by Terry Spear
“We had a deal. A merman or water sprite for the amulet.”
The sprite smiled and nodded. “But if the merman doesn’t stay because of the deal that Prince Aquarian dictates…”
Persephonice reached the amulet, then yanked it from the crystal. She had kept her part of the bargain. Now she would keep her promise to the roc and the griffon. Only she feared the sprite would attempt to stop her.
When she began to swim the long way to the surface, the sprite swam beside her, doing twirls in the water, as if she was perfectly pleased with herself and the way things were evolving. “You are an intriguing creature. Why would you not wish to be Prince Aquarian’s? Some day he shall be king.”
“I’m a land creature, not a water creature. I would become homesick like Gavin.”
“I understand completely. It is the reason I will not stop you. But hurry, mermaid with legs, as Maco and his prince will be here any minute now.”
“The prince?” Persephonice’s eyes widened as her head pounded. Then that was the merfolk’s trickery. He would take her back to the sea by way of the underground rivers. She would never see Dracolin again.
She swam as fast as she could for the surface, knowing she could never outdistance the mermen with their powerful tails that helped propel them through the water.
“Hurry,” the sprite said. “I hear them speaking in the underwater caves.”
Persephonice heard them, too. The four of them? She couldn’t escape them if they caught up with her.
“But what about your companion?”
The sprite smiled. “You shall become a legend in these parts. Though I dare say you have already made your name known across several regions for your kindheartedness. Maco will not be able to resist me.” She ran her hands through her long purple curls. “Maco will stay with me and if the prince doesn’t catch you first, he will have to try and catch you some other time. Merfolk are infinitely patient people. But be forewarned, he is soliciting everyone’s help in this. He’s even made a truce with the river elves in part, vowing that if they turn you over to him, the merfolk will be at peace with them again.”
“Great.”
“Yes, well, the prince and his father are still pretty sore at the river elves for trying to drown you.” The sprite looked back toward the cave. “They are here.”
Persephonice was close, but not close enough to the surface of the water for the dragons to reach her, she didn’t think. But as she saw the four mermen race across the lake for her, her heart nearly stopped. Though she attempted to reach the surface more rapidly, it seemed her efforts were done in slow motion as the adrenaline coursed through her body, and she felt totally panicked.
“Good luck, mermaid,” the sprite said, then veered off to attract Maco’s attention.
“Don’t let her escape!” the merman prince shouted.
The water vibrated with his threatening tone. Bubbles swirled around her as she pulled the water behind her, pushing herself toward the surface. Shadows drew over the lake and the mermen looked up. The prince cursed. “Get her!”
A dragon’s claws dipped into the water, but missed her, as she was still too deep. A merman grabbed her foot, and she screamed in surprise.
“We won’t hurt you,” the prince said, trying to calm her as he reached for her arm.
And then a dragon dove into the water underneath her. An arm wrapped around her waist. She feared Prince Aquarian had gotten hold of her. In the next instant, the dragon rose out of the water and soared high above. Only then did Persephonice realize Dracolin was the one who had hold of her.
His dark, wet hair hung loosely about his shoulders as he smiled at her. “I believe the merman prince had tried to claim you for his own, but my wish upon the shooting star wouldn’t allow him to have you.”
A roc flew next to them and Persephonice tossed the amulet to him.
“Thank you, friend of the roc.” He flew away with the other four.
Alacron bowed his eagle head to her, then he and his griffons flew into the woods.
She glanced at Balon and Prince Cronus who flanked them on their left and Prince Zorak who flew on their right.
Zorak said, “Had my dragon plucked you from the lake, you’d have ridden with me.”
Persephonice smiled, then nestled against Dracolin’s wet chest and closed her eyes, which was the only safe way to fly.
“We go now to see my father,” Zorak reminded them in case there was any doubt as to their next destination.
Cronus grumbled something she couldn’t quite make out, but she imagined it had something to do with not wanting her to meet with the high elves for fear they’d want to keep her there.
Chapter 22
Later that morning, Persephonice and her entourage flew toward the high elf kingdom, that looked similar to the sphinxes’, situated high in the mountains. Hopefully they wouldn’t have problems like they had there upon their arrival. How would the high elves greet Persephonice? With trepidation? Afraid of her unusual magic?
The peach stone palace blended with the peach-colored rocks of the mountains that could be seen in patches between thick groves of trees. Despite the high elevation, feathery, dark green fir trees covered most of the mountains in this region all the way to the peaks. Low clouds drizzled a light rain from above, though the sun still shone through. Towers rose at six places on the palace walls, imitating the jagged mountain peaks. Atop these, flags embroidered with gold, green and silver dragons on a light blue background flew in the cool breeze.
“Blue symbolizes mastery of the sky; the dragon, symbol of our coexistence with them,” Zorak explained.
As soon as the dragons alighted on a massive flat plateau-like structure, Dracolin helped Persephonice down.
High elves, both females and males, flooded out of the castle in greeting.
Persephonice had never been on a world where she’d gotten so much attention. The people didn’t smile though, just studied her with curiosity from a distance as the dragons took flight again.
“They have caves they’ve made their home near here,” Zorak said. Then to his people he said, “This is Lady Persephonice, a woman who is gifted in many languages and has other remarkable qualities.”
A short elf dressed in rich purple cloth, heavily embroidered with swirling gold designs, hurried forth. As all the men averaged six foot, she was surprised to see one who appeared fully-grown who stood closer to her height.
“I’m Chancellor Uro. Please, the king awaits you, Prince Zorak and Lady Persephonice.”
Since when had she gained a title? She looked at Dracolin, not wishing to go with the chancellor if Dracolin wasn’t welcome, too.
The chancellor clarified. “All of you.”
Zorak smiled at her. “You will be the guest of honor at our feast.”
“And then at mine,” Cronus quickly added.
If these people were barbarians, she sure could get used to their barbaric ways.
Zorak offered her his arm to escort her into the palace. Dracolin seemed disappointed, but it was Zorak’s home. He nodded for her to accept the prince’s escort.
She kissed Dracolin’s cheek, which seemed to lift his spirit, then rested her hand on Zorak’s arm.
He led her into the palace where tapestries picturing dragons and high elves filled the walls. Her boots tapped on the peach-tiled floor and echoed off the walls as floral fragrances wafted in the air.
Female elves wore wispy, brightly colored gowns of green, purple, yellow, red, and blue. The ladies seem to float across the hall in front of them. They curtsied to the prince as he made his way deeper into the palace. Finally, Zorak and Persephonice walked into a large hall where at one end sat three high-backed golden thrones.
“The throne room,” Zorak explained, his chest puffed out with pride. “My father, King Ren, in the center, and my mother, Queen Lees, next to him.”
The king and queen both smiled at her, and Persephonice at once felt at ease. Two stoic gentlemen stoo
d next to the king, both clothed in purple robes. They did not smile.
“Two of the high council,” Zorak explained.
The king and queen both had blond hair with touches of white streaking the strands. Both were blue eyed. She was surprised to see no variation in the elves’ coloration.
“Welcome, Lady Persephonice,” the king said with outstretched hands.
Zorak escorted her to the king’s throne. She curtsied deeply, hoping she did it right. Though her clothes were now dry, she realized she must have looked a sight. She wore male shadow elves’ clothing and she must have barely looked like a female.
The king rose from his seat and took her hands in his. He kissed her left cheek, followed by her right. “Welcome, my lady. We are so honored to have you here.”
“Yes,” the queen said. “My son did not warn us you would be needing something to wear for the feast, however.”
Zorak’s ears reddened.
“I apologize for not being more appropriately attired, but my own clothes were stolen and—”
The queen rose from her throne and smiled. “Nonsense, dear. We wish you to wear a high elf’s gown, if it pleases you.”
Persephonice glanced at the hall as it had become filled with high elves that came to watch the proceedings. “I would very much like that, Your Highness.”
The queen giggled. “Highness. I like that. From now on, I wish to be called that.” She clapped her hands and a young lady hurried forth.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Highness,” the queen corrected. “Take Lady Persephonice to the ladies’ chambers and have her properly dressed.” The queen touched Persephonice’s red curls. “Either a purple gown or a green one…or a blue. But not red. It would not go with that beautiful mermaid hair of hers. And fix her hair properly, like the kind she is.”
Even here in the mountains with the high elves, she would be known as a mermaid.
Persephonice was dressed in a gown that reached her ankles. Like the river elves’ gowns, this had a solid liner, and three layers of sheer fabric over it. She felt like a fairy princess as the purple sheers floated around her gold sandaled feet. Two ladies escorted her, both wearing green gowns. Though all the ladies had their blonde hair piled high on top of their heads, the two who had dressed her, had fastened pearls to Persephonice’s. Her hair was left long in red ringlets, cascading over her shoulders and down her back.
Hushed whispers greeted her though she caught the words “lovely or beautiful mermaid,” a time or two.
All the men stood as she approached the high table. Zorak hurried to have her seated between himself and his mother, isolating Persephonice from Dracolin. The way he was scowling, she knew he wasn’t pleased. Though the high elves had treated her with nothing but kindness, she wished to sit with Dracolin.
The queen asked her a million questions as high elves moved the serving dishes about using their magic. Zorak sat quietly smiling or nodding. She hoped he didn’t believe she wished him for her lifemate.
Whenever she could, she attempted to catch Dracolin’s attention to give him a smile, or nod, anything to reassure him that she still preferred his company to anyone else’s.
He seemed moody and wouldn’t look in her direction. Twice Balon poked him and spoke so that Dracolin would look her way. But even then, he seemed perturbed.
Finally, after all the feasting, Persephonice stood.
Several gasped and looked to their king for an explanation. By their shocked reactions, she assumed nobody ever did such a thing. He motioned for everyone to be quiet, she figured because she was not from here and she was their honored guest so he’d make allowances for her rudeness.
“I am extremely grateful to be here tonight. I have to say just as I saved Prince Zorak from being drowned in the cave, Dracolin saved me. Tonight a most generous people have welcomed me, and I wish to visit again soon. But I’ve promised I’d meet with the shadow elf king and with Dracolin’s father to thank them, too. Please forgive my rudeness, but I really must go.”
The king clapped his hands and everyone added to the chorus. “We will expect you to honor your promise and return again soon,” he said smiling.
The queen nodded. “Yes, dear, soon.”
“I must change—”
“Keep the gown. Show King Sal what a lovely high elf you’d make,” the queen said with a lift to her lips and a sparkle in her blue eyes.
Persephonice noticed Prince Cronus’s cheeks reddened. No way did he want her to be a high elf’s bride.
After saying their goodbyes, Prince Zorak accompanied the party home, offering his dragons again for their transportation. When they arrived, it was still early evening.
At once the festivities began anew only here the palace was a grand woodland estate. Torches lighted the whole place, showing off extravagant gardens and even a stand of woods in the expansive courtyards. Like the high elves’ palace, the shadow elves covered the palace walls inside with tapestries; only these illustrated woodland scenes or famous elf battles between shadow and high elves and creatures she’d never seen before.
The floors were terra cotta tile and the walls and ceilings, green. Most of the ladies wore dresses similar to the high elves, only in more muted green, brown, gold, peach and rust. Now Persephonice wished she wore a green dress as the purple one stood out too much. Though she guessed her red hair did, too.
Many of the shadow elves gaped at the sight of her as she joined them for another meal. Prince Cronus did just what Zorak had done, seated Persephonice between himself and his mother.
Again, Dracolin seemed perturbed. But worse, his father seemed that way, also. She imagined his father didn’t like that Dracolin cared for a mermaid with legs.
When the king finally released his people from the meal, Cronus pulled her chair back for her, but as soon as she thanked him and his father and mother, she rushed to take Dracolin’s hand.
Her action brought a smile to his lips. “You are upsetting both the princes and their families tonight, who beyond a doubt are already making marital plans for them with you.”
“Won’t work,” she said, smiling. “There’s only one of me. Besides, I had my heart set on another.” She pulled him back outside into the courtyard and glanced up at the dark sky sprinkled with a smattering of twinkling lights.
She pointed to a shooting star.
“I have made my wish,” he said, then wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Elves danced to music in one corner of the courtyard while others played some kind of game of tag in a grassy area.
“And I have made mine.”
“But my father has warned me against you,” Dracolin said.
“My father has already done the same with me.”
Dracolin raised his dark brows as his brown eyes shimmered in the torchlight. “Would you heed him?”
She smiled. “Will you heed your father’s words?”
Dracolin rubbed her shoulder. “Sometimes an elf has to make his own mistakes in life.”
She hit his chest with the flat part of her hand. “Take that back!”
He chuckled. “If the princes see how violent you can be, maybe they won’t desire you as much.”
“And what about you?”
“I’m a warrior from a long line of warrior chiefs. I can handle one small magical mermaid.”
“So you say.”
He smiled, welcoming the challenge, she assumed.
“Officially, the king has declared you are our overseer,” Dracolin said. “The word has gone out that anyone who should need our help—”
“Our?” Persephonice asked.
He smiled. “Our. I’ve been given the lofty new title of official Overseer Protectorate.”
“And your duties are?”
“To stick close to the overseer at all times.” Dracolin kissed Persephonice’s hand. “Tell me, what makes your lifemate the one for you?”
When she didn’t say, he leaned over and kissed her smil
ing lips.
The computer chose her lifemate. No way would it have chosen Dracolin, a shadow elf, to be her lifetime partner. And yet she’d never felt as comfortable with another guy as she did with him.
“Since meeting you, I have changed my mind.”
He stared at her. “What?”
She couldn’t contain the grin that spread across her face. She touched his dark brown hair and sighed deeply. “He would be just like you…my lifemate, if I had a right to choose him for myself.”
A slow smile curved Dracolin’s lips upward at the corners. “Someone like me?”
She nodded.
“You mean me.”
Again she grinned.
He pressed his lips against hers. But as the warmth of his mouth warmed hers, and the taste of the sweet water they’d shared still lingered there, her wristband vibrated, sending a jolt of panic through her. The button on her wristband suddenly glowed green.
“No!” she cried out, startling Dracolin. At the same time her heartbeat tripled its pace and she stepped away from Dracolin as she struggled to remove the band. “No!” she cried again as she felt herself slipping away, and everything became blurry, then blackness enveloped her.
She materialized in the teleporter room of her spaceship. How could her father return for her at a time like this? When she’d found a new lifemate? Though the computer wouldn’t have said he was perfect, in a lot of ways Dracolin was more perfect than anything the computer could have chosen for her.
And what about her overseer job? Well, maybe she wouldn’t exactly be an overseer on the primitive elf planet, but she loved her new job just the same. But also, she loved the elves and their world. More importantly, she felt she belonged.
Her blood ran hot with anger as she stared at the vacated room.
No welcoming committee greeted her in the teleporter room. No one to say they’d made a mistake in leaving her behind. Nor was there anyone here to say they’d left her on purpose to force her to want to live her life again, if that had been the reason.
Fine. They’d made their point! But she wanted to return to Dracolin. At once!
