by J. M. Stengl
After a stunned silence he called me several ugly names, names I most likely deserved. I kept my mouth shut. He made a quick grab for me, but I had been expecting that and dodged.
We both heard a deep cough nearby. After a calculating glance at the backlit silhouettes, which had moved significantly closer, Max had the good sense to keep a lid on the anger seething through him. “We are not finished,” he growled.
He slammed into his car and started the engine with a rumble. One of the silhouettes materialized, grabbed my arms, and pulled me into a crouch behind Manny’s car just before Max shifted gears and floored it. Gravel spewed from the Bonocchi’s spinning tires, pinging off the beater car, the stone lions, and the steps, while I leaned into Manny’s shoulder. But as soon as the sports car roared down the drive, Manny set me aside, climbed into his car, and buzzed down the driveway in pursuit. I could hear the sportscar’s engine whining long after both vehicles disappeared into the night.
Silence fell.
There was no escaping the third degree.
“That was Prince Maximilian of Petrovce?” Lorenzo asked.
“Yes.”
“The big-game hunter?” Luca asked.
“Yes.”
“And he expected you to marry him?” This time, Luigi.
I sighed. “He did.”
“Did he ever kiss you like that before?” Luca blurted.
“No. He has never kissed me at all. That was no kiss. More of an attack.”
“Good thing he left when he did.” Lorenzo sounded amused. “I thought Manny was going to tear him apart. And then he followed him—probably to make sure he leaves the country.”
“Yeah,” Luca said. “When that guy assaulted you on the front steps, Manny just about launched through the window. But you didn’t scream for help, so we held him back. Not even he could get away with assaulting a crown prince.”
Yes, but was Manny coming back? I wanted to ask but couldn’t. They all seemed to think he cared about me. Maybe he did, but much as they did—like a big brother.
“Thank you, guys,” I said. “Every girl should have four protective brothers around when an evil prince comes calling.”
“Slumming with the riff-raff again last night?” Lady B asked me one Monday morning in May as I carried our breakfast tray from the dumbwaiter to the table. “I know you attend those pool parties.”
“Last evening, I was doing my personal laundry,” I said while removing the covers from our plates. “Elena, Francesca, and Oriede were in the kitchen, so we chatted a bit, mostly about the coming baby. Francesca’s morning sickness is finally over, and she let me feel the baby move. I’d never felt that before. Elena is so excited to become a nonna.”
Lady Beneventi’s lip curled. “The children and grandchildren of servants should be no concern of yours. The companion of a viscontessa is socially far above housemaids.”
I sat down, asked a brief blessing as she required, and picked up my fork. “As far as I am aware, the companion of a viscontessa may choose her own company during her time off.”
“At her own risk.” Lady Beneventi picked at her delicate waffle covered in fresh strawberries and cream. “Low company erodes good manners. I hope you aren’t associating with the two single Ganza boys. They are too handsome for my peace of mind.”
“They flirt, but they’re harmless. Elena keeps them in line. Next you’ll be telling me to keep away from Giano lest I soil my reputation.” I couldn’t resist.
Her expression darkened. “Maybe you should have married that prince who came here. Then your social standing would be unexceptionable, and I would be rid of you.”
I sniffed in irritation. “You won’t be rid of me until autumn.”
She dropped her fork, swore roundly, and threw her napkin on the table. “You’ll go if I say you’ll go! I never wanted you here. I wish you were on the other side of the world!”
Her explosion happened so suddenly, I scarcely had time to draw breath—and when I did, I choked on cold, salty water in complete darkness. By instinct I kicked and pushed my head above water, there to cough and gasp and stare up at stars in a black sky. I screamed loud and long, which proved I wasn’t drowning, but this was little comfort at the time.
Wild thoughts flashed through my head. What had Lady B wished? She wished me on the other side of the world . . . What would be the opposite side of the world from Torre Santa Lucia? I must be treading water somewhere in the middle of the South Dynamic Ocean in the middle of the night! There was a crescent moon low on the horizon, but it gave little light.
“Help! Help! Somebody, help me.” I cried with no hope of being heard. But I wouldn’t die of cold because of Lady Beneventi’s crazy wish . . . or would I? If I drowned or froze to death in the ocean, would I return to the villa at sunset alive and well? I truly did not wish to experiment and find out!
When something bumped my legs under water, I screamed even louder, certain it was a shark. A dark, glistening body arose beside me, and I heard it release air in a puff. A whale? No, a dolphin or porpoise.
“Hello, did you come to help me?” I would have talked to an octopus, I was so desperate. “Please, can you take me to land? Or a ship? Or something?”
I thought I saw an eye twinkle at me before the creature submerged. Then several heads rose around me, and smooth bodies shoved under my arms on either side. I wrapped my arms over them just in front of their dorsal fins, and they began to swim. Other dolphins chattered and squeaked, and I thought I heard squeals from underwater too.
They moved as if they had a goal—but what could it be? Was there any land on the opposite side of the world from Vetricia? I tried to picture a map in my head but couldn’t focus. My teeth chattered unless I clenched them, and my hands and feet felt numb. How long would it take to freeze to death?
“Hello!” From the darkness, a deep voice called in the Common Language. “Human? Are you all right?”
I nearly wept with relief. “Hello!” I called back, looking around for lights. It had to be a ship or boat. “I’m right here. Where are you?”
“There she is!” a woman’s voice called. “Oh, good work, dolphins!”
“Nora, this is all well and good, but what will we do with a human?” the man asked.
“Take her to land, of course. We just passed the Bentham Islands. Better let me talk to her first.”
Their conversation made little sense, but I was too cold and frightened to care. My dolphins stopped swimming, and a dark face appeared in front of me. I didn’t see any scuba equipment. “Hello! The dolphins whistled to us, and we came to help. First, I need to warn you that we’ve requested help from a larger friend.”
The dolphins ducked out from under my arms at the exact moment the water beneath me surged upward and a solid something lifted me from the water. I fell face down, arms and legs outspread, trying to grasp the slick surface beneath me. I did not endure this experience silently, but who can blame me? When the surface leveled out and water stopped crashing, I ceased screaming long enough to lift my head and look around. Something large and dark stretched before me, and when I looked over my shoulder, I saw it extend even farther behind me. Water and air suddenly blasted like a geyser before my face, showering me with warm mist, and then I heard what sounded like very deep breathing.
“Quiet down or you’ll scare him,” the voice chided. “You sound like a sick seal. Here, sit up and take this.” Cautiously I obeyed, reaching for a bundle held up to me. “Good. Now wrap it around yourself.” I unfolded what seemed to be a blanket, obeyed my rescuer, and instantly felt warm and dry. All of this was impossible. It had to be magic. These people must be enchanters.
“I’m Nora,” the woman said. “My husband, Pike, is underwater, talking to the whale. What’s your name?”
“G-G-Gillian.”
“Gillian?” Her voice changed tone slightly, and I saw her rise from the water and lean closer as if to study my face. She gasped. “As in Lady Gillian?
&n
bsp; “How do you know that?” I asked, less surprised than I should have been. I was so happy to be warm and dry that nothing else mattered.
“No way! How did you get here?”
“Magic,” I answered, slowly realizing that one other thing did matter: “Did you say . . . whale?” My platform was breathing regularly now. I felt power and life beneath its slick skin.
“Yes, a very considerate sperm whale. He doesn’t have a name you could pronounce, but you might want to address him as Sir. Whales appreciate good manners.”
“Can he hear me?”
“Quite well. Whales have excellent hearing and understand more than you would believe.”
“Oh.” I placed one hand flat on the whale’s head beneath me and said, “I am deeply grateful for your assistance, Sir Whale.”
A clicking vibration ran through my entire body, and I let out a little yelp.
“He says you are quite welcome.” I could see a bright smile and glistening eyes in her dark face. “Just a moment—I’ll be right back.”
She vanished into the darkness. The woman must swim like a fish. Feeling desperately alone beneath that vast starry sky, I flattened one hand on the whale’s head, just to feel the aliveness of it.
Then Nora called to me again from the darkness to my right. “Okay, Lady Gillian, I’m going to ride with you while Pike leads the way back to land. Hang on—we’ll be there soon, seated around a nice, comforting fire.”
“A fire?” Pike spoke from somewhere ahead. “But we have reservations at the—”
“Send a dolphin messenger ahead and cancel for the night. This human needs our help.”
I could hear him grumbling. “So much for our romantic getaway.”
“It’s only one night.” There was a swish, and she plopped onto the whale just behind me. I felt water rush over my legs and backside, but the blanket kept me warm. Two strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Now, we’re ready, Pike. Lead the way!”
There was a surge of power from behind, and water rushed past, parting at the whale’s blunt nose. “Don’t you need the blanket too?” I called back.
“No. I’m fine. You’re blocking the wind.”
True enough. The wind, splashes, and occasional spouting made it difficult to look straight ahead. My eyes kept watering. I glanced down to one side and saw starlight glittering on scales. But whales don’t have scales . . . Only then did I realize the truth: I was riding on a whale with a mermaid seated behind me. Now, this was an adventure to remember! I was still scared witless, but it was very exciting. I tipped my head back to stare up at the stars—so many more than I had ever seen before.
“Is your husband certain of the direction?” I asked.
Nora chuckled. “Pike doesn’t know this ocean, and he isn’t the best with maps or stars, but the whale knows the way.”
Did we feel heavy to the whale? It was so huge. I couldn’t even grasp how large its body must be, beneath and behind me. Now and then I heard a booming splash that could only be from its tail. We rode the rolling waves, yet they seldom touched us.
As my eyes adjusted to seeing by starlight, I noticed spouts rising from the water around us and the rise and fall of large heads and bodies. I even caught a glimpse of an enormous tail. “There are other whales with us?” I asked.
“Yes. It’s a group of young males. They hang out together for company. The whale we’re riding is the oldest and largest in their bachelor pod.”
“They are very kind to do this for me.”
“They’re really doing it for Pike. He is a mer-prince, and even though his father’s kingdom is freshwater, whales respect such titles.”
A little bell began to ring inside my head. “Have you ever visited Faraway Castle?”
She chuckled. “Yes. I met Pike there. Only he was in disguise as a human.”
“So you must know the siren—the one from Faraway Lake.” I struggled to recall the details of that story. “She turned human and married some guy . . .”
“Yes, Tor and Kamoana are our good friends. I remember you, Gillian. I’m not sure Pike will. He doesn’t remember humans very well.”
I didn’t recall meeting anyone named Pike. Before I could ask further questions, land rose before us, a dark outline with very few lights. “There can’t be many people here,” I observed.
“Not many, but since you got here by magic, I expect we’ll need magical help to get you home.” She paused, and I felt more clicks beneath me. “Okay, the whale says he can’t swim any closer, so we’ll bail out here.” She slid easily into the water. “C’mon, I’ll help you.”
“I can swim,” I protested.
“I’m sure you can, but the currents are strong here. No place for a human to swim without help. Hang onto your blanket.” She held out a hand to me, and I reached to take it as I slid into the water, gripping the blanket under my chin with my other hand. The whale spouted again, then backed slowly off.
“He’s being careful not to hurt you,” Nora said. “Very considerate for a young bull.”
“Thank you again,” I called after the great beast.
A few clicks followed. I felt the vibrations clear to my bones.
Nora looked thoughtful. “I guess I could translate that as ‘Sure, anytime.’ He is speaking quietly,” Nora said. “Trust me, you never want a sperm whale to shout at you.”
The whale continued backing off, slowly sinking under the water. I knew exactly when it swam away—a great rush of water shoved us toward the shore.
“Ready now?” Pike spoke from behind me.
“Yes,” I said.
A large, slimy hand slid under my elbow. It was underwater, so I couldn’t see it, but when I looked at Pike, I saw the face of a huge fish with staring eyes and sharp teeth in a pointed mouth.
I sucked in a breath to scream again, but Nora’s hand covered my mouth and turned my head toward her. “Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you,” she said. They began to swim me toward the shore. “Mermen have the heads of fish and the lower bodies of humans . . . more or less,” she explained. “But both Pike and I will take human form when we’re on land. The enchantress Queen Pukai gave us that ability, bless her!”
My feet soon touched bottom, and all three of us walked up the beach. Yes, walked. They now both had legs and feet, and, to my great relief, were fully clothed in casual attire, including sneakers and hoodies. Nora even wore eyeglasses! Then, by starlight, I dared a closer look at Pike and dropped my jaw. Instead of that terrifying fish head, I saw the handsome profile of a man I remembered meeting a few years back. “But . . . but I recognize you . . .”
He nodded. “Yes, people don’t forget a face like mine. Either of my faces.” He spoke with such assurance that I couldn’t doubt him.
I remembered Nora’s words: “. . . in disguise as a human.” “Prince Mike?”
“That was my undercover name.”
“I had no idea you were a merman.” Raquel and I both flirted with him that summer, but he had vanished from the resort after only a week or so.
“Queen Pukai turned me human for a few days. I did it well, as I do everything, and no humans recognized my true identity.”
Nora cleared her throat. “No humans?”
He paused, then admitted, “Except Nora. She guessed.”
Nora chuckled. “Don’t sound so defeated. I married you and became a mermaid, didn’t I?”
“Why yes, you did!” He sounded delightedly surprised.
I did not know what to make of this strange pair. Were they both human and merfolk? How was that possible? They had twice mentioned Queen Pukai, the legendary enchantress . . . I suddenly wished I had paid more attention when people at Faraway Castle talked about magic and magical beings.
“I will scout out a good place to camp out,” Pike announced. “You ladies may feel free to discuss me in my absence.” He bowed politely and walked away.
I gave Nora an inquiring glance but couldn’t read her face in the
shadows.
“He believes every woman falls for him on sight,” Nora admitted. “And he’s not far wrong.”
I felt a bit warm in the face and grateful she couldn’t tell in the dark. “So, you were a human at Faraway Castle?” I asked.
“Yes. I’m a human who can take mermaid shape, and Pike is a merman who can take human shape.” She paused there on the beach to chatter, and I listened, huddled in the blanket. “I don’t have magical powers other than inherent mermaid abilities, such as communicating with the more intelligent marine creatures. No siren call. Pike has a little bit of magic, but you won’t be able to see magical creatures after talking to us.” She chuckled. “At least, I don’t think so. Let me know if you do!”
While I tried to process this, she glanced past me and nodded vigorously. “Looks like Pike found the perfect place. C’mon.” As she took my arm and dragged me after her, I decided disliking Nora simply wasn’t an option.
Letting go of me, she ran to her husband. “Darling, this spot is ideal! It’s above the tide line, and there is plenty of driftwood. You’re so brilliant.”
He barely had time to agree “Yes, I—” before she flung herself into his arms and kissed him into silence. I turned away and searched for firewood while they shared a moment. Yowza. No noticeable inhibitions here.
But soon they began picking up chunks of wood, and Nora lit a crackling fire. Still wrapped in her magical blanket, with my back against a rock and the fire to relieve the darkness, I felt safe. She shared Pike’s blanket.
Just then I noticed that my shorts pocket was empty—my cell phone was gone. Probably at the bottom of the ocean. Not that it would have worked after my icy swim anyway.
“Now, Gillian, tell us exactly how you got here,” Nora requested, though it sounded more like an order. Pike might be the prince, but Nora was clearly the leader of this operation.
I sat up a little straighter and struggled to gather my thoughts. “I work as companion to the dowager Lady Beneventi in Vetricia,” I began, and related the gist of my employment adventures in a few paragraphs. “This time she wished me across the world, and here I am.”
