Faren climbed down and rushed to his side. “Are you all right?” She gently took his hand. She could already see the bruises whelping up along his swollen fingers.
“I’ll be fine, but I have to ask… where did you learn how to fight? Did your dad teach you?”
“No, my mother did,” she said, helping him to stand.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Why is that so hard to belie…”
Faren followed his stare to the empty balcony and sucked in a breath. “Come on, hurry!” she hollered as she hauled him away from the villa.
“Where are we going?”
Faren ignored his question and kept running. When they got halfway down the beach, she turned back to him. “Go to the marina,” she said, looking back at the house. “Hide there until I come back for you.”
“No way.”
“Don’t argue with me.”
“You’re not going anywhere alone,” David said. “That thing could be anywhere by now.”
Faren kissed him on the cheek. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t up for debate. I have to warn the High Council about Suri, and you can’t come with me.”
“But–”
“I promise I’ll meet you here in a few hours.” Faren pulled him close and hugged him.
“Come back to me,” David whispered.
“Where else would I go?”
Faren kissed him and leapt into the surf.
Chapter 10
Trial of the Century
FAREN SWAM BENEATH THE CRYSTAL ARCH and looked over to see two armed guards swimming toward her with their spears raised.
“Faren Sands, we have a warrant for your arrest,” the bigger one snarled. “If you resist, we’ll have no choice but to restrain you. Please, don’t make us do that.”
Faren felt like a wild animal herded for the slaughter. She backed up as the guards approached her, but knew it was pointless to try to get away. “What is this about?” she asked, one thought tumbling into the next.
They each took one of her arms and began the descent into the city without giving her a chance to react.
“I have information for the High Council,” Faren said, trembling. “Can I talk to them before you take me to jail?”
“Don’t worry,” one guard snapped. “You’ll see the High Council before you go anywhere. They’re the ones who sent for you.”
They swam toward the temple, over streets lined with curious onlookers. Everyone stared at Faren with disapproving eyes. They floated with their arms crossed and their eyes boring into her.
“Whore,” someone spat as she passed by.
Faren’s pulse quickened. Her breath became forced. Now it was apparent the High Council had found out her biggest secret.
She bowed her head in silent agony for the inevitable loss of her family and friends, and perhaps even her life. Maybe if she kept her eyes closed long enough she would look up to see everything back to normal. She would be loved again, instead of shunned.
The great hall no longer induced excitement as it had the night before. It drenched her in a sea of absolute terror–defeat and panic rolled into one.
The council members hovered in the center of the room. Salene and Servio floated off to the side, allowing Thaden the first round of questions.
“Miss Sands,” he bellowed, “do you have any idea why you have been brought before us?” His thoughts were icy and devoid of emotion.
“No.”
Thaden’s stare grew colder. “Do you know why you were brought here today?” he screamed. “And don’t lie to me this time!”
“No, I don’t, but I have something very import–”
Thaden lifted his hand. “Silence! Unless you’re here to confess, don’t say anything at all.”
He swam back and forth in front of her. His ashen flukes peeked out from beneath his robe, revealing the long scar he had sustained during a boating accident. “You will be escorted to the prison–”
“But, I need to–”
“Until further notice!” he screamed. “I know you are aware of the charges being brought against you, and if you’re not willing to admit to them, the trial will commence!”
He turned to his fellow council members, and in a more civilized tone, addressed them. “If we’re all in agreement….”
“We are,” Servio answered.
Salene nodded but didn’t say a word.
Thaden looked back at Faren. “A court hearing will be held before the sun sets to determine your guilt or innocence. Please remove this mer from our presence, and escort her to the prison,” he instructed the guards, never taking his eyes off her. “We’ll let you know when we need her again.”
“Wait! I still need to tell you something… please!”
The council members ignored Faren’s cries. They swam from the room, leaving her alone with her captors.
“Let’s go,” the closest guard snapped. He grabbed her arm again and forced her outside.
As Faren was led to the prison, others looked at her with anger and resentment. She bowed her head to block out their stares, but she could still feel their eyes on her. They bored into her, threatening to pierce her body like hundreds of stingray barbs. Faren couldn’t get away from them fast enough.
Once she was escorted into the jail, the guard stationed at the front desk opened the main door leading to the cell block and stared back at her. “Go,” he commanded, shoving her inside when she stalled.
There had to be hundreds of cells, lined up in two neat rows. As Faren passed by the metal bars, she gazed in at the other inmates. Some of them slept; others stared out their tiny windows, motionless. They all had the same hopeless expressions.
Halfway down, the guards opened Faren’s cell and shoved her inside before slamming the door in her face.
“We’ll come and get you when it’s time for your trial to begin,” the smaller one told her, smirking. He shook his head in disgust. “What a waste,” he joked with the other guard as they swam away. “All the cute ones are either married or rotting away in prison.” Before the door shut behind them, their laughter drifted back down the corridor.
Faren took a closer look at the dwelling she could be calling home for years to come. It was devoid of any furniture, and the mood in the room still sheltered the feelings of fear and depression from mers it once held captive.
With her impending fate staring her in the face, it was time she came to grips with the idea she may never see her loved ones again. Maybe it would be in her best interest to accept her punishment now, instead of hoping for a miracle that may never ride in to rescue her.
Faren swam to the small window and looked out at the courtyard, which still overflowed with curious onlookers. With tears welling up in her eyes, she curled into a ball and sank into a corner to wait her turn in front of the High Council. She stayed there until the guards came to fetch her a few hours later.
* * *
While Faren awaited her trial, David walked around the pier, impatient for the moment she would join him. He knew he had to look a sight. He could feel the blood drying on his left cheek, and he could barely see out of his swollen right eye. His hand was also swollen and turning black and blue.
David sat down on the dock, dangling his feet in the water, and looked at the villas lining the coast. He was still doing his best to wrap his brain around the fact that he and Faren were targets of monsters. The attack seemed too twisted to be real, but his pain was screaming proof that it was.
David got to his feet and rounded the pier. He walked back to the beach where Faren had left him, keeping an eye out for sea demons. So far all he saw were children playing in the surf. It devastated him to know any one of these innocent souls could be tomorrow’s headline. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, David knew dead bodies would continue washing up on the beaches. These beasts were hell-bent on destroying everything right with the world, and they weren’t about to stop any time soon.
He searched the water for any si
gn of movement, but all he saw were the gentle ripples moving along the surface. There was no sign of Faren, and with the coming twilight, he knew they were running out of time.
* * *
The curious and outraged crowd buzzed with excited chatter when Faren entered the courtroom–it was obvious she was no longer among friends–and the council members floated behind their podiums at the front of the room dressed in their formal robes. Salene’s weathered face expressed the silent contempt she harbored for Faren. It was evident her fondness for Faren had ebbed away, leaving the elder alone with her own prejudices.
“It is a sad day when a mer goes against the laws of her own people in such a way,” Salene said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re facing the charge of high treason, young lady. To associate with a human is strictly forbidden... something you’re well aware of... and we have prudent evidence proving your guilt.” Her quivering lip gave away her feelings of betrayal. “Miss Sands, days ago, you were revered as a hero. Today you’re defending yourself against treason. How do you explain your complete turnaround in morals?”
Servio put his hand up. “Just a moment,” he said. “Our witness has arrived.” He gestured to the back of the courtroom. “Come forward, please.”
Everyone turned to look at the mystery mer making his way up the aisle to the waiting council members. Tristan didn’t make eye contact with Faren as he swam to the front of the room. His arms were crossed and his head was down; he looked like he was on a death march.
Faren had never felt more deceived than she did at that moment. All the childhood memories she and Tristan had shared shattered before her eyes. Suddenly she was in the company of a stranger.
“Mr. Everheart, you have come forward with information regarding Miss Sand’s guilt,” Salene announced for the rest of the courtroom to hear. “Do you stand firm with your accusation?”
“I withdraw my earlier claim,” he said, raising his chin in defiance. “There’s a possibility I misunderstood the conversation.”
The courtroom erupted in a fit of chatter. Salene swam forward and screamed for order; she had to demand silence twice before the Atlanteans obeyed. “You told us you heard Miss Sands talking about meeting a human, but you couldn’t tell us who she was speaking to,” she said. “Now you’re telling us you misheard the conversation. Is this correct?”
Tristan’s eyes darted around the courtroom nervously. “I was confused,” he replied. “I might have heard one thing, but misunderstood it for another.”
Salene put her hand up to quiet him. “You may be dismissed,” she replied, shaking her head.
Tristan swam back into the crowd and floated near the front; he still didn’t make eye contact with Faren. Luna met up with him, and the two argued quietly.
“Unfortunate for you, Miss Sands, Mr. Everheart was not our only eye witness.” She swam closer, stopping just beyond the witness box. “The sea demon in custody claims to have seen you and this human together. Under normal circumstances, we would never trust the word of such a beast, but with a fellow mer having cast the same allegations in your direction, retracted or not, I have no choice but to second guess your innocence.” Salene gripped the edge of Faren’s cubicle and leaned toward her. “Do you have anything to say for yourself, either for or against these charges?”
Even hundreds of feet beneath the surface of the sea, Faren’s mouth felt dry. Right now, the prospect of fainting wasn’t half-bad. Anything she could have done to leave the angry courtroom behind had to be worth it. But to her dismay, she never did.
“I cannot dispute the witnesses,” she answered softly.
When she looked over at Tristan, he clenched his eyes shut. Faren was sure he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. If only she gave a damn.
“Well,” Salene said, swimming back to her podium, “since you’ve admitted your guilt, a jury of your peers is unnecessary. We can move onto other important issues before the sentencing phase of the trial begins.”
Faren felt defeated. Whatever her sentence turned out to be, she had no other choice but to live with it… if she was lucky enough to get life. Maybe she even deserved it.
“Now,” Salene continued, “when you first arrived you mentioned some important information. What were you referring to?”
Here was the chance Faren had been waiting for. Even if she could not save herself, saving her friends and family would be compensation enough. “I found the Ring of the Ancients,” she announced.
The crowd had plenty to say about that, but Faren couldn’t understand a word of it.
“How can we believe anything you tell us? You’re a self-proclaimed liar and deceiver,” Thaden declared. “You admitted that when you refused to dispute the charges brought against you. You’ve already admitted deceit and betrayal.”
Faren thought she would fall over where she floated. This was a nightmare. She never dreamed the High Council would blow her off.
“No, I’m not lying!”
“The Ring of the Ancients doesn’t exist!” Thaden screamed. “That myth is as old as we are!”
Salene broke in, waving him off. “When you say us, do you mean you and your human?”
“Yes.”
“Where is the ring now?” she asked.
Faren dropped her gaze. “A sea demon stole it.”
“Speak up, girl!” Thaden shouted. “Tell us, not the floor!”
“A sea demon stole it,” Faren said a little louder.
“I think it’s convenient that you no longer have the ring,” Salene replied, ignoring Thaden’s outburst, “and with these special circumstances you cannot blame us for disbelieving your story. At this point, I think you would say anything to draw attention away from yourself.”
Faren swam over the witness box and up to the council members. She was determined to make them believe her one way or another. “You have to listen to me. I’m telling you the truth.”
Thaden swam up to meet her. “What do you think you’re doing?” he screamed. “Get back to the box!”
“No!”
The onlookers gasped, but no one said a word.
“Wh… what?” Thaden swam toward her, more enraged than she had ever seen him. “How dare you!” He slapped her across the face, inducing more gasps from the crowd.
Faren’s cheek stung, but she refused to let him make a spectacle of her. She looked him dead in the eye, her nostrils flaring. “Damn you.”
Thaden slapped her again.
Salene was the first to interject. “Thaden, no.”
“Keep your hands off my daughter!” Atticus screamed. “You’ll be sorry you did that!” The guards restrained him when he started toward them with his fists clenched. “Thaden, you’re the worst council member ever to swim the streets of Atlantis, and I’m warning you.”
“Watch it, Mr. Sands,” Servio said. “You’re a highly respected citizen, and so was your wife, but I cannot allow you to abuse your superiors.”
Atticus ignored Servio. “Keep your dirty hands off my child, you good for nothing….” Faren was certain that if he could have killed Thaden with one look, the council member would have been convulsing on the floor.
“Daddy,” Faren wailed. “Daddy, don’t make things worse for you… please.” To see him in such a state tore at Faren’s heart.
“Please calm him down before he comes back into my courtroom,” Servio commanded them. “Thaden, that was out of line. No matter what the circumstances, we don’t treat our citizens in such a manner.”
Thaden stood his ground. “The entire five years I’ve been a council member, I have never heard of a liar having the upper hand.” When Servio denied him public satisfaction, he swam back to his post fuming.
“Miss Sands,” Salene said, “please return to the witness box, so we can continue.”
Faren didn’t say anything else. She swam back to the cubicle, trying to ignore the guards escorting Atticus from the room. Father and daughter exchanged a tender look before the door
shut behind him.
“The Ring of the Ancients... Why should we believe you?” Salene asked, dragging her back to the hearing. “You haven’t told us the truth thus far.”
Faren knew what she was about to do would only get her into more trouble, but that didn’t matter anymore. “I used the ring to escape the temple,” she admitted with a cleared conscience.
“Are you telling us you’re the one who broke into the temple?” Servio asked over the deafening crowd. “Shut up!” he screamed, and the mers quieted down. “Is that what you’re saying?” he asked again.
“Yes, I am, and I acted alone.”
“No, no, that isn’t possible,” he said, raising his hand as if to ward off the truth. “Thaden is right; the ring is a myth. But I would like to know how you got out of the temple without being caught… if you broke in at all. The guard who saw the mers in the temple has been proven mentally unstable, and therefore, not a credible witness.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Luna cried, rushing up the aisle. “I know she is because I helped her.”
Faren stared at her friend, unable to comprehend what was happening. A part of her commended Luna for her honesty, but a bigger part wept for her confession. “Luna, what are you doing?”
“Are we really going to listen to this nonsense?” Thaden pounded his fist on his podium. “This is nonsen–”
“It isn’t nonsense!” Luna shouted. “You need to fulfill your duty as a respected council member and listen to what she has to say.”
The courtroom was as still as an ocean before a hurricane. Not even a whisper broke the silence.
“How dare you, you insolent little–”
“The girl’s right,” Servio said. “I would like to hear what they have to say.” He warned Luna, “But I cannot let you speak to us in that tone of voice. This is your one and only warning. Am I understood?”
“Yes.”
“Please, go on,” Servio said with a wave of his hand.
“Faren Sands is my best friend in the world,” Luna said, shooting Thaden a dirty look, “and I can’t let her take the full blame for something I was a part of.” She joined Faren in the witness box. “We broke into the temple last night to find information on the Ring of the Ancients.”
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