by M. E. Rhines
As vicious and wicked as Queen Calypso was, she was still my mother. And here I was, on a bended tail, shaking with rage in the private quarters of the man who took her spirit from me. I would have her back. Poseidon help me, I would save the woman who birthed me to the great sea.
“Princess!” Margaret’s hushed voice somehow broke through the buzzing in my ears. Her freezing fingers scalded my shoulders as she dragged me upright. “What are you doing in here? If King Odom finds out—”
“Let him find out,” I shouted, but she smacked her palm over my lips.
She shushed me, her eyes pleading with me to listen to reason. “You’re going to get both of us beheaded. Thank the sea, I don’t think anyone else heard you. The Fin-men sleep like dead fish, but we mustn’t press our luck.”
“He took her,” I sobbed through quivering lips once she released me. “Margaret, King Odom has my mother held captive. Her soul is tucked away in here like a trophy.”
“Oh, Princess. I think the cold has gotten to you.”
“I’m not crazy, I swear it.”
“What makes you think he’s done such a thing?”
“I saw her. She’s over there, in his cauldron. Her face, it appeared in the potion, and look here,” I pointed toward the spell book, “it’s the last procedure he used.”
Margaret swam to the book, read what was on its page, then rushed to the cauldron for confirmation. She pursed her lips, drawing her brows together. “It’s true.”
“How could he… why would he…”
“I’ve heard rumor of him doing such a thing to others in the past, but I didn’t believe it was possible. To achieve it would mean partaking in the forbidden realm of magic, a world even the merrows wouldn’t venture into.”
The merrows. Myrtle’s research had plenty to say on the clan. Masters of sorcery, the very existence of magic, good or evil, could be traced back to them. As powerful and knowledgeable as they were, the merfolk submitted themselves to strict rules. Their commitment to maintaining peace and order throughout the ocean forced them to close off certain aspects of their abilities, an effort to ward off the temptation of domination. A noble agenda, and one that, with any hope, spoke to their humanity.
“King Odom has dared to journey into the darkness, Margaret, and he’s managed to succeed.” Desperate, I clung to her. “Tell me how to save her, please. I have to save my mother. I’ll do anything.”
Margaret shook her head, her eyes wide with confusion. “I don’t know how to reverse it.”
“But you’re a merrow. If any creature in the ocean has the answer, it’s a merrow. You have magic in your blood.”
“As I’ve said, Princess, we aren’t taught such magic. It’s forbidden.”
“What about someone else in your clan? Surely someone—”
Bony, crusted fingers clamped onto my shoulders. Margaret’s eyes commanded my attention, forcing me to look at her. “There is no one who knows the solution, Angelique,” she said, her voice loud and firm. “If I don’t, I can guarantee you none of the merrows do.”
“How… how can you be sure?” My words cracked, hope absconding through the fissures.
“You’re not the only one hiding their identity from these monsters, Princess. Before King Odom’s army abducted me, I had a title. One I swore I would never reveal to any of them, lest they use my capabilities against any creature in the ocean.”
“Will you tell me?” I asked, viewing this girl with a newfound curiosity. She spoke of power, but one so young couldn’t possibly be as influential as what she suggested.
She sighed, then dropped her hands to her side. “I keep your secret, you keep mine. Is that the deal we have?”
“Of course. I would never knowingly put you at risk, Margaret, I give you my word.”
“My clan inhabits the waters just off the coast of Ireland, an area over six hundred miles away. King Odom raided our city, intent on stealing our ancient secrets. When he raided my grotto, he found what he sought.”
“Your grotto? You were charged with its keep. But why you?”
“That spell book belonged to my mother before she passed it along to me. For generations, my family kept it safe, hidden from the likes of him and the others in Finfolkaheem.” She lifted her chin, a sudden pride befalling her. The illusion of a servant shed in an instant, replaced by a strong presence of royalty. “I was the high priestess of my clan before my captivity.”
“That’s incredible. And King Odom, he doesn’t know?”
She closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. “I couldn’t reveal it. To do so would risk the entire ocean. There are terrible things he could force me to do through a simple puppetry spell. The king suspected some stature, though, based on my level of education. I’ve spent the last year pretending to be nothing more than a royal handmaid; it’s why he allows me to visit the upper levels of the castle. A mighty fall from the pinnacle of power, but a necessary sacrifice.”
“You could just destroy the book,” I pointed out. “Then no one would need to guard it.”
“The magic in those pages should have never been created. I curse my ancestors every day for it. But once they were penned, the book and its contents were fashioned with a veil of indestructability. We can’t break it. Therefore, we aren’t capable of destroying it.”
“I’m willing to bet Queen Myrtle could find a way.” Realizing how I came off, I raised a hand. “No offense meant to you or the other merrows. My aunt is gifted, is all. If you can’t help me free my mother’s soul, I have to believe she can.”
Margaret smiled, sincere and soft. “Now isn’t the time to be prideful, is it? At the beginning of time, knowledge was spread throughout the ocean to prevent abuse. Your clan knows things we haven’t learned yet, and vice versa. If your queen can help in my clan’s plight, who am I to refuse?”
“It’s settled. As soon as I return to Atargatis, I’ll send for you. Buy you, if I must. The Finfolk are a greedy breed; they won’t refuse the gold. Together, we can pull our resources. Our people can work as one to destroy the book, thereby defeating King Odom. His magic will die, and so will his threats.”
Lennox’s face flashed into my mind, reminding me of the promise I had already made to him. We were to flee to land, the only safe place for us to be together. As much as it pained me, our happy ending would need to be postponed. Unlike my sisters, I couldn’t traipse about on land knowing my mother suffered so, especially if I had an opportunity to fix it.
“I don’t know if it will work,” Margaret admitted. “I’ll confess I’ve lost a great deal of my hope while imprisoned here. But, for the good of my people and the whole ocean, I agree we must try.”
“Fantastic.” I held out my hand, prepared to shake on the deal the way humans do. Apparently familiar with the custom, she returned the gesture before heading toward the exit.
“Now, I urge you to return to your quarters at once. King Odom will be expecting your audience as soon as he hears of your presence.”
“There you are.” Lennox rushed to me, holding out his arms to offer a welcoming embrace.
I swam past him, pretending not to notice the grimace my brush-off put on his face. With only one thing on my mind, I continued down the hall toward the king’s throne room. The royal pig had arrived early in the morning, then sent Margaret to fetch me.
It wasn’t the early wake up that peeved me; it wasn’t as if I was sleeping. The fact he couldn’t be bothered to welcome me himself made my blood boil. Apparently, even the royalty in Finfolkaheem lacked manners.
Lennox’s clumsy footsteps chased me. “I missed you at breakfast,” he said as he galloped. “I thought maybe you’d join me. You know, so we could spend some time together before meeting with Kind Odom. Go over our strategy.”
“I’d rather starve than dine with a room full of those barbarians.”
“Hey.” He snatched my hand, pulling me to a stop. “What’s the matter with you? Is this because I didn’t come to you last n
ight?”
My cheeks burned, and I leaned in to whisper, “Of course not. You should know by now I’m not so needy. Margaret explained you couldn’t ascend past certain floors in the castle. I think it’s degrading, but rules are rules, aren’t they?”
“Then what is it?
“I just think we should keep the nature of our relationship from King Odom. He might use it against us, if it comes down to it.”
“Yeah, okay. That’s probably smart.” Lennox shoved his fingers through his red hair, which seemed shorter than the day before. Looking closer, I found he was clean shaven, too. So exposed, his handsome features seemed even more devastating.
My heart fluttered, and I couldn’t stop the stupid grin from forming. “I missed you,” I confessed.
He smirked. “I missed you, too, Angelique. It pained me to have you so close, yet so far out of reach.”
“With any luck, this will be the last time we’re kept apart.” I mulled over the idea of telling him about my discovery and filling him in on Margaret and mine’s plan. But there was one bigger truth he still wasn’t aware of yet.
Lennox still had no idea I was Queen Calypso’s daughter. I didn’t have a clue how he would react to my deception, but the minutes ticked by, bringing us closer to the moment of truth.
Ainsley rounded the corner, peering at us through squinted, irritated eyes. “The king doesn’t appreciate having to wait. You of all people know as much, Lennox.”
“Sorry, Ainsley.” Lennox slapped his friend’s shoulder. “I was just asking our guest how she found her accommodations.”
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Sure you were.”
“They were fine,” I said to Ainsley, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks for asking.”
“You could’ve slept in the dungeon. It wouldn’t have mattered to me either way.”
“Ainsley,” Lennox snapped. “Angelique is a royal ambassador. You should watch your tongue.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” the Fin-man sneered. “King Odom is waiting for us. This will be a closed meeting.”
My throat tightened, and I rushed to ask, “You mean, Lennox won’t be there?”
The side of Ainsley’s mouth lifted into a smirk, as if watching the panic rise on my face gave him pleasure. “Of course he will. Lennox needs to be debriefed, after all. Anything you have come to request of the king will need to be cleared with the only Fin-man who has actually been to Atargatis in less than a hundred years.”
“So you, Lennox, and me. The king won’t involve his council?”
“Don’t be stupid. The king doesn’t have a council. He’s king, after all. This is a monarchy, not a democracy. King Odom’s word is final.”
“You mean he doesn’t seek the help of anyone else? King or peasant, he can’t claim to be an expert on all things. That’s what advisors are for.”
“King Odom can call himself an expert on anything he wishes; that’s his right. Now, if you’re through?”
“Right.” I released a puff of air from my chest. The man in front of me wasn’t capable of reason. There was no point in wasting my breath. “Shall we, then?”
I followed the Fin-men through the hallway, focusing on my distorted reflection on the almost-transparent crystal walls. The way the light glittered on the surface, twisting my face into something angelic, offered a simple distraction to calm my nerves.
All night long, I’d seethed and fumed. Plotting and rehearsing every word I would throw at the king. In no uncertain terms, I would demand he leave my mother and my kingdom alone, or face the combined wrath of Atargatis and Atlantis. If all went well, the merrow would join us as allies as well.
On top of that, I’d drop a subtle hint for to pick up—a suggestion that made it clear I knew about his devious magical dealings and that I expected them to cease at once. Of course, I had planned on addressing a panel of representatives. If I couldn’t appeal to the king directly, I had hoped one of his advisors with a cooler head could prevail.
All the planning in the ocean wouldn’t prepare me. Now that the moment of confrontation was here, nervousness floated around, tugging at the organs in my stomach. Jitters prickled my fingertips. To soothe them, I wrung my hands and shook them out. I had to rid myself of any apprehension before we entered the throne room.
King Odom could see no weakness in me.
Ainsley stopped fast, grasped a knob, and flung open a door. The hinges squeaked in protest, rusted from the constant bombardment of salt. He let himself in, then released the door, allowing it to slam shut in my face.
My jaw hung open. “What a rude piece of whale dung!”
“Here,” Lennox offered with an apologetic smile before propping the door open for me. “Sorry. We’re not used to having females around except the servants.”
I swiped my sweaty palms on my tail and nodded. “Thank you. Though, if I may say so, even the servants shouldn’t have to be subjected to such a rotten speck of krill.”
“Of course you may say so. You wouldn’t require permission anyway, would you?”
“Not on your life.”
As I passed by him, Lennox grabbed my elbow with his free hand and placed a soft, quick kiss on my cheek. “Hey, don’t sweat it, okay? You’re going to do great.”
Ahead of us, Ainsley’s figure whirled around, the shadow of his jaw flexing. “That’s enough,” he growled through gritted teeth, then headed in our direction. “I don’t know what in the ocean you’re thinking, Lennox, but this behavior is going to get you killed. Whatever unsavory relationship exists between the two of you, it ends now. I won’t watch one of my closest friends beheaded because of a flashy-scaled mermaid.”
“This isn’t your business,” Lennox snapped. He pointed an angry finger into his friend’s chest. “You worry about—”
I rested my hand on Lennox’s forearm, urging him to stand down. “It’s all right, Lennox. Your friend is worried for you. I can appreciate that.”
“Is that so?” Ainsley asked.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, Ainsley. You have my word. I care for Lennox a great deal. There’s nothing in the ocean that could make me put him in harm’s way.”
“Good. That means this,” he gestured to my hand, which had wandered down to find Lennox’s, “can’t happen. Not in the throne room, and not inside this kingdom.”
I moved to clasp my hands in front of myself. “You’re right. I became too content seeking comfort from him. It won’t happen again.”
Ainsley darted his eyes between Lennox and me before whirling around and continuing forward. “Follow me. Quickly. We’re late enough as it is.”
Without a word, we followed, keeping close on our leader’s heels. We brushed through a cyan-beaded curtain, emerging into a magnificent throne room with a vaulted glass ceiling cresting just above the ocean’s surface. The open-sky illusion created made the cold, drafty room feel even more massive than it was.
Potted plants and glorious flowers scattered through the room, aglow like lanterns. Tattered tapestries hung on the walls, which, upon closer inspection, I realized were flags— no doubt trophies from the vessels these underwater pirates sank for treasure.
Crystal tables with stiff, uncomfortable-looking glass chairs cluttered the east end. My time with my mother had taught me to read a room, and the lack of cozy seating options made one thing perfectly clear—even during celebrations, the king expected his subjects to be on edge.
On the other side of the elongated area sat the throne, its humble nature striking. This chair was far less elaborate than the one Mother used to grace. Instead of gold backing with colorful jewels decorating the sides, this one had a simple, plain silver frame. Black smudges dirtied the arms, where King Odom’s fingers currently strummed with impatience.
Perched atop this humble throne sat the king. Wide chested and broad shouldered, his salt-and-pepper hair and beard covered his entire jaw and the sides of his face. His strong features could not be hidden by the
mask of facial hair. King Odom was the living embodiment of what I had always imagined Poseidon to look like, if not a touch more fearsome.
Intense, silver eyes bore into me, expecting something. My throat tightened, fear strangling my words. From behind, a hand came down hard on my shoulder, forcing me to the ground.
“You bow before royalty, peasant.” Ainsley pushed harder. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lennox’s feet shuffle. In my mind, I begged him not to come to my rescue. It was bad enough we were careless enough to reveal ourselves to Ainsley; we couldn’t afford to have the king question us, too.
A booming voice called to his first in command, ordering him to lift me. “We wouldn’t want to start an inter-sea incident over a difference in culture,” King Odom said, a sly smile spreading across his face. “Things are done differently in Atargatis. Isn’t that right, Princess Angelique?”
My heart plummeted into my stomach when he uttered my name. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the perspiration peppering my face before the sea whisked it away. Ainsley was the first to react, recoiling his hand as if my skin singed his skin.
When I reset myself upright, I felt Lennox’s eyes on me, questioning and accusing. My explanation would have to wait. As much as I wanted to clarify myself, now was not the time.
I spoke, my voice faint, young-sounding, and entirely unlike myself. “How did you—”
“Come on now,” he jeered. “You may be young, but you’re royalty. You know how this works. It’s necessary in today’s times to keep a close eye on your enemies and friends, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I suppose it is.”
“Good. We understand each other.”
He crossed his legs, his human-looking legs, in front of himself. The simple act somehow erased the crippling intimidation he held over me, as if the mutated appendages presented themselves as a vulnerability. They were a weakness. In this terrain, I still had the advantage. My tail would outswim his gangly legs any day. Even if they opened a current, my experience had taught me they were unreliable at best.
