“I should’ve been here to protect you.”
Because I’m positive he’s blaming himself, I try to lighten his mood. “That may have been a tad inappropriate.” He chuckles softly into my hair. “Hey, I did okay on my own. At least I did until he threw me into the mirror. Then the weirdest thing happened, but I’ll tell you all at once.”
We reluctantly pull apart and are about to exit into the hall when I stop. “Oh, I, ah, I told Stavros, about the island. About us.”
He raises his eyebrows impossibly high. “I assume since I have not been sentenced to death that he was fine with it.”
“He was. His only warning was to not go public with it. Others in the kingdom might not be as tolerant, not yet. And there are bigger problems for them to focus on. He respects what I want. Xander knows too.”
“Good,” he says as he guides me into the hall. “That’s one nose I won’t be breaking.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
When we reach the throne room, Stavros is doing a great imitation of pacing, at least pacing as much as a man with a tail can. Xander and Alexios are off to the side talking in low murmurs.
Stavros immediately demands, “What did you do to that merman? They just told me his skull has been fractured.”
His intensity startles me. He sounds frustrated and bewildered, so I relate what I can about using the strange power. They’re silent when I finish, but I meet Xander’s eyes and he lifts a brow in question, obviously wondering if we should tell them more. We have to now.
Alexios breaks the silence. “I’ve never heard of a royal mermaid as young as Zoey who could harness that level of power, especially so quickly.”
“What do you mean?” My tone is ominous. Maybe they do know about this mysterious specialness I have.
“What he means, daughter, is even I can’t summon my abilities that fast.” He studies me, curiosity mixed with trepidation. “Unfortunately, we can’t concentrate on that at the moment. Once we discover who he is, we have to be ready to move out.”
War, that’s what Stavros is talking about and, in reaction, I shake from the inside out.
He continues, “Until we have a better idea of what this attack means, you cannot leave the palace walls. They came after you for a reason and I won’t risk your safety.”
“You can’t do that! Tomorrow Xander and I are going to talk to a woman about my powers.” The words are out before I have a chance to consider censoring them, and I clamp a hand over my mouth. I’d meant to ease the trip into the conversation.
Xander swears under his breath but otherwise, it’s dead silent. What I am aware of is Nerio moving closer and lacing our fingers together.
Stavros advances on me so fast I flinch in reaction. His nostrils flare. “What are you talking about?”
I start to speak, but Xander cuts me off. “It was my idea, Your Grace. She has so many questions about her abilities. Even I have observed they are above and beyond what anyone imagined. There’s a woman who might have insight about how it connects to the night she was conceived.”
Stavros rounds on him, unleashing some of his anger. Between me and Xander, we’re digging ourselves a pretty big hole.
“Don’t you dare speak about that. What happened between Zoey’s mother and I will not be tossed around casually.” Xander dips his head in apology as the king reins in his anger some. “And what does it have to do with her power?”
I sigh, hoping to deflect the daggers shooting out of my father’s eyes. “There’s a man in the market, his name is Gerald. He’s like me, spent his childhood as a human. His wife studies the stars and the tides. Apparently, that, um, night there were special circumstances.”
Xander takes over. “The moon was full, the tides were at their highest, and it was winter equinox. All these events in nature aligned and blessed her to supposedly be powerful in both worlds. Maybe it gave her the potential to match Calandra. It doesn’t make complete sense, I admit, but that’s why I’m taking her to Batari.”
Stavros gasps, confusion etched into his features.
It’s Alexios who maintains his composure. “Batari? You mean the goddess?”
“You’re taking me to a goddess?” I repeat in shock.
“She was an Indonesian goddess who gave up her powers to marry a human. Her payment for doing so was to remain human forever, immortal, even after her husband died. She lives on a small, lightly populated island and spends her time chronicling the history of this part of the world, including ours,” Alexios explains.
Finally Stavros rejoins the conversation. “It would be wise to ask her. If anyone can offer guidance, it would be Batari. She remains connected to a world much different than ours.” He glares sharply at Xander. “And you are certain she’ll talk to Zoey?”
“I went to visit her today and she’s actually excited for an opportunity to meet the princess.”
Alexios huffs out a breath, as if he can’t believe his son had been so reckless, but Stavros says, “I can’t pretend I’m not upset the both of you took this upon yourselves. But I appreciate the speed at which you’ve accomplished it. If Batari is expecting Zoey tomorrow, we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Xander, you and two guards will accompany her and report to me upon your return. Immediately.”
Nerio speaks up, “I volunteer.”
My father only then notices our joined hands. “I appreciate your request, but she’ll be safe. I need you here with me to figure out who sent that merman to attack my daughter, in my home. I’m assuming you are motivated?” Nerio nods. “Good. Then I also want you to send word to Nikolas and have him rally those living in the outer settlements. They must be prepared.”
From the Nerio’s bewildered expression, Stavros is giving him a command above that of a typical guard. He’s being provided a chance to prove himself worthy of the king’s daughter. I give his fingers a squeeze in encouragement.
“I will do whatever you ask of me, King Stavros.”
Alexios and Xander bow and depart, leaving the three of us in a slightly awkward silence.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I planned to learn what I was capable of first. I hated keeping it from you, but I needed to do it on my own. No use getting anyone’s hopes up.” I release Nerio’s hand and drift over to grip my father’s instead. “Do you understand?”
He draws me into an embrace. “I do. You’ve got brilliant instincts and I trust them. A lot has been revealed today and the best part is watching you evolve into an amazing mermaid. It’s an honor to observe how you’ve grown.”
Keeping a hand firmly on my shoulders, he focuses on Nerio. “I’m giving you an opportunity, Nerio. Before Zoey showed up, I saw your potential. Now, more than ever, is the time to prove it—especially if you plan to gain the people’s respect and court my daughter.”
Nerio places his fist over his heart and bows deeply. “My loyalties lie with you and our kingdom, only now there’s an additional piece of that realm I vow to protect to my death.”
“That’s all I request. I’ll let you two say good night, then I’ll escort you to your room, Zoey.”
Once the king is gone, Nerio deflates and rubs his face. “That went better than I was expecting.”
I scoot forward and throw my arms around his neck. “I’m so proud of you,” I whisper in his ear.
He holds me tight before kissing me, rubbing my nose with his. “Please, be careful.”
Reluctantly, he draws me out into the atrium and passes me off to my father. Stavros escorts me to my room where a guard is stationed at the door. Inside, it’s as if nothing happened. The vanity is replaced, as well as the mirror. Even the once unblocked window is boarded up.
“Are you okay staying here alone?” he asks.
I offer him what I hope is a brave smile. “I’ll be fine. I am sorry I didn’t tell you about tomorrow.”
He stares at the place where the merman hit the wall and I notice a crack about three inches long. Eventually he says, “As old as our kind is, as connected as we are
to nature, there is still so much we don’t know. There are mysteries, legends of those blessed by the gods to be warriors. I’m not sure how I feel knowing my little girl is one of them.”
Putting pressure on his arm, I make him look me in the eye. “Whatever happens I accept my fate, but let’s wait until we know for sure, okay?”
“I’m so proud of you, Zoey.” He smiles warmly, but it doesn’t quite chase the shadows from his face.
I find it strange how the good and bad can go hand in hand. I’m more determined than ever to do whatever I am capable of to end these threats.
Chapter Forty
Early the next morning, Xander and I leave the palace flanked by two of Stavros’s best guards. I’m exhausted. Falling asleep ended up being impossible. Flashes of the attack and the anticipation of meeting an actual goddess kept my mind spinning at warp speed.
We travel in silence for awhile. It’s not an awkward silence though. It’s a companionable one and it has more to do with the guards’ proximity than anything. They may know our destination, but not why.
Finally the mermen give us space.
“How are you holding up?” Xander asks.
“I’m okay, couldn’t sleep. Did you hear if they found out about the mer who attacked me?”
“No, at least, not by the time I left this morning. He has features that lead us to believe he’s from the Atlantic, but these days it’s impossible to guess. I don’t envy the king his position.”
We pass over an enormous rift, one I can’t glimpse the bottom of. Five Grand Canyons could easily fit inside of it. Normally, I’d request to linger and explore as deep as I could, but there isn’t time. I’m anxious and not luxuriating in the feeling of gliding through the water as usual.
“Do you ever think about what you’d do as king? If the day ever comes?” I inquire to distract myself.
He considers this. “You can’t be in a family like mine and not think about it. It’s a blessing and a curse. I believe I can do good, if given the chance, but sometimes I’m stereotyped. People judge me a certain way, either because of what I represent or who I am, and they jump to conclusions. I fell into the role without choice and it was easy, thus the snob you met at your dinner.”
“At least you have an idea of what everyone expects. I’m clueless.”
He casts a glance in my direction. “You’re not as clueless as you presume. You carry yourself well, are caring, and the people are drawn to you. I have faith you’ll make the right decisions. Being a leader isn’t a trait you learn, its inside from the start. You’ve got that. You just don’t see it. And, the gods willing, you won’t be tested for a while.”
Embarrassed, I hide behind my hair. Xander doesn’t treat me like a rookie mermaid. He has faith in me. It’s a simple sentiment, but it’s important.
“Thanks. That means a lot, especially coming from you. Having you in my corner helps me be more confident. You’re a wonderful friend, Xander.”
He laughs self depreciatingly. “I won’t deny that hurts. But I understand. I watch you with Nerio and recognize a strong bond when I see one.”
I offer him a sunny smile. “Promise me you will not agree to a union with Eustacia. You deserve better than that sardine face.”
“I swear on my life.”
“Good, but to be prepared, let’s pretend you are king. Do you have ideas about what you’d change?”
“Now you’re putting me on the spot.” He considers for a bit. “I believe we have a lot to learn from humans. Many view them as a plague and of no benefit to us, but they’re wrong. It’s not as if I want to reveal our presence to them. That would be disastrous. We can’t continue to consider them the enemy. Look where it’s gotten us.” He brushes the dark statement off. “Stavros is an excellent king though. There isn’t much to change.”
“You could banish all drama.”
“No gossip within palace walls.”
“Dancing every night.”
“I’ll restart our annual games.”
“Oh, I’d like that,” I gush. “We could compete against the other oceans. Stavros mentioned it being one of his dreams, mer Olympics. I didn’t have much opportunity on land to compete in sports. A little self-conscious.”
“It would be nice to have peace with the kingdoms again.” Xander sobers up. “Calandra’s damaged the relationships badly.”
It dawns on me I haven’t learned about the other kingdoms or territories. “In a perfect world, I’d love to travel to the other oceans.”
“Part of our education as children is to learn about and visit them. It hasn’t happened in years because of the deterioration. I want that to change.”
“It would be the ultimate field trip, which is funny because that’s how my whole adventure started, with a field trip to an aquarium. Never mind, tell me about them.”
“Each kingdom acquires its own persona. Here we’re thought of as the explorers. Our ocean is vast and constantly changing because of what you call the Ring of Fire. It’s very geologically active. And we’re great gatherers. A lot of what we produce is traded to other kingdoms.”
If I had to consider a word to describe the Pacific Ocean it would be adventure. Maybe it’s because of my own adventures here so far, but what Xander’s saying describes us perfectly.
“The Atlantic kingdom is known for being great thinkers and salvagers. They’re more advanced than the rest of us. When shipwrecks sink to a depth uncomfortable to our species, they have a method of diving deeper when salvaging. And the Atlantic mer use more human items than any others.
“The Indian Ocean mer are the congenial ones, usually willing to help out or introduce a peaceful resolution. It’s where Calandra is from, but they were our closest allies. That all changed when their long-time king died recently.”
It’s funny how each ocean reflects the countries it touches. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
“What about the Arctic, where the queen is from?”
His expression grows grim. “They’re the warriors. Most of the skirmishes and disagreements in the past originated with them. They are eager to fight anyone and extremely skilled in combat.”
“I guess that fits, considering what I’ve heard of the mer from there.”
Xander smirks. “You’re right. It’s a perfect fit.”
Of course, we’re referring to the queen and her shining personality. I’ve discovered a lot of people in the kingdom don’t trust her, but for family’s sake, I refrain from uttering a negative word against her. Especially with guards nearby.
The water darkens suddenly and the guards become alert. I strain my neck, searching for any signs of danger. Then I look up. A thick dark cloud clings to the surface of the water a couple hundred feet above us. Debris is drifting toward us and I wonder if the storm has caused a shipwreck.
“We should go,” a guard warns.
But something holds my attention. Slight traces of light reflect off the falling objects. As it fractures, it reminds me of a sight I’ve grown used to. A horrible realization sinks into my gut and I’m off like a dart, shooting for the chilling sight.
I hear them calling for me to stop, but I can’t. All that exists is me and the mass. Keeping my gaze off the rapidly increasing debris, anger and immense grief encompasses me. Closer now, I study the scene and my heart splinters into a thousand pieces.
It’s a giant school of dead fish.
They begin to fall rapidly, as water weighs their bodies down. It’s a disgusting, macabre rain of stiff bodies and lifeless eyes. I’m not sure what species they are, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve touched these creatures and felt what they felt. Tens of thousands of lives gone in an instant.
“No!” I scream.
Xander finally reaches me and pulls me tight. I sob into his chest, uncertain if it’s what I saw or the stress and worry that has built up. There has to be an end to this. Neither of us says a word until a guard ventures close.
“I’m sorry, princess, but we m
ust leave. Predators will come.”
I nod and wipe my eyes in a useless gesture—there had been no tears.
“Will you be okay?” Xander asks.
“Yeah, let’s go. The sooner we get to this goddess, the sooner I’ll know if I can stop these kinds of horrors.”
I follow after our escorts, not wanting to talk about it. The hurt goes too deep. I struggle with my reaction. The human side of me wonders what the big deal is, while the mermaid side aches with the loss. I am so connected to this world. I want to rage against the pointless deaths. Whether it was the weather or Calandra directly, she was responsible in the end. My resolve to stop her increases, growing in a fury that beats with my heart.
Chapter Forty-One
I’m haunted the rest of the trip, unable to move past the sight of the dead fish. It fuels me in a way I never imagined. I want revenge, to guarantee it does not happen again.
The guards slow and I assume we’re nearing Batari’s island, so I focus on what’s coming. I’ll be human again, talking to a perfect goddess. Not to mention Xander will see too. It doesn’t bother me as much as it would have a couple days ago. The more I show my friends and family, the less conscious I am.
“I’m nervous.” I admit, letting that emotion break through and push aside the others.
“There’s no reason to be. Batari’s probably not what you’re expecting. She’s spent centuries with humans and is incredibly easy to talk to.”
“What’s her island like?”
“It’s small, lush, and inhabited by a small tribe indigenous to this part of the South Pacific. They’ve been her people for as long as she’s lived here. They know our secret and will always keep it. This is actually one of the islands mer children visit for their education.”
“I have to warn you about something,” I blurt.
He fixes a wary gaze on me. “What?”
Once again, I relate my story, realizing the frequency has made me stronger.
When I’m done, Xander touches my arm. “Zoey, none of that matters to me. It won’t change how I see you.”
Into the Deep Page 21
