“The sleeping chambers are in the next room over. She’ll be close if you need anything,” said Dainese.
I looked at the older mergirl. She gave me a slight nod, as if to let me know that Dyna would be safe.
“Okaay,” said Dyna in between bites.
I had to let out a little chuckle as she scrunched up her nose, examining something Dainese had referred to as a fruit. After smelling it for a few seconds, she shoved it in her mouth.
As I followed Dainese out of the room, I heard Dyna exclaim, “If it weren’t for the dragons, this place would be like Nyguad.”
Cringing, I thought about the afterlife. Everyone had told me that my mother had gone to a better place after she passed. That she would be in Nyguad looking down on me and waiting for me to join her in paradise. I wasn’t so sure, but I’d never admit that out loud. Especially not in front of my family.
After swimming through a single door, we turned down a short hall and entered a large room lined with beds attached to the walls.
“This is where we sleep,” said Dainese.
The beds looked modest, but as I sat down on the edge of one, my body instantly relaxed. There were woven sheets and blankets resting on top of each bed as well as a small light that could be turned on and off with a switch.
Before Dainese could turn and swim out of the bedroom, I reached out for her arm. “Why are we here? I don’t want some lame answer, I want the truth.”
She blinked slowly and pulled her arm away from mine. “The dragons would like to co-exist with the merpeople again.”
Frowning, I leaned forward and locked eyes with her. “And you believe that’s why they’ve kidnapped us?”
“Our lives were terrible before,” Dainese said quietly. “The dragons have given us everything we could ask for and more. Why wouldn’t we believe them?”
Pointing to my tail, I let out a short, forceful breath. “Why would they need one of our scales and our blood? Cyrus said—”
She held out her hand. “They monitor our health. That’s all.”
I looked down at her red tail. While it was still bright, it didn’t shine and shimmer like mine or even Dyna’s. Instead, it had a dull glow to it.
“What?” snapped Dainese. “Is there something wrong?”
I opened my mouth, but words refused to come.
“You’re overthinking everything! The dragons and Cyrus care about us more than our own merpeople ever did.” The disgust in her voice was unmistakable. “Just go to bed,” she pointed to one on the far wall. “You can have the top bunk over there.”
Before I could say anything else, she swam out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
As I sank into the bed, tears stung my eyes. I didn’t care that the dragons seemed to be concerned about our well-being. None of this made any sense. If they wanted to live with us, then they should just ratify the treaty with my father. Not kidnap us from the sea and put us on display. How does that prove anything?
This cannot be happening. I rubbed my hands over my face and sunk into oblivion.
7
“Wake up.”
I tried to swat away the hand shaking my shoulder.
“Aria, wake up!”
The voice sounded urgent, but I couldn’t place who it belonged to.
“Just let me sleep for five more minutes,” I muttered.
The shaking got harder.
Finally, I peeled my eyes open and rubbed the sleep from the corners.
Yazmine’s piercing blue eyes stared into mine.
In an instant, the events of the previous day came crashing back. My chest hitched and I struggled to take a breath. We’re in a dragon lair… Being held captive.
Ignoring my distress, Yazmine threw a black bikini top lined with sparkly gemstones at me. “Finally! I was afraid you were dead!”
“Pardon?” I asked, confused.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me up into a seated position. “You sleep like the dead. Now, come on! We’re going to be late.”
“Late for what?” I asked, running my hand through my hair.
“I’ll explain everything, just get changed,” she said, turning around. “I’ll be back in two minutes. You need your hair and makeup done.”
She swam out of the room, leaving me dazed and confused.
I held the top up and studied it. Why in the world would I need to put this on?
As if she knew I wasn’t complying, Yazmine popped her head back in the room. “For real, Aria. We don’t have much time.” Her auburn hair had been expertly twisted on top her head. She looked beautiful.
Sighing, I slid my top off and placed it on my pillow.
As I secured the new one behind me, my eyes widened as I glanced down at the jewel encrusted straps. Sure, I had incredibly nice tops and accessories, but even in all my life as a princess, I had never had owned or even worn anything quite so exquisite.
Yazmine barged in the door. “Okay, you need to check in with Cyrus before you meet them.”
“Them? What are you talking about?” I asked.
“There’s something missing from the water up here. We need a shot before we’re presented,” she said, almost nonchalantly. “If you don’t go, you could pass out. They won’t like that and you might get thrown back.”
Frustrated, I squared my shoulders. “What are you talking about? What about Dyna?”
A loud chime sounded from above my head.
“She already went. Listen, you need to go,” the little mergirl urged. “There isn’t time to argue. If you’re late for your presentation, it’s over.”
Dainese swam into the room and grabbed me by the arm. “Aria, come with me.”
She brought me to the tunnel where Dyna and I had entered the tank the day before. “Be quick!”
Without another word, the door opened and I swam through.
“Aria, you’re late,” Cyrus said.
My eyes met his in the stark white room. He held the same silver tray as he did yesterday, but instead of glass vials, it held a single syringe.
“I’m late? For what?” Exasperation coursed through my veins as I balled up my fists.
“It’s best if the other mermaids tell you,” Cyrus said. A slight crease had formed across his forehead. “I just need to give you a shot.”
Overcome by anger, I reached forward and grabbed ahold of Cyrus’ cloak. In the flash of an eye, I pulled his face under water and held him there. His arms thrashed wildly as his body perched on the glass barrier between us.
He fought me enough to raise his face out of the water. “Aria, I’m on your side, you have to trust me,” he managed to gasp before I shoved his head under again.
Catching a glance of my reflection in the churning water, I froze. My eyes were dark and full of hatred, and the expression on my face was the same one Zagnu wore when he kidnapped us from the rocks.
Guilt gnawed away at me as Cyrus slowly stopped moving. As his lifeless upper body floated face down in the water, I decided to undo the evil I had caused. Turning his body over, I laid him across the glass ledge and pressed on his chest repeatedly. When he didn’t respond, the panic in my chest swelled. Leaning down, I breathed air into his lungs twice before he spat a mouthful of water into mine.
My arms jutted out and pushed him back. His body fell over the barrier with a loud thump.
“Y- y- you tried to kill me,” Cyrus sputtered.
Ashamed, I pressed my trembling body against the tunnel door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I never, I- I- I just want to go home!”
Cyrus slowly rose to his feet, grabbing the syringe. “Aria, please don’t hate me.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Just let us go.”
“I can’t…” he whispered.
“Why are you even keeping us in mermaid form? It seems like all you want to do is take our blood and give us shots. Wouldn’t it be easier if you just threw us in a landwalker jail cell? That way you wouldn't need to constantly call
us up here.”
Cyrus dropped his gaze to the floor. “It won’t work that way.”
“What won’t work?” I asked.
“Aria, I’m sorry. I just can’t. Trust me, the less you know, the better,” he said quietly.
Biting my lip, I held out my arm. “Fine. Get it over with then, traitor.”
He picked up the syringe and gently took my arm in his other hand. “This will only sting for a few seconds. It’s vitamins and a few other things. It’s to keep you healthy above the sea.”
I flinched as the needle entered my arm. A warm liquid pushed through my tendons and muscles. The stinging sensation lasted longer than a few seconds, but it vanished by the time Cyrus had placed the needle back on the tray and slid it on one of the steel shelves.
Even though I had tried to kill him, his touch had been gentle. It was almost as if he understood my pain and was expecting me to thrash out against him.
Rolling up his sleeve, Cyrus showed me a long, jagged scar. “Dainese gave me this her first night here.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“And this one is from Yazmine,” he said, flipping his arm over, showing me a thin scar that stretched across his palm. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I understand your pain. I promise you, I’m trying to bring an end to your captivity.”
His words stung worse than the shot.
“Aria,” Cyrus said, his voice gentle. He reached forward and placed his outstretched hand on my shoulder. “Today is important. Please, listen to the others.”
Drawing his hand back, he pressed a red button above his head, the door swooshing open in response. I stared into his emerald eyes one last time before disappearing down the open tunnel.
Azure was waiting for me on the other side. “Everyone else is ready. Come on, Aria!”
My mouth fell open to protest, but I quickly decided against it. I didn’t want to get ready. I wanted to go home.
She pulled me down and didn’t release my arm until we swam through the kitchen door. “I’ll do your hair and makeup. Bathroom is this way.”
I followed without saying a word. Had she tried to harm Cyrus too? He didn’t mention her or Mirna, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t lash out against him.
“Sit,” instructed Azure.
Pushing my violent outburst out of my mind, I followed her instructions.
We were the only two in the bathroom. It was almost the same size as mine in the castle. The ornate decorations were missing, but it appeared to contain more than the basic necessities, including a massive full-length mirror. Where do the dragons get all of this stuff? Does Cyrus bring it to them?
Azure tucked a fallen blonde lock away with a pin. “I’m going to braid your hair into a crown.”
My eyes widened and I bit the inside of my cheek. Crown? Does she know that I’m a princess?
“The dragons like our hair braided,” she explained as she began pulling my hair back.
“Why should I care what they like?” I asked, my voice shaking.
Azure ignored my question, instead she looked over her shoulder and shouted, “Dainese, can you come help with makeup? I didn’t realize how late it is and I don’t have time to do both.”
“Are we being sacrificed to the dragons?” I asked, not able to conceal the panic in my voice.
“Sacrifice?” Azure laughed. “I’ll explain after you’re ready.”
My stomach twisted into knots. The unknown could be far worse than the truth.
As she swam through the door, I gasped. Dainese looked stunning. Her eyelashes were black as the deepest trenches in the sea and her lips were the same blood red color as her tail. She looked more exquisite than most of the guests at my cousin Coralia’s wedding.
“What?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. “Is something wrong?”
My cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson. “You look beautiful.” And you remind me of home.
Her face softened as she pulled out a drawer. “Thanks.”
“Get hers done, then I’ll do mine,” said Azure, interrupting us. Her sharp tone reminded me of the way my Uncle Tryon spoke to his soldiers.
Flinching, I tried to stay as still as possible as she twisted my hair.
“What happened to your arm?” asked Azure, pointing to a fresh scratch.
“I, um, I,” I struggled to come up with an answer. “I scratched it on the glass shelf when Cyrus gave me the shot.”
She scrutinized my face, as if trying to figure out if I was telling the truth.
“Close your eyes,” instructed Dainese, interrupting the moment. She tilted my chin up. “I know just what I’m going to do. Your cheekbones are stunning, you know.”
“Oh, ah, thank you,” I responded. I was used to compliments and kind words from the people of our kingdom, but anything related to my looks immediately brought painful memories of my mother.
“Have you ever hand your makeup done before?” Dainese asked.
“Ah, for my cousin’s wedding,” I said. “It was a really special event.” It was special, Gemma had spent hours pulling and twisting my ebony locks only to spend twice as much time applying my makeup. She had used ink from an octopus to line my eyes, which caused every merman I spoke to that night to trip over their words. I think a few of them actually drooled. While I was happy to see Coralia marry her best friend, all of the pomp and circumstance had gotten old. I vowed one day when I got married, to have a small ceremony with ten or fewer merfolk. Gemma and my father might lose their mind, but it was what I wanted.
“Open,” Dainese instructed.
She leaned forward and brushed a black substance on my eyelashes.
“Lips,” she said, digging in the drawer.
“Lips what?” I asked.
She turned around with a small tub. “Pucker your lips.”
I made a kissing motion.
“There, now they match your eyes,” said Azure. “They’ll like that.” She dabbed her finger in the velvety purple colored lip gloss and ran her finger across my lips.
“Done. You look stunning!” she announced before dabbing a fresh coat of lip gloss on her own lips and pressing them together. “Azure, hurry up!”
My dark lashes swept up as my violet eyes stared back at my reflection. The hair at the nape of my neck stood up. Why are we getting dressed up? The only possibility was for the very beasts who put us in this prison in the first place.
Azure pressed her lips together and pressed one more “Aria, today you and Dyna will be presented to the dragons. You need to be on your best behavior. Smile and wave.”
My face turned ashen and a queasy feeling swirled in my stomach. “Wait, what?”
“And whatever you do, do not show fear,” she continued. “They hate that.”
Dyna swam through the door. Instead of being terrified, she was smiling. “Yaz said that if we do a good job today, they’ll give us gifts.” Her eyes sparkled as Azure gave her a knowing nod.
“We’re doing this to please the dragons?” I snapped. “Why don’t you tell them you don’t want any presents? Tell them to release us instead.”
Mirna, who must have been listening from the next room came in and rolled her eyes. “Why would we want to go home?”
Azure shot her a look that could cut glass.
“We get as much food as we want, nice things,” she said motioning to her top, “and we’re safe. The King’s nasty brother isn’t going to come and kick us out.”
Grimacing, I dipped my chin and fell silent. I had never held in so many thoughts in my entire life. With the exception of talking about the outer boundaries or memories of my mother, I was free to voice my concerns at any time and most importantly, the merfolk listened.
“I know it can be hard at first,” said Azure. “But this is your new home for the time being and we’re your new family. The sooner you accept that, the better.” Her tone had softened, but her stern expression hadn’t budged.
“My new home?” Th
is would never be home, and the excuse I’d been given about dragons wanting to live together in peace and harmony with mermaids sounded like total seahorse shit.
Azure’s eyes darkened with anger. “Yes, your new home. For now.”
Were they brainwashed or did they really feel that way? They didn’t all seem to be on the same page, but they all thought it was best to please the dragons. The questions nagged at me as the mergirls led me out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and into the kitchen.
Yazmine leaned in and whispered, “Seriously though, the better you do today, the better you’ll be treated for the rest of your stay.”
A lump formed in my throat and made it difficult to swallow. I refused to accept that I’d be trapped above the sea in this glass prison for much longer and as soon as I escaped, I’d have my father intervene with Uncle Tryon. Each of these girls and their families would be allowed back in the kingdom at once.
Three loud chimes boomed throughout the kitchen.
“It’s time,” said Azure.
My heart hammered in my chest so loud I was convinced that she could hear it.
Mirna grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’re going to do great.”
As the door opened, the light from outside the tank flooded in. I immediately raised my hand to shield my eyes.
“Put your hand down,” Azure hissed.
I lowered my arm, but accidentally bumped her shoulder on the way down. A dull ache had formed over the spot Cyrus had injected me earlier.
Through clenched teeth and a forced smile, she put her hand on my back and shoved me forward. “Get your shit together or they’ll throw you to the sharks!”
Taking a deep breath, I plastered a fake smile on my face and looked out toward the walls of the tank.
As soon as my eyes landed on the first murderous beast, my lips began to tremble. A sea of yellow, green, and red eyes stared back at us. They all had vertical black slits going straight down the middle.
The muscles in my stomach clenched with fear as my heart continued to slam in my chest. It felt like they were staring at their next dinner, not a species they hoped to co-exist with.
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