by Lani Lenore
“Escort me to de palace,” she told him. “I want to see de king.”
He tilted his head in confusion, but could not quite ask why. His hair blew across his eyes with the ocean breeze.
“He’s not there,” he said. “Or did you forget; he’s off getting married.”
“I know,” she assured him. “But it does not matter. He has been waiting a long time to see me again. I don’ tink any wedding will change dat.”
Had she come here for Ellister? To make good on her promise?
“What do you intend to do?” Nathan asked her, crossing his arms. “If you hurt him—”
“Just take me dere,” she insisted. “Jou really have no business in dis matter.”
Her words were sharp, but as he stood there, staring at her, she smiled.
“Take me dere,” she whispered sweetly, “and I may be able to help jou wit jour precious girl.”
3
Treasure could hear music, delicate strings creating a peaceful, elegant atmosphere. Soon, she would walk slowly up a garden path flanked by strangers, to a decorated overlook where Thaddeus would be waiting for her.
She had to admit that she had grown fond of him. Nights before, he had held her without much question, even after she had refused him. He had stayed with her until she had fallen asleep without trying to kiss her again, and she had appreciated him for that, but her feelings toward him could not undo the way all this had spiraled out of control.
She would not be able to speak the ceremony vows, but that was not the stress on her mind. She was going forward to marry a king. She was dressed and beautiful, going off to her doom. Everyone would see. Everyone would know.
Treasure could not say what other brides thought of in these moments just before marriage, but all she could think about was how long and heavy her dress was, and how she would never be able to run to escape her fate.
Moments passed, attendants corrected small details of her appearance even as she was surrounded by guards.
The doors finally opened, and sunlight shone brightly on her face.
4
Nathan led Bliss up the path from the beach, knowing that anyone who might see her would be shocked by her thin dress of shells and her foreign appearance, but there was not much worry for that. Most had undoubtedly gathered in the streets for the wedding. They were alone on their trek, but Nathan still had to calculate how he would get her into the palace unseen. It would certainly not be left unguarded.
Though he tried to focus on that, his mind kept drifting back to her purpose. What did Bliss want? Did she have wicked intentions, and yet he was giving her direct access to Ellister? Nathan didn’t believe that was so. Somehow, he didn’t believe she meant him harm.
“He asked about you,” Nathan spoke up. “Ellister. When he asked who sent him the message, he described you specifically.”
She did not say a word. He stopped on the dirt path, turning to face her. Her features were tinged with satisfaction.
“It was you, wasn’t it,” he claimed. “You were the one who saved him when he was a child. He told me as much.”
“Dat was a long time ago,” she said, but a smile lifted her mouth. “Perhaps not for me, but for him.”
“He remembers.”
“I know dat he does,” she said. “Dat’s why I must go to him.”
Was this some sort of strange love that she was seeking? Perhaps her intention was no plot at all. For as evil and unfeeling as she seemed, perhaps she was more like Treasure than she let on.
After moments of silence, he finally found the courage to ask a burning question. It was something he’d been thinking of since they’d last spoken, festering, and he could not let it go.
“How powerful are you really?” he asked. “Tell me.”
“Dey call me de witch of de sea,” she said with a mocking tone, but there was apparent pride in it. “I have power, jes. I can kill wit’out a touch. I gave dat girl legs, didn’t I? And myself.”
He had witnessed a bit of her power firsthand, but he didn’t know if she could do what he was going to ask her for. It was an idea that had been slow to build, but once it had come to him, he’d been unable to cast it aside. Treasure, for as long as she was on land, would face constant threat from monsters—as if simply being with Ellister wasn’t enough.
All I want is to keep her safe. If I can do that, nothing that happens to me will be important.
“Can you give her my soul?” he asked, as strongly as he’d ever asked for anything. “I want to give her my soul.”
The sea witch’s eyes rounded, much more like silver coins than he had ever witnessed. Was it his request that she could not fathom, or the sentiment behind it?
“…What?” She could barely manage the word.
“I never took care of it anyway,” he said. “It’s damaged, I know, but if that will keep her safe, I want to do it. If she has a soul, the sirens will leave her alone, won’t they? Let them come after me instead.”
A look of complete surprise had taken over the dark one’s face. The concept of this seemed inconceivable to her, but after a moment, her expression grew hard.
“Of course I cannot do someting like dat,” she sneered. “If I could, I would have stolen one for myself ages ago.”
Nathan was discouraged to hear this, even though he had hardly believed it was possible. The very existence of the soul was scarce to be believed, and how could he give it away?
“Jou really care about her, don’ jou?” she asked, as if she’d just come to comprehend something completely unfathomable. Perhaps Nathan had only come to understand it himself now.
“Yes, I do,” he said openly, as if likewise reminding himself. He cared about her, yes, loved her. If she could go on without him, safe, and learn to be happy…
“A shame den,” the dark one said. “But dat, as dey say, is life.”
There was not much left to be said after that, and they carried on in silence until they had reached the palace. Nathan was able to slip in through the kitchens, taking back corridors to avoid being seen. He had come to know the place well. At her request, Nathan let her into Ellister’s chamber to wait. He felt a bit nervous in doing so, but perhaps tomorrow it would matter no more. Whatever she wanted with the man, Nathan would be happy if it ended in his favor.
“My end of this bargain, as promised,” Nathan said, peering at her through the open door. “Do you have something to tell me?”
“I do,” she replied, but there was slight regret in her voice now. “Dere is a solution to save jour Treasure, but it is not what jou hope it will be.”
“I’m listening.”
“Dere is only one ting jou can do to change dis. Jou tink jou can let her be happy by marrying de human king? No. She has to come back to de sea. Once de war is over, when de Mistress is defeated, dere will be changes. Her life will be better dere. Jou have to help her come back. Dere is only one way to do dat. Jou have to let her stab jou in de heart.”
She had been right; this was not what he had been expecting. His breathing was caught, as a man drowning.
“She has to be free of what is keeping her here. Dat is de only way she can return. If jou would so willingly sacrifice jourself for her sake, den dis is what jou must do.”
Nathan was stunned, silent, and could not respond, not even with anger.
“I’ll leave dat wit jou,” she said, and closed the doors, sealing him out.
5
Everyone was looking at her. Treasure would much rather be ignored, but she understood that she was the grand display at this event. Her dress was restrictive and elaborate. Lace climbed her neck like ivy in the palace garden and spilled from her sleeves like cascades of spider webs. A veil covered her face, shielding at least a portion of her vision. She could not quite see the faces that stared at her, and she was content with that. She had learned much about this human world, but it had not been enough to give her the life she wanted. Now it was far too late.
Elli
ster was waiting for her at the end of a long walk, a stone path that led to a balcony overlooking the sea. The city was indeed beautiful. It was the first time she had truly set her eyes on it. It was carved out of stone with clear water flowing alongside the walkways. There were flowers and greenery everywhere, and below, the houses were set in neat rows along the shape of the crescent bay. She would have loved to call it home, but she feared this would be her first and last walk through it.
The crowd was bigger than she had ever seen, and she was glad for the veil or she may have grown claustrophobic. She had never seen so many humans in one place. Were these the ones that the Mistress hated so strongly? From what she could tell, they were pleased enough to stand outside in the sunlight with no thought of war on their minds. Treasure had never suspected that they were as terrible as her kin, yet she guessed there must be imperfects in every race.
At the end of the walk that she had taken by herself, she stood across from Thaddeus. He gazed at her affectionately. He was handsome as always, so regal and confident. She did not know what her own face was saying, nor did she fear it. The priest began his sermon, but she did not listen for the words, only knowing that his message was long and droning. She was looking into the king’s eyes, waiting for something else to happen, and she knew of the increase in her chances the longer she stood there.
After a time, Thaddeus began to speak vows. Treasure watched his mouth, but the words were lost to her. The people were silent, but his declaration of love was rehearsed—false. She stared at him, but did not hear his voice. And then she saw the specs in the sky above the king’s head, remembered the fingers that had reached for her through the window, and her heart began to race. Perhaps she would have screamed, but this was no surprise to her, only the inevitable fate that she had been promised.
I made my choice. I practically begged for this.
Treasure watched it all as if she were miles away from her body. It happened slowly. She heard the beginnings of gasps and murmurs as the ceremony was no longer able to hold the people’s attention for the aerial beings growing ever closer, larger than the biggest of birds. As more became aware, the stock-still soldiers were alerted. Their figures were a blur as they began to swarm their king, gathering around her as well. She felt Thaddeus’s hand on hers for only a moment, and then it slipped away.
Bliss knew. She tried to tell me.
The sirens dove into the crowd—a dozen of them—screeching, making the people scatter. They overturned carts and ripped through stalls, and the guests ran screaming for cover against these unknown, unfathomable assailants.
I wouldn’t hear her.
A siren landed heavily on the altar before them, and she finally snapped to awareness with a gasp and a shiver. Treasure could see a glimpse of its form through the bodies that shielded her. Up so close, the siren stood taller than the biggest man she had seen—a body like a tree-trunk with similar texture. The siren’s hair was brittle like straw. Her eyes were black holes, and in the center of her face was a sharp beak. Not even her wings seemed to be flesh, as if someone had crafted the feathers out of paper. But the creature was alive, yes, and her sights were set on the little mermaid who had strayed from the sea.
Treasure remembered the first time she had seen one, so long ago now. They had always been a whispered horror, a cautionary tale to keep the children below, and like so many others, she had not believed until she had seen one with her own eyes. Back then, she had been close enough to the water to escape, but now—now.
Soldiers in blue and silver stood in her path, but the siren delivered a heavy slap with her long arm, and several guards toppled over, sprawling across the ground. The sirens seemed to work together, the rest keeping the opposition clear while this one was left to stand before her, and to look into its face, Treasure was terrified. It was the face of the Reaper.
I don’t want to die. She felt that even more strongly now.
Treasure tried to flee, but the siren was too fast for her. The creature flapped powerful wings and lifted into the air. Before Treasure could turn, the siren’s talon-like claw latched onto her shoulder, digging into her flesh, staining the white dress with her blood. The pain was tremendous, somehow crippling. She went to her knees.
For all her fury and helplessness, Treasure screamed, the sound a piercing shock to her own ears. She had allowed herself only silence for so long that to hear her own cry of pain shook her awake. But there was power in her voice. There always had been.
At the sound of her ringing cry, the siren seemed to hesitate, the grip on her loosening. A blur of motion caught her attention, and Treasure raised her eyes to see a soldier rush in. He cut off the siren’s leg that was clutching her, leaving a nub that gushed amber sap, spraying her gown. The beast screeched, turning on him instead, and Treasure knew what she had to do. Gathering her dress, she rushed to the edge of the balcony, looking down at the water far below.
If I go back to the water, they will go away. It’s the only thing left.
She would not be able to swim in the dress. It would likely weigh her down—drown her now that she had lost her gills. Her shoulder was throbbing with pain, bleeding furiously. That might draw the attention of predators. It was a long way down, and there may have been rocks, but she saw little choice for herself. The siren was wailing in agony, and this was her one chance to make a move before another dove in for her.
Her shaking fingers fumbled with the fabric, but there was no way she would get it off. The gown was laced on too tightly. She picked up her skirt and tossed a large portion over the railing, aiming that the rest of her should follow. She didn’t want to go, but she would do what she had to for these humans. For as much as she had feared the sirens, she knew little of what they would do to others if opposed. She had never wished terrible things on any other for the sake of her desire. If removing herself would solve this, she would do it.
She put her hands on the cold, stone railing and began to lift herself up, but someone was grabbing her arm, and soon she was once again surrounded by soldiers. As a unit, they forced her to move, but as she was swept away with them, she wondered if there was truly any escaping this. Would it be the same thing again? Treasure supposed she could not know, but in her heart, she thought she did.
She could see the king ahead of her, flanked by those who aimed to protect him, but he was not the target. The panicked crowd was a blur as soldiers ushered them past. Treasure saw sprays of blood, and she heard the horrible screeches of the sirens as she was ushered into a carriage that quickly sped away.
She did not turn to see if the creatures followed.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Uncertain Desire
1
Treasure was taken back to her chamber in the palace, shaken, unsure how she had survived. It had merely been for luck, she guessed. Her mind was too foggy to let her contemplate what she had seen at the ceremony—whether the sirens had turned on the humans after she had gone. She did not know much about them in all honesty, only that they were after her blood. They had gotten a taste of it today. They would not be satisfied with that.
Thaddeus had been fiercely silent the whole way back, refusing to look at her, even when she tried to catch his eye. She could tell that he was upset, but she was unsure whether he blamed her for it. Had the marriage been completed? Either way, it was a relief to be back indoors. She only hoped that no one had gotten hurt too badly, and that the king wasn’t angry.
Attendants had come in, tending to her wounds, but she was not so worried about that. Her sea nymph blood would assure that she healed quickly. The servants had encouraged her to change out of her blood-stained gown, but Treasure was like a stone, heavy and unresponsive. After a while, they had given up, leaving her with her own sorrows.
Once left alone in the stillness of the room, she had risen to check the windows for her own sanity, assuring that they were locked. There was no threat flocking outside, but she knew the sirens would be back. They knew wher
e she lived. It was only a matter of time before this would happen again. She had been foolish to think that she could survive on land or that she could have Nathan’s heart.
Still in her heavy wedding dress, soaked with blood and sweat, she sat on the edge of the bed, and cried.
2
Nathan was glad that he’d seen no glimpse of the wedding procession as he made his way to the Shipwrecked Sailor.
The place had truly become a second home to him, even more than the palace had been. The interior was not the finest, but he was met with warmer company. Gideon was always kind to him, and even Sophia had come a long way in how she received him. Both were glad to talk about the nymphs, to share a pint, or put him up for the night when requested. Perhaps they both could have been like family, if only Nathan had brought himself to embrace that.
A warm welcome was his usual expectation, at least, but when he entered the tavern at dusk, there was a heavy blanket of quiet over the place.
“What’s happened?” he asked once he had met Gideon’s gaze. The man was behind the bar, quietly talking with a messenger who then bowed his head and went away.
“The royal wedding was attacked by creatures from the sky,” Gideon revealed. “First the nymphs at the coronation and now this.”
Nathan instantly hated himself for not being there. He’d let his own sadness get in the way of her safety. If he had to hear from someone else that she’d been hurt…
“Is she—” He started to ask, but then forgot he had never mentioned anything about Treasure to them. “The king: is he alright?”
“From what I have heard, King Ellister and his bride survived without great injuries.”
Nathan was glad to hear that she was safe, even though he’d had no part in it.
“People are saying some of the king’s soldiers were wounded,” Sophia chimed in, “but that the creatures didn’t seem to be attacking the crowds unless opposed, only going for Ellister.”
