Rising

by Kelly, Holly

  Sara’s eyes widened. Why was he talking to a doctor?

  His face lit up with relief. “You can? That’s great. How soon can you do it?”

  Sara’s hand shook slightly as she poured more water into her glass. She hated doctors.

  “You can’t do it sooner than that? No, I understand. Okay, yes, we’ll plan on it.” He ended the call.

  Sara narrowed her eyes. “What was that about? You aren’t going in for a physical, are you?”

  Xanthus smiled, his whole face lit up. “I have great news.”

  Sara scrunched her brows. Great news from a doctor? Right. She stopped herself before she rolled her eyes. “What is this great news?”

  “There’s a doctor in California that can perform surgery to change eye color. He is one of the few that can change from blue to brown. Most others only do brown to blue.”

  “So, you want me to go under the knife to change the color of my eyes?”

  Xanthus frowned. “Sara, this procedure is very safe, and it’s not like I’m asking you to get a nose job. It’s not to satisfy vanity. This procedure can save your life. Don’t you understand? Without this, you’ll be living your life with the threat of execution over your head, never knowing if you’ll get discovered.”

  A lump formed in Sara’s throat when she realized he was right. Darn him. It had been bad enough facing her fear of water, now she had to face her fear of doctors. “You’re right, I know you’re right. I just haven’t had the best experience with doctors.”

  Xanthus brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. “Sara, I’ll be with you every step of the way. You don’t need to do this alone. And I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Sara nodded. “What would you do if they wanted to cut off my tail?”

  Sara jumped at the angry demon that was suddenly looking at her through Xanthus’s eyes. “Who threatened such a thing?” he growled. She was seeing the same monster that she’d thought killed Slink and his friends. He looked lethal and terrifying.

  “It was a long time ago,” she said, afraid to name the doctors.

  Xanthus didn’t say any more. He didn’t need to. She knew the answer to her question. He would kill them.

  She tried to change the subject. “So how much longer will I be a blue-eyed girl?”

  He sighed and began to relax. “One month. Your appointment is the fifth of next month.”

  Sara nodded. One more month.

  Sara was getting the hang of the whole swimming thing. It only took daily lessons along with a very patient teacher. Swimming proved to be a great way of keeping her mind off the impending surgery. Three weeks away. Sara shuttered at the thought.

  Today, Xanthus took her to a large, remote reef several miles out from Kailau Bay. This reef was pocked with holes and tunnels. From a distance, it looked like a giant misshapen block of colorful, fuzzy, Swiss cheese. It presented the perfect place to hone her maneuvering skills. Or so Xanthus said.

  Sara swam through a jagged, three-foot wide tunnel in the coral. She snaked her body through and she didn’t even add to the many scrapes and scratches on her battered fin. Too bad females didn’t have tough grey skin on the lower half of their bodies like the males did. Xanthus said that females didn’t need the added protection—they had males to protect them. He simply smiled when she told him that was chauvinistic.

  Instead of swimming about in dresses that tended to float up (very embarrassing), Xanthus bought her a whole slew of modified swimsuits that clung to her body. The one she was wearing now shimmered blue. Sara loved how pretty it looked and how wonderfully supportive it felt. It was more comfortable than her normal modified underwear. So she had taken to wearing them under her clothes all the time. It also made it easier when Xanthus decided on impulse that they needed to go for a swim.

  Sara twisted her body around and through another gap in the coral. The tip of her tail brushed the coral again. Ouch. She hoped he hadn’t seen that.

  “Perfect,” Xanthus shouted. Nope, he hadn’t seen it. “Wait a minute.”

  Sara followed his eyes to a small swirl of blood coming from the fresh scrape on her tail. Darn it.

  “Well, almost perfect.” He shrugged.

  She thought she might be imagining it, but she suspected there was a perimeter of sharks around them, just out of sight. She could almost see their dark shapes in the distance. Xanthus said they could smell a drop of blood from miles away and she had put more than her share of drops of blood in the water lately. But as long as Xanthus swam near her, the sharks stayed away.

  He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “You’re a natural, Sara.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s like telling a human woman she’s a natural at walking.” She shrugged.

  “Only if she’s been living her life in the water and has just stepped out onto dry land,” he said. “I’d say you’re a fast learner. Did I ever tell you how long it took me to learn to walk?”

  “You… Oh wow. You had to learn to walk?”

  “Yes, and it took me over a month to master it. Just in time to come here. I would still stumble and fall on occasion if I didn’t have my maj bands to help me out.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I didn’t want to tell you. It’s pretty embarrassing. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re not doing well. You’re learning to swim much faster than I learned to walk.”

  Sara smiled and brushed her lips across his. “You sure have a way with words, which is surprising since English isn’t your native tongue. By the way, you don’t speak Atlantian much, could you say a few words to me?”

  “You’ve already heard a few words, Moro Mou.”

  “What does Moro Mou mean?”

  “It’s a term of endearment. Its literal translation means ‘my baby’.”

  “So when you call me Mou, you’re calling me baby?”

  “Yes, Mou.” His lips caressed hers.

  “I like that.” She smiled.

  “Oh, you did? I wasn’t even putting much effort into that kiss. I can do much better.”

  Sara’s smile widened. “I know you can. I was talking about you calling me Mou.”

  Xanthus smiled back. “Sorry. My mistake.”

  His smile soon melted away. He kept his eyes on hers as his body inched close. His hands reached out to cradle her cheeks. He looked as if he held the world in his palms and was afraid of dropping it. Sara’s chest tightened in response.

  “Sagana po parant poli mi landana, patdrép ma?” The words rolled off his tongue in a foreign question.

  “What did you say?” Her heart thumped against her chest.

  He hesitated before he spoke. “I said… I love you more than my life.” He paused before continuing. “Will you marry me, Sara?”

  “Marry you?” she asked, feeling a bit dizzy. “You want to marry me?”

  “Yes, Moro Mou. More than anything.”

  “I don’t understand why you’d want to. I’m not anything special.”

  “Sara, I don’t understand how you could not know how amazing you are. You’re sweet, beautiful, frustratingly independent, and the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met. I love you more than I can say.”

  “But still… Are you sure you want to be tied to a half-human forever?” she asked.

  “I couldn’t think of anything better.” Xanthus caressed the side of her face.

  “But, what if I’m found out? Would you be punished too?” Sara pulled herself in closer.

  Xanthus leaned down toward her. “Sara, no one will find out. After your surgery, you’ll look just like a full Dagonian. You’ll just need to hide out for a while until you learn to speak Atlantian.”

  “Xanthus, can’t we just stay here in Hawaii?” Sara looked around at the beauty and abundant life.

  “I’m sorry Mou. We can’t. Triton has given me only a year. After that, I have to return to Corin. And Sara, you truly can’t stay here. You know that. Can’t you see how you have isolated yourself from the huma
ns? Deep down, you know you don’t belong with them. You belong here in the sea, with me.”

  Sara trembled. She loved this Dagonian so much. Could she really go with him, live the rest of her life in the sea, away from her best friend, away from her mother? Okay, that one wouldn’t be so hard. But the thought of living without Xanthus nearly choked the life out of her. What choice did she have? She loved him so much.

  “Okay,” Sara whispered.

  “What are you saying okay to, Mou?” He looked hopeful.

  “Okay, I’ll marry you.” Xanthus swept her up in his arms and swirled her around in the water. Sara’s laugher bubbled up as she accompanied him on his underwater ride.

  “You’ve made me the happiest Dagonian in the sea, Moro Mou,” he exclaimed just before his mouth took possession of hers, making her tail curl.

  “You’re positively glowing,” Gretchen said as she sipped her guava nectar. She and Sara were sitting under an umbrella outside their favorite outdoor cafe. Gretchen was on another healthy diet—no more Diet Cokes for her.

  Sara wasn’t ready to break the news to Gretchen yet. Getting married at twenty wasn’t something she thought her best friend would understand. How could she? Gretchen couldn’t know that they only had so much time before Xanthus had to leave forever. If Sara didn’t marry him, she’d be saying goodbye.

  “How can you look so amazing this early in the morning?” Gretchen asked.

  “It’s this new sushi diet I’m on. Xanthus has got me hooked. And I’ve never felt better.” Okay, maybe that was lame compared to marrying her true love, but she had to think of something on short notice.

  “Sushi huh? I like sushi. Maybe I’ll try it. But I was thinking more along the lines of the love in your life. I’m glad you two got things worked out. Shane Adams is doing wonders for you.”

  “Would you please stop calling him that? I just know you’re going to slip up and I’ll be mortified.”

  “Not to worry, sweetie. I’ll behave. You’re not going to cancel on me, are you? Hal got us tickets to see the new Steven Spielberg movie tonight.”

  “No, I won’t cancel.” And she wouldn’t unless she got attacked by another maniac, which since Xanthus had taken up residence in the apartment next to hers, installed a state-of-the-art security system, new windows, new doors, security cameras, replaced her cell phone, insisted on taking out her garbage, and escorting her out in public, she couldn’t see how a criminal would have the opportunity. She’d never felt safer.

  Sara did some Googling and found out she should be paying much more than she was in rent, considering the updates to her apartment. She tried to bring that up to Xanthus. But he growled at her and told her he couldn’t care less whether she paid her rent at all. Whatever happened to Miss Independence? Well, she was about to become Mrs. Dimitriou.

  Sara still couldn’t wrap her mind around that one.

  “Earth to Sara…” Gretchen chimed in.

  “What?”

  “I’ve been telling you about Hal and me.” Gretchen smiled.

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “I said, I think Hal is the one.”

  “The one?”

  “Yes, my one true love. He hasn’t said the words, I love you, yet, but I think it’s just a matter of time.” Gretchen’s eyes were dreamy.

  Sara wondered if that was how she looked when she thought of Xanthus. “That’s so wonderful, Gretchen.”

  “Yeah, he’s amazing. And I’m so glad you have a man you love too.”

  “Am I that obvious?” Sara didn’t remember ever telling Gretchen she loved Xanthus.

  “It’s very obvious. Just look at how much you’ve changed. You no longer hide under a giant tent. You’re wearing bright colors, clothes that show what a great figure you have, and you always seem to have a smile on your face, especially when you’re thinking about him. I sure hope he knows how lucky he is.”

  The waiter stepped up to the table again. “Can I get anything more for you ladies?”

  “No, thank you,” Sara said. The waiter smiled at her and walked away. “It’s amazing he’s giving us the time of day, with you sipping nectar and me eating a small muffin with water.

  “Yeah,” Gretchen said. “He very attentive. To you.”

  “To me?”

  “Girl, he’s got eyes for you.” Gretchen shook her head. “You really don’t know how gorgeous you are, do you?”

  “Xanthus once told me I was much more beautiful than the other women from his home town.”

  “You’re more beautiful than pretty much any girl from any town,” Gretchen said.

  “Yeah, right, although my mom’s very beautiful,” Sara shrugged. “And I do look quite a bit like her.”

  “You look almost identical. Thank goodness you don’t have her black heart.”

  “I don’t know. I think I’m beginning to understand her better.”

  “You’re not going to reconnect, are you?” Gretchen looked appalled.

  “Actually, she called me a little while ago.” Sara was surprised she’d forgotten to tell Gretchen.

  “Oh no, honey, why didn’t you tell me? What happened?”

  “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I told her that if she got professional help, we could talk.”

  “How did she take that?”

  “She screamed and hollered, and then I hung up on her.”

  “Good for you. You’re much better off with her out of your life.”

  “I know you’re right. Besides, I’ve better things to focus on.”

  Sara felt goose pimples rise across her arms. She looked over toward the street and saw a tall, dark man wearing sunglasses and a black trench coat that dusted the pavement. He lounged against a light pole. A twinge of familiarity tugged at Sara’s consciousness, but she couldn’t place where she’d seen him before. He removed his dark sunglasses, revealing black eyes filled with hatred. He looked at her and sneered.

  “…like a big, strong man who’s crazy about you,” Gretchen said.

  “What?” Sara asked, distracted.

  “Better things to focus on. What’s wrong?”

  “Don’t look, but there’s a man standing behind you staring at me. And it’s not a friendly stare.”

  “You’re kidding?” Gretchen said in surprise. She began to turn her head.

  “No, don’t look,” Sara hissed.

  “Do you want to call Xanthus?”

  “I’m going to take a taxi back to the apartment anyway. I’ll just call ahead and tell him I’m on my way. Besides, I’m sure that man is just grouchy.”

  “All right, but I’m not leaving until you’re in the cab.” Gretchen’s brows furrowed in concern.

  “You’re acting like a…” Sara stopped talking when the man began to approach her. Then she made the connection. This man looked and moved just like Xanthus. Although he was shorter and slighter, he was still very tall for a human. Could he be a Dagonian? No… of course, he couldn’t be. She was just overreacting.

  The man didn’t speak a word as he leaned forward, his chin-length black hair swinging forward, brushing a jagged scar on his cheek. She wished his hair covered his eyes too—they were full of revulsion. Sara’s heart pounded as the man slipped a folded piece of paper on the table and pushed it toward her.

  The menacing parchment beckoned. Sickness clenched Sara’s stomach like a giant fist. She really didn’t want to read it.

  The man didn’t wait for her to open it, but stepped around the corner and slipped out of sight.

  “You’re right,” Gretchen said. “He looked like he loathed you. What does the note say?”

  Sara’s hands shook as she unfolded the paper. Her eyes landed on a scrawled message. The one simple sentence glared at her.

  I know what you are.

  Sara’s heart pounded in her chest as she took in a ragged breath.

  She’d been found and now it was over. There couldn’t be a happy ending anymore. Her time with Xanthus had been like a fairy tale,
but now the story would be over. How could they hide her true identity when it was already known?

  Before Sara could stop her, Gretchen grabbed hold of the note.

  “I know what you are? What kind of sicko is that?” Gretchen asked, shook her head, and then looked up at her. “Oh Sara, you’re really pale. Sweetie, don’t let him bother you. I’m sure he’s a harmless crack pot.”

  Gretchen looked her over and apparently didn’t like what she saw. “I’m calling Xanthus.” She reached for Sara’s phone.

  “No, no, we can’t call him.”

  “Why not?”

  Xanthus had tried so hard to protect her. Sara recalled his reaction when she had asked what would happen if she were ever found out. She had asked him if they would kill her. Xanthus hadn’t said no. Instead, he’d said they’d have to kill him first. And that was her answer. If she hung around, she was a dead woman and Xanthus would die first. That was something Sara wouldn’t let happen.

  “Sara?”

  “I’m fine. Really I am.” Sara sucked in another deep breath and then plastered on her most convincing smile. If Gretchen called Xanthus, he’d come right away, and she needed time to put some distance between them.

  “I’ll tell him what happened when I get to his place. There’s no need to get so worked up. You’re right. That man’s simply a crackpot.”

  Gretchen looked skeptical.

  “Listen,” Sara said. “I need to get going. Xanthus is expecting me.” She tried to sound as nonchalant as she could.

  Gretchen’s shoulders relaxed. “Okay sweetie. You’ll feel better with him around, anyway. Let me know if you don’t feel up to going out tonight. You still look pale. It might be best if you stay in.”

  “To tell you the truth, I don’t think I’m up for going out on the town.”

  “No problem, sweetie.” Gretchen wheeled her to the curb and hailed a taxi for her. A yellow cab stopped and a wrinkled, sunbaked man in a Hawaiian shirt got out. He trotted around to help Sara into the back of his taxi.

  “Mahalo,” Sara said in thanks to him.

  “Sure thing, miss.”

  Sara waved her last goodbye to Gretchen. She wondered when she would ever see her again. Never, she told herself. It was not safe for Gretchen to know her. “Where to?” the driver asked as he pulled into traffic.