“That’s my boy!” shouted Rafe’s father, applauding wildly and beaming from ear to ear.
“That’s my son! Takes after his father.”
“Maxwell, have you jumped yet?” asked a rather plump man who looked like he’d been chewing a lemon.
“No father.”
“Good,” said an even plumper woman in an ill fitting dress. “You’d think they’d have waited for us to arrive before they started.”
“Make sure you nail it Maxwell, our entire future is riding on you,” said Mr Jordan.
“Don’t put too much pressure on the lad,” said Wade. “Let him enjoy it.”
“He’s my son,” said Mr Jordan. “I’ll put all the pressure I like on him. Shows I care.”
“He knows he’s not to let us down, don’t you Maxwell?” said Mrs Jordan, wiping beads of sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.
“Yes mother,” mumbled Max.
“That explains a lot,” said Cordelia.
Max scowled at Cordelia but she knew it was through embarrassment rather than hatred towards her. For once, Cordelia knew that she wasn’t to blame for someone else’s feelings.
“Nerissa Murphy,” announced Wade.
Masika hugged her sister and wished her luck before Nerissa made her way onto the diving ledge. Nerissa inhaled deeply as she tried to control her nerves. She wasn’t used to diving solo. She closed her eyes to help her focus. Standing on the cliff top, Cordelia anxiously bit her thumb nail as she waited for Nerissa to perform her dive. Thoughts of Nixie’s fatal accident flashed through her mind and she silently prayed that her friend would be safe. In the blink of an eye, Nerissa performed an almost perfect back dive but she knew the entry splash would lower her score. The audience clapped less enthusiastically than they had for Rafe as mixed scores of sixes and sevens were raised in the air but her parents couldn’t have looked prouder. As Nerissa climbed back up the rocks, Masika took her position on the diving ledge. Without any hesitation, Masika performed her dive beautifully without any splash at all. She ripped straight through the water with the skill of a seasoned champion and the crowd went wild as the judges scored eights and nines. Cordelia congratulated her friend and began to breathe through pursed lips to calm her nerves.
Masika affectionately squeezed Nerissa’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, it’s not over yet.”
Eventually it was Max’s turn. He looked troubled but nonetheless, he completed a perfect back dive, scoring one eight and four nines. Max looked over at his parents several times when he returned to the cliff top. They clapped but never once did they smile.
“Well done,” said Rafe, slapping Max on the back.
“Lana Seymour,” announced Wade.
As soon as her name was mentioned a loud cheer erupted from the rocks below where her mother and siblings were sitting behind the judges. For a moment, Cordelia wished that she could be Lana, that she was part of a large, happy family. Her eyes scanned the crowd. There was no sign of Flynn, only Breck. He saluted her and smiled, making her stomach flip. A tremendous applause drew her attention back to the competition and although she’d missed the dive, the thrill on Irvin’s face told her that Lana had done well. While the other competitors took their turns, Cordelia started to pace back and forth and her heart beat quickened.
“Calm down,” said Lana. “You won’t be doing yourself any favours if you let yourself get worked up.”
“Cordelia,” announced Wade.
Slightly flushed in the face, Cordelia stepped onto the diving ledge. Her troubles raced frantically through her mind and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape her thoughts. She turned to face the cliff wall in preparation for her back dive. She inhaled deeply and exhaled several times before leaping into the air. She could feel the balmy air on her cheeks, she could hear the crowd cheering, but as she descended from the cliff top, panic struck. A peculiar sensation ran over her skin as though she was being pricked all over her legs and shoulders. Fearing the worst, Cordelia began to scramble in mid air, just as she had done in her first diving class. Then she fell like a lead weight into the ocean, propelling water everywhere. The crowd gasped and Breck hurried down to the reef below. Beneath the surface, Cordelia frantically ran her hands over her legs and back searching for feathers. There was nothing there but smooth skin. Through the water, Cordelia could see Triton peering in but she was too embarrassed to resurface. Cordelia flinched as she felt something brush her arm.
“You can do it,” said Nixie. “If not for you, then do it for me. Finish the competition that I couldn’t.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes at Nixie and resurfaced. Triton leaned over the ledge and reached out an arm. Behind him she could see low scores of two. Marilla had scored zero and her beady eyes glared at Cordelia who could have sworn she felt them burning into her soul.
“Give me your hand,” said Triton.
“I’m okay,” said Cordelia and she swam further along the reef to Breck.
“Are you okay?” asked Breck, reaching out a hand.
“I’m fine,” said Cordelia, taking Breck’s hand. “I let nerves get the better of me.”
“You’ve no need to be nervous. I’ve seen you dive a thousand times. You’re as good as the others.”
They climbed back to the cliff top together. “Stay with me, here,” said Cordelia, pulling on Breck’s hand. “It won’t be my turn for a while yet.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” asked Breck as they sat on the grass.
“I wanted Flynn to be here, it would have meant a lot.” “You’ve still got me,” said Breck, putting his arm around Cordelia.
“I know,” she said, leaning into him.
They watched the other competitors perform reverse dives. Cordelia knew that if she messed this one up, she was out of the competition and there was no way she was going to let that happen. She mentally prepared herself as best as she could and when Lana returned from her dive, Cordelia joined her and the others at the diving ledge.
“You can do this,” said Lana, reassuringly, “don’t let the boys beat you.”
When Cordelia’s turn came, she positioned herself on the ledge and without a moment’s hesitation she executed a perfect reverse dive and ripped through the water without a single splash. Breck punched the air in quiet celebration while Lana and the twins jumped up and down excitedly.
“Bravo,” said Triton, still clapping as Cordelia emerged from the water. “That’s more like it.”
The sound of applause from the crowd sent a rush of excitement surging through Cordelia’s body. It was the closest thing she had to a family support network. Everyone was cheering and clapping, everyone apart from Morwen whose very presence made the hairs on the back of Cordelia’s neck stand on end. The judges held up their score boards and all displayed nines apart from Morwen who scored five.
“That was brilliant!” said Breck, wrapping a towel around Cordelia’s shoulders.
Cordelia didn’t respond, her eyes were fixed on Morwen.
“What is it?” asked Breck.
“Nothing,” replied Cordelia and she scampered up the rocks to Lana and the twins with Breck following behind.
“That was amazing!” said Nerissa, hugging Cordelia.
Rafe approached the diving ledge for the next round of dives. One after the other the competitors took their turn to perform an inward dive, then came the somersaults. This is what everyone had been waiting for. Cordelia watched with quiet confidence as the other students performed their dives. The competition was strong but she’d been practising for months. A curious excitement filled the air but ever so gradually the temperature dropped and clouds rolled in across the sky. Finally it was Cordelia’s turn to dive.
“You’ve got this,” said Breck, squeezing Cordelia’s shoulders.
She stood on the diving ledge and watched the sea build momentum below. Suddenly, an almighty clash of thunder rumbled and heavy rain poured from the sky like a monsoon. The spectators didn’t bother
running for cover, within seconds they were drenched. Cordelia noticed a gannet perched on a ledge near by. It was Arna, she was sure of it. All of this was Arna. While Cordelia stood on the diving ledge the wind picked up. It blew stronger with every passing second and the audience clutched their belongings tightly. Cordelia boldly stepped forward and that steely look appeared in her eyes. Unwavering in the wind, Cordelia leaped into the air and completed a faultless forward dive with two somersaults.
“Are you mad?” asked Breck as Cordelia emerged from the water. “You could have killed yourself.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Cordelia glanced at the score boards, all displaying nines apart from Morwen who awarded seven. The rain continued to pour and water droplets bounced off the surface of the ocean as the water started to build momentum. There was one round of dives left. The mood in the crowd was tense and some of the competitors pulled out of the competition due to the adverse weather conditions. Rafe took his place on the diving ledge and leaped straight into a reverse double somersault. He was awarded nines - a point deducted by each judge for entry splash.
“Well done son!” shouted his father. “Looks like you’ve secured a place at the ball.”
“Nerissa Murphy,” announced Wade.
Against the force of the wind, Nerissa anxiously stepped onto the diving ledge and teetered unsteadily on the edge. She stared at the water for too long, waiting for the right moment to dive.
“Go on Nerissa! You can do it!” shouted Masika.
Nerissa took a deep breath and leaped from the rock but a gust of wind blew her sideways and she dived awkwardly into the water below.
“Masika Murphy,” called Wade.
The crowd was deathly silent as Masika took her spot on the ledge. Nerissa waited nervously, forgetting to breathe as she awaited her sister’s fate. Once in position Masika leaped straight into the air, somersaulting through the rain and slamming into the waves. Disappointed with her entry, Masika resurfaced and punched the water.
Cordelia watched the gannet closely as it nestled in the cliff. She could see through its innocent façade. She knew it was Arna controlling this storm. Then it hit her. If Arna could control the wind then so could she. Cordelia focused her mind on the wind, willing it to die down but Arna was strong. Fixed at loggerheads and neither backing down, tension rapidly built, charging the atmosphere and igniting an electrical storm. Fork lightning struck the clifftop where Cordelia and her friends were standing. Along with great lumps of rock they tumbled to the water below.
TWENTY-TWO
MEREN
A mid this raging tempest of wind and sea, white foam covered the ocean and from it emerged Nixie and twelve white horses, galloping through the waves. Cordelia couldn’t believe her eyes as Réalta came towards her. She reached out her hands and pulled herself onto Réalta’s back. Each horse found a rider and carried them away from the storm.
“Hold on!” shouted Cordelia over the storm as she watched Breck sliding from his horse.
The journey was otherworldly. None of them could quite believe they were riding ghost horses across the ocean. Cordelia glanced over her shoulder to see the town still cloaked in darkness, the storm seemingly chasing them. A wall of sheeting rain raced across the ocean towards them. With one fell swoop of her hand, Cordelia stopped the rain in its tracks. Frozen rain drops hung suspended in the air; a maze of ice beads to curtail anyone who tried to follow them. A lilac grey sea mist appeared on the horizon and as they drew nearer, they heard a conch shell sounding.
“Where are they taking us?” asked Breck.
“Meren,” smiled Cordelia, her eyes focused ahead.
Nixie led the horses through the mist into still waters. Cordelia gazed at the magnificent castle towering over her. It was surrounded by rocks just as Lana had said, and guards holding sea arrows. The conch shell sounded again as though to signal a warning.
“Are they expecting us?” asked Cordelia, turning to Nixie.
Nixie had gone and one by one the horses vanished too. The riders found themselves submerged, their heads bobbing about in this unfamiliar seascape. The guards stepped forward and aimed their arrows at the unfamiliar faces.
“What do we do?” asked Max.
“Don’t shoot,” called Cordelia, “we come in peace.”
Lana revealed her tail, prompting the others to do the same. The guards changed their stance, now aiming their arrows directly at Cordelia and Breck. Cordelia hesitated, she hadn’t decided whether she would reveal her identity but the decision was being made for her. The guards pulled back their bow strings to full draw.
“Show them!” said Lana.
Cordelia reluctantly revealed her tail which caused the guards to lower their bows and salute. Cordelia swam towards the rocks and the others followed behind. The conch shell sounded again but this time it wasn’t a warning, it was a welcome.
The group were ushered into the castle where they were filled with wonder at the sight of the gem covered walls that sparkled in the candlelight. None of them had ever seen anything like it.
“This way,” said a woman wearing a maid’s outfit. The woman led Cordelia away from the rest of the group.
“Why aren’t we staying with the others?” asked Cordelia as she hesitantly followed the woman up a flight of steps.
“You want to change into dry clothes, don’t you?”
Cordelia nodded and the woman led her into a chamber where two maids were filling a bath tub with water and another was hanging a beautiful dress at the end of a four poster bed. Cordelia brushed the back of her hand against the smooth, silk bed sheets. So lost was she in her thoughts that she jumped when the maid spoke again.
“Would you like to be bathed?”
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “No. No thank you. If you don’t mind I’d like some privacy.”
“As you wish.”
The maids curtsied before leaving the room and then Cordelia slipped into the bath. It was far more comfortable than the upright barrel in her chamber at the lighthouse. Cordelia lay back and allowed her eyes to wander over the contours of the ornate walls and gold leaf picture frames. Wondering if it may be all a dream, she pinched herself.
“Cordelia, come quick!” said Nixie, bursting through the wall.
“Do you mind?” asked Cordelia, grabbing a towel.
“You need to get dressed, they’ve locked Breck in the tower!”
“What? Why would they do that?” asked Cordelia, stepping out of the bath.
“They know he’s not like us.”
Cordelia flung on the dress and stepped into the hallway where the maid was waiting.
“I trust the dress fits?”
“It’s fine, thank you,” replied Cordelia. “Which way to the tower?”
“Your father’s waiting to see you.”
“My father?”
“The King.”
“He knows I’m here?”
“Of course,” said the woman. “He sent for you.”
“If I am the King’s daughter, release my guest from the tower.”
“You shall have to speak to your father about that. Follow me.”
Cordelia followed the maid along a windowless hallway. At the far end was a pair of ornate double doors at least twice her height. The doors opened before they knocked and a butler bowed as Cordelia slowly entered the room.
King Lorcan held out his arms, “Cordelia!” he said, smiling.
Cordelia stayed put. “Good afternoon, your highness.”
The King signaled for his butler to leave before speaking further. “You look just like your mother.”
“How long have you known?”
“I’ve always known.”
“Then why have I never met you until now?” asked Cordelia.
“I needed to be sure. I needed to know you were one of us.”
“And what if I wasn’t? What if I was like her?”
“We can’t very well have Sirens running amock
in the castle, can we? It would cause an uproar.”
“I thought you liked Sirens. You were fond of my mother, weren’t you?”
“Your mother was different. She wanted to end the killing of innocent people.”
“Yet you left her to die instead of bringing her here to live with you. You left me to die!” exclaimed Cordelia.
Tears welled in Cordelia’s eyes and she faught to hold them back, but one tear fell over the edge. Cordelia caught the gem in her hand and closed her fingers tightly around it.
“I want to see Breck. What business have you locking him in the tower?” said Cordelia.
“What business have you bringing him here? You’d risk Meren for a boy?”
Cordelia stared at the King with astonishment. “How dare you. Rule number six, thou shalt not converse with Sirens. Do the rules not apply to the King?”
“If I obeyed the rules, you would not exist.”
“Did you love her?”
King Lorcan nodded. “Very much so.”
“Then why lock Breck in the tower?”
“My relationship with your mother was a secret. She never came here.”
“If you loved her, why didn’t you bring her back?”
“Meren would never accept it.”
“You love your crown more.”
“That’s not true.”
“Prove it. Do the right thing now and release Breck.”
“You’re my only heir, Cordelia. If you choose Breck you must forfeit the throne.”
Cordelia’s nostrils flared and she held out her hand. “Give me the key to the tower.”
“Very well,” said the King and led her through the castle to the tower.”
“Where is he?” asked Cordelia, upon finding an empty cell.
The King studied the door. “The lock, it’s melted.”
Cordelia smiled and rushed down the steps.
“Cordelia, wait!”
Cordelia ran across the courtyard calling Breck’s name.
Breck appeared by an archway leading to a garden. “Cordelia! This way.”
ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Page 29
