“I realize you think this might be a way for you to get an upper hand and strike back,” his eyebrows rose in shock, “but it’s not. I found out by chance, and it won’t happen again.” Tunder opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to the punch. “There’s no reason for me to endanger the person who told me, when they can’t help us anymore. It was a onetime deal, I’m sorry but that’s all I can tell you.” My voice was harsher than I had intended it to be and I could see Tunder was not happy about it.
He sighed heavily, and looked down at the floor. When he looked back up, his eyes were softer and he reminded me of the Tunder I thought of as a brother. I could see he still cared for me in the same way he used to. I glanced at the others and saw the same love and care, which only succeeded in making this whole situation harder than it had to be.
“We’re just worried about you,” Shaylee said softly. “We haven’t heard anything from you in months and when Kryssa and Elik went to warn you about your safety, you didn’t even care. I understand Patrick is gone, but that’s no reason for you to put yourself in the way of danger. What would Patrick say if he were still alive today?”
Each time she spoke his name, it was like a blow to my gut. I felt guilty for not telling them and guilty for what I was feeling for Zale, but what was I supposed to do? If I was the one who had changed, wouldn’t I want Patrick to still love me? To still hang on to the memory of me? These merfolk before me had no idea what I had been through. They didn’t understand the turmoil I faced every day, the fear Zale was never going to return, and give in forever to the darkness inside him.
They all looked at me, wanting me to understand, but the problem was, they were the ones who didn’t understand. I felt the anger inside me grow, I wanted to lash out and hurt all of them. To yell at them so they would know what I had been through, but that wouldn’t do any good.
“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine,” I smiled ruefully. “Or as fine as I can be.”
“We don’t want you to be fine, we want you to be safe.” Elik said and I broke.
“I’m never safe!” I spoke a little too loudly. “It doesn’t matter where I am or who I’m with, I’m never safe.”
Except in Zale’s arms, the thought passed quickly through my head and I knew it was true. His arms were just like Patrick’s, comfortable and safe. But in a sense, I felt even more secure in his arms knowing he had an incredible power to fight for my protection from those that threatened me.
“Ever since Morven changed me I haven’t been safe, and I won’t be until he’s dead.” I finished dully.
“That’s exactly what we’re talking about,” Tunder confronted me. Apparently my outburst was expected. “I’m afraid you’re trying too hard to win this war on your own. You’re trying to beat Morven for what he did to Patrick.”
That was partially true, but the main reason was, I wanted to be free of his all-consuming power. I was afraid if he caught me, I would turn into something like Zale, that I would become Marina and never remember who I was. To think someday I might entirely forget who I was and become a weapon for a tyrant was truly terrifying.
“Believe me, I’m not trying to win this war on my own,” I said, the fire in me slowly ebbing.
“Good,” Tunder said all stress gone. “This war is getting more and more difficult to win and I need you somewhere safe for now. I hate having to worry about whether you are safe with your family. Luckily, the Hyven never came for you there.”
I nodded, agreeing with him, even though I knew they had. If it wasn’t for the injured warrior that lay in the cave nearby, I would be locked up in some cell in Hyvar, or already dead.
“Yes, I’ve been lucky” I said, dully.
“We need more than luck right now.” Kryssa said, trying to defuse the tension. “Will you stay here? So we’ll know you’re safe.”
“Sure,” I conceded, trying to hide my relief. “I’ll stay.”
“Now,” Tunder grabbed my attention again, “that means you really need to stay hidden here. I would prefer it if you didn’t leave without contacting one of us. If you fall into Morven’s hands, we may very well lose this war.” He sighed and continued, “Kryssa told you about Zale, and though I have never seen him myself, I want to warn you about him.” His name spoken on another’s lips sent a jolt through my spine, but I carefully controlled my face.
“He’s made this whole war so much harder.” Tunder continued. “If Morven uses him to get to you, I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do. We don’t know where Zale came from, but he’s more powerful than Bolrock has ever been.”
His words were filled with meaning and I could see he wanted me to take him seriously. What he was really telling me was if Morven got a hold of me, the war would be over. If only I could tell him how seriously I understood him.
“Lissie and I saw him last night,” Shaylee said and my gaze snapped to her face. I’d forgotten she had seen him too. What had she noticed?
“It was terrible,” she said and shivered. “He just cut anyone nearby down without a second glance.” I nodded, when the others looked at me for confirmation, while relief filled me. Shaylee hadn’t been able to see his face clearly. All she had seen was a warrior in battle. My guilt increased because I knew they all wanted Zale dead, and I was hiding him from them.
“You saw him?” Tunder’s eyes were alight with disbelief and fear for his wife. “How were you not killed?”
“He didn’t see us,” she shook her head. “We were hiding in the shadows, and luckily able to get away.” Everyone nodded, me included. There was no doubt in my mind Zale would have killed me without a second thought if he had seen me in Lathmor. He had almost succeeded in the cave.
“Yes luckily,” Elik said darkly. “I didn’t see him myself, but I believe that everyone who did is now dead.” Elik’s eyes reached mine, “He hardly moved toward the palace, instead he stood in the same spot and let everyone come to him. The bodies are all piled up on top of each other.”
“Okay!” Kryssa said quickly. “That’s enough! We all saw it; please don’t bring it up again.” She pressed her fingers to her temples in distress.
My gut felt twisted and torn. Somehow I couldn’t place the same person I was hiding as the one that had killed all those merfolk, and yet I knew it was true. I had seen it with my own eyes. I had seen the way he had cut one person after another down, as if for sport. Goose bumps rose on my arms and I didn’t know what to think.
“He has to be killed,” my head shot up at Shaylee’s fierce words.
Tunder let out an exasperated sigh, “What do you think we’ve been trying to do ever since we found out about him?”
“Well, it’s not like we’ve made any progress.” Shaylee snapped, catching me off guard; I had never heard her speak harshly to Tunder. “Everything we’ve done has turned out to be wrong. We strategize and wrack our brains, and it all ends up in disaster.” The tension in the room began to grow as though it were another person, leering at us through the sun-casted shadows on the walls.
“Maybe we just need to rethink what we’re expecting the Hyven to do.” Elik’s voice was ever calm and confident.
“I have!” Shaylee’s voice rose to a high pitch and cracked; we all stared at her in shock. “I’ve been thinking and rethinking every move we’ve made. I don’t know what they’re doing, why Morven isn’t taking Lissie as we all thought he would, I don’t know why they decided to attack Lathmor and capture me, I just don’t know what to do about any of this! So if any of you have better ideas, please tell me and take over because I can’t handle it anymore!”
With a large gasp of air, Shaylee covered her face and started to sob into her palms; Tunder reached out for his wife and pulled her up against his chest. Kyrssa’s mouth was hanging open in shock, as she looked at her older sister. Elik and I shifted on our feet at the same time; he noticed and his mouth quirked slightly.
“Are you all right?” Kryssa asked, and she sounded so concerned that
I grew worried. Tunder made a silencing motion above her head. We all stayed in the uncomfortable moment, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly Shaylee’s head popped up, “We have to tell them.” Her eyes intently pleaded with her husband. “Not everyone has to know, just them. That way they’ll understand.”
“It’s up to you.” Tunder looked doubtful, but I leaned in wondering what news Shaylee had that was so important.
She took a deep breath and then said with a smile, “I’m pregnant.”
A loud squeal escaped Kryssa and she ran over to her sister. Bright smiles adorned their faces and I voiced my congratulations from where I stood.
“How long have you known?” Kryssa’s eyes were shining happily.
“About three months.” Shaylee spoke and her face glowed. “I just wanted you all to know that’s why I haven’t been feeling well and why I’ve been so tired.”
A recent memory clicked and I realized why Tunder had been so worried before we left the castle the night before. His whole family was contained in Shaylee and he could have lost wife and child, if she’d been taken.
A thought occurred to me, “Is there any way the Hyven could’ve known?”
“What?” Tunder’s head shot up, his eyes meeting mine intently.
“Well,” I tried to form my words logically not quite sure what I meant by them. “If Morven found out Shaylee was pregnant, couldn’t that give him cause to try and capture her. Think about it.” As I spoke conviction filled me and I knew I was right. “He has always wanted what he couldn’t have. He has always tried to take what wasn’t his.”
“Why would he want our child?” Tunder asked harshly, although I could see he was catching on.
“Because he was thinking of undermining your power.” Elik spoke up softly; we all looked at him. I could almost hear the wheels turning in his brain; he was following the same track I had found. “It makes perfect sense, you’re the leader of the Lathmorians. If he was able to take your wife and child then you would be so focused on saving them, you would lack sight in other areas. Even if he didn’t know she was pregnant, it may have been an accident.”
Tunder nodded his head following his friend. “So what you are saying is my worry for Shaylee would have made me blind to other things he’d be doing?” When Elik confirmed this, Tunder muttered, “brilliant” under his breath.
“Yes, but maybe we can use that.” Kryssa’s eyes were alight with something mischievous. It reminded me of my reflection a few nights ago, when I decided to defy Zale’s wishes.
“What if we used Morven’s idea on him? What if we try to capture the biggest weapon Morven has and held it just out of his reach?” Kryssa asked, and Tunder started to nod at the exact same moment my heart began to pound painfully in my chest.
“We capture Zale, that way Morven is more distracted with finding him than hurting us.” Elik nodded along with this plan and a squeezing tightness gripped my stomach.
“That’s too dangerous!” Shaylee’s eyes were filled with fear. “And how would you be able to find him? I’m sure Morven keeps him under the best guard possible.”
“That’s not what I’ve heard.” Elik said, a light flickered in his intent gaze; he could see this plan working and I knew there was no chance of the Lathmorian soldiers turning back now. Dread filled me. “I’ve heard he is temperamental and too much to handle. It sounds as though Morven has his hands full.”
“But how do we know if those rumors are true?” Shaylee pleaded, her fear evident. “He might not be as defying as we’ve heard. That could be people hoping for the best.”
Kryssa shook her head, “That wouldn’t be the best thing, in fact it would be worse. If Zale is as demented and dangerous as we’ve heard, what happens when he starts acting on his own? Or for his own purposes? He could become a greater enemy than Morven ever would be.”
Fear pumped through my veins; the picture they were forming was all too clear. I knew Zale was making moves on his own now, something that Morven had never anticipated. Morven had given him a little freedom, believing he had killed all human emotions that had been in his body. But he was wrong, Zale had a mind and more importantly a soul, of his own. The problem was no one on this earth knew what was going on in that brain of his.
“I don’t care if he would be a greater enemy or not.” Tunder’s voice was strong and confident. “Regardless of whether he is with Morven, we’ll take him.”
Goose bumps crept along my skin, signifying yet another time in which I was caught between loyalties. And all the while, a shadow of doubt began to grow in my mind. What if Zale did separate from Morven? Would he be the monster I had seen in Lathmor, or would he be the man I left behind in the cave? Somehow, I didn’t think he would be either.
Like the chill of a harsh winter morning, ice filled my veins and I realized what I faced up ahead was more dangerous than anything from my past.
22. Underwater
The following morning brought forth a pale blue sky unhindered by clouds. After a sleepless night the sight was welcoming, but the knot in my stomach continued to tighten as I thought of my meeting with the warrior.
After our conversation, Tunder and Shaylee had departed back to Lathmor, to set forth plans for the capture of Zale. I swallowed heavily now, thinking of how close they were to discovering him when they ran toward the ocean shore and into the waves, leaving behind Elik and Kryssa to spend the day with me. I was positive their presence was more of a precaution than a friendly stay. Although they were thankful for what I had done in regards to Shaylee, there was a hesitance in their speech that gave them away. Kryssa was careful but the distance between us was evident. As much as I wanted to let her in and know what had happened, I couldn’t.
But what really hurt was the lack of trust Elik had for me now. He tried to be genuine, but I could see it in his movements and hear it in his voice. Everything he said was calculated, and every move I made was watched carefully. Somewhere deep within, I mourned for the companionship I normally felt when he was near.
“We’d better head back,” Kryssa said and placed her half-drunk mug of tea on the table. I noted Elik’s remained untouched.
I nodded in response, knowing there weren’t any words to fill the void.
“Elik,” Kryssa beckoned and he stood without a word to leave, his broad shoulders pushing out the door. The soft retreat of his footfalls soon fell silent to my ears.
Kryssa cleared her throat and said, “Thanks for the tea and letting us stay.”
As if I had a choice in the matter, I thought and nodded again.
“Look,” she sighed, “I know the others are angry with you and I know you can’t tell, but I just wanted to say I’m glad you’re safe and I’m here for you if you need me.”
“I know,” I said and the weight in my chest lightened. “Thanks, I wish, well, for a lot of things, but this is just the way it has to be for now.”
It was her turn to nod and she left the cabin without another word. In the silence of the house, I waited for what seemed to be hours. The sun rose slowly above the trees and it was only then it felt safe to leave the cabin. Still clothed in my black fighting garb, I felt out of place wading through the winding trees along the path to the cave. The worries of the night before and the memories of his kiss all clouded my judgment as I pushed into the dark entrance of the cave. With clammy palms and a fluttering bubble of expectation floating in my stomach, I skimmed my way along the dark path until I saw the flickering light of the torches in the cave room.
Upon entering, I saw the makeshift bed, but no warrior in sight. My heart skipped a beat.
“Zale?” I asked, uncertain.
“In here,” his deep, familiar voice echoed off the walls. I bit my lip and proceeded to the little inlet where Patrick had kept his weapons and peaked inside. His back was turned to me, the wide muscular shoulders hunched as he looked closely at the weapon in his hands. The long black scar stretched across his right shoulder and shifted in what
little light reached the small room from the torches outside. It was his mark, the one that labeled him a possession of Nerissa, one of her finger blades resided beneath his skin. It was different from the one I knew was on his left hip. Although it was dark in color as well, I knew it was Morven’s scales which lay underneath the skin. Subconsciously, I brushed a hand along my own scar.
The bandages around his torso were bloodied, but not enough to worry me that they were still bleeding. Kryssa had told me once, merfolk skin heals quickly, and she couldn’t have been more right. The gashes in his back and arms from the night when I was at prom were very nearly gone. But the worn scars, from his beatings in the dungeons of Hyvar, peeked out from the tops of the bandages and beckoned my eyes. They were scars of the past, scars from what he had been.
Turning slowly, Zale caught me staring at him and his brows creased slightly. A twitch of my mouth into a small smile, reassured him everything was fine and he turned back to look at the weapons.
“I was wondering when you’d come back.” He said, his voice filling the quiet cave. “I thought they would never leave.” His tone turned bitter and the disappointment I had been trying to hold off broke through what little grasp I had on it. Nothing was going to change. Some small part of me had hoped he would give up his harsh feelings toward the Lathmorians, but that was thinking irrationally.
“What exactly are you looking at?” I asked, wanting to avoid anything that would set him off; while my brain thought of how Tunder was set on capturing him.
“These,” Zale pointed to a brown coil that sat on a shelf. “What are they?”
I peered in the dim light and tried to figure out what objects made the brown loops. “I don’t know.” Curiosity getting the better of me, I reached out and grabbed the object. It was obvious it was made of leather and as I pulled on one of the coils, I realized what it was.
“Oh,” I said, comprehension dawning on me. How did he not know what these were?
“What?” Zale asked, his curiosity evident.
Ripples (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 2) Page 23
