by Dee J. Stone
“The rebels can sense you in here.”
I look into his eyes. “Why haven’t they come after us, then?”
“I have thought about this at length. Perhaps it is due to our bond. Perhaps it is so strong that we have managed to remain undetected.”
I hope that’s the case, because we don’t have any other place to hide. Land isn’t safe because my father can get to us, and I’m sure there aren’t many caves in the ocean with a secret entrance.
“Go to the colony and speak to your father,” I tell Damarian. “If the rebels could sense us, they would have come after us by now. I’ll be okay. But if something does happen, I’ll be able to protect myself. With your help. Just like we did when we were captured by my father.”
His eyes rake over my face, studying every feature. “I know you can protect yourself, Cassie. You are independent, and it gives me great respect for you. But it pains me to leave you.” He touches his heart.
I kiss him. “I know. It pains me, too. But you need to do this.”
He nods.
I kiss him again, this one more passionate, more intense. Everything we’re feeling comes through in this kiss, the fear of the unknown, our hopes and dreams that we will be able to put this behind us and finally live. Our love for each other is so strong that I can feel every single one of his emotions, as though I’m actually inside his heart and soul.
When we break apart, Damarian leans his forehead against mine, and we just float in the water with our eyes closed, enjoying each other’s comfort.
I wish we could stay like this forever, but we reluctantly pull apart. Damarian’s arms loosen from around me, and he turns away. But then he whirls around and gathers me to his chest, giving me a strong hug. “My love for you is as vast as the sea.”
I inhale his ocean scent. Even though we are in the sea and all I smell is sea water, Damarian has a distinct smell that brings me comfort and makes me feel not so afraid. “My love for you runs all the way to Earth’s core,” I say.
I feel him smile. “I still do not know what that is.”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” I say. “When all this is behind us and we can finally live together in peace.”
His lips search mine before he says, “How I long for that day.”
“Me, too.”
His lips skim along the length of my neck. “Do not leave the cave, my love,” he says against my skin. “Not for anyone or anything. Not even me. All right?” He lifts his head and looks into my eyes. They are still filled with pain.
“I won’t.”
He grabs the back of my head and kisses me again, his lips desperate. As much as I want to kiss him until the end of the world, I gently pry my mouth away from his and nod slowly, telling him he needs to go.
He returns the nod. “Farewell, my love.”
“Bye, Damarian.”
Fiske swims forward to Damarian’s side. He lowers his head to me. Farwell, Cassie.
Take care of him, okay?
Always.
Chapter Twenty-One
I don’t know how long Damarian and Fiske have been away, but it feels like days. It’s most likely only a few hours, though.
I’m lying on the flat rock with my back pressed against the one that’s hiding me. Before he left, Damarian killed a few fish for me. My stomach begs for food, but I can’t bring anything to my mouth. My stomach swirls around like a gymnast on the uneven bars.
So many thoughts and worries swarm my head. What if the rebels have been outside all this time, waiting to attack Damarian the second he emerged from the cave? I tell myself that possibility is unlikely because I would have sensed his distress. If he were captured or hurt, or even killed, my heart would know.
What if Damarian can’t get to the colony for some reason? How will the merpeople know exactly what they’re up against?
What if Damarian’s family tells him I’m no longer one of them, no longer his mate?
How long will it be before the sea serpents invade the ocean? What will happen once they actually enter? Will there be a switch inside me that will make me turn, too? Will I be at the front lines, ready to kill the people whom I consider my second family?
I bang my head against the rock behind me, telling it to shut up. I can’t stand this. I can’t. All I’ve ever wanted was to live my life with Damarian. It doesn’t seem like such a big favor to ask. I guess once again, the universe wants to screw with us. Will our story turn into a happily ever after or a tragedy?
I lie down, curling my tail behind me. Just like those times on land when I waited for Damarian to return from the ocean, my hand automatically shoots out to the spot near me, reaching for my merman. Yearning to feel his soft skin beneath my hand. But all I feel is the cold surface of the rock.
Hugging myself and wishing it were Damarian’s arms around me and not my own, I close my eyes. I know I won’t be able to fall asleep, but I need to try. It’s the only way to put an end to these thoughts that have invaded my mind and refuse to leave.
***
My eyes shoot open when I hear movement outside the cave.
I leap up, my heart thumping, my hands balling into fists, ready to attack. Could it be rebels? Or have Damarian and Fiske returned? I flatten myself against the rock. Is it better to attack or hide, hoping they won’t notice me? If Damarian is correct and our love for one another can render us undetectable, maybe I could get away with hiding.
But just in case, my brain starts to formulate a plan of attack. As I’m coming up with different options, I feel something enter my heart. Something warm and loving, wrapping around me and making me feel safe.
Damarian.
I’m about to rush out of my hiding place, but then a sudden thought hits me. What if it’s a trap? Maybe the rebels have found a way to make me think Damarian is here. Or worse, maybe they captured him and are using him to force me out of my hiding place. I press myself against the rock, squeezing so hard I’m almost blending into it.
Please be Damarian. Please be Damarian.
“Cassie?”
That’s definitely Damarian’s voice. And he doesn’t sound like he’s hurt or in trouble. Tentatively, I peek my head out. Damarian is there with Fiske at his side.
“Damarian!”
I dash out and fling my arms around him. His come around me and he spins in the water, a relieved laugh escaping his lips. He kisses me all over my face, and I do the same to him.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you.” I dig my nose into his chest and grip him tight, once again inhaling his scent and feeling a relief I’ve never felt before. It’s like Damarian has obliterated all my worries and concerns—for the time being, anyway. I know we’ve only been apart for a few hours, but it felt like much longer. It’s so good to be in his arms again.
I smile to Fiske. “I’m so happy to see you, too.”
He inclines his head.
“How glad I am to see you are safe.” Damarian closes his mouth over mine.
We make out for a while. These kisses are only filled with positive things, like how much we mean to each other and how good we make each other feel. But I have so many questions burning in my head. I reluctantly pull my mouth from his. “What happened at the colony?”
He gives me a few more kisses before taking my hand and leading me to the flat rock. He sits down with me on his lap. Since I can’t wrap my legs around him, I curl my tail around his waist.
He gives me a long, heartfelt kiss and then a sweet smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His face turns dark. “I am afraid things are not well.”
Even though I expected him to say as much, my heart drops.
“Fiske and I swam to the colony. It was difficult to surpass the Sentinels. They did not allow us to enter.” He nods toward Fiske. “Fiske persuaded them.”
Fiske raises his head in pride. Perhaps they do fear me, a little.
Despite the fear racing through my limbs, I smile.
“Many members of th
e Guard are stationed at the entrance to the colony as well. Including Kyler of the Emerald clan. Kyler informed me that Kiander and Flora decreed to close the colony, and that no one is to enter or leave. I asked him if it were possible to speak to Father, but he told me that if I were to enter, I could not leave.” He plays with my hair. “I could not do that.”
I nod.
“I asked if Kyler could send word to Father that I waited for him outside the colony. He relayed the message. But Father was in a meeting with the king, queen, and Callen. I did not wish to wait, for I wanted to return to you. I contemplated asking for Mother, but I did not wish to put her life at risk. She is safe at the colony with the fry.”
I brush some hair away from his forehead. “I’m sorry you couldn’t see them.”
He takes my hand and rubs his cheek against my palm. “It is all right. I have gathered information from Kyler. He informed me that the reason Kiander and Flora have closed the colony is because they believe their sworn enemy has returned to claim the sea.”
Even though Fiske told us this, it’s different hearing it from Kyle. It makes it more official. More real. The sea serpents really are a threat and the merpeople are in danger.
“How did Syren know what I was when I changed?” I ask. “Do all the children of the sea know about the sea serpents, or is he one of the only ones? And how does he know they plan to invade the sea?”
Damarian shakes his head. “I am not certain. I informed Kyler all that we have learned, asking him to relay the information to Father. He promised he would.” He kisses the top of my head. “Kyler has told me something…alarming. The Guard attempted to send an army to search for the enemy on land. But they were unable to shift.”
“What do you mean?”
“They remained on land for quite some time, but they did not shift to humans.”
I just stare at him. “How can that be? You were able to shift, and so were Kiander and Doria. Unless…is the royal family the only ones who can shift?”
He shakes his head again. “I am not certain. I have not heard of such a thing.”
“Let’s swim to a sandbar and see if you can change. If not…” My voice trails off. If Damarian can’t shift either, I have no idea what all of this means.
Nodding, Damarian takes my hand, and we leave the cave, followed by Fiske. Keeping our eyes peeled for any rebels, we swim to the sandbar. Both Damarian and I haul ourselves onto it and wait for the change. It seems like forever until it actually comes. I grab onto Damarian as I feel myself burning. Through the pain, I realize Damarian is not crying out or convulsing. He’s just lying there, his shocked eyes fastened on mine. When I’m done, I fall back on the sandbar and look at him with exhausted eyes. I changed, but Damarian didn’t.
He looks extremely alarmed.
“What’s going on, Damarian?” I ask, scared beyond my wits.
He shakes his head, his eyes troubled. “I do not know.”
I rest for a few minutes before diving back into the ocean. We return to the cave.
***
Voices.
My eyes open to green, murky water. I’m not in the cave, enclosed in Damarian’s arms. I’m deep in the ocean, surrounded by fish and coral. And other figures. I can’t make them out—they’re blurry black forms, floating in the ocean with me. But I can make out one thing—the shape of serpent tails. Glancing down, I see I have one, too.
The voices in my head grow louder. It’s an ancient language, one I can understand clearly: Reclaim the ocean. Reclaim what is ours.
My hands fly to the sides of my head. I need to wake up. Right now. I won’t have anything to do with this. With these sea serpents. Wake up, wake up.
My body pushes me forward, following the others. While I can see everything well in the ocean, although with a green tint, the others are still blurry figures. It’s as though we’re so close to being able to see and touch each other, but aren’t there yet. The voices continue to chant in my head: Reclaim the ocean. Reclaim what is ours.
We continue to move forward, and the area around me starts to look familiar. We’re heading to the merpeople colony.
I pinch myself. I need to wake up. I don’t know if this is real or fake, but I don’t want to stick around to find out.
My body refuses to wake up.
Reclaim the ocean. Reclaim what is ours.
We inch closer and closer, until we’re right outside the colony. In unison, we thrust out our palms, and the rocks explode, little pieces flying everywhere. They hit us on our heads, on our chests, and on our tails. But we don’t budge.
One by one, in single file, we swim inside. The Sentinel sharks rush to attack, but once again, we push out our palms and the sharks’ bodies explode, their blood and guts shooting everywhere, including on us. We don’t budge.
When every shark is gone, we move forward and enter the colony.
“NO!”
I yank myself out of the dream and vault up, my body shaking, my heart galloping faster than a speeding horse. If I weren’t in the ocean, I know I’d be drenched in sweat. The force is so strong that Damarian is knocked off me and tumbles to the cave floor.
“I’m so sorry.” I swim down and crouch before him, taking hold of his chin. “Did I hurt you?”
Fiske hurries over. Is everything all right?
Damarian blinks a few times. He rubs his right side. “I am all right. What has happened, Cassie?”
I bite my lip as the awful dream plays in my head. I don’t want to say it. I want to deny it as long as possible. Because then maybe it didn’t really happen.
Damarian touches my arm. “Cassie?”
I shut my eyes for a few seconds before opening them. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen, because it did. “I had another one,” I whisper.
“A dream?”
I nod, unable to say anything else.
He puts his hands on my waist and swims upward, lowering himself onto the rock and placing me on his lap, cradling me close. I break down on his chest, my tears once again mixing with the salt water of the ocean. Damarian rubs my back. I turn my head to rest my cheek on his chest, hearing how fast his heart is pumping. Fiske stays on guard near us.
When I finally calm down, I look at Damarian. “They’re getting stronger. We…we need to do something. I don’t know what, but something.”
His hands press into my back. “Please tell me the dream in detail.”
I do, and when I’m done, his eyes hold nothing but trepidation.
“Damarian, we need to…we need to…” But what can we do? The sea serpents want to invade the ocean so that they could force Damarian onto the throne and take his power. My father claims they don’t plan on killing the merpeople, but I know that’s a load of bullshit. The only thing the merpeople can do is defend themselves. Unless we can find a way to stop the serpents before they can get into the water.
“Damarian, is there an older member of the children of the sea we can talk to? Someone who might know more about the sea serpents?”
His eyebrows rise in confusion, a blank look on his face. Then something enters his eyes.
“You know someone?” I urge.
He shakes his head in defeat. “Yes, but he will not wish to speak with us.”
“We have to try. Who is it?”
“Grandfather.”
I stare at him. “I didn’t know you had a grandfather. I mean, I assumed your grandparents were dead, since you never mentioned them.”
He nods. “Yes, all but one are no longer with us. Though, I suppose he would rather be dead.” He runs the back of his fingers across my cheek when he sees the startled look on my face. “Forgive me, Cassie. I did not intend for my words to be so harsh. Grandfather has left us.”
“What do you mean?”
He sighs as his hands knead my back, a sad look in his eyes. “You are aware that a bond between mates is extremely strong. It is for eternity. Some find it difficult to live when their mate has perished. Many die from the h
eartache. Grandfather…he wished to perish after Grandmother died, but I suppose his body was too strong. He did not die, no matter how much he wished it.”
“I’m sorry. That’s so sad.”
He nods. “We tried to assist him, but he could not be comforted. All he wished was to be with Grandmother once again.”
“How long ago did she die?”
He shrugs. “I am not certain. I was only a fry.”
“Where is he now?”
“He lives as a recluse, away from the colony. Mother attempts to visit him every so often, but he refuses to see anyone. Not even his daughter. My siblings and I have tried many times to see him, but he has always cast us out. He frightens the little ones. It is a shame, for they have never known their grandparents.”
I feel every part of my body pumping with eagerness. “He must know a lot about your history, right? Maybe he knows about the sea serpents.”
“I suppose it is a possibility.”
“Is there any way we can convince him to see us? Maybe if we tell him the future of the children of the sea is in jeopardy…”
He shakes his head. “I am certain he will not see us. He has lived in seclusion for so long.”
I feel my shoulders droop. I really thought we had a shot of stopping the sea serpents, but it looks like we’re back to where we were.
Damarian places his fingers under my chin and raises my face so our eyes meet. “I am willing to try, my love. I wish to do all I can to halt these beasts.”
I squeeze his hand. I understand why he’s so hesitant. He hasn’t seen his grandfather in a while and it’ll be hard to meet with him face to face. I know he desperately wants to see him, and not just because of the sea serpents. Because he wants a relationship with him. Maybe we can solve two problems at once.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hand in hand, with Fiske by our side, we travel deeper into the sea, to where Damarian believes his grandfather lives. I don’t think I’ve been to this part of the ocean. It’s nowhere near the deep, but it’s far away from the colony.
