“How did you know I was in here?” Meriya questioned as she followed Jovie out.
“Rowan and I saw Cayson drag you in here. C’mon, let’s go before he gets back.” Jovie’s hand settled on her sisters back, guiding her toward the main doors.
When they exited the building, they came face to face with Cayson himself.
“Oh, good, you found your sister, Meriya. Now we can get on with the joining ceremony. I’ve taken the liberty of having an area set up. The decorations are beautiful and you’re going to love the refreshments afterward. I didn’t have much to work with.” His hand swept over to the rubble of the palace. “But it’ll be a lovely event nonetheless.”
“You’re delusional. That’s what you are!” Meriya shouted at him. Guards seized her, Jovie, and Rowan. “You’re not going to get away with this!”
“I already have,” Cayson smirked.
The Ocean swirled around her, lifting her hair up and settling it back down.
Cayson arched a brow and crossed his arms. “What was that?”
The words freeze him whispered in her ear as another finger of water caressed itself through her hair.
“What?” Meriya questioned.
“Who are you talking to?” Cayson edged up closer to her, cautious of her mental state at this point.
“No one,” she answered Cayson, but she looked anywhere but at him. Her eyes darting to find the source of those words.
Speak that which you wish. There it was again, followed by another sweep of water. She was clueless about what the voice spoke of. Then it clicked. Memories of all the times her magic worked flooded her mind. In every instance, she’d voiced her actions and saved her life. She didn’t need the king’s journal to tell her what she already knew.
A power that strong only belonged to the king, but if what Cayson said was true and she was the king’s daughter, then she held the power of the Siren’s call, a magic which only flowed in the veins of those meant to rule. This was a magical gift only bestowed upon those of true royal heritage. One of the most powerful magics of all, and those of weak mind and will were even more susceptible to her call.
“Cayson.”
“Yes, my love?” He thought he was safe from her since the guards held her arms in a vise-like grip.
“Stop.” Her words rang with authority and this time she could see her magic swirling outward to do her bidding, cocooning Cayson and trapping him in her spell.
Cayson froze with a permanently arched brow and a cocky grin on his face.
Without preamble, the guards released her, realizing the power she wielded.
“My queen?” One of them spoke, then all six guards knelt down before her, offering their fealty.
“No, no. I’m not queen.” She shook her head, but even as she denied it, it felt right. All along she thought she would have to make a choice between staying here and joining with Cayson or fleeing to land and becoming a human when that wasn’t even the decision on the table.
No, her choices were whether or not to be queen. Could she rule the kingdom and do right by these people? Did she have it in her?
Once more, water swirled together, bubbles rising up from the commotion. Before her eyes, a shapely woman formed, crystalline eyes the color of the sky, hair flowing out from behind her in ocean waves as they crashed against the shore. The rest of her was non-descript as she spread her arms and spoke to Meriya.
“You are a daughter of the sea, my child. I have given you what I can in the eyes of Poseidon and the laws he dictates.”
“Who… who are you?” Meriya wasn’t frightened. Quite the contrary. She was in awe of this being before her.
“I am Gaia. I am land and I am sea. I am wind and I am rain. I’ve been watching over you, protecting you as best I can.”
Tears welled up in Meriya’s eyes. She’d been through so much, but this moment was worth it. She’d all but dismissed the gods as real. And if they did exist, wondering if they even cared what happened to her.
“My goddess,” Meriya exalted, bowing down before her like the guards did for her.
“Get up. There’ll be none of that.” She waved her hands, beckoning her to rise. “Rowan, you are also special to me. I have given you the gift of gills and fins, but there must be a balance.”
“A balance?” Rowan choked on the words. He was as astonished and humbled as Meriya, but this wasn’t anything he ever thought would happen in his life. A real-life goddess stood before him, calling him by name.
“Yes, a balance must be kept. I have breathed sea life into you and made you a merman. In exchange, you must offer up the land a replacement.” Her all-knowing gaze drifted to Cayson’s frozen form.
Meriya, Jovie, and Rowan all three looked at each other, then over to Cayson.
“I’m one hundred percent okay with throwing Cayson on land,” Jovie piped up finally. “And right now sounds good.”
“I’ve done what I can within the laws set forth. I cannot interfere with the matters of your kingdom, only offer up a solution. Meriya, you were made to be queen and Rowan… he’s always been your destiny.” Her form faded as quickly as it appeared, bubbles breaking apart and racing to the surface.
Balance, that’s what needed to be kept, but could Meriya live with herself if she sentenced Cayson to a life as a land dweller? Could she make such a sacrifice?
37
Six guards stood in line, ready to do Meriya’s bidding. Her life had spun in a complete one-eighty. Her whole life she’d been overlooked and chastised by her father. In school, she got picked on and shunned.
“I can’t ask you to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself. The six of you, please go back to helping the others look for survivors or,” Meriya swallowed, “bodies within the destruction of the palace. The three of us will see about getting Cayson to the beach.”
All six brought a fist up to their chest, bowed, and swam off to do as commanded. She hadn’t even been coroneted, and they already treated her as queen.
Meriya turned to face her sister and friend. “Are you two ready to do this?”
“Why are you having such reservations about this when he’s treated you like scum?” Jovie grabbed Meriya’s hand and squeezed. “We need to do this for us. If he stays here, he’ll make your life a living hell.”
“You’re right, but I remember the fear I felt when I came close to becoming human. It’s not something I’d ever wish on my worst enemy, but a choice must be made. I fear if we don’t take Cayson to the island, then the ocean will take Rowan away from me. If Rowan leaves, then life isn’t worth living anymore.”
Jovie released her hand as Rowan moved up to Meriya, running both hands through her hair, and leaning in to give her a gentle, yet demanding kiss. “I don’t want to leave you. Ever.” He punctuated the last word with another kiss.
“Then it’s settled,” Jovie intoned.
Cayson stood frozen in time, the expression on his face still smug. Meriya was about to wipe that look off his face. The three each helped to lift him to a horizontal position and began the journey to the island.
A quiet Cayson was the best Cayson. The silence enveloping them was solemn, each knowing this was not a fate to be taken lightly.
In the back of Meriya’s mind, she knew he’d fit into the human world perfectly. There would be people he meshed with well. He and Nick could be best friends if they ever found each other. Bermuda was a small island, so it was a possibility.
“He’s heavier than I thought he would be. Aren’t things in water supposed to be easier to lift?” Jovie tired quickly. The trip to the island could be a trying one even without carrying a dead weight.
“We’re almost there,” Meriya encouraged. “Do you think he can hear while he’s frozen? Does he know what we’re doing?”
“We’re about to find out,” Jovie belted out in a singsong voice.
“Being a human isn’t so bad.” Rowan carried the brunt of Cayson’s weight, but trying to coordinate swimmi
ng with a new tail and the bulk of his enemy proved a monumental task.
“You only say that because you’ve only ever known the human world,” Meriya chastised, but there was no sting to her words.
“True.” Rowan squinted through the water. “Is that the beach up there?”
“It is.” Jovie shifted to try to relieve the muscles in her right arm. “Cayson, you need to go on a diet!”
When all three surfaced, there was still enough light to see by. The sun appeared as if sunken halfway into the ocean, its radiance muted as it shimmered atop the water, and prepared to change shifts with the moon.
“There are still people on the beach. How are we going to get him on land?” Meriya looked to Rowan who knew the island better than her or Jovie.
“We can’t unload him here. There is a small cove just up the shoreline where no one usually ventures. Let’s head over there and see what we find.” They used the last of their reserves to hoist Cayson back into their arms.
The light of the day dimmed even more, the stars coming out to play, but by the time they reached the cove, no humans loitered about.
Rowan eyed the shore, finding jagged rocks cropped up on either side. There was only a small window of opportunity to make it onto a sandy beach. “That looks dangerous.”
“It does. We’ll need to be careful, but I think we can make it,” Meriya said.
“Wait here,” Rowan transferred his portion of Cayson over to the girls. “I think I can help.” He swam a little closer to shore, keeping an eye out for humans, but determined to see if his plan would work.
Raising his hands above the water, he pointed them at the jagged rocks framing the beach. Ever so slightly, he moved his hands apart, and in turn, the jagged rocks parted smoothly, leaving a wider beach for them to leave Cayson on.
“Amazing.” Jovie grinned.
“Thanks.” Rowan’s ducked his head as his cheeks reddened before grabbing onto Cayson again.
They held on tight to Cayson as the waves helped to bring them in. The Ocean seemed to be guiding them toward the now wider, sand-covered beach.
Meriya skidded onto the sand and immediately looked around. There were still no humans in sight and she closed her eyes, releasing a breath. “Still safe. Help me drag him up the beach and out of the water.”
Cayson was heavier once he was out of the water. Dragging him up the beach required more muscle than Meriya or Jovie possessed, but Rowan was able to get Cayson’s body completely out of the water, fins and all.
Night descended by the time they made it back into the water, stars twinkling merrily overhead, oblivious to the plight Cayson was about to face.
Three pairs of eyes stared at the beach from a distance, wondering if the balance was met. Within a handful of heartbeats, a bright light erupted from the beach, then dimmed.
They each blinked, trying to clear the spots from their vision.
Look!” Jovie pointed.
On the beach stood Cayson, his long muscular legs floundering as he tried to keep upright. His face was hard to make out. Was he angry? Confused?
He tripped while trying to walk back to the ocean, face planting into the sand. Crawling on all fours, he made it back into the water, but the Ocean had other plans.
A wave scooped him up and deposited him back onto the sand. He’d never again swim in her waters as one of her inhabitants. His life was now tied to the land.
“I can’t watch this anymore. Can we go home, Meriya?” Jovie clung to her sister, burying her face into her neck.
“Yes, let’s go home.” Meriya smiled over her sister’s head at Rowan.
Rowan returned the smile. “Home. I like the sound of that.”
Epilogue
Trumpets blared as Meriya made her way up to the dais, sitting upon a gilded chair as her makeshift throne. The somewhat small structure, compared to the palace, still stood strong. Decorations of garland and seashells hung from the walls. Lights lined the top and gave off a soft glow.
In a matter of days, the building turned into a place regal enough for a queen and that’s what it would be used for. Meriya protested the extravagance, but the guards and councilmen would hear none of it as they all but tripped over themselves in an attempt to right their wrongdoings by siding with Cayson.
Efforts were still underway to clean up the palace and rebuild. So far, no survivors were found.
A wreath of braided seaweed adorned her neck, flowers woven into the design, and a floral scent wafted up to fill her senses.
The man before her held a crown, a grave look on his face. “Your Majesty, do you solemnly swear to govern the people of Obsidia with a just hand and kind heart, to help uphold our respective laws and customs?”
Meriya nodded. “I solemnly promise to do so.”
“Will you to the utmost of your power help maintain the laws of Poseidon and the order of nature, making sure our waters are safe?”
“I will,” she spoke with authority beyond her years.
As Meriya stood up from her chair, shoulders back, head held high, she knelt down and felt the weight of a crown placed upon her head. A rightness fell into place as the man pronounced her Queen of Obsidia and applause erupted throughout the hall.
“Arise Queen of Obsidia and take your rightful place upon your throne. May your reign be a long and happy one!” Gone was his serious tone, replaced with a smile and a nod.
She rose up from the dais and beamed at the people gathered around. These were now her people. Rowan and Jovie stood at the front of the crowd, clapping and whistling.
Rowan never left her side and Meriya was glad for it. She began to understand how deep their love for each other ran. With her betrothal to Cayson null and void, she was free. Free to choose for love, happiness, and find her ever after.
First and foremost, her people needed a queen to help them through these trying times and with the weight of the betrothal off her shoulders, she had time. Time to rebuild, time to recover, and time to spend with Rowan before any important decisions, like joining with him, were made. And time may not heal the wounds running deep within from losing her parents and sister, but time would lessen the blow.
* * *
The End
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Jennifer Laslie is a crazy cat lady who lives in Louisville, KY with her wonderful husband and two children. When she's not thinking about cheesecake or cats, she can be found in the bookstore in the Young Adult section, coffee in hand.
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Sirena
A Heart of the Sea Story
Mindy Ruiz
Sirena © 2017 Mindy Ruiz
* * *
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Sirena
Evil is in the Heart of the Ocean.
Eighteen months ago, Rick Martin would have voted himself least likely to chaperone his sisters’ graduation trip to Puerto Rico. That was before their mom passed away in a freak scuba diving accident. Now, Rick finds himself onboard a charter yacht, with his headstrong sister and her giggling girl squad, cruising to
the site where their mother died. All those secrets he’d thought he’d buried in a watery grave are starting to surface one by one. And the beautiful stewardess he can't take his eyes off of isn’t helping with his focus on keeping his sister from finding out the biggest secret of them all.
Sirens have lived for thousands of years, luring enraptured men to the sea and consuming their souls.
Raised in this vicious world, Sirena is different from the rest. Ridiculed for never sending a sailor to his watery grave, she is shunned by her peers.
When Rick Martin jumps into their waters, Sirena sees her chance to earn her freedom by taking his soul. With one touch of her lips, Rick’s freewill evaporates, and everything Sirena has dreamed of is just a touch away. But Rick is more than he seems, and she’s drawn to him like no other. As she struggles to maintain the last of her humanity, Sirena realizes Rick holds the key that unlocks the mysteries of their world.
And it will only cost her one soul.
1
Rick
Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico.
I loved the woman, but I swear she’d use that emotion to drag me to the deepest trench in the ocean if it meant she’d find proof the lost city of Atlantis existed.
“You good?” Mom asked for the millionth time.
Okay, it was the third time, but still I was twenty-two, not ten. I was also six months away from graduating with a science degree in oceanic and atmospheric-sciences with a minor in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. So, yeah, I had this dive thing under control. Not that I would ever utter a word of my rant out loud.
“All good, Mom.”
Sirens and Scales Page 399
