Fathom

by Ashley L. Knight

  “What’s the gossip?”

  “It is said that if The Link has a sibling, that sibling will also have many powers - powers enough to rival The Link if need be.”

  “But she’s just a child.”

  “Yes, but she’s growing at an alarming rate. I’m very worried about it. At this rate she’ll enter her teen years in just a few years. The fact that she’s so very different from all of us has me worried.”

  “I think she’ll be just fine, Mom.” I tried to reassure her. Naira was a wonderful little girl, sweet and kind.

  “She’s my beautiful baby, Morgandy. But she could be a huge problem for you if she were to be influenced by anyone outside of our family.”

  “The Dartmoth’s you mean.”

  “Yes, and you’re married to one.”

  “Thayde’s the love of my life!”

  Mom rubbed her temples. “I know and I trust him completely. It’s his family I don’t trust.”

  I knew there was something else she wasn’t telling me. “What have you heard, Mom?”

  She hesitated and leaned back into the couch. She looked weak and tired – almost as if she were getting sick.

  “I’ve heard from Tammer.”

  I nearly jumped out of my seat. “You have? What did he say? Is Thayde okay?”

  “They’re okay for the time being. They have found Limus, but there’s not much they can do at this point.”

  “Why? What do you mean?”

  “Tammer’s read his mind. Limus has had his memories since The Judgment removed.”

  I didn’t understand. Why was that a problem?

  “So?” I eased out of my chair and began to pace the room.

  “It means he has no recollection of placing The Shadow into Thayde. He can’t undo what he can’t remember.”

  I hesitated, trying to understand what it meant. Herra and Akin, Thayde’s adopted siblings hadn’t been seen since Troen had taken them and Limus away. Surely, they had to have been in hiding with him.

  “What did Herra and Akin say?”

  “They were nowhere to be found.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “The guys are attempting to take Limus back to Vero Beach with them. It’s going to be difficult and could take a while. If it was just Thayde and Limus, Thayde could speed swim, but he can’t take all four of them at once. When they arrive, they’ll contact us again.”

  “Morgan?”

  Aletheia stood in the doorway.

  “You’re going to have to talk to Limus yourself.”

  “If he can’t remember anything, then what can I do?” I asked.

  “You have to get his memories back for him. Once you have the information you need, you’re going to have to kill him.”

  I wasn’t going to kill anyone.

  “That’s ridiculous! I don’t want to kill anyone.”

  “I know honey,” Mom interrupted, getting to her feet, “but you’ve got a responsibility to our kind now. What if Limus tries to continue his work? He cares nothing for others. He’s an awful man who needs to pay for what he’s done. What he’s done to our family and even his own son is unthinkable! I know it’s a lot for you, but you need to make your decision soon.”

  With that, she left me on my own to think.

  It was a lot to take in. Part of me agreed with Mom - Limus needed to pay for what he’d done. But there was a nagging feeling inside me, warning me not to jump to any hasty decisions. Perhaps it was all of Aletheia’s teaching in the past few weeks that made me hesitate.

  I paused in front of a window and looked out on the lake. One of my first decisions as The Link was going to be a drastic one and I didn’t want to make a mistake. I understood there was evil in the world, but I also knew that evil could be replaced with good. Was it right to end a life in order to save another? How could I possibly give Limus a fair trial knowing what he’d done to my family and me? How does one separate emotions from the facts?

  “You know what you have to do.”

  “What?” I said.

  There was no answer and when I turned, there was no one in the room. I could hear Mom laughing at a joke Lars was telling her in the kitchen.

  “What?” I called.

  “I didn’t call you, Morgandy,” she laughed and continued chatting with Lars.

  “Don’t hesitate to get it done.” It was the female voice I’d been hearing.

  “Who said that?” I whispered, horrified it had returned.

  “Morgan?” I swung around and faced Aletheia, who held a few flowers in her hand. “Are you all right?”

  My chest began to ache. I grabbed at my heart and gasped as the pain shot through my body, up my neck and into my head. When it reached my brain, I collapsed to the floor in agony.

  “Elan!” Aletheia screamed, dropping her flowers and dashing to my side. In an instant, strong arms were picking me up and Lars placed me onto the couch. Mom’s hands hovered over my chest, streaming her power into me. The usual comfort from her powers barely touched me, and I began to hear the voice again, quiet at first and then louder and louder.

  “You are not in control! You will not succeed! You are not The One!” Over and over it screamed until all I could hear was a loud ringing in my ears. I couldn’t even hear my own voice screaming back.

  Eventually, the ringing subsided and when I opened my eyes, the three of them stared in horror at me. Mom sat on the floor a few feet from me, her hand covering her mouth. Lars held Aletheia, her face scratched, in his arms.

  “I’m sorry,” I panted. No one moved. “What happened?” I asked. Still, no one moved. “Did I hurt you?” I asked Aletheia and she nodded. “I’m so sorry,” I repeated, sitting up. “Why are you guys staring at me?”

  “You were speaking the ancient language,” Mom whispered.

  “What ancient language?”

  “How do you know that language?” Aletheia asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I was getting angry. They were treating me like I was a leper. “What ancient language?”

  “It’s called Sanserian and it’s not widely spoken. In fact, very few merpeople speak it anymore.”

  “I’ve never even heard of it,” I argued and watched Lars and Aletheia part from each other. It was very obvious they were extremely attracted to each other.

  “Tammer speaks it to his horses,” Mom said, picking herself up off the floor. “I don’t even know how to speak it. There must be a reason why you are now.” She glanced at Aletheia who shook her head.

  “Each ruler is different, but there’s never been one who automatically knew the ancient languages of our past.”

  “She’s bound to be much different from every other ruler,” Lars interjected, “I’m sure there are a lot of things that are going to take everyone by surprise.”

  “Will you please stop talking about me as if I’m not here?” I could feel The Fire start to rise in me. Being The Link was no piece of cake and the least they could do was stop staring at me as if an arm had suddenly grown out of my head.

  “Morgan, you have to control yourself.” Aletheia’s voice was stern. “If you’ve learned anything it’s that you have a…”

  I cut her off, anger seething through me. I wasn’t an idiot. “A huge responsibility to everyone, not just myself anymore. I know! You guys remind me every day. I’m aware of the situation.”

  I stood, the fire seeping from me, warming the air around me. The three of them stepped back, allowing me to pass.

  Storming from the house, I sprinted to the beach and dove into the water, not bothering to phase. If anything, I was tired of being a mermaid. I swam to the middle of the lake to the jagged rocks that rose out of the water. Climbing onto the biggest one, I crossed my legs and sighed in defeat. All of this was too much for me to handle. I told Troen I couldn’t handle it – that I was too young. Why had he blessed me?

  Closing my eyes, I tried to calm myself and let the sun bathe me in its warmth. The Can
ada geese called to each other a few hundred yards away. A hint of pine tree sap tickled my nose and I breathed in deep, opening my eyes. The warm breeze blew a cloud of dandelion seeds past me. I didn’t want to return to Vero Beach and I was finished with New York. I belonged here.

  Morgan.

  The voice was faint and before I began to royally freak out, it repeated.

  Morgan.

  It was different from the one I normally heard and that was slightly comforting.

  Morgan.

  Then I recognized it. It was Thayde’s voice. Excited, I scanned the horizon, but saw nothing.

  “Thayde?” I whispered.

  I need you.

  Tears sprang to my eyes. “I need you, Thayde.” My heart felt like it was tearing in two. “Where are you?” There was no answer. I found myself straining to hear his voice again. “Thayde?” I asked the silence.

  A fat seagull landed near my feet and began to peck at a dead fish between the rocks. Was this a sign? Was Thayde dying? I shuddered. The fact that the dreaded voice that haunted me had returned was troubling as well.

  “Are you okay?”

  I whipped around to see the young man from the restaurant that had been with Lars. He bobbed up and down on the waves in a blinding neon orange kayak.

  “Yeah,” I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand. “I’m fine.”

  He looked about the rocks. “Did you swim here?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Need a ride back?”

  “No.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you run into Lars yet?” He asked, pushing his dark blonde hair away from his glasses.

  “What?”

  “Lars. I think he was looking for you earlier. I haven’t seen him in a while. Did he find you?”

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “My name’s Jacob Mac. I’m his friend.”

  “How do you know him?”

  “I went to school with him.”

  “Are you one of us?” I asked, warily.

  He looked around before answering. “You mean merman?”

  I didn’t answer.

  “Nope. But don’t worry, I’m sworn to secrecy.” He grinned and my mouth nearly dropped open. I didn’t know what to say. Humans were not allowed to know of our existence. Jacob watched my reaction and held up his hands.

  “I promise, I’m trustworthy. I’m a pastor.”

  “You look a little young to be a pastor.” I admitted.

  “That’s nice of you to say.” He looked about. “Beautiful day.”

  “Um, yeah, I guess.” The last thing I wanted to do was have small talk with a stranger. I wanted to connect with Thayde again.

  “I need to contact Lars. Our friend has decided to return home. Lars is not going to be thrilled about it.”

  He wasn’t going to leave. Uncrossing my legs, I climbed off my rock of solitude. “He’s at our place. I’ll take you there.”

  “Much obliged,” Jacob said and helped me into his kayak. “Which way?” He asked after I’d settled in. I pointed to our private cove. “Nice place,” he said and began to paddle. “Does your family own it?”

  “No, we’re just renting for a while.”

  “We’re here on vacation. Lars and Raif decided it was time for a guys’ retreat. Lars is really into biking and rock climbing, hunting and fishing. So is Raif – they’re like a married couple. For some reason they tote me everywhere with them - must think I’m their child or something.”

  I suppressed a laugh. He had a sense of humor which I sorely missed during this time in my life.

  “Jacob’s a biblical name, isn’t it?” I asked.

  “That it is.”

  “Guess that’s fitting for a pastor.”

  “I suppose,” he said lightly. “I’ve always liked the name.”

  “It’s a normal name,” I conceded. Everyone in my new world had such strange names.

  “Normal? Ah, you mean like Lars and Raif are odd names? I suppose they are. I’ve known them since college, so I don’t think of them as having strange names anymore. Grown used to it I suppose.”

  “How do you deal with the conflict?”

  “Conflict?”

  “You know, seeing what shouldn’t be real? Merpeople?”

  “We’re all God’s creatures.”

  I turned in the boat to face him. “Yeah, but do you know what we can do? Have you seen what powers some of us possess? I really don’t think the Bible would agree with that.”

  He smiled. “Have you ever read it?”

  He had me there. “No.”

  “Perhaps you should.” He said. I didn’t answer and Jacob Mac rowed me toward the house in silence.

  As we reached the dock, I grabbed the slimy wooden sides steadying the kayak. Jacob jumped out, tying it securely and offered me his hand.

  “Before I let you into our circle, I have to do a mind sweep.” I stated as he pulled me onto the dock.

  “What’s that?” He asked, growing red in the face.

  “I have to make sure we can trust you. I have to read your mind.”

  He pursed his lips. “Okay.”

  Touching his temples with my fingertips, I held his gaze and watched as my world began to disappear and his memories flooded my mind. I searched through his memories, looking for any hint of betrayal and found nothing. He’d kept Lars and Raif’s secret for years and nothing would make him betray their confidence.

  Satisfied at what I’d found, I dropped my hands.

  “Am I okay?” He asked.

  “You’re just fine.”

  “Do I meet with your approval?”

  “Yes,” I smirked.

  “Am I going to summon forth the army?” He pulled his hands into the air dramatically clutching nothing and I almost snorted.

  “Oh hush,” I rolled my eyes, heading toward the house. “You better come in and meet the rest of the group,” I called behind me and Jacob jogged to catch up.

  When I opened the patio door, everyone looked up at the same time. Mom’s jaw fell open in surprise, Aletheia shook her head, and Lars leapt to his feet, running to Jacob and embracing him.

  “So she’s letting you in, huh?” He was almost jovial.

  “Morgan did her ‘mind sweep’ and said I was good to go.”

  “She did?” Lars eyed me, “Did it hurt?”

  “No,” Jacob’s voice raised an octave. “Was it supposed too?”

  “It can.” Aletheia reached forward, offering her hand. “I’m Aletheia. Lars has told me quite a bit about you.”

  “Already? He’s only been gone for five hours!”

  “We’re a bit different from humans,”

  “Oh, I’m aware of that!” He slapped Lars on the shoulder and looked at Mom. She looked as if she’d eaten a lemon.

  “I’m Jacob Mac,” he introduced himself and Mom declined to take his hand. Jacob withdrew it, unsure what to do.

  “Mom’s never had to have two people introduced into our circle before,” I explained. “She’s just a little nervous about it.”

  Instead of standing in the awkward silence, I pulled Mom by the arm, escorting her from the room. Lars and Aletheia took Jacob out to the patio. Already, I could hear the two men relax back into the normalcy of their relationship, joking and laughing.

  “Mom! How could you be so rude?” I began.

  “How could you bring two strangers into our circle?” She answered.

  “I did a mind sweep! There wasn’t any reason for you to be so rude to him!” I pressed.

  Mom sunk into the chaise lounge and looked out the window sullenly. “I think you’re introducing too many people too quickly.” She continued to gaze across the lake. “I’m afraid for you.”

  “Afraid of what?”

  “We don’t know how all this is going to end. Usually we have some inclination, but this time, everything’s up in the air.”

  “Mom?”

  She turned
away from the window, looking at me, her mouth downturned.

  “You have to be so careful!” She continued.

  “I won’t let anyone in again without the mind sweep, okay?”

  She shrugged her thin shoulders and her hair fell away from them.

  “I mean it, so you can stop worrying.”

  “I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying about you. When you have a child, you’ll understand.”

  Mom looked so upset and so beautiful at the same time. I sat beside her, wrapping my arms around her and leaned my head on her shoulder.

  “I love you, Mom,” I whispered. She leaned her head against mine and closed her eyes.

  “I love you, Morgandy.”

  Aletheia instantly liked Jacob. She said he was a blessing as I needed the guidance of someone from the human world to complete my training. The angel that visited her had prophesized of his coming and Aletheia accepted him with open arms.

  Mom remained wary for a while. Lars, of course, was delighted I’d accepted Jacob’s friendship. He felt relieved he could continue his friendship with him. It was funny to see them together, completing each other’s sentences and laughing similarly. He didn’t act like the Priests or Pastors I’d seen on TV and that was pretty cool. He didn’t go around preaching about hell and damnation which had everyone relieved.

  Aletheia included Jacob in my daily lessons immediately. At first, he was a mere observer, his eyes wide as he watched me practice Leaping or mind reading. As he’d only ever seen Lars and Raif phase, he was intrigued to watch me and said he thought I made a beautiful mermaid. It was sweet.

  It wasn’t long before Aletheia decided she had taught me enough for the time being and asked Jacob to take over the teaching. She said it was important that I receive the human side of spirituality as well as the merfolk side; it would balance The Link. He enthusiastically accepted, and to be honest, it was a relief. He didn’t constantly run me through drills or introduce several new powers a day. A lot of the time, he just talked about spirituality and God. He shared a few Psalms from his tattered Bible. They spoke to me and the moment he shared them, I felt calmer, more sane and in control of who I was. He said it was the Holy Spirit I felt. I don’t know what it was, but the feeling was addictive. The more time I spent with Jacob, the more at peace I felt.