He seemed deadly serious, a fact which made her burst into laughter.
“Why are you laughing?” Red asked, sounding hurt.
“You’re a fucking prince.”
“Not really, not any more. The dragons have a Prime Minister and a government now. The monarchy was abolished a while ago.”
Tameka’s face fell. “Oh. So you’re not really a prince then.”
Red straightened his shoulders, trying to make himself look tall and regal. It worked, and Tameka couldn’t help but feel a little turned on.
“Long story short; my step-father is the Prime Minister. I wanted to be a policeman; he wanted me to be a spy. I compromised and became both.” Red sighed. “But I didn’t become Deacon Redmond until you were located. I was sent to watch you, just in case your sister made contact.”
“What do you really look like? Are you ugly? Do you look like Ted Danson?”
Red laughed. “I am classically handsome.”
“I bet you have gross teeth.”
“Stop it.”
“And a hairy tongue.”
“Stop it.”
They stared at each other for what felt like eons. For a second Tameka thought he was trying to lean forward and kiss her. Either that or he had an inner ear infection and was about to fall over.
I do not want this sexy dragon shifter to kiss me. He’s been spying on me!
“Shit.” She shook her head to clear away images of Red wearing a crown, completely naked, honey dripping off his nipples. “You were spying on me. Great. Wonderful. I feel so special. God, I hate you.”
“Don’t leave,” he insisted.
“Just…phone me if you find out where Vincent’s family is. I want to help.”
“It will be dangerous.”
“Do you really think I need to be protected?”
“What I told you, about being an ex-prince…tell nobody. It’s important.”
She turned her back on him and headed for the door.
“What was all that shouting for?” Vincent demanded, emerging from the door that led to the basement. “How am I supposed to torture someone with all that racket?”
Tameka gave Vincent a smile before slamming the door behind her.
Vincent hummed for a few seconds before saying, “That was awkward.”
“Shut up,” Red shouted.
Red leaned his head back against the surprisingly plush sofa and sighed. His conversation with Tameka hadn’t gone entirely as planned, though he was surprised it hadn’t ended up in a punch out. He’d never seen her so angry.
And sad.
“How goes the torture?” Red asked.
Vincent flopped down on the sofa next to him. “It’s going nowhere.”
“Just like my life.”
Red sighed again, feeling sorry for himself. He was letting everyone down. He felt like a failure.
“What did you feel when you made Jan kill herself?” he asked.
Jan had been his first human friend. She’s introduced herself the night he’d moved in and been a constant friendly presence ever since. He missed her.
She used to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies for me every week.
We used to binge watch Netflix box sets together.
“I felt like I was killing my family,” Vincent admitted. “When I made someone kill themselves I felt like I was killing my family; every single time.”
When it came to it Vincent couldn’t kill him, which gave Red pause. At the time, having been thrown into a car, he hadn’t been willing to listen. Yet he’d seen how remorseful the troll looked, and decided to give her a chance. He was glad he did. He still harbored quite a lot of resentment over Jan’s death, but he didn’t blame Vincent, not anymore.
Tameka said she’d destroy the world to save her family. Maybe I’d do the same but I’m too afraid to admit it.
He wasn’t sure he loved anyone enough to forsake the whole world for, even his own mother. Once upon a time he felt different. When he had a family he would’ve done anything to save them.
“I had a family once,” Red admitted.
Vincent looked at him, concerned. “That’s why you let me live.”
“They died, Vincent. I did something unforgiveable to save them but in the end it didn’t matter. They all died.”
He cleared his throat and stood up. He needed to report back to the prime minister. It never boded well, reminiscing.
“Shall I continue the torture?” Vincent asked eagerly.
Red grinned. “Make the fucker suffer.”
The harbor was still, content. Even the seagulls were absent.
It feels like the calm before a storm.
She shivered, feeling something odd in her flesh. She looked out to see, noticing a vast shadow pass under the surface. She stepped back, every atom in her body consumed with inherent terror. There was something there, something huge, something evil.
“Hello sister.”
Tameka almost jumped out of her skin.
Shit! It’s only my sister.
Tameka forced a smile, her skin covered in goose bumps. Whatever that thing was she’d never felt fear like it.
“Asha,” said Tameka. Her sister was resting on the pier just a few yards away. Her scales were wet, glistening like daggers. “It’s good to see you again.”
Her smile was genuine now. She was calm, knowing her sister, her twin, was with her. It felt right.
“What was that thing under the sea?” Tameka asked.
She couldn’t look where she’d witnessed the shadow. She knew she might be sick.
“That was a sperm whale,” said Asha. “He was lost. I showed him the way home.”
Tameka said, “Are you sure? I felt something…ancient.”
Ancient and evil.
“Whales are ancient,” Asha stated. Tameka detected a little condescension there. “Some of them have lived for thousands of years.”
She’s talking to me like I’m an idiot.
Shit. I never noticed it before because I was so shocked, but Red is right. She is a robot.
This mermaid was her sister. Tameka had to remind herself of that fact.
“You want to know the truth,” Asha stated.
“I know the truth,” said Tameka, trying to act more like her robotic sister. It was impossible. All she wanted to do was either laugh or cry. “The mermaids took you and changed your flesh into one of them and erased you from my memory.”
Asha’s odd look spoke volumes.
It’s the look you give to a dog when it does something vaguely human.
My sister and I are different species now. I have to remember that.
“That is true,” said Asha.
“But you still remember me,” said Tameka.
“I was ten years old when I left you and became a mermaid. We had years together.”
“Ten? But that was the…”
“I was taken the day our human parents died.”
13
“Redley…Sources tell me you changed in front of her.”
“I had to be honest.”
“It’s too soon.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. We were attacked by assassins. I had to change in order to protect us. She could have died.”
“Assassins? Human?”
“Very human, but very deadly. Prime Minister, I have no idea who is behind this. I suspected the mermaids at first but now I’m not too sure.”
“You think humans are behind this? Why would they want random humans killed? It makes no sense at all.”
“Why would mermaids want random people killed?”
“The people killed have to have something in common, something you haven’t discovered yet. You have to find that link. Use Tameka. She has very good investigative instincts.”
“And I don’t? I did actually train as a police officer you know.”
“I know.”
“Let me ask you something; if you know I changed in front of her, how come you don’t
know what happened after? There was barely five minutes between events.”
“You were watched from above. You were seen changing, and after that…nothing.”
“The human assassins had magical help. Some sort of shield to block aerial snooping.”
“Someone knows we’re watching.”
“But who?”
“Carry on your investigation. It will lead you to the truth.”
“We captured one of the assassins. He has no tongue and can’t really tell us anything.”
“I think I might be able to help with that. I will send you someone who can help.”
“There’s something else you should know.”
“What is it now?”
“Prime Minister…I promised to help the troll rescue her family.”
“Trolls are of no concern to us. Let them die.”
“Vincent is innocent in this. Her family are innocent. I can’t let them rot.”
“Fine. Fine. You’re trying to find the people who hired the assassins anyway, right? You might as well rescue the troll’s family at the same time. Just don’t jeopardize the mission to do so.”
“I have this strange feeling…”
“I trust your instincts. Go on.”
“Everything is coming to a head. Within the space of a few days Tameka has met a mermaid, a dragon and a troll, all on separate occasions. It’s as if…”
“Events are converging around her.”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s even more important you continue with this. The persons responsible for forcing that troll to commit those murders is important. I can feel it.”
“Me too.”
“Be careful. We have many enemies. If people were to find out who you really are…”
“As far as anyone knows I’ve been in Reality Prime, researching dragon history for ten years. I have a spell, concealing my true face. Nobody knows I’m here. The only person who knows is you.”
“Your mother misses you.”
“I miss her too, Prime Minister. Anyway, I better go. Vincent is chomping at the bit to torture our captive. She can get quite aggressive when she’s angry.”
Red hung up, sure he could trust Tameka with his royal secret. She wasn’t the type to gossip. Still, he sincerely wished he hadn’t told her. If the prime minister found out he’d roast him alive.
This assignment is important. I can’t screw up.
It suddenly occurred to him why Tameka was so important. He knew that Asha had made contact, but what now? What did they expect Tameka to do? What was he expected to do other than seduce her? The prime minister hadn’t really said. Did he want him to turn Tameka? Ask her her to spy on her sister? She’d never do that, not in a million years. The PM must have known that too. Was there something he was missing? Was he there for some other reason that he hadn’t been told about?
A crash came from the basement. Red ran to see what was going on, finding Vincent holding the assassin upside down by his feet. Blood dripped into a puddle on the cement floor.
“What did you do to him?” Red demanded.
“Nothing he didn’t deserve,” Vincent answered.
Red smiled. “Carry on, then.”
“Did the mermaids have anything to do with our parents dying?” Tameka asked.
Asha was standing up now, her human legs long and lithe but still covered in scales. They stood eye to eye.
I never saw her change. How odd.
“No,” said Asha. “The dragons killed them.”
“Why would the dragons kill them?” asked Tameka.
“The filthy dragons don’t have to have a reason. They do what they please.”
The only dragon she knew was Red, and he was a liar, though not a murderer. It would be racist to assume he was like the rest of his species. Then again, she didn’t really know Red all that well, did she?
I never knew he was sent to spy on me, did I? Maybe I don’t know him at all.
“It seems awfully convenient that the dragons kill our parents and you get taken by the mermaids at the same time,” said Tameka. “Right?”
“I wish you could remember,” said Asha. “It will be much simpler if you knew everything.”
She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to know. The memories would be too traumatic. Then again, she had a right to know. They were her memories. If there were a way to retrieve what was stolen she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t take a chance, despite how awful the memories might be.
“Can you give me my memory back?” Tameka asked.
Asha shook her head. “It is forbidden.”
“But you’re here telling me all about it anyway, so what’s the the point?” Tameka took a deep breath, keeping her eyes away from the sea and the memory of the shadow. She wished she could forget that. “Please.”
Asha sighed like she was bored. Up close Tameka could see tiny sparkles in her eyes, like her corneas were made from a million microscopic diamonds. It was beautiful and awe inspiring and it made Tameka a little jealous.
Asha nodded her head. “Meet me back here in an hour. I might know of something that could help. But if I get caught then the kyrions will lash me.”
“Kyrions?”
“The leaders. What I’m doing, meeting you, saving you, revealing things to you, is…is wrong.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was scared – or a very good approximation of it.
She’s trying to act human to put me at ease.
It’s kind of sweet.
“Just meet me in an hour,” said Asha.
“Don’t help me if it could get you in trouble,” Tameka insisted. “I don’t want you getting lashed, whatever the hell that is. It sounds…painful.”
“I…I will be fine.”
Asha placed her hand on Tameka’s shoulder and attempted what she could only consider was a smile. It made her sister look like a psychotic clown without the make-up. But she was trying, and that was all that mattered.
“Be careful,” Tameka told her.
Asha leaped off the pier, her human legs becoming a tail in the second before she hit the water. Magic was cool.
There was a polite but firm rap on the door. Vincent looked at Red. Red looked at Vincent.
“Are you expecting a call?” Red asked. “An Avon lady perhaps?”
“My wife is the local Avon lady,” said Vincent proudly.
They’d given up torturing the prisoner ten minutes ago and made themselves a coffee. It was no use. The assassin had been conditioned to withstand torture. Continuing with their interrogations was a waste of everyone’s time.
Red opened the door cautiously, finding a short human standing on the doorstep. She smiled up at him.
“Who are you?” Red demanded. He looked around the street, noticing his still damaged car but nothing much else. “What do you want?”
“I am Bethyl Wasp,” the human asked. “I was sent by your Prime Minister.”
“What are you?”
The small human grinned, showing off rows of silver teeth. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, trembling in the stiff wind that was blowing in from the ocean. He could smell the magic on her.
“Fine,” said Red, motioning her to come inside.
He closed the door behind her as she took off her cloak. She was wearing what appeared to be a black shell suit, a fashion relic of the eighties that time should have forgotten. Its mere appearance caused Red have traumatic flashbacks to 1989.
We thought shell suits were the height of fashion. We were wrong.
“Take me to the tongue less miscreant,” Bethyl demanded.
Vincent stared down at her. “You are a gnome.”
Bethyl stared up at the troll. “You are a troll.”
Red cleared his throat. “Are you two flirting?”
The gnome’s resting bitch face could reduce Medusa to ashes.
“Take me to the tongue less miscreant,” Bethyl repeated.
Red shrugged and l
ed the way.
Asha was back in less than five minutes, almost flying out of the water in her haste. Tameka was impressed. She’d seen something zip about under the water but to her it was just a green blur. Her sister was a very fast swimmer.
The mermaid held out a small turquoise pebble.
“What is that?” Tameka asked. “Do I use it in the shower to get rid of dead skin on the bottom of my feet? They get really nasty.”
“It is a pebble that helps eradicate spells,” Asha explained. “It should peel away the block in your memory. I can not promise it will work, but your feeble human mind should actually work for you in this case.”
“Hey, I love my feeble human mind.” Asha performed her dead eyed smile again. Tameka shivered. “You really aren’t human, are you?”
“That is a compliment.”
“Not really.”
Tameka took the pebble, trying to ignore the fact that her sister was starting to creep her out a little.
She’s not human. She doesn’t think like me.
She’s not human. She doesn’t think like me.
She’s not…
Fucking hell, she’s so weird.
“I do not have time to dawdle,” said Asha. “We must do this now.”
“One more thing - why are you helping me?”
“You are my sister.”
“That’s not an explanation. I want to trust you but it does seem awfully convenient that you were there to save me the moment I started on a case with another magical being.”
She hated herself for saying it, but she had to be truthful. This was her sister. If she couldn’t trust her then who could she trust? Besides, Red’s words kept rattling around her brain that mermaids couldn’t be trusted. His words were starting to infect her.
I can trust her. She’s just odd.
Asha looked away. “You do not trust me.”
“No,” Tameka admitted. “I guess not.”
“You are right not to. Mermaids are…we are not to be trusted. We are vicious and duplicitous and we have every right to be.”
Tameka was a little shocked by Asha’s blunt truthfulness. She hadn’t expected it. It brought her guard down a little more.
Asha continued. “The truth is I can’t explain why I am helping you. I was nearby when I heard your call, and I came to you, and I saved you. I knew in my head that we weren’t even blood related any more due to the mermaid’s magic, but…but it was you, the girl I grew up with for ten years. I knew I had to save you, no matter the consequences. This is all the answer I can honestly give you.”
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