When the Sea Burned

by Autumn Dawn

  Alicia glanced at him, still focused on her own pain.

  “Seeing you yesterday brought it back. I would do anything to avoid that; though the boredom was nearly as bad.”

  “You’re talking about being in prison,” Alicia said slowly, trying to imagine it. “Kira said you drowned Atlantis. She was trying to make me feel better.”

  He looked at her skeptically. “Her methods need work.”

  Alicia grunted in agreement.

  He tapped his fingers on the cushion. “I was young and I liked tsunamis. I was trying to confine it to an isolated area, testing my powers against my friends. I went first and I…miscalculated. I was cocky, overconfident. People died.” His hand fisted on the couch, gripping the leather.

  Alicia snorted softly, thinking about her mammoth whirlpool. “Two monsters in love,” she muttered. At his sharp glance, she added, “Not that I’m in love; it just makes a catchy title. Maybe for a horror movie.”

  He stared at her, noting her legs drawn up on the couch and the thin sari knotted at her shoulder like a toga. He seemed speculative, as if the primitive part of his brain was evaluating a potential distraction.

  She quickly rose, swaying a bit. “Show me the clothes that will make the transition. I don’t want this to happen again.” If she were properly dressed, she could sprawl where she landed after a forced or accidental change while she fought not to vomit. She couldn’t imagine she’d ever take the mist form on purpose.

  Surge supported her elbow as they went to the birch wardrobe and inspected the contents. She riffled the hangers, frowning at the large number of saris. Though pretty, there had to be other choices.

  Surge stroked a soft blue sari. “You would wear this knotted at the shoulder, with a gold clip at the hip.”

  Yeah, right. Alicia wasn’t wearing something like that around him. She considered a wide rope of many strands of pearls fastened with a long gold clasp. The drawers were full of similar collars of coral, black pearl and bone. “Fancy,” she murmured.

  “They are meant to be worn alone, with a hip scarf,” Surge said helpfully.

  She snorted and shut the drawers. “Yeah, right. Maybe if I were an extra in Avatar.”

  “I liked that movie,” he said mildly.

  Shocked, she gawked at him. “You watched Avatar?”

  “Yeah, it was a great flick. James Cameron is talented.”

  She couldn’t believe it. All evidence to the contrary, he must have access to modern technology. “I loved that movie!”

  He nodded. “I can’t wait for the next one. I heard it’s supposed to come out in the next year or two. We’ll have to go see it.”

  “Wait! How do you know that?” She had a sudden suspicion and couldn’t wait to be confirmed.

  “Through the Internet,” he said cautiously.

  He had Internet! Technology! He wasn’t the barbarian he seemed. “Do you have cable? DVD? Xbox?”

  “If I say yes, will you calm down? You’re concerning me.”

  She thumped him on the chest with her fist. “Concerning you? I thought I was trapped in a slimy underwater hole with no culture for the rest of my life! You want to see concern?” She danced in a small circle. “I want to see it. Right now! Hurry.” She tugged on his hand, trying to move him.

  He held back. “I thought you didn’t want to walk around in mer clothes.”

  “That was before! This is important.” She fumbled with side of her sari, aware that it was open at the side, and attached a clip to close it, then chose a pair of cute sandals. “It’s not as if anyone lives here. I’ve been all over this place and never saw a soul.”

  She didn’t see his guilty look, too busy towing him along. She was too excited to sit still. She was about to plug into culture and could hardly contain herself.

  He had to take the lead when they left the room, Alicia practically dancing at his side. She stopped dead when he casually touched an icon on a statue and the wall slid open. A suspiciously clean, well lit passageway greeted them.

  She sent him a suspicious look and matched his pace, no longer in a hurry. Doors punctuated the corridor, and he finally paused and placed his hand on the square plate beside the door. It lit up, beeped, and they entered a modernly appointed sitting room with a flat screen TV and accompanying gadgets. A teenager sat on the couch, furiously killing virtual monsters on the Xbox. Another man rose from the desk where he’d been working on multiple computer screens, and an older man left the open kitchen where he’d been cleaning a gun.

  Alicia glared at Surge and kicked him hard in the shin, incoherent with rage.

  He grunted, but took it like a man.

  “You bloated toad!” she screeched. “You left me to die alone in that crab infested, slimy mud hole! You had furniture, and people, and Chinese takeout!” She pointed a trembling finger at the chopsticks sticking out of the takeout box on the computer desk, and the telltale green of seaweed salad.

  “My Lord,” the man who’d been surfing the web protested, but Surge cut him off with a raised hand.

  “She deserves to let out a little rage,” he admitted, and the man held his peace, though it was clear he didn’t like it. She noted he was dressed in modern jeans and a black t-shirt.

  “A little rage?” she shouted, and the teapot on the stove spewed angry liquid as assorted teacups bubbled. “You kept me in the dungeon like some kind of…” She froze as the realization crashed into her. She was an unwanted bride, a monster. He kept her out of his world because she was a burden, one he wanted far away.

  What was she doing? Why was she trying to make nice with this man? Had she been excited about this? She’d gone mad; she was being brainwashed…and she was sick of it.

  She met his eyes and did something she wouldn’t have dreamed an hour ago. With a rush of cold fury, she became mist.

  Instinct helped her flee, though if she’d been corporeal, she’d have been covered in bruises as she careened off walls and blindly squeezed through cracks, seeking an exit. She never wanted to see that slimy eel again. Would he even have told her about the Internet if she hadn’t asked? Was he that selfish?

  Her mad dash ended as she sensed people and water. Unable to stand the disorientation, she solidified on a tile floor, squeezing her eyes shut to calm the vertigo. Stupid mist form.

  “It’s the human girl,” a female voice said in a loud whisper. “You know, the one we heard about.”

  “Oh, that one,” another woman said scornfully. “Poor Lord Water. Look at that hair; it’s been chopped off!”

  Alicia raised her head with difficulty and scowled at the bevy of colorful mermaids in the bright room. They lounged around a tide pool under a stained glass skylight, combing their hair with jeweled combs and munching on platters of delicacies. “Who are you?”

  “Maybe Lord Water was too much for her, and she came to get help from the rest of the harem,” someone called, ignoring her.

  “Harem?” Alicia demanded, getting to her feet.

  “Yum, yum.” A brunette made happy sounds and flicked her hair off her shoulders. “I volunteer!”

  There was sudden silence as Surge solidified next to her, looking stern. “Why did you run? You might have gotten hurt.”

  “What, in your harem?” she retorted, stiffening her knees to prevent collapse.

  He put a steadying hand on her arm and cast a dismissive look at the mermaids. “The former king’s harem. They’ve been retired for over a year, but I allow them to stay.”

  “I bet,” she smiled snidely. Sure, they were retired.

  Surge shook his head and marched her from the room. Once outside, he murmured, “Not a good crowd for you.”

  She noticed the various mers walking around this section of the palace, which was noticeably cleaner than the part where she was housed. Some had blue or green skin and odd colored hair, but most were remarkably human. “What about them? Are they a bad crowd, too?” she asked bitterly.

  He sighed. “You were isolated for
their protection. I needed to know how much control you had before I allowed you around others. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

  “You’re so sweet, trying to avoid random murders. No wonder the harem wants to bang you,” she said sarcastically. Her feelings were hurt, and it was depressing to know his concerns were valid.

  “You did annihilate several mermen.”

  “Oh, was Olan a buddy of yours? Because from where I stood, he needed a good killing.”

  Several mer in hall sent her guarded glances and gave her a wide berth. It didn’t help her mood to see they were afraid of her.

  “I don’t blame you for defending yourself, but I need to teach you how to do that without taking out everything in the vicinity. You’re like a time bomb.”

  “You let Kira near me.”

  He grinned. “She can take care of herself; she’s a force of nature.”

  “Very funny.” She closed her eyes as they walked, attempting to quell the dizziness. The halls were becoming dimmer, grungier, and she guessed they were nearing her quarters. “Why didn’t I reach that section before? It’s not far, and I walked a long time.”

  “The hallways loop into each other when I wish. It’s a defense mechanism.”

  Handily trapping her. Nice. “At least teach me how to pressure wash so I can clean this sty,” she said tartly. The crabs had done a good job of clearing debris from the halls, but it was still fishy.

  He hesitated. “That would be an excellent way to practice…with supervision.”

  She growled with frustration as he led her to the sleeping pool in her room. “I don’t want a nap.” She ignored her itching skin. What she really wanted was to avoid the water.

  “Maybe a quick soak? You’re looking a little dry.”

  She twitched her arm away and nearly toppled. Righting herself, she growled, “I want to know how to visit Kira.”

  “I’ll give you an escort tomorrow,” he agreed easily. “I’ll arrange an allowance so you can get what you like from the market, too.”

  “I don’t want your money,” she said stiffly.

  “That’s up to you, but you’re not going to break the bank. Under the circumstances, I look bad if you aren’t seen acting as if I’m properly caring for you.”

  “So this is about appearances?” In that case, she’d beggar him, the jerk.

  He crossed his arms. “I might care about your comfort, too. I’ve been a poor host.”

  Suddenly she couldn’t wait for him to go. Jumping in the pool, she sat on the bottom and crossed her arms, waiting for him to leave. At least the snakes hadn’t returned.

  It was a good thing she could see Kira tomorrow, because it looked like company here was going to be nonexistent.

  “You don’t like it?”

  Alicia looked at Kira, trying to shake her funk. Their excursion had been delayed a couple of days (something to do with a rogue elemental tampering with a volcano) and the wonders of the elemental market were doing little to raise her spirits. Despite her vow to spend Surge blind, the discovery of an entertainment center when she’d awakened put a damper on her revenge plan. He was still a jerk, but a jerk who’d installed a computer with Internet, set up an Amazon account and provided a library of DVDs. The note he’d left along with the bankcard and cell phone had instructed her to call him in case of emergency.

  Now that she’d added Kira’s number, she had exactly two contacts. She sighed. “My room looks a lot better thanks to you, but I hate it. I don’t want to decorate it or spend time there. I feel so isolated and buried, knowing there’s half a mile of sea between it and land.” The shoe store wasn’t doing a thing for her, either. She couldn’t summon the energy to even look, though she’d lost her sandals the last time she’d turned to mist and would have liked a pair that changed with her. She would have been barefoot if Surge hadn’t left the missing sandals in her room.

  The selkie who’d escorted her through the portal lounged against the wall, alert for danger. He was average height, with brown hair and eyes and his name was Cayman. That was all she knew about him, and she felt like a prisoner with him here.

  Of course, the dreams weren’t helping. She rubbed her eyes, feeling the lack of sleep. It was tough to rest when she felt like a dry stick. She hadn’t slept in the pool for the last few nights, lying on a throw blanket she’d tossed beside the pool. She’d dabbled her fingers in the water and splashed it on her body, soaking when she woke, but she still felt dehydrated. She hadn’t seen Surge, and the nightmares kept her up.

  “What is it?” Kira asked, placing a hand on her shoulder as she peered at Alicia’s miserable face, noting the exhaustion. Understanding crept into her eyes. “You’re not sleeping, are you?”

  Alicia eased away. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Kira looked around, meeting the eyes of her fire cat, Losee. “We need a quiet place to talk.”

  The large golden cat twitched his tail, opening a portal to the beach. Kira walked to a tide pool with Alicia and sat down on the sand. Alicia plopped down and stuck her feet in the water, gratefully absorbing the fluid.

  Kira stared at the overcast sky. “I have dreams, too. I was changed by fire. The Fates built a big pyre and chained me to a rock. They dumped oil on me that burned my eyes and lit the fire. I felt everything, cooking as my skin peeled, screaming. No one saved me. I burnt to ash.” She took a deep breath. “Sometimes I dream, and it’s like it’s happening again.”

  Alicia shook. Someone understood. “They d-drowned me. It was cold, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t hold out, and water rushed in my mouth, in my lungs. I didn’t get to pass out, either. I felt the water dissolve me, rip me apart.” She choked, remembering the burning agony. “He wants me to sleep in that stupid pool, and I can’t even stand water!” Waking from a nightmare would just make it more real.

  Kira put an arm around her.

  “He d-doesn’t even want me! They drowned me for him, and I hate him! I’m a monster, I killed people, and he keeps me in a cave away from everyone so I don’t rip down his palace.”

  She dashed a wrist across her eyes. “I haven’t seen anyone in days, and they don’t talk to me. They’re afraid.”

  Kira nodded. “I bleed fire, and my tears are fire, too. I nearly set off a super volcano.”

  Alicia stared at her. “That sucks.”

  Kira nodded sadly. “I get what you’re going through. It helps that I had Cara to talk to, and now you have both of us.”

  “I haven’t even met her,” Alicia protested, ashamed at the thought of unloading her troubles to yet another woman. They would think she was so weak…except they were going through the same thing. “Does she have bad dreams, too?”

  “Flashbacks. Yes. You’ll meet her soon. Meanwhile, I don’t think staying under the sea is doing you any good. Would you like to stay at our house for a while? We could…” She trailed off as she stared at the water.

  Alicia followed her gaze and saw Surge emerge from the waves, his expression somber. He looked human, wet hip wrap and all, until she noticed his changing eyes. She shot a suspicious glance at Cayman. He must have ratted on her, the filthy spy.

  Then she glanced at her feet, quickly pulling them from the shrinking pool. Surge didn’t need spies as long as she touched water. She could suddenly feel their connection when she touched it. He was letting her feel it.

  She looked at him in horror. She didn’t want him to know what she was feeling. She didn’t want to share anything with him.

  He looked at her unhappily. “We need to talk.”

  “No, we don’t,” she said quickly, wiping her eyes. “I’m all done.”

  Kira patted her back and stood. “I’ll be home later if you’d like to talk.”

  What? She was deserting her? Alicia jumped up. “You don’t have to go.”

  Kira smiled, dissolved into sparks and flowed away, followed by Losee. Even Cayman ambled off.

  Alone with Surge, Alicia dropped back to the
sand and wrapped her arms around her knees. Maybe she could ignore him.

  Surge sat beside her. “I didn’t know you were having nightmares.”

  “I didn’t want you to know.” She didn’t think he’d care. Even if he did, she didn’t trust him enough to expose her weakness. There was an awkward silence.

  “You need to be able to sleep.”

  “I sleep.” Not well, but she did fall into an exhausted doze sometimes.

  “You need companionship.”

  “So I’ll get a guppy,” she muttered sarcastically. Why was he doing this now? What was he trying to prove?

  He drew a deep breath. “I need to sleep with you.”

  She shot to her feet. “Over my dead body!” she snarled. “Go bang your stupid harem if you’re lonely! I’m not your girlfriend.”

  He got to his feet and took her hand, pointedly admiring her pinkie ring.

  She snatched her hand away. “That’s nothing and you know it. We’ve both ignored the stupid thing, and I’m going to continue to do so.” She had to ignore it, since she couldn’t get it or the anklet off.

  His smile was dangerous. “I intend to make sure you sleep. This is about survival, not preference.”

  “You can shove your preference. I don’t need your pity.”

  “You need my help, and you’re going to get it,” he insisted, and there was no hint he might back down. “If I have to share your pool at night, it’s what I’ll do.”

  She paced away, shoving a hand through her hair, which had grown to her waist again. She’d barely combed it that morning, toying with the idea of hacking it off.

  It wasn’t like he wanted to share a bed with her, but she didn’t want him that close. The idea made her deeply uneasy. “What if I got a pet? Something aquatic, like a seal.”

  His voice was soft, dangerous. “You’re not taking one of my seals to bed.”

  She peered at him as if he were mad. “Not the selkies, you geek! I don’t want one of your “navy seals” anywhere near me.” Though privately she admitted that Cayman was hot. “I was thinking about…hm, what’s not gross?” Squid were out. It had to have fur, at least. Were otters good pets? Could they be housebroken?