He swam up and hugged the younger mer. “So how is life treating you?”
“Couldn’t be bet…”
“All right, Cindel,” Atticus interceded. “Weren’t you going to babysit for the new family that moved in down the street? I’m sure Sage is waiting for you now the danger has passed.”
“Oh, I forgot.” She smiled at Teegan one more time and swam away.
Everyone knew how Atticus felt about Cindel dating. He did all he could to stop impending romance before it started. Faren had always assumed he was overprotective because of her handicap; she pitied her sister for his firm hold. Cindel was a year younger than she was, but her mental age was that of someone twelve or thirteen. As a younger mer, her disability was less noticeable, but the older she got, the more conspicuous it became in her child-like actions.
“Faren, it does my heart good to know you’re safe,” Atticus said. “I’m very proud of you, and I know your mother would have been, too.” He touched her chin and smiled.
Faren wrapped her arms around him. Her world felt right again.
“Harmony, over here!” Harmony’s mother waved her over, breaking up the happy reunion.
“I’d better go,” Harmony said, looking at her parents over her shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”
“Bye,” Faren said with a smile. “And thank you for helping us.”
“That’s what friends are for.” The girls exchanged a hug before Harmony reunited with her family.
“They’ve been through so much already,” Atticus said, watching them.
Faren agreed. “If anything had happened to her, I don’t know what I would have told Mr. and Mrs. Skyler,” she admitted, remembering the day their eldest son, Cailan, disappeared.
It seemed like only yesterday the entire city searched for him. Even after the High Council declared him dead, Harmony’s parents still waited for his return.
“I’ll see you at home, honey,” Atticus said. “We need to take care of those scratches, so don’t take too long.” He kissed Faren on the forehead and swam away, calling Cindel’s name. “I thought I told you to go to the neighbor’s house,” Faren heard him scold the younger mer.
When Faren noticed Luna watching Harmony hugging her mother, she laid her hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Luna waved her off. “It’s been five years since my parents died. Tristan and I have a good thing on our own. Where is he anyway?” she asked, looking around.
“I’ll help you look for him,” Teegan offered. “Faren, I’ll see you when I get back from Pavire.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Bye, Faren,” Luna said before she and Teegan swam away.
“I want to thank you for your courage,” Salene said, sidling up to Faren with a broad smile. “We couldn’t have asked for more from our finest warriors.”
Faren could barely speak. She had never had the honor of talking to Salene personally. Her words felt forced. “I, um, we were happy to help.”
Before Salene could bestow more praise on her, a scout came around the corner. He was terror-stricken and out of breath.
“We’ve searched the north side of the island for intruders. I wish I could bring you good news, but…”
“Yes, Damon, where did you find the sea demon?” Salene closed her eyes as if that would stop the inevitable.
Sea demon? What sea demon?
“Near Shelter Cove. Blake and Ryle are with her now.”
“Does she know you’re following her?”
“She doesn’t.”
“Thank you, Damon. Let Ryle and Blake know we’re sending reinforcements.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Servio joined Salene to bring the bad news to the Atlanteans within hearing range. “There’s a sea demon loose in our great city!” he informed the crowd.
Gasps erupted from all directions.
“A curfew will be instated within the hour, and it will remain until further notice,” Servio continued. “Since we’ve never had this enemy invade our great city, we don’t know what they may be planning. Please stay indoors until this issue has been resolved.”
As the crowd thinned out, a mer looked for her son. Her thoughts grew more hysterical with each passing second.
Faren recognized her as Sage, the new neighbor for whom Cindel was supposed to babysit.
“Rami… Rami!” Sage cried again.
He didn’t answer.
She turned to anyone who would listen, begging them for help. “My baby’s missing. Please, help me!”
Salene swam over to the panic-stricken mother and did what she could to calm her. “We’ll find him,” she said softly. “We’ll round up as many mers as we can to look for him. How old is he? What does he look like?”
Sage stared at Salene as if in a trance. It was obvious her emotions were on overload, making it difficult for her to keep a grasp on reality.
“He… he… has brown hair, and… he’s seven… he’s…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Damon swam back into the courtyard. “Madame Council Member,” he reported sternly, “the sea demon has a hostage–a child.”
“No!” Sage wailed. “Is it my son? Is it my Rami?” She clapped her hands over her mouth and drifted to the sand in a trembling heap.
Several mers surrounded her, doing their best to calm her. Faren hovered near the back, barely catching glimpses of the distraught mother through the cloud of hair.
“Has the demon spotted you yet?” Salene asked the scout.
“No, we’ve managed to remain undetected.”
Salene grew silent before responding with subdued anger. “All right, wait for backup. When it arrives, attack with force. Bring this beast to the temple and we’ll interrogate her there.” She faced the curious and outraged gathering crowd. “You need to gather every able-bodied merman in the city to rescue the child. Get your neighbors, your friends, your brothers, and meet back here as soon as you can. Please hurry.”
When everyone cleared out, Sage grabbed Faren’s arms. “Did you hear that?” she cried. “That beast took my son! What is it doing to him?”
Before Faren could answer her, another mer raced toward them as out of control as Sage.
“Sage… Sage, where’s Rami?” she called out. “Where is our boy?”
“Momma, the scouts think a sea demon is holding him hostage near Shelter Cove!”
“Oh, no!” The older mer clung to her daughter. “No, no, no!”
In a flash, the underwater kingdom sprang to life in a flurry of snow-colored fins.
“Bring that nasty creature to me!” Servio shouted.
The mermen collected their weapons and made their way out of the city. Faren followed the search party, being careful to stay out of sight. Her surroundings were easier to see beneath the healing sun. The mountain’s ledges and peaks were more visible–they stretched on, rising high above the ocean bed. Atlantis was once home to many rivers and waterfalls. Now, the deep trenches and rocky formations were all that remained.
As Faren tailed the mermen, crabs scurried to escape the powdery whirlwinds she created when she passed overhead.
Unlike the city, the rest of the submerged island held tight to the evidence of Atlantis’s destruction. Way out here, remnants of homes littered the landscape. The structures lay in marble and sandstone heaps.
Faren swam in the shadows of the sea stacks standing between her and Shelter Cove–toward the screams of angry mers. When she peeked around the corner, she came face-to-face with a terrifying scene. The mob had the sea demon backed up against the wall of the cave. The creature clutched Rami to her chest, but to Faren’s relief, the boy was still alive, flipping his tail and screaming for help.
“Release the child!” a mer shouted. “He’s done nothing wrong!”
The sea demon hissed at them and yanked Rami closer. “We’ll fight your species to the end,” she growled. “Mers are evil, and have been from the start. Ev
en your Spirit forsakes you.”
Another mer bellowed from the center of the pack, “Drop him or we’ll kill you!”
The sea demon grinned. “Even if you kill me, your civilization is dead. Atlantis is dead. All mers are dead!” She howled and wrapped her stingers around Rami’s body. He immediately went unconscious.
“Seize her!” Damon shouted from the front lines.
When the mers wrestled the beast to the ground, she dropped Rami. He drifted to the sand and laid there unmoving.
Faren rushed toward the struggle and pulled the child to safety. Red welts covered his body, and his breathing sounded labored. But he was still alive!
She swam for Atlantis, counting down the seconds. The undersea beach seemed to stretch on forever, and the mountains encasing the city taunted her from a distance. Fish darted in every direction as if they could sense the emergency.
Rami’s ragged breaths were becoming shallower with each passing second until his gills finally went still.
No, no… breathe!
His gills refused to move.
Rami, breathe!
As if on command, he took a forced breath, and then another. Rami opened his eyes just as they swam into the courtyard. He looked around, closed his eyes and opened them again. His breathing was still labored but regular.
“Who are you?” he asked, still gasping.
Faren had never been so grateful to hear someone else’s thoughts. “A friend.”
Sage greeted them with outstretched arms. “Thank you, thank you,” she cried, taking her son. “I’m forever in your debt.” She kissed Rami’s cheek and gave Faren another gracious smile before Servio rushed them to the medical wing on the south side of the temple.
Salene stayed behind to speak to Faren. “That was very brave,” she praised her. “You saved a mother from a world of grief, and I want you to know we are grateful to you. This makes twice in one day,” she added, hugging her. She let her go and joined Thaden and Damon at the steps of the temple.
Thaden was excited, waving his hands around. Faren couldn’t hear his thoughts, but Salene looked pleased with the news. As soon as he left her side, she addressed everyone with a smile.
“May I have everyone’s attention, please?” she inquired loudly. “The sea demon is already talking! Rest assured we will use this information and act accordingly.” Her thoughts took on a more somber tone. “As for the heroes made and the lives lost today, there will be a celebration in their honor seven sunrises from now on the island of Seneca. Now, if you would, please stay in your homes until the scouts confirm the island safe again.” With that, she swam back into the temple.
Faren left the courtyard and swam for the currents, hoping she could sneak out of Atlantis before the guards showed up. As much as she hated to disobey the High Council, she couldn’t help but follow her heart. David would be waiting for her. Her conscience would just have to remain silent for the time being.
Chapter 4
On the Run
FAREN WATCHED THE SUN DANCE A sultry shimmy on the water overhead as she darted up through the sea. She broke the surface, sending diamond drips flying, then dove again, skimming the sea floor. Exhilaration flooded her senses as the rushing water slid over her body. She shot up again near the surf, her fins and gills retreating as she hit the air, and her human legs tingled with anticipation until she touched down on the shore.
The sand was still damp from an earlier shower, the air abundant with the clean, salty scent of the ocean. Faren had always loved the way the world smelled after a storm. The fresh breeze signaled a new start for all living things. In lightning and rain, the earth was reborn.
Faren tried to push aside the terror from the night before, but it refused to lay dormant. With her skirt blowing in the breeze, she walked along the shore with the dead warriors’ determined faces branded into her conscience. She could still hear their clanking spears and howls of pain as they died. She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath.
“Please hurry, David,” she whispered. “Be my storm and save me from these memories.” She crossed her arms over her seashells and shivered from an unexpected cold chill.
“Faren!”
Faren looked back to see David coming toward her, wearing a devilish smile. His bright orange swimming trunks seemed to catch fire beneath the sun’s rays, and his white tank top enhanced the caramel coloring of his skin, giving him a tan surfers would envy.
Faren’s eyes fell to his sculpted biceps. David reminded her of a brilliant piece of art, a man made of marble, chiseled and solid. Even after the time they had spent together, Faren felt awkward around him. The butterflies in her stomach flew around in swarms and nibbled at her insides.
David came closer, and his smile melted into concern when he saw the condition she was in. “What happened?” He gently touched her skin near one of her wounds.
“I was climbing some rocks and fell,” Faren did her best to sound chagrined. “My father took a look at me. I’m all right.”
“Are you sure? That looks pretty bad.”
“I’m sure. This kind of stuff happens to me all the time.”
“All right… if you’re sure you’re okay,” David said, still eyeing her cuts. “What would you like to do today?”
Faren smiled, glad he was willing to let it go. “This is your vacation,” she said. “You decide.”
David pulled her close. “Let’s go boating. I know you can’t swim, but there are life preservers...”
Faren didn’t have to fake the look of terror she gave him.
A flicker of sympathy crossed his face and he relented. “How about a hike?”
Faren gave him a grateful smile and nodded.
David draped his arm around her shoulder and led her toward the woods, stopping to grab the backpack he had left by the trail.
It was a beautiful day and David seemed to have no regrets about spending it on land. They stole glances, and laughed, and held hands so naturally it felt like they had been doing that for years. Faren had never felt anything like this–mysteriously familiar and excitingly new at the same time. She found herself staring at the soft curves of David’s face and his well-defined muscles, unable to concentrate on their conversation.
“Poly sigh?” she repeated, when he told her his major.
“Yeah... I’m one of those idiots who wants to make the world a better...” He paused and watched her kneel on the path, her eyes on something in the foliage.
“Hungry?” he asked, kneeling beside her.
She laughed softly. “Hold still!” She held her hand out to a lizard hanging upside down from a branch.
He laughed this time. “They’re not really friendly…”
He stopped as the lizard moved slowly into the palm of her hand.
“That’s amazing.” David looked from the creature’s strange eyes to Faren’s luminous ones.
Faren smiled mischievously as she released the creature back to its branch. “I like meeting the locals.”
“Well, it’s an impressive talent that I…”
His voice trailed off, as an unfamiliar whirring noise erupted from the path behind them.
Faren heard it too and grew very still, listening for the strange noise again. Her heart beat faster, and her palms felt moist.
“What’s wrong?” David asked when he saw her fear.
“Shhh.”
As she listened, the whirring got closer and louder. The familiarity of the noise hit Faren like a tsunami. With wide eyes, she shouted, “Go, go, go!”
Faren seized David’s arm and took off as fast as she could through the forest. All around them, the trees formed one indistinct blur. Leaves under the sea demon’s tentacles sounded like a giant fan, smacking its massive blades into the ground. To Faren’s horror, the whirring split into three distinct patterns.
“Faren, what’s going on? What’s that noise?” David sounded more annoyed than frightened.
“Keep running!” she shouted.
When they spotted a tree house, Faren and David bolted for the small, wooden structure. David didn’t argue when she pushed him up the ladder. He scampered into the small room and pulled Faren to safety. The couple sat on the floor, not moving, not speaking. The minutes ticked by.
“Please, tell me what’s going on. Why are we running?” The sound of snapping twigs shut him up quickly.
Faren put her fingers to her lips and looked out the small window to see three sea demons poking around in the underbrush. David joined her, gasping when he saw their assailants.
Suri removed her hood, revealing her horribly disfigured face. Her eyes looked like two solid black holes, and sharp fangs protruded from her open mouth. They were rotted and dripping saliva down her face onto her robe. Her hair was the color of decaying moss, and it hung to her shoulders a tangled mess.
“Get down,” Faren whispered, pulling David to the floor.
He complied without question.
Faren could hear the sea demons searching under every brush and fallen tree for them.
“They have to be here,” Suri demanded. “They couldn’t have gotten away that easily.”
“I think they’re closer than you think,” Mineane said.
Faren could feel the monsters’ eyes on the tree house. She crawled away from the window, looking around the cramped room for a place to hide. There was a mattress leaning up against a far wall. She pulled David toward it.
“I’ll follow you,” he said, pushing her in front of him.
The sea demon poked his head up through the floor as they took cover. Faren could hear him breathing; she could feel his eyes scouring the room. There wasn’t much to see–a couple of wooden chairs, the mattress, a milk crate and a bunch of old junk littering the floor.
The mattress smelled terrible. Faren held her breath and closed her eyes tight, trying to block out the moldy stench.
Suri called to the demon from the ground. “Mace, do you see them?”
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