“Callie! What are you doing?” Sophia hisses at me, looking distraught. I expect Orion to give me grief about endangering myself again but he says nothing, letting me go as I please. I smile to myself slightly at that; relieved he isn’t going to argue with me on every little thing.
As I reach the window, I place my hands on the ledge and stare out at the vast expanse of sand and empty ocean before me.
I see something, a blessing, and it makes me smile. I fly from the window, my heart rising in my chest. He is here, against all the odds.
I lower myself to eyelevel with him, smiling with a crazy enthusiasm.
“Hello, Philippe,” I sigh, feeling myself relax. I pat his neck, stroking and kissing him. I had never been a true lover of horses, but in this moment I adore every inch of him. He is safe and he is here, a symbol of all we have lost, but also a sign that Orion is right.
The others follow after me, helping the Equinox into the chapel, his hooves clopping and clipping against the marble, sand dusted, floors and his gills blowing bubble filled snorts into the darkening water of dusk.
I do not know how he found us, whether he had felt the calling of our sorrow, or that of the Goddess, telling him we were in need. The message of his aid however is clear.
We are on the move.
SOLUSTUS
A knock at the door stirs me from contemplation, from staring upon the face of my brother. I have not been in close proximity with him since the night Titus was taken from this earth… I remember it well.
“Saturnus!” I hiss, desperate to make sure he is still abreast with the plan. I am hidden from sight by the shadow of a doorway.
“Brother. Quiet.” He stirs slightly from the sand where he is pretending to lay unconscious.
“Sorry. Everything is in place? She will yield to us?” I look into his too green eyes as I hear the army fighting above us and my heart races with the effect of adrenaline. I can be gone but a moment, making sure that nobody notices I am absent among the fighting.
“Yes. The girl will not fight the prophecy I have fed to her. She believes she is dying to save them all. We just have to hope Titus will keep a close enough proximity to be in the path of the lunar energy we so seek,” he looks up at me, irritated, as though he can’t work out why I’m still suspended in front of him. I look over my shoulder, I need to get back to it, to dart back in as if I had never left. I turn my back on my brother and return to the ritual site, seamless in my invisibility.
“What?” Saturnus barks, noticing me staring. The water is still slightly cloudy with the dissolution of sand and glass shards mingled in with the metallic sting of blood. The ruddy taste clings to the inside of my throat, an old friend.
“Nothing…” I mutter, slightly averting my eyes. They travel into the room, settling on the sickly pink tail of the mermaid, Azure’s sister. Her eyes narrow as she catches my gaze.
“What are you looking at, bitch?” I find my body erect and her eyes widen, she tries to say something but the gag across her mouth, shoved between her lips and pressing down her tongue, prevents sound. My tail twitches, willing me to move, to spill her blood. I feel Saturnus shift, pushing his palm to my chest.
“Brother. Not yet. She must die, but in the right way,” he reminds me that we need to kill her over the seal. I turn, disgusted by the sight of her sparkling demeanour, and move to the window. We are silent in these moments, savouring our victory. I look out over the city, the city I have waited several lifetimes to grasp, only to crush and let fall like sand. A harsh knock at the door disturbs me and Saturnus is there within the time it takes me to blink, opening it and revealing Vex, he is smiling and his pupils are diluted black, his lip is bloody as he sweeps it with his tongue.
“Who is this?” Saturnus turns to me and I beckon the boy forward. He moves into the room, pulling his cargo with him. A mer.
“Vexus. One of my more useful minions,” I explain as Vex bows his head in respect to Saturnus. I wonder if he can feel the darkness radiating off him, he had never bowed that way to me. My eyes narrow.
Vexus pushes his captive to the floor, next to Starlet.
“I believe you’re looking for this?” He snarls, his lip upturning in disgust of the merman’s glimmering scales, rebounding light at all angles. I share his disdain for the creatures so clearly in favour with the Goddess, more beautiful than we could ever be, even in the best light. Not that I want to be beautiful, I like my dull ruggedness just fine. I raise my eyebrows again as Saturnus smiles.
“Yes, indeed I am boy. It’s nice to see Solustus is valuing brains and not just brawn I must say…” His impressive tail sweeps out from him as he closes the door and rounds Vex’s wide circumference, its spiked flesh flaring slightly with each of his motions. I lean back against the windowsill, contemplating my memories.
“I do not recall seeing you at the fight Vexus…” I begin and Saturnus cuts me off.
“Now Solustus, surely you cannot hope to remember the whereabouts of every one of your recruits. You are but one man after all…” Saturnus looks back over his shoulder at me, his yellow cat eyes are terrifying and his pupils are but fissures into nightmare.
“I was there. Saw the whole bloody thing, didn’t I? It was nice of you to warn all of us minions that you were going to upend the ocean’s sand into the open water though. I’ll be getting it out of my hair for weeks, bloody stuff,” he rubs his hand through his locks vainly and Saturnus smiles, almost too sweetly. I know he’s fuming, volcanic.
“What makes you think I need to tell a bottom feeder like you my plans?” I move quickly, sensing confrontation and wanting immediately to be in on the action. It’s the moment I’ve waited for, holding the Occulta Mirum in my palms, and I don’t want to miss a single second. Vex’s eyes widen.
“Mate, I didn’t mean it like that…” It’s the first time I’ve heard him on the retreat, and once again it’s not from me. What is it about Saturnus that chills him? I’ve made threats, I’ve spoken harshly and downward to him before, and yet I cannot quell his rebellion. Saturnus does nothing at all and has the boy’s tentacles twitching. I clench my hands into fists until my long fingernails carve my palms.
“I don’t care how you meant it,” Saturnus snarls.
“You’re right. It was rude of me… sir,” Vexus bows his head again and moments pass as the mer begins to stir beneath us. Saturnus relaxes, moving his fluke fluidly once more. I feel like rolling my eyes but abstain.
“Well, you have brought me my metal master. So I suppose I can forgive you this once,” Saturnus turns away beside me and Vex relaxes. It’s as though my brother can sense his muscles unfurl, because in one swift slash of his burnt, black fin he comes reeling around sideways and strikes Vex along one of his high cheekbones, sending him crashing against the wall and sinking to the floor. A break in the skin is visible and weeping blood from where Saturnus’ fingernail has punished his insubordinate tongue.
“I’ll tell you something right now, boy, true rulers don’t forgive. Forgiveness is weakness, and I’ve played the weak one for far too long,” Saturnus towers above Vex and I watch the boy stutter, quite unsure of how to react. I smile to myself, daydreaming of how many others will have this look upon their faces, gazing up instead at me. Vexus rises through the water, his eyes masked over with cold reserve. It makes me sort of proud because I can tell he has mastered the skill of acting far more invulnerable than he truly is. I have taught him well.
“Feel free to step in and discipline at any time Solustus…” Saturnus turns to me and glares, his black hair and pale skin looking strange, it has been so long since his true form was this much of a permanence. “Not boring you, am I?” He raises one eyebrow and I shake my head.
“No. Not at all,” I speak in a clipped tone. How can it be that I find myself still in second place? I have waited centuries to supplant Titus and yet here I am once more, taking orders.
“Good,” his tone is cold but I can hear a smile spreading acros
s his expression as he turns, moving away from Vex and hovering over Starlet once more. He stares down at Oscar who is moving slowly away from him, eyes wide.
“You…” the merman stupidly opens his mouth and his courage surprises me.
“Yes… you can skip the dramatics, Oscar. Everyone here is fully aware of how corrupt and terrible I truly am…” Saturnus almost sounds bored as he twists in savage momentum once more. “Where do you think you’re going?” He barks to Vex, speeding toward him without warning and slamming him into the wall. I yawn, torture and lording power really is more fun when I’m doing it.
“I thought….” He chokes as Saturnus’ black fingernails close around his throat.
“What’s that? You had a thought? Well, quell that urge boy. You’re staying here. You’ve earned yourself the position of personal guard dog. I want you where I can make sure you’ve got the message about who’s on top. Hmm… I might even get you a collar and leash. Who knows,” Saturnus releases him and clicks his fingers.
“Come, Solustus. We have much to co-ordinate,” he doesn’t even look at me and I feel my gut begin to churn with agitation. When did he become so demanding? I had thought we were in this together as brothers, but he’s expecting me to follow in his wake. A typical big brother. My finger brushes the handle of Scarlette and my eyes wander to the scythe, which is propped against the edge of the two-way mirror that we had used to communicate.
I follow him out of the room, shutting Vexus in with the two prisoners and bypassing Caedes and Regus who stand guard at the door.
“You know I don’t respond well to finger clicking. I’m not your sidekick,” I grumble and Saturnus turns on me.
“Excuse me, brother?” He looks hurt, or what would be hurt if he had normal eyes. The feline quality to his irises creates a disturbing parallel.
“I said I’m not your sidekick. We’re supposed to be in this together.”
“You can step up anytime, brother,” Saturnus turns and moves away from me, leaving me in a flurry of bubbles as his words reach me. I don’t know what to make of them, I only know I can’t let him take everything I’ve worked for from me.
I catch up to him in a single push through the water and say nothing, unsure how to reply. We reach the site of shattered sea glass in mere moments.
“I’d expected your army to have assembled by now. What kind of loyalty is that?” Saturnus questions as we rise to a great height. I look over the city and find that the Psirens are scattered, kicking up rubble and smashing things with gleeful abandon. I find myself embarrassed.
“They’re ensuring the rest of the mer are dead,” I assure him, knowing full well that the last of the mer are long gone.
“Whatever you say. Their numbers are low. So low in fact that I believe as soon as the Necrimad is released from the seal that we won’t have a problem with the final part of the ritual,” Saturnus smiles to himself.
“Whatever do you mean?” I ask him and his brow creases.
“Didn’t you listen when we had those long early meetings, brother? Don’t you remember?” He seems more hurt than irritated which is an odd reaction from him. If I’m honest I wasn’t really listening to his infernal religious ramblings.
“It was so long ago….” Lies spill from my dry, cracked lips, seeping between my jagged teeth. Saturnus looks down at me as he rises slightly in the water. “If you would jog my memory. It has been a long day.” I fold my arms and look up to the setting sun; it’s light is blinding.
“Very well, but listen up Solustus, I will not be repeating this again,” he looks agitated but I can’t quite believe it, he loves reciting ritual and scripture, he thinks it makes him closer to being one with the Gods.
“I’m listening,” I reply sharply.
“Well, we have two more phases of the ritual to complete. Phase one was, as you know, the siphoning of lunar energy into earthly matter.”
“The scythe,” I remember how hard it had been to manoeuvre the scythe and its bearer into the right place at the right time without revealing our true intent and I shudder.
“Yes. Well, phase two involves releasing that energy via the sacrifice of the seer. She is pure, I am sure of it. Her blood will release the beast under the next full moon,” Saturnus is smiling, pleased with himself.
“But we’ll still need to release the Necrimad’s powers from its flesh,” it all comes rushing back to me.
“Yes. That itself unbelievably, is the tricky part. In order to release the raw power of the Necrimad, there’s a tad more we need to prepare for,” Saturnus reminds me, I try to recall but I forget the specifics.
“Okay, more rituals… seems simple enough to me,” I remind him and he snaps.
“Don’t you think I know that? Of course it would be simple if it were merely a phase of the moon or a naïve blonde we had to manipulate alone, but there are more factors at play here. Poseidon put a damn lock on this beast for a reason. There are so many conditions to its release because there is only one instance he could think of in which anyone would want to release it.”
“Which is?” I ask, finding myself strangely enraptured.
“That the world needs to be purified. Cleansed and wiped clean. Poseidon hates mortals don’t forget. It wasn’t difficult for him to foresee a day when they’d all need to be eradicated,” he speaks with such superiority, as though he has a direct line to Poseidon’s inner thoughts and I’m tempted to remind him that the one of us who has been closest to him is me. Unfortunately, I can’t deny that he’s right.
“So what does the last ritual entail?” I ask him, shaking my head slightly. I’m becoming tired of all this chatter and crave the silence of the dark.
“There are scales of good and evil, as long as the mer exist they will tilt those scales to keep them in balance with the evil of this world.”
“But why?”
“When they’re made they’re infused with the magic of Atargatis. It’s what keeps them immortal, that Goddess’ magic on this plane of existence is what keeps the scales balanced in favour of good. Once enough of their blood is spilled and her magic released into the aether, the scales will tip and the ritual can be performed,” Saturnus’ forehead is creased as we look out over the city and faint smashing sounds reach us from the brutal beasts of my army.
“Brother, that sounds impossible.”
“Not impossible, easy. There aren’t enough mer left to do any real damage. They’ll make a foolish final stand at some point, what with their romantic notions that hope and love will conquer all. When they do, we’ll be ready and waiting. We don’t need to kill off all of them, just enough to tip the scales. The Psirens’ increasing numbers have made the task easier. We are many.” I nod my head, hearing what he is saying. I find myself being able to recall our prior conversations now. I had known all this information subconsciously, but I had been too romanticised by the notion of finally being able to raise an army of the undead, those who had been claimed by the sea.
CALLIE
My head is pounding. The sun is hanging low on the horizon about to pass through the division between worlds. I haven’t moved an inch in quite a while. Orion is opposite me, Azure at my side and everyone else who has decided they want a say in what is debatably becoming a giant shouting match are encircling us.
“We’ve already been over this Azure! I’m not going back there!” Orion throws up his hands again; agitated at the fact he’s having to repeat himself for what seems to me like the millionth time.
“She’s FAMILY!” Azure yells, getting up in Orion’s face again. I raise a hand and rub my forehead, trying to release the tension that’s building there from trying to refrain from laughing. You’d think being a centuries old civilisation of people chosen to save the world they’d be more organised.
“Yes, okay. We get that you want to save Starlet!” I burst, suddenly feeling that I’ve had enough. Orion turns to me, his eyes blazing fury.
“What gives you the right to an opinion?”
He is acting snarky, but I know it’s because I’ve hurt him. I take it and breathe deep.
“I just think that maybe yelling the same thing at each other over and over might not be the best way to resolve things. But hell, what do I know?” I cock an eyebrow at him, trying to come off cool and collected like Vex. In reality I hate the fact that I’m going up against him in front of everyone. I don’t want to make him look incompetent, I’ve already done that enough.
“Well, if you’re such an expert what do you think we should do then?” Orion thinks he’s backing me into a corner, trying to make me look equally as incompetent. Rather than stumbling I pause for a moment, ready to prove myself to the rest of the mer.
“Well, I think this is a decision both of you are too close to the picture to make. We have military experts here, don’t we? Why don’t we ask them? Nobody can claim to know more about the capabilities of the Psiren army than the leaders of The Knights of Atargatis. Ghazi, Cole, what do you think?” I smile to myself, pleased with my answer. Orion purses his lips as silent fury consumes him, but then something else unrecognisable passes beneath his irises and his tail visibly relaxes. I turn in the water, my hair moving around me and lock eyes on the two men who I know will make the decision that neither Azure nor Orion should be charged with.
“Thank you, Callie,” Cole says, turning to Ghazi who nods, signs a reply, and then shakes his head viciously from side to side, his black locks feathering outward in the water.
“Ghazi and I agree. It wouldn’t be wise to host a rescue. We were lucky to get out of the city alive the first time. Going back in is a suicide mission.”
“There you have it. Decision made. We’re going to move away from this place,” I nod and smile at the both of them, they bow their heads and despite everything they have lost I am glad that I have managed to maybe earn a little respect back from them.
The Kiss That Saved Me (The Tidal Kiss Trilogy Book 2) Page 31
