Coral & Bone

by Tiffany Daune

  Nelia’s eyes widened like tea saucers as she fixed her gaze on Halen’s birthmark. “She’s…”

  “Yes.” Samira stood between them. “And I want you to take care of her. I would like you to finish cleaning the sphere, and then get her dressed for dining.”

  “She can’t dine with us,” Nelia said between gritted teeth.

  “We have to show Rania that Halen is not a threat. We have to appease Rania before she comes to her own conclusions,” Samira said.

  Halen rose to her feet. “I’m not here to appease anyone. You are holding me against my will.” Her fingertips twitched. “I would like to go home.”

  “Soon,” Samira said. “Please be a little patient with us. We will give you the answers you desire.”

  Dax turned from the window. “I’ll come back for her.” He brushed past them and out to the corridor.

  “Wait,” Nelia called after him. “You can’t be serious. You’re going along with this? After everything that’s happened? This is insane.”

  Samira’s jaw tightened. “You may be Tari, but you must remember your place in Elosia. You are in your years of servitude, Nelia. During these years, before you sit on the council, you must learn to do what is asked of you without question, and sometimes, without understanding.”

  Tari. This was the word tattooed behind Daspar’s ear. What did it mean? Halen could see nothing this girl and Daspar would have in common. Did Daspar know Nelia? Did he know about Elosia? She rubbed her forehead. He knew—he had to know—he should have told her.

  Nelia shook her head. “Don’t you even care what happens?”

  Samira ignored Nelia and joined Dax in the corridor. “Dax will be back later for you,” she said to Halen. The door slid shut.

  “So you’re a blue moon siren?” Nelia asked.

  Halen nodded, though she didn’t fully understanding what it meant to be a blue moon siren.

  Nelia’s gaze narrowed. “Sucks to be you.”

  Nine

  Nelia had no idea how bad it sucked. Halen had no clue where she was or how to get home. She had just been informed that she was a blue moon siren, and that she had a gift, of magick no less. Only they didn’t realize her gift was more like a curse. To top it off everyone she ever loved had lied to her. Yeah, it sucked to be Halen Windspeare alright.

  “I will get you what you need,” Nelia said flatly.

  “I don’t need anything from you,” she snapped.

  Nelia came within inches from her. She grabbed Halen’s wrist up in her tight fist. “I’m on your side, but don’t think for one minute because you have this bracelet you can talk back to me.”

  “I…” Halen shrunk back. For someone so small Nelia had a forceful grip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I don’t even know what’s going on here. How do you know me? How do you even know what this bracelet means? I just got it myself.”

  Nelia dropped Halen’s arm. “It’s true—isn’t it? You have no clue who or what you are. What a joke.”

  “I’m glad you find this funny.” Halen rubbed the black veins staining her arm.

  “Mermaid venom,” Nelia said her tone softening. “Stings, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Halen said. “Will it go away?”

  “You’ll be fine. Your skin will go back to normal.”

  “Will my life go back to normal?”

  Nelia’s face broke with a smile. “Nope. You’re pretty much screwed.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a glass vial, filled with a shimmering amber liquid. “Take this. I’m guessing after you did all this damage,” she waved around the cracked sphere, “you’re feeling kind of weak.”

  “Yes! How did you know?”

  “Just drink it. It will boost you back up.”

  Taking the vial from Nelia, Halen held it up to examine it. The glass vial was no more than two inches high and Halen wondered how such a small amount of liquid could make her feel better. A simple silver lid secured the top. A clasp hung from the lid so the vial could be attached to a chain or chord. When she unscrewed the lid a familiar scent wafted into the air. It was sweet, yet sharp, and when she tasted it on her tongue her eyes widened. It was the same flavor as her mom’s family remedy. “What is this? I swear I’ve had it before. What’s in it?”

  “Do you feel better?” Nelia asked.

  “Yes. But I…”

  “Then don’t worry about what’s in it.” Nelia circled her, her intense gaze skimming Halen’s birthmark.

  Halen still couldn’t believe the marks revealed so much about her. She wondered if Nelia perhaps would tell her more than Samira had. “Can you please tell me what you see? Samira was vague.”

  “She usually is.” Nelia stopped behind her.

  Halen felt so uneasy having everyone look at her this way like she was a fish in a bowl. She had no idea what Nelia would be able to tell about her, but she had no way of interpreting the marks herself. “So do you have a birthmark like this?” Halen asked.

  “Yes, all Elosians do. Our birthmarks tell the stories of our lives. Yours is a little fainter than mine, because you are only half-Elosian.” She paused for a moment and then continued. “You’re only a few months younger than me. My birthday was last November.” Nelia tugged down her netted shirt at the shoulder, so Halen could see. “See, November twenty-ninth.” She pointed to a series of dots. “But I don’t have anything quite like that.” She nodded toward Halen’s arm. “You are indeed a siren. See this little crescent coil here. This is your human half and this is your Elosian half.”

  “I don’t believe it. I can’t be. How does this even happen?”

  Nelia snorted back laughter. “Seriously?”

  “No, I get the how part.” Halen blushed. “I mean are Elosians walking around Earth?”

  “Yes, but we can’t stay on land very long. We can only breathe on land for a few hours at a time. So, hooking up with a human is kind of hard to do. Unless you know someone already.”

  Halen thought of her mom. She breathed fine on land. Her dad... Oh geez, this meant he was an Elosian? He grew up in this place. More lies. Her head began to ache. How many lies were there? Maybe her birthmark would reveal more of the truth. “Does your birthmark change?” Halen asked. “I’ve had several new patterns emerge in the last few months.”

  “New symbols appear with each birthday. They can start to appear a month before or even after. This is a special year, though. You will have a few more changes than normal. During this year your path will be revealed.” Nelia held out her arm. “See here. These star-like shapes are my path. They showed up in December. I am to sit on the council. That’s why I am doing this.” She nodded toward the broom. “Before you can sit on the council you must spend seven years in servitude. Lucky me.”

  Halen wondered what her birthmark said about her. Was there a dot or swirl that said she would go insane? Maybe that one would appear today. “Is the birthmark always right?” Halen asked. “I mean what if you wanted to do something else? Could you?”

  She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter—destiny has a way of finding you. Why resist it?”

  “But what about the Tari? Samira said you were Tari. Is this part of your path?” Halen asked pretending she knew full well what the word Tari meant. She didn’t have a clue, but she was hoping Nelia could provide more answers.

  “You don’t know who the Tari are do you?”

  Nelia was on to her. Halen shook her head.

  “Tari are siren sympathizers. Your kind are not accepted in our realm, but there are a few of us who believe you have a benefit.”

  “Me?”

  “You in particular.”

  “Why? Is it because of the magick that Samira was talking about?”

  “It’s not my place to say,” Nelia said. Her eyes brightened and Halen saw how pretty she was. Her features were similar to Samira’s, delicate, with skin petal soft. She didn’t wear makeup, and she didn’t need to. Halen caught her own dishevelled reflection in a piece of mirror s
till on the floor. She let her hair fall over her cheek.

  “What about Dax? Is he Tari too?” Halen asked.

  “Dax fights his path.” Nelia stared out the open window. “We should go. You can’t go before the council like that. Come on.” Nelia crossed the sphere and pressed her palm to the copper dial. The door opened.

  Halen rolled her eyes. Why wouldn’t the door open for her?

  Nelia stood in the hall waving her forward. “Well are you coming?”

  It was a way out, Halen thought. If she could get to know the layout, then next time the door opened she might be able to make a run for it. She wasn’t going to stick around and see how she could benefit the Tari. She stepped from the sphere.

  Nelia strode down the corridor with quick steps passing several doorways.

  Still Halen could not find a difference between the doors. She had no clue how they told them apart until she noticed the copper dials were engraved with markings. They passed by one doorway with several long squiggly etchings, the next door had a wave pattern.

  Nelia stopped short and Halen nearly rammed into her. The copper dial on this doorway was engraved with two interlocking circles like the amethyst inlay on the box Daspar had given her for her birthday. When the door slid open, Halen squinted as beams of light stretched out, reaching to the tips of her toes. She wiggled them upward to touch the rays. Every inch of the sphere had been moulded with sheets of copper. In the center, a glistening pool of water reflected light, bouncing the rays in every direction, as if the sun had been captured and caged there.

  “You can wear your clothes in the water if you’re more comfortable.” Nelia nodded toward the pool.

  “Thanks,” Halen said. Though her tank and shorts were stained with blood, she wasn’t thinking of taking them off. Not with Nelia hanging over her shoulder. The water rippled with an orangey-pink glow when she dipped her toes in. As she stepped in farther the glittery solution rushed around her, wrapping her in a liquid hug. She sank down, resting the back of her neck on the rocky ledge.

  Nelia knelt down beside her. “You’ll see. The water will transform you. Don’t be scared of letting go. You’ll heal much faster if you surrender.”

  Halen didn’t need prodding to relax; the water had a numbing effect on both her body and her racing mind. In just the few minutes she had been in the pool already she felt she might drift asleep.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Nelia asked.

  Halen rolled her head to the side. Nelia’s face was blurry. Even though Halen blinked she could not bring her into focus.

  “Did you know Natalie? Did she ever come to you?”

  “Natalie?” Halen pricked awake, just enough to answer her. “No. Who is she? Should I know her?”

  Nelia didn’t answer Halen’s question, but she prodded further. “What about the bracelet—where did you find it?”

  “It was a gift,” Halen said, her voice now no more than a whisper.

  “From who?”

  “Daspar,” Halen said. She wanted to get out of the water now, but her legs were anchored to the rock seat.

  “I’ll be back.” Nelia patted her shoulder and Halen desperately wanted to grab her hand.

  “Don’t leave,” Halen’s words slurred so they sounded more like dleee.

  The hazy silhouette of Nelia ignored her plea, and she disappeared. As Halen’s head rolled against the rock ledge, her reflection stared back from the copper ceiling. She looked away, only to find her image staring back in every part of the copper orb.

  You won’t escape your destiny, her reflection said.

  “Destiny,” Halen mouthed the word, so heavy on her lips.

  You can’t hide, the myriad of reflections chanted. Fate will always find you.

  One reflection broke out in laughter, followed by another until the entire orb vibrated with the mocking chime.

  Halen clawed the rock ledge. Her hands slipped back to her side. “Nelia,” she whispered, though she was trying to scream. The laughter grew louder and the images shifted, so the reflected faces spun around her. Clasping her hands over her ears, she sunk under the pink surface, trying to drown the crazy. But her reflection was right. She could never escape herself.

  Ten

  “What are you doing in here?” Dax sounded like he was shouting in slow motion, as he dragged her out of the water.

  “Nelia. Bath.” Halen’s voice was so small she wasn’t sure if she had even spoken out loud.

  “Are you crazy? We don’t bathe in here. This is a place for inner reflection and healing.”

  She swiped the sweep of soggy bangs from her eyes.

  He handed her a towel. At least it looked like a towel until she rubbed it along her skin and it snagged like sandpaper.

  “Don’t rub, press.” He patted his chest, mimicking the motion. “Pat your clothes too. The towel will dry them up.”

  She pressed the cloth over her body to absorb the pink droplets. Unsure of her own balance, she used the wall as support. She pressed the cloth to her legs. Her veins were no longer black, and her skin was silken smooth without scratches and bruises.

  “I don’t know what she was thinking. You’ve faced enough demons for one day.” Dax shook his head. “It’s late. I thought you would be dressed by now.” He shoved the dial and stepped into the corridor. “Are you coming?”

  Fearful her mocking image would reappear, she averted her eyes from the copper walls and stepped into the corridor. She followed the backs of his bare heels to the sphere. Once inside, she dared to look up. The window had been replaced, but not the mirror. She had enough of looking at herself anyway. The hammock hung straight with a coral blanket and two matching pillows. The door slid back open, and Halen jumped. She turned to see Nelia.

  “What were you thinking?” Dax asked his tone accusing. “Why would you let her bathe in the healing waters?”

  The smile fell from Nelia’s lips. “Where else would I clean her up? In the river? Parade her around Elosia?” She shoved an armful of clothes in his arms. “I’ve been trying to find something big enough to fit her body. The clothes your mother brought are too small. I didn’t think I was going to be that long.”

  Nelia left out the part about the inquisition. Halen eyed her suspiciously, until Dax stepped in front of her and handed her the clothes.

  “Get dressed.” He glanced back at Nelia, shaking his head, and then strode out of the room.

  “Is he always like that?” Halen asked once the door shut. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say to Nelia yet regarding the “bath”. She held her wrist where Nelia had grabbed her once before, maybe it was best not to provoke her.

  “Dax is short with everyone,” Nelia said. “But he’s been super moody lately. Even I can’t get him to smile a real smile. And believe me, I’ve tried everything.” Nelia took the pile of clothes from Halen and set them in the hammock.

  Nelia plucked out a dull gray top, similar to the one Halen had chosen earlier.

  “The material will stretch.” She pulled the material across Halen’s chest. “I don’t know.” Nelia shook her head, and poked the strap of her tank. “Are your clothes dry?”

  “Sort off,” Halen said.

  “Here, try these. Nelia handed her a bra-like top and a pair of shorts similar to her own. She turned to face the wall. “Try them on.” Halen slid out of her wet clothes and stretched on the cropped tank and underwear Nelia had given her. The shorts were similar to hers, yet sat just a little lower on her hips and were slightly longer. Halen grabbed the gray top and slipped it over her head. Halen glanced at Nelia’s skirt. “What should I wear on the bottom?” she asked.

  “You’re wearing shorts,” Nelia said.

  “I thought these were underwear.”

  “Nope, shorts,” Nelia said and turned around to face her.

  “This is not some kind of trick—like the healing water?” Halen asked.

  Nelia removed her sarong skirt and laid it in the hammock with the other cloth
es. “I just like the fabric. Shorts are overdressed for Elosia; most of us wear swim skins.” She held up the corset. “We spend a lot of time in the water, so there is no point in changing back and forth.” She scrunched her nose. “I’m sorry about the bath. I had to know.”

  “Know what?” Halen asked just as the door slid open.

  Dax stepped inside. “Ready?”

  Placing her hand on Dax’s chest, Nelia leaned close to him. “I don’t think this is a good idea. She needs more time.” Her voice was low, but Halen heard her. Without her earplugs, she could hear every whisper, the rush of water from the river below, and the sounds of footsteps in the corridor. Yet here in Eloisa, these sounds separated. She was able to focus on one at a time without having each sound overwhelm her. She was thankful. She couldn’t black out. Not now.

  “Later,” he said, stepping away from Nelia. “You know what to do?”

  Nelia nodded and walked into the corridor. She smiled at Halen. “I’ll be back later for you.”

  “It’s okay,” Dax said. “I’ll make sure she gets what she needs from now on.” He shut the door between them before Nelia could respond.

  Halen braided her damp hair and looped the end with a knot.

  “You look nice.” A smile filled his face. “Like one of us.”

  “I’m not like all of you,” Halen said. “I feel enormous here.”

  “You’re the same as me,” he said.

  “You’re a guy.”

  “I’m big for a guy.” He laughed. “I tower over everyone in Elosia.”

  “You must enjoy that.” This popped from her mouth. She hadn’t really meant to say it out loud.

  “You think I’m a jerk, don’t you?”

  “No.”

  “You called me one.”

  “I was angry. You wouldn’t let me leave.”

  “And I still won’t let you leave. So, since you’re going to be staying, maybe I can change your opinion of me?”

  “Doubtful. You can’t change my mind in a few short hours,” she said.

  He swiped the mist from the window so it was clear. “Look, we didn’t exactly meet under calm circumstances. I thought the mermaids sent you as a decoy. I saw the bracelet. I needed to be sure you weren’t a traitor.”