“And then, this morning—did you see those massive water sprouts?” she says, in a swift change in subject. “Like walls of water. It was incredible.”
I laugh. “Yes, I saw them.”
“So what happened?” she asks me quickly. “The sirens? Your mom? The prophecy?”
“My mother is dead. The sirens... well, they’re sorta under our command at the moment.”
“What?” I’ve never heard Rosemera’s voice that high-pitched before.
“It’s a long story. Out next step is going to be to find a way to rectify that situation. Whitley doesn’t want to be the new Siren Queen.”
“Well, that’s good. Last I heard she liked being a siren.”
I shrug. “She does. But I’m not sure that has to be as bad a thing as we assumed.” I sigh as I think about Azalea and all she did to help us. Perhaps I should learn to trust a little more easily.
Then again, a little suspicion never hurt anyone. I smile to myself.
Whitley, Bingo, and Jasper finally board the ship, and Knick’s arms immediately wrap around Bingo. He lifts him up and whoops in victory.
“I’m fine! I’m fine!” Bingo screams and we all laugh.
“What now?” Rosemera asks me.
“How about another quick trip to New Orleans?”
Whitley
Bluff, Azalea, and I swim through the pitch-black cave. I laugh as Azalea bumps her head when we surface under the uneven rocks. She shivers.
“Are we still upside down?” she whispers.
Bluff laughs.
“You sure I must be here?” she asks in a whisper.
“Yes,” Bluff says firmly, though I know he’s not certain. It’s just better to have her here in case, rather than having to make a second journey.
“Well now, isn’t this a treat!” a harsh voice calls from around the corner.
I hop onto the dark stone bank and rush down the glistening cavern hall. The moment the Sea Witch comes into view, I wrap my arms around her like an old friend. She chuckles, not lifting her arms but not pushing me away either.
“Thank you for everything,” I say.
“No, thank you for stopping my sister from succeeding. Would have been hell for all of us, mark my words.”
Bluff nods as he turns to corner to meet us. Emil sits on her stone ledge, water trickling down behind her. “You’ve come for more help, though, yes?”
I nod. “You already know what that is, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Can you help us with it?”
“I can.”
“Perfect, let’s get this over with then.”
“Oh, you don’t want to stay for some tea?” She tilts her head.
I chuckle. “I’d be happy to stay for a visit with you. I don’t know that tea is what I ‘d want, though.”
“A true pirate, now, eh?” she asks, with a rise of her eyebrows. Then she hops up from her seat and grabs a glass bottle from the ground by a rock and hands it to me.
I smile. That’s not really what I meant—more that swamp tea doesn’t sound all that appetizing, but rum? Well, why not?
I take a long swig and hand it to Bluff, who takes an even longer gulp.
“There, now we’ve had your tea,” he says, in an annoyed tone. “Now tell us how to make Azalea the new Siren Queen.”
Emil sighs and I glare at Bluff. “A little courtesy couldn’t hurt, you know?” I say.
“Whitley, stand before your chosen successor,” she instructs, ignoring Bluff’s rudeness. I stand facing Azalea, her black scales glistening in the candlelight. “Now kiss her.”
“What?” Bluff asks.
“Do as I say,” she barks.
I raise my eyebrows, turning to examine Bluff’s expression.
He seems more amused than annoyed. “Is this really necessary?” he says, his hands on his hips. “I mean, I don’t mind. I just feel like you’re messing with us.”
I smirk at him. “You’re not jealous?” I wink.
“Not at all.” He shrugs. “Fine, whatever, proceed. I’ll just be totally surprised if this actually works.”
“No trust at all, eh, boy? After everything I’ve done to help yeh?” The Sea Witch purses her lips.
“No offense. I don’t trust easily.”
Azalea shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Tell me about it. “
Ignoring their bickering, I turn to Azalea—a siren I’ve learned all about in the last few days as we sailed to New Orleans. There are many things that make much more sense now that I know their story. I wish Bluff had told me about her long ago—perhaps I would have better understood his aversion to sirens if he’d been open about it.
Azalea’s expression grows serious as I lean in slowly. I lightly touch my lips to hers. She swallows but doesn’t dare move.
“Now breathe out, letting your power flow into her. Don’t worry, only your siren magic will go.”
I obey, breathing my magic into Azalea, the siren who helped us against Bluff’s mother. I feel a weight lift from my chest and grasp onto her. I pull back from our kiss feeling lighter. Her eyes shine as she stares at me with unblinking eyes.
“Do you feel it?” I ask with a smile, because I do.
She nods.
“That’s it?” Bluff asks, staring at the two of us.
Emil nods. “Anything else you need from me?”
“No,” Bluff whispers. “Now that that bloody business is over with, we have a trip planned.”
“Oh?”
I smile, knowing full well the Sea Witch knows what trip we mean. “I have an old friend in New York I intend to pay a visit to,” I tell her and grin as I think of the very gracious Mr. Robinson and the mob that still runs that city. He will be very glad to see me, I think.
Now that Bluff and I have this power, as strong as all the sirens combined—well, I don’t have a doubt we’ll run them over without blinking once. And I am so looking forward to it.
“Give him hell, lovely girl.”
“I intend to.”
Author Note
Thank you so much for reading my entire series! It was so much fun to write and I will seriously miss these characters! But, then again—maybe their story isn’t total over yet! I’d love to write an epilogue novella about Bluff and Whitley heading the New York to face their last remaining enemy! And of course, Rosemera may just get the chance to see Robert one more time.
If you’d like to read that story, let me know! I’ll push me to write it faster
Treacherous Love Page 24
