps. Geiruna was standing on the top step, smiling out to sea.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She asked.

  The silver moon reflected off the black water. Not a cloud littered the sky and the stars twinkled in all their glory, making the heavens look like a jeweler’s paradise.

  “I love nights like these,” she continued. “Makes you happy to have lived.”

  She stepped down into the water and bubbles began to rise.

  “Geiruna?” I called, starting toward her. Thayde grabbed my hand and pulled me back into his embrace.

  “Don’t,” he warned gently.

  “Will I ever see you again?” I asked.

  As she walked down into the water, millions of tiny bubbles surrounded her. She shook her head.

  “Maybe in another lifetime,” she said and as the bubbles covered her, she disappeared.

  “What’s happening?” I asked, watching the ocean water bubble and froth.

  Thayde simply held on to me, his strong arms gripping me tightly. When the bubbles subsided, she was gone. I knew she had passed.

  “She’s gone, isn’t she?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  I felt sad. Sad, but privileged to have been there when she died.

  “Is that what happens to us when we die?” I asked.

  “To the good ones,” he said. “When the bad ones pass, it’s not as pretty.”

  “Poor Geiruna,” I said and Thayde turned me around in his arms.

  “She could have gone a lot worse. I think you helped save her.”

  I sighed and rested in his arms. “What happens now?”

  “I don’t know,” he said truthfully. “But we’ll be together and that’s all that matters.”

  I turned in his arms and wrapped my arms about his waist. He smiled that beautiful smile at me and I felt the love I had for Thayde grow in me. It felt as if my energy was radiating out of me.

  “You’re glowing, you know,” he said, the gold orb shining around his body.

  “I love you,” I said.

  “I know,” he interrupted, “I love you more.”

  I didn’t get to finish what I was saying. His mouth was on mine before he could finish speaking.

  Does a love like this happen all the time? Is it more commonplace than we think? I doubt it. Being with Thayde was being alive. I needed him and he needed me. That need and love would forever bond us to each other. I knew that my life was just beginning and I welcomed it with open arms.

  Epilogue

  My reflection in the floor length mirror was quite nice. A simple, long white dress caressed my golden body and my thick blonde hair fell in waves about me. The large topaz necklace Mom bought me brought out my eyes and the matching earrings Thayde insisted on buying were a perfect complement.

  I picked up my old straw cowgirl hat that hung on the corner of the mirror and placed it on my head. Life was never going to be as simple as it had been in Idaho.

  Behind me, Thayde walked out from the bathroom, buttoning a white dress shirt. I found myself admiring his beautiful body. The scars on his chest and arms had faded but they would always be there. He caught me staring at him and grinned, tucking the shirt into his black pants.

  “You look beautiful,” he said lovingly, eying the hat.

  “So do you.”

  He snorted. “I seem to be quite a mess now.”

  Turning from the mirror, I walked to him and put my arms around his neck.

  “You’re the most handsome and loving man in the world to me, and I love you.”

  He pulled me into his arms, kissing me with those soft silky lips that I loved.

  “Maybe we don’t have to meet everyone,” he said. �
��Maybe we could just stay here.”

  “They know we’re here and they gave us twenty minutes to get ready, remember? They’d probably knock down the door if they knew we were doing anything.”

  “But we haven’t done anything. Yet,” he teased, pulling off my hat and lifting me onto the bed. A chill ran through me as his index finger trailed the bridge of my nose and over my chin, leading down my neck to my chest. He stopped when he reached my pendant. Seemingly lost in thought, he took it into his hand and rubbed it with his thumb.

  “I love you, Morgan,” he said. “If you’ll let me, I’ll protect you for the rest of our lives.”

  “I want to be with you forever,” I answered. “I love you always.”

  Dropping the pendant, he took my hand and kissed my fingertips, ending up at my ring finger.

  “Will you marry me?” He asked.

  My heart leaped and he grinned, feeling the rush of my excitement.

  “I can’t live without you.” I pulled him to me, holding his face in my hands. “Yes,” I answered and kissed him.

  When we drew apart, I saw the little box he held. His deep blue eyes watched me as I opened it, holding my breath.

  Inside was a huge single baguette diamond ring. When Thayde slipped it on my finger, it nearly took up the entire space between my knuckles. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

  “Thayde,” I was speechless.

  “Happy Birthday, my love.”

  My birthday – it had been over a week ago, but with the all the chaos, everyone had forgotten. Now it was Christmas Eve and we were celebrating with family and friends.

  “We’d better not keep them waiting.” Thayde pulled me off the bed. We walked hand in hand across the lighted courtyard to the living room which was filled with those we loved and cared for.

  Tiesa and Ezen stood with arms around each other, talking to Mom and Tammer. Naira played in front of the large fireplace with Tiesa’s little sister, Fallyn. Soft Christmas music mixed with laughter and conversation from our guests. As we entered the room, everyone looked up and cheered us with wine glasses raised.