As we swim through the back entrance, I can’t help but feel an oppressive weight close in on me, like the water is heavy with my impending fate. The palace hums with nervous energy at my arrival, tension vibrating from the walls. The guards guide me down the hall where Jude and Gio fought them off just a short while ago. I tell myself it’s just my imagination that the water is still tinged red with blood.
I cringe as we pass the room that was my prison, but the guards don’t stop there. Instead, they lead me straight for Grandfather’s quarters. A sense of foreboding hangs in the water as I enter.
Grandfather is lying on his nest, his normally-robust figure now a lifeless husk. His body is recognizable but shriveled, all the power gone. His flowing, gray hair is the only part of him that’s moving. His eyes flutter open at the influx of visitors.
I start to swim towards him, but the guards grab my arms, holding me back. Grandfather lifts a heavy arm and waves me forward. The guards loose their grip.
“Coral.” His voice floats through the water, a whisper so soft I’m not sure I didn’t imagine it.
Slowly I swim towards Grandfather, not sure what to say to the man who raised me as his own. He provided me with everything except the one thing I truly wanted — the freedom to choose my own path. As a merling, I resented him for cursing the mermaids and dictating my future, but I still loved him, and that love outweighed my frustration with his controlling ways. But after I found out the truth about my mother, my feelings for him shifted just enough to upset the balance, anger winning out over love.
Now, old and weak, his body slowly disintegrating, I see him in a different light once again. I can’t help but empathize with him. All he ever wanted was to protect his people at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing his own daughter and his granddaughter. I might not agree with his convictions, but now I understand how it feels to choose duty over love. There’s no greater sacrifice. I know he loves me, so I know how painful it must have been.
I take his withered hand in mind, holding it to my heart. He sighs, his face slack, his eyes glassy. His tail thumps softly against the sea sponges.
“I’m here, Grandfather. I’ve come back to take my rightful place. I promise to lead the merfolk with wisdom and loyalty, protecting them with my life.” I speak the words of the sacred vow so he knows my intentions. Grandfather shudders out a sigh and closes his eyes. I won’t take the throne until he dies, but I doubt he’ll last till the morning.
“I love you,” I murmur, putting my head on his chest. I don’t apologize for leaving; I could never regret the love it led me to. But I offer forgiveness to him for the things he did.
I don’t promise to marry Kai. Kai may resent me for denying him the chance to reign alongside me, but I can’t do that to Meribel. And I can’t commit myself to someone I don’t love. I’ll reign alone, like Grandfather did all those years. There will be no heir to take my place when I die, but hopefully the highest-ranking merman will be honorable.
I spend the night by Grandfather’s side, weeping quietly for all my losses. The guards stay nearby but don’t interrupt my time with him. He’s too weak to shield his thoughts as they flicker sporadically though his mind. He remembers the birth of my mother, his pride in his beautiful daughter. His mind flits through precious memories of her childhood interspersed with mine, like he can’t separate them anymore.
My heart breaks when he recalls the day she left. Not quite as dramatic as my wedding day departure, but still, her disappearance tore a rift between them that would never be repaired. I wish he could see her one more time before he dies. I think it would be good for both of them. But my mother still believes she’s cursed, banned from entering the shoal.
He also dreams a lot of Muriel, my handmaiden, and her daughter, Meribel. They’ve lived in the palace all my life, so it’s no surprise he thinks of her, but the memories seem more tender to him than a servant should inspire. I gasp when I see an image in his mind of him and Muriel kissing. Did Grandfather have feelings for her?
He never acted on them if he did, at least, not that I ever saw. He always treated her with kindness and respect, but none more than he gave all his other servants. It was odd, though, that he brought her into the palace like he did. A low-ranking, unmated, pregnant mermaid was an unlikely candidate for such an important position. I always thought Grandfather was just being extraordinarily kind to the forsaken mermaid. But was there more to their relationship?
His memories of Meribel’s birth are just as vivid as those of mine. Her mother gave birth in the palace, but still, why would he have been in the room? Meribel’s father was never revealed. Muriel refused to name him. Is it possible that Grandfather is Meribel’s father?
If he is, it’s a secret he would never reveal. He would never be willing to admit to an affair with a low-ranking mermaid like Muriel, let alone the scandal of fathering her child. But the possibility spins through my mind like a whirlpool.
Chapter 20
Coral
I wake in the morning to loud, anxious voices and instantly reach for Grandfather’s hand, thinking he’s passed, but his body is still barely alive. Though now he’s almost completely motionless underneath me, breathing sporadically. His guards and officers surround us, chattering anxiously like they’re eager for him to die. I shoo them all away. Except for Muriel.
She hovers in the corner, her face pale and drawn. I look at her and tilt my head towards Grandfather, beckoning her closer. She swims over and runs a gentle hand over his head then takes his hand. She looks older than I remember, her skin wrinkling at the corners of her eyes. Her blonde hair is completely white and has lost the luster it once had. Is she pining for the loss of her leader, or was he something more?
Last night’s mystery churns in my mind again. Did she love him and I never knew it? Is her daughter an heir to the throne? I stare at her, trying to unearth the secrets behind her pale, gray eyes. She shrivels under my scrutiny and backs away.
“He loves you, Coral. You did the right thing by coming back. He’ll die at peace knowing you’re here to take his place — the rightful heir.”
“I’m an heir, but not the next in line,” I say, trying to goad her into revealing her secret.
Muriel bristles at my words. Clearly, if my suspicions are true, she is no more willing to admit them now than she was when Grandfather was able to confirm them. “Your mother left and never returned. She holds no rights to the throne or the kingdom.”
I shake my head. “That’s not true, Muriel. My mother was banned from the shoal. She believes a curse prevents her from returning, but the curse only causes the merfolk to believe Grandfather’s lies.”
Muriel’s eyes narrow. Does she already know about that? “Whether that’s true or not, you mustn’t tell that to the merfolk. You’ll tarnish your Grandfather’s reputation. He only meant to protect the kingdom.”
If Meribel is Grandfather’s daughter, wouldn’t Muriel want her to have a chance at the throne? If it’s true, Meribel has a greater right to it than me. I must be conjuring up craziness. Maybe Grandfather kissed Muriel, maybe he even loved her, but surely he isn’t the father of her child.
I stay by his side all day, waiting for him to die. Muriel leaves at some point, claiming duties she needs to attend to. I wonder where Meribel is at. I thought maybe she’d come and sit with me for a while.
The worst of my grief has abated. Now I’m preparing myself for what’s to come. The moment Grandfather dies, his body will be carried to the center of the shoal, and the entire shoal will be called to bear witness and honor his death. It won’t take long before he turns to sea foam, leaving only the Pāua shell necklace that signifies his authority behind. I’ll announce my intentions to take the throne while the crowd is gathered around.
How will they feel about me taking the throne when I was so eager to leave here and I’ve been gone for so long? Will they doubt my loyalty to the shoal? Perhaps once I tell them the truth about the curse they’ll under
stand. Meribel can be my witness. That’s one good thing that’s come of all this — I finally get the chance to free my people from the curse.
Maybe I’ll tell them about my mother’s shoal and let them decide how much contact with the human world they want to have. I fantasize about a new era where the merfolk are free to live how they choose, hiding my thoughts from Grandfather so I don’t upset him in his final moments. Will freedom devastate the shoal like Grandfather fears or bring new life to it?
The prosperity of my mother’s shoal gives me hope. I smile at the thought of all my contemporaries setting off to explore the land and sea, but the pain of my own imprisonment quickly overwhelms me. I’m not sure what’s worse, to be held captive by someone you love, or to be bound by your own sense of duty. I force myself to ignore the selfish thoughts that urge me to abandon my responsibilities.
Suddenly, there’s a ruckus somewhere in the palace. I hear the guards talking loudly and another voice I recognize but can’t reconcile. I rush down the hallway to see what’s going on. My mouth falls open and my tail rudders to a stop when I see my mother floating in the entryway with Meribel. Guards crowd around her, arguing, nervously twitching their tails.
“Mother? What are you doing here?” I swim up to her and embrace her.
She hugs me then pulls back and grabs my shoulders, her eyes wild. “Is your Grandfather still alive?”
I nod. “Just barely, but yes.”
She lays a hand on my head, stroking my face and hair. Her face twists in anguish, and I wonder if that’s what I’ve looked like the last two days. “Oh Coral, you were right, and I was wrong. Can you ever forgive me? I’ve come to make amends. It’s the least I can do.”
I take her shaking hand and hold it to my chest. “What are you talking about?”
“Meribel came to me and told me that you had returned to take the throne now that the king is about to die. She told me how much it cost you to leave your mates, but that you were willing to do it to spare the life of the man she loves. She said the curse was a lie, just like you did. She said she proved it by going on land to find you and bring you back. She begged me to come and see for myself, and you were both right. Nothing stopped me from passing through the shoal’s borders. All these cycles, I stayed away, foolishly believing I could never come here. I abandoned my daughter because I believed the lie!”
She breaks down, sobbing, her whole body wracked with grief. I pull her to me and bury her face in my chest.
“The curse made you believe it, Mother. It deceived us all. I don’t blame you for what you did. I forgave you the day I met you and heard your story.”
She pulls away and stares at me with awe and gratitude. “I’m sorry, Coral. I’m so sorry I didn’t try harder to save you, but I’m here now. I’ve come to accept my responsibilities so you can be free to return to your mates.”
Her words crash over me like a tidal wave, knocking me down and tossing my body in a wild tumult. I’m engulfed with emotions. I grab onto her like a life preserver to keep myself from drowning.
Is she really here to rescue me? I never even imagined the possibility. I know she still despises my grandfather and feels no duty to these merfolk. She’s built a whole other life for herself. Would she give it all up for me? I’m overwhelmed with happiness, gratitude, and disbelief, but also guilt. Can I let her do this? Images of the guys float to the front of my mind, tempting me with the promise of the life I want. But can I live with myself if I let her sacrifice her own freedom for mine?
Before I have a chance to settle my warring thoughts, she pushes past me and the guards and starts swimming down the hallway. “I need to see my father before he passes. I have things to say to him.”
I rush after her, panicked. I don’t want her to accuse him now, on his deathbed. His own guilt is punishment enough. I want him to pass in peace. If she tells him she’s come to take the throne, he’ll be devastated, thinking she’s going to ruin everything he worked for.
As soon as we enter the room, I’m hit with a wave of my grandfather’s thoughts. Muriel is once again by his side, holding his head in her hands and stroking him. Like he’s gotten a second wind, his mind is alight with memories. Memories of illicit moments spent with Muriel. He shuts them down the moment he sees me and my mother, but I’ve seen enough.
“Pearl.” His weak voice cracks and wobbles as he forces out the name of his long-lost daughter.
She swims towards him, her chest puffed with determination. “Father.”
His eyes widen as her thoughts stream towards him, a flood of emotions. Anger at his lies and betrayal, regret for the time she lost with me, visions of her new shoal and the modern life they live, and her plans for overthrowing the kingdom.
He’s too weak to respond, but his eyes reflect his anguish. His face wrinkles, and his hand clutches his heart. I gasp, terrified that this is how he’ll spend his last moment.
“No!” I cry out, grabbing him. His heart stutters at my outburst, but his face softens at the hint of reprieve. I know he thinks I’m going to promise to take the throne from her and honor his wishes, but I have something different in mind. I have a plan to save all of us.
“Grandfather. I saw your memories. I know you had an affair with Muriel. Is Meribel your daughter?”
I glance from him to Muriel, looking for an admission. Grandfather’s face is clouded, but Muriel’s wrinkles with shame.
“Muriel, if it’s true, then Meribel is an heir to the throne. Why did you never say anything? She could’ve lived like a princess instead of a servant.”
Muriel shakes her head, her face instantly aging another decade. “Coral, your grandfather was never willing to admit he fathered her. It would’ve been a terrible scandal. Who would believe me over him? He was the king, and I was just a low-class mermaid. He could’ve left me to fend for myself, but instead he offered us a home and a life better than we ever would’ve had on our own. The only stipulation was that I never reveal the truth. I loved him enough to respect his wishes.”
My mother stares at Muriel in disbelief, and Grandfather’s eyes look haunted, but my own face is hopeful.
“Grandfather, if my mother takes the throne, she’ll destroy your reputation out of revenge. If I take the throne, I’m going to tell the merfolk about your lies in order to free them, but there’s another option. Admit the truth about your relationship with Muriel and let Meribel take the throne on the condition that she never tell the merfolk the truth about the curse. Your reputation will suffer some, but not as much as if they know the depth of your deception.”
Everyone in the room is stunned silent by my solution. Grandfather takes a long moment to mull over my offer, but in the end, he realizes it’s the only hope he has of saving what he’s spent his life building. He works up just enough strength to nod his head. Relief washes over me.
“We need to tell Meribel.”
“I’ve already heard it.” Meribel appears at the doorway, looking stunned beyond belief, her pale skin white as a fish belly. “I was outside listening.”
She approaches my grandfather slowly, a school of emotions flitting across her face and mind. She floats beside him and lays a hand gently on top of his.
“You’ve always been kind to me and my mother, more than I ever expected. But now I know it was less than I deserved.” Her face pinches with regret.
She shudders when Grandfather gives her hand a tiny squeeze and lets his true feelings for her rush through his mind like a movie of memories, every moment of her life cataloged in his mind. He might never have been a father to her, but he always thought of her as his daughter. Meribel absorbs his thoughts like a dry sponge, soaking in a lifetime of lost love. It takes her a moment to collect herself.
“I can’t begin to process my feelings towards you right now, but my feelings for this shoal will never change. I love my home, and it would be my honor to rule this kingdom. If you’ll pass the throne to me, I’ll do my best to guard and protect this shoal with eve
rything I have.”
With every remaining drop of energy he has, Grandfather lifts his hand and presses it to her chest, right above her heart, then lets his arm drop to the bed again, shuddering out a weak breath.
“We don’t have much time. He’s fading fast. But the merfolk will never believe the truth unless they hear it from him. We have to get him outside and gather the merfolk,” I say.
We act quickly, alerting the guards of Grandfather’s desire to address the merfolk. Some of them rush to blow the conch shells, calling the merfolk to the front of the palace. Others help us carry Grandfather out of his chambers. My mother stays hidden, not wanting to draw any attention to herself.
The merfolk have been expecting Grandfather’s death, so it doesn’t take long for them to congregate, holding their ceremonial conch shells. But they’re stunned to see he isn’t dead yet. Guards on each side of him hold him up. Murmurs bubble up around them as they whisper to each other.
Once everyone has assembled, the guards blow the conch shells again, and the crowd goes silent. Grandfather is too weak to speak or think coherently, so it’s up to me to explain what’s happening.
I swim forward to make my first and last address to the merfolk. I’m proud of myself when I hear my voice, loud and confident, announcing the truth of Meribel’s heritage and her intentions to take the throne. The merfolk are shocked, obviously, but Kai especially. He gapes at us, his eyes swirling like a whirlpool. The guards push Grandfather to the center so he can confirm it. His thoughts are spotty and erratic, but his confession comes through.
He raises a shaky hand to the Pāua shell necklace around his neck. He’s too weak to remove it himself, so I help him, unclasping it and placing it in his hands. I worry he’s going to drop it, but he keeps his hands steady. He turns to Meribel, and she swims closer. When he holds the necklace out to her, she places her hands on top of it in acceptance.
The Mermaid's Return_A Reverse Harem Romance Page 19
