Tiro followed his father and brother into the house. The smell of spicy gumbo assailed his nostrils, making his stomach lurch in hunger. He dropped onto a high-backed chair and waited for the family to join him for dinner. Tonight, with the last piece in place, they could finally move to reclaim Caspia, and he would discover if a return to the sea and a life he had all but forgotten was worth losing the life he had.
* * * *
Cyrus’ wife, Amara, ladled large helpings of gumbo into bowls and handed them to him to pass around the table.
He smiled at her. “This smells wonderful, dear.”
Amara’s thickly fringed lashes fluttered at Cyrus’ compliment. “Thank you.” She smiled. “Now everyone eat before it gets cold.”
“Yes, dear,” and “Yes, Mom,” echoed around the room. Cyrus looked down the length of the table at his son, Tiro, who was using a roll to push gumbo onto a spoon held firmly in his hand, scooping mouthfuls of food past his lips. Realizing the boys must be famished, Cyrus waited while they consumed much of their meal before questioning them about their trip. Finally, spoons dropped on empty plates and Cyrus’ silence ended. “Tiro, you said the ship can be made ready soon. What exactly is the plan?”
Tiro lifted his eyes to gaze at Cyrus. “Yes, Father, it will take a couple of days to nail plywood over the windows. We need to remove the furniture and install a strong lock to prevent it from escaping, but as a temporary prison, it’ll work.”
Cyrus’ ire grew and he gripped the table edge in frustration. “Don’t call her it, son. Her name is Callista. Can—”
Tiro’s booming voice caught Cyrus mid-sentence. “I will not call her by name, Father. You have my word I’ll break the curse, but I’ll be damned if I call her by name!”
Pushing his chair back with great force, Cyrus stood tall, placing his hands firmly on the table. He leaned forward over the long stretch of oak, staring down his son. “You will show some respect in your mother’s house!” Each word spilled from his throat in demand.
“I apologize to my mother if my words offended her.” Tiro stood, bent slightly at the waist, and bowed to his mother, his eyes partly closed in an effort to convey his apologies. “Also, to my sisters. However, it’s you, sir, who choose to speak her name.”
Cyrus turned to his wife. “Amara, take my daughters and leave us to discuss this. Doreen, Iris, you will accompany your mother, please.”
After his wife and daughters departed, Cyrus continued. “You have much to learn about women, Tiro, and you can start with understanding you do not use crass language in front of young ladies.”
Tiro’s frustration overflowed, his body grew rigid, and his lips formed a thin line. “I know all I need to know of women.”
“Is that so? Then perhaps you can enlighten your brother and me on what it is you know.”
Tiro’s eyes flashed with obvious resentment. “I know Vickie is a real woman, which is better than being mated to a damn fish!”
“She is not a fish, son!” Cyrus roared. “Callista is a Mermaid and you are a Merman. It is not a mating of human to fish—it is a mating of destiny.”
“To hell with destiny! You and I both know after tonight I have to give up my life as I know it and do my duty for the family. I know I’m required to mate with Callista—to break the curse so we can all return to Caspia.” Tiro’s voice trailed off, his final words barely audible. “And that, Father, is all I need to know.”
Tired of his son’s refusal to accept the inevitable, Cyrus pointed his finger at Tiro and yelled, “I can do nothing about Vickie. I never lied to you, Tiro. You have known from a very young age you are a Merman. Taking a human wife has always been out of the question. You always knew one day you would be mated to Callista and return with us to Caspia.”
Tiro paced the floor in front of Cyrus, his steps brisk and impatient. “And every time we discuss this, you, sir, choose to forget I have lived as a human for sixteen years! I have no memories of the Mer world or what it is like to be a Merman,” Tiro hissed. He flexed his hands and took a deep breath. “I was a child when Metri tore our world apart and cast us on the shore. My sisters, Mermaids though they are, have never known life under the waves. Mark was a babe, barely three, and while he may accept his fate, I cannot, will not, believe he has no regrets about leaving our life here.” Running his fingers through his hair, Tiro sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you, Father. I’ll tell Vickie goodbye tonight. Tomorrow Mark and I will head back to the wreck. By this time next week, we’ll have a prison ready to house the Mermaid. I’ll do my duty to our family.”
Hearing the resignation in Tiro’s voice, Cyrus felt a stab of remorse for his son’s quandary. Unable to offer any comfort or another solution, they had to continue forward to restore Caspia, even if it meant his son’s temporary unhappiness. Cyrus walked around the table toward Tiro, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder, calmly accepting his reluctant acquiescence. “I know you will, son.”
Chapter 4
Caspia, birthplace and home of Princess Callista, the only daughter of King Metri. A domed city, where Mermen and Mermaids walked on two legs, protected and shielded from the eyes of man. A secret place, where wizards still practiced magic and kings sat upon a throne of gold.
Callista waited impatiently for her handmaiden, Alexis, to arrive. Pacing back and forth across her room, she bubbled with excitement about their bold plan to escape the city without her father’s knowledge. When a soft knock finally came, Callista opened the door, motioning for Alexis to enter.
Without a hello or smile on her face, Alexis picked up where she’d left off earlier. “Princess, please. You can’t do this.”
Callista noticed concern on Alexis’ face and paused a moment to consider her plea. “I know you’re worried about this, Alexis, but I’m done with being cooped up in this palace. You know how my father is. If he had his way, I would live the rest of my life in these two rooms. When I was younger, it didn’t matter,” she smiled at Alexis. “I had you and it was enough. Now,” she shook her head, “now I want more!
Alexis smiled back. “I’m just worried. You know your father is only trying to protect you.”
“Protect me from what? There is no danger here, Alexis. The human world may be more advanced, but they have no reason to hurt us.”
“All I’m saying is your father will kill me if he finds out I helped you leave the city without guards.”
Callista grinned. “My father won’t kill you, silly. It’s my choice and I’m going. So help me or don’t help me, I’ll leave the choice to you, but I am getting out of this city tonight.”
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Alexis continued to worry aloud. “If you would just wait a little longer—”
Callista didn’t let her finish. “I know you don’t understand, Alexis, because you’ve always had the freedom to leave the city. I can’t stay inside any longer, Alexis. I’ll die. I have to swim.”
“But, Princess, you can swim,” Alexis attempted to appease Callista.
“No! I want to swim free!” Callista responded—her hands planted on her hips in defiance. “Swimming with five or six guards is not swimming free. They only let me go within sight of the city. They never get more than five feet from my fins. I can’t take this anymore, always having someone else dictate when and where I can go. My father is being unreasonable about this. It’s been almost sixteen years and there has been no attack from the humans my father claims want to hurt us. Besides, if the humans come, father’s army will defeat them.
Alexis reached out, allowing her long tapered fingers to lightly rest on Callista’s arm. “Your father doesn’t want to take chances. Callista, please just wait.”
Callista shrugged Alexis’ hand away. “No. If you don’t want to help me, go back to your quarters and keep quiet. I’ll find another way out. If you’re going to help, stop pestering me and let’s go.” She watched indecision run over Alexis’ face and could see the exact moment she decided to give in a
nd help. Smiling, Callista continued. “Trust me … the gatekeeper will never know there are two of us.”
Callista walked out of her room, Alexis following behind her, still making small sounds of protest, but so quietly they were hard to hear. Moving from level to level, the girls made their way down a series of stairs until they reached a locked door, their exit to the street. Callista withdrew a key she’d stolen from her father’s room and cautiously opened the portal. Stepping onto the street, she hugged the wall and continued on to the city gate.
Even at night, Caspia held few shadows. Huge Caspian diamonds, which allowed this veiled world to exist, hung from giant chains under a thick glass dome. Hundreds of feet over their heads, these quartz crystals cast a soft light over the entire city. The time of night and deserted streets allowed Callista and Alexis to make good progress. Arriving at the Delphi tower, they headed inside, making sure no others were around before stripping off their clothing. Alexis took two sets of shells, handing one to Callista. They placed them over their breasts, and then draped gold chains with crystals around their necks. Walking almost naked to an outlet tube, they both squeezed inside. These cylinders were large enough for males, making it possible for Callista and Alexis to both fit by holding each other close.
Alexis placed her hand on the glass surface of the scanner, pressing firmly as a slow-moving beam of red light read her palm print. Once the system confirmed her identity, the tube began to fill with water. Callista closed her eyes, her head spinning, waves of dizziness making her lightheaded. Her legs were covered in a thin membrane, shimmering with scales starting just below her waist and tapering to flare into a tail fluke. Bright green hues shone from the crystals around Callista’s neck, indicating the progress of her transformation.
With such tight quarters, neither Callista nor Alexis could move much, making it impossible for either to uncurl her tail. Once free, however, they’d be able to swim within seconds. The water level continued to rise, and Callista’s crystals blazed yellow. Her nostrils closed and gills opened, completing her metamorphosis to Mermaid.
Using telepathy, Callista spoke to Alexis. “Once the outer door opens, swim east. I want to be out of sight before anyone sees us.”
“Callista, please, let’s go back,” Alexis begged.
Callista ignored Alexis’ pleading tone, unwilling to give up her plan. Damn it, she wanted some time alone, and leaving the city at night gave her the best chance of getting away for a while. “Stop worrying. Everything will be all right. I promise,” Callista reassured Alexis. The outer door opened. “Go, Alexis!” Callista unfurled her mighty tail fluke and shot forward, disappearing from sight.
* * * *
Waves gently rocked the forty-foot boat. Slivers of red and gold sunlight danced along white caps, and the sun sank lower, descending below the horizon. Seven long days had passed since their return to the sunken ship. Mark made quick work of nailing plywood over the windows, making a tight prison ready for their capture of Metri’s daughter, Callista. Tiro’s patience grew thin waiting for word from his father’s spy.
Thinking back on his final moments with Vickie, his sometime lover, still stung. Her angry words came back to him. “Just go, Tiro. Make your father happy and make your family happy. I hope someday you’ll find time to make yourself happy.”
Tiro didn’t understand her reaction. He’d always been honest with her, had told her one day he would leave Tortuga and return to his family home. Of course, she had no idea Caspia lay deep in the Caribbean Sea. No idea Tiro was a Merman. Still, her anger surprised him. True, they’d been lovers. Passionate lovers, but he’d never given her any false hope. At least, he didn’t believe he had.
Shaking his head, Tiro pulled his thoughts back to the here and now. He had work to do and each day became more determined to carry out his fate. Once Cyrus returned to Caspia and again sat on the throne, Tiro would find Pericles, wizard of the Nares Abyssal Plain, and seek a potion to return to human form. His parents would do everything in their power to stop him, but Mark could take his place. Mark wanted to be Crown Prince of Caspia. Tiro’s life was on land, and he planned to live it his way and to hell with what everyone else might want.
A soft, low rumble rolled over the water and built to a seductive song. Taking a pair of binoculars from the rail, Tiro flipped a switch, turning on a spotlight. Looking through the lenses and following the path of the light’s white beam touching the water, Tiro searched for a familiar face. Listening carefully, he understood a little of her haunting melody. Without much effort, Tiro found the familiar form of a Mermaid several hundred feet from the boat.
Tiro put the binoculars back on a peg and moved aft, kneeling on one knee as he waited for Alexis to pull herself up on the running board. “Glad to see you Alexis. Are we good to go?”
Alexis nodded and smiled. Her long, flowing, wet hair lay across her shoulders like a silken sheath of gold. Switching from the musical language of Mer, she spoke in English, a language known to the Mer world for centuries. A language originating from a time when humans were once captured and served as slaves in the underwater cities of her people. “She’s alone. No one knows we’re out of the city without an escort. It was so easy. Her father’s mistake all these years was in not telling her about the curse and the role she would play in breaking it.”
“Does she suspect anything?”
“No. I put up a good fight to keep her inside the city. She truly believes I was against coming.”
“You’ve done a good job, Alexis. How long before Callista expects you to return?” Tiro realized his voice held a note of disgust when he said Callista’s name, but he cared little. All he wanted to do was get this damn night over.
Apparently, Alexis chose not to acknowledge his callous tone. With a small flip of her tail, she answered. “She wanted at least an hour or two. I told her I would wait east of the city. We can reach it in about thirty minutes if you are ready to leave.”
“Rest for a minute while I get Mark.”
“Mark is with you?” Alexis’ face lit with pleasure at the mention of his brother’s name.
Tiro could tell by the tone of her voice Alexis was excited about seeing Mark again. “Yes, he’s here. Now rest while I get things ready to go.”
Tiro headed below. “Mark.” He noticed his brother didn’t move a muscle. “Hey, dumbass, wake up. Alexis is here. It’s time to go.”
He wasn’t sure if it was calling him dumbass or Alexis’ name that did the trick, but Mark sat up, coming out of his doze, a smile on his face and in his eyes. “Alexis?”
“Yes. Now get your lazy butt out of bed. We’ve less than an hour to set the trap and get it back here.”
Mark reacted quickly. Grabbing Tiro’s upper arm, he pulled him around so they were standing face to face. “I’m damn tired of you calling Callista it. Every time you open your mouth, you spit on who and what we are. Titan’s sake, Tiro, you’re a Merman. Father, Mother, our sisters … we’re all Mer. Why don’t you stop behaving like a fucking prick and admit who and what you are?”
Tiro grabbed Mark’s wrist, holding tight. “I know I’m a Merman, Mark. I don’t need you to tell me my behavior is disrespectful. This is my life people are fucking with. Mine and it … Callista’s. We’re pawns on a chessboard, forced to mate with each other, our fate sealed before we could walk, let alone make a decision on our own.”
Mark relaxed his stance. “Yeah, it’s wrong. But we can’t change the past, and your life will be happier if you use her name. I’m not sure about Callista, but I know if I called Alexis it, she’d likely take my head off.”
Tiro frowned, letting go of Mark’s wrist. “Just get your ass moving. We have to go capture … Callista.”
Without further comment, Mark grabbed his wet suit and pulled the tight neoprene over his body. Tiro also donned his wet suit and grabbed fins, masks, and air tanks before heading back on deck. Once both men had their tanks strapped on, they sat on the rail and dropped backward of
f the boat, hitting cold water six feet below. Adjusting their masks and mouthpieces, they took slow breaths as they descended to join Alexis. Tiro noticed Alexis putting on a show for Mark’s benefit. The sway of her hips became a silent invitation for Mark to move closer and feast his eyes on her. Tiro shook his head at Alexis’ flirtation and wondered if his brother was stupid enough to fall for it.
Since the curse prevented Tiro and Mark from transforming to Mer, Alexis would be unable to communicate with them using telepathy. Instead, she used her hands to point in the direction they would follow. Swimming side-by-side, Alexis and Mark disappeared into the deep, Tiro following close behind.
Swimming alone behind them, Tiro’s thoughts returned to Callista and his brother’s anger when he’d called her it. He’d never meant to imply disrespect for his family or people. Hell, if it weren’t for Metri, Tiro would have grown up in Caspia. His life as a Mer, as a prince, would be more than a distant memory. Maybe he could find a new life in Caspia, but the curse, the fucking curse, had removed his right to choose. Anger returned to boil below the surface, but for now he’d do his best to call Callista by name. After all, he wasn’t the only one getting screwed in this mess. Callista would also pay more than the others, her fate sealed right along with Tiro’s so many years ago by deceit and lies.
Chapter 5
Small schools of brightly colored fish swam among a vast array of coral dotting the reef, darting in and out of harm’s way as larger creatures attempted to eat them. Callista watched this dance for over an hour, feeling truly free for the first time in her life. Her father’s reasons for keeping her locked away made no sense and she didn’t agree with them. It would be impossible for humans to find Caspia. The city was too well-shielded. And if the humans did discover their undersea world, there was no way of knowing they’d attack. Maybe humans were barbarians, but they did not know she existed, let alone she was a princess.
Forever Caspia Page 2
