by Starla Night
“Hazel, if this is about the Sons of Hercules, I want you to know that law enforcement takes a very serious, very dim view of avionic sabotage. When we find the leaders, and we will, they will face charges. And in the meantime, our security consultant, Starr, has done so much for the office.”
“It’s not that.”
“But we absolutely care about your safety. If you prefer to work remotely, or if you would like me to request the foundation assign you private security, I will.”
Wow. It was like she was somebody important suddenly. Hazel laughed awkwardly, gripping her hair. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say what you need to feel comfortable working for us. I can ask the foundation to hire another assistant. I should have done so some time ago when your work expanded.”
“I still got everything done.”
“Yes, and I think you don’t realize how exceptional that is. I’ll respect your wishes, but Hazel, I don’t want to lose you. You’re organized, efficient, adaptable. Always willing to try something new. Your passion and big ideas are exactly what we love. And I think you’ll be happiest here, either with MerMatch or the foundation, because this is a cause you care deeply about.”
Her heart swelled. “Aw.” She sniffed. “And then I go and lose your merman.”
“Well, we’ll find him again. He has a critical job to do, and so do you. I intend to speak with him about training his bride to soothe the kraken.”
“Oh. Right.” She rubbed her forehead. “There’s something else you should know.”
“Yes?”
Her phone beeped another warning. “Gah, my phone’s about to die.”
“I can call back.”
“No, no. I’m finding the charger.” She put her hand on the usual outlet. Empty. Let’s see, that jerk the other day had asked to use it. He’d probably stolen it. She checked the other outlets in case he’d only moved it and she was wrongly besmirching him in her mind. Ah, there it was, in the outlet under the window. So, okay, he was a jerk for plenty of other reasons, but not that one. Sorry for thinking bad thoughts about you—this time. She leaned down to plug it in. “There it is.”
“Good. I’ll tell you, and you can pass it along to Lotar.”
“Sure.” Her phone hadn’t made the charging noise.
“—and his bride.”
“Yeah. Uh-huh.” She unplugged and replugged it. Still three percent. She traced the wire back to the wall and reseated the charger in the outlet. “Sorry. What did you want me to say?”
“The kraken is a type of squid, you see, sort of an uber-squid in the German sense. The mer sense animals by the resonant sounds of their animal souls, and the music of a squid’s soul is a very low, very deep contrabassoon in high G…”
Why wasn’t her phone charging? This was an emergency. Her phone was her everything. And she’d loaned her portable battery to Pia so her phone would be charged for callbacks.
Although Pia hadn’t actually auditioned. Like Hazel, she had big dreams and small stores of courage.
But Hazel couldn’t call her to get it back if she didn’t get more juice.
“…and his bride will need to teach this to the warriors in the cities that have ignored our outreach. For their own safety, they must be able to soothe the kraken. The sound is meditative. You might recognize it as a Nepalese Buddhism chant. You know. Ommmmm. Now you.”
“Ommmmm,” Hazel repeated obediently.
“A little lower. Ommmmm.”
“Ommmmm.”
“Lower.”
“I don’t think my voice goes any lower.”
“Hmm, well, I suppose under the water you’re using different vibrational methods than your vocal cords. If I’m unable to speak to Lotar, pass it along for me.”
“I will, as soon as I figure out where he went.” And how he escaped from her apartment.
And why her phone wasn’t charging. She pulled it out of the wall. It was…
Oh.
Because he had yanked the cord so hard, the plastic sheathing the wires to the charger had split.
That jerk. She was going to take a picture of this and post it to the class Facebook group. She’d think a grown man, an adult, wouldn’t trash a girl’s…
Hey, wait. Her window was unlatched.
Huh? Had the jerk also unlatched her window? She was on the tenth floor, so it wasn’t exactly a theft hazard, but still…
“Yes, and that’s why it’s okay if you can’t quite get low enough. Lotar will have to make sure his bride can make the correct sounds,” Dannika was saying.
“That’s me.” Something had disturbed the dust on her terrace.
“What’s you?”
“I’m his bride.” She pushed the window up. A gust of warm, moist air blew back in on her.
“You are?”
“Yeah. That’s why I have to quit.” She stood on her stool and leaned way out.
There wasn’t room to stand, although the guard rail was the perfect size to rest a couple of potted plants on and mount a garden trellis. She’d put a pillow out during the fall when it might be pleasant.
Dannika started laughing. “Hazel, you are always full of surprises.”
“It’s been a morning.” There were handprints on the railing. Clean, big prints that interrupted the otherwise uniform dull grime.
No. He wouldn’t have.
She crawled out and leaned over.
Nope, still ten floors.
That was like, what, a hundred feet down?
A pigeon flew by making its usual gurgling call. It emitted a white poop that fell all the way down to the dry, barren sidewalk with a distant splat.
If Lotar went out the window, he’d definitely made it all the way down.
“Well, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. Oh, Hazel, this is the best thing. You’re the one who had the idea for the party. I’m so thrilled you’re going to be the one to make it happen.”
Her stomach lurched. “Right.”
“And I suppose it is essential we get the sound of the kraken right. You’re going to be teaching it to an awful lot more people.”
“Haha, right.”
“This is fantastic. There’s such limited time to get in the water and on your way. Speaking of which, please forgive me for the personal question, but it affects how soon you will develop your queen powers. Have you been intimate?”
“Um…” Hazel didn’t bother keeping secrets from anyone. She’d spill to her friends in an instant, but discussing this with her boss was like confessing how far she’d gone with the principal’s son or something. “Not quite all the way…”
“That’s too bad. The sooner you unlock your powers, the better, and from now on, you won’t get much privacy. Call the foundation as soon as we hang up here.”
“Right now?”
“Oh, that’s right. Your phone is dying. I’ll call them. You can expect a callback—well, ASAP—and they’ll get you on a plane to Cancun as soon as we can rustle up the passports. There’s a ship standing by. With any luck, you can be on your way in…hmm, what do you think? An hour?”
Oh.
God.
She tugged her bloomers.
Shower. Dress. Call Pia for her emergency battery. No, no. Do that in the other order so Pia had time to bring the battery to her. Unless she was busy, seeing as it was a Wednesday and normal people had to get to work already.
Then walk out of her life for a couple of years.
Utilities. Rent. That random dental cleaning she had in the next six months, and if she was a no-call no-show, they’d charge her a fee.
In an hour.
Her battery beeped.
“Can I get an extension?”
“We need to move fast. I’m contacting the foundation to send someone over to your apartment right now. You’re on the tenth floor, right?”
“Right. Um, but we’re still kind of missing Lotar.”
“That’s another good thing about this. You’re his
soul mate, so you can sense his presence. Close your eyes and picture him. Lean into the feeling. In no time at all, you should glean a clue to where he’s gone.”
“I have a slight clue.”
“It’s already working! Now you follow that feeling until you run into him.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Yes, you really can, Hazel. Have faith. I know it’s odd. As women especially, we’re taught our whole lives not to put too much faith into gut feelings or intuition, but the longer you’re in the world of the mer, the more you’ll trust in yourself and blossom. So turn in the direction you feel and make that leap.”
She would if she’d used that get-fit-as-a-dancer DVD series Pia had lent her, but like so many projects in her life, it was on the back burner until she became a successful entrepreneur who had time for personal and physical development.
“Yeah, I don’t have the upper body strength.”
“I’m sorry?”
“To follow Lotar.” Guys had ghosted Hazel before. She didn’t bring hookups back to her apartment, so no one had ghosted her quite like this. “I think he went out the window.”
“The…window?”
“Yeah, I don’t even know how you’d do it. I’ve never tried before.” Somewhere on the internet was probably a video that a shocked passerby had taken of a tattooed warrior clambering down the outside of her building like a marine Spider-Man.
“Oh. Goodness.” Dannika laughed again. “You have had a busy morning, haven’t you?”
“It sounds like it’s just getting started.”
A tourist below framed her old building with a camera. Someone bumped into him, and another. He wasn’t smart enough to get out of people’s ways, which made him a hazard. Then one bumper looked up, stopped, and got out their phone to record.
Motion and light moved beneath her window. Like the reflection of the sun against honed metal.
From a man climbing up the cement mini terraces like a parkour legend.
Even though the situation should terrify her, she felt relieved. This was a simple mer-human misunderstanding. Lotar hadn’t actually climbed out a window to escape.
“Never mind. I found Lotar.” Hazel peered through the metal railing. A long trident rested against his side. “He went to get his weapons.”
“Even better. They usually stash them in the harbor. This will make our trip even faster.” Dannika paused. “Okay, the foundation is sending over an employee. They’ll be there in half an hour.”
Pia couldn’t get over from Brooklyn that fast.
Hazel scooted back into her apartment so Lotar would have all the space he needed to enter via the window, overturning the stool and stubbing her toe. Ow. “Um, can you ask them to bring a charger?”
“Yes, of course. And don’t worry, Hazel, we’ll spend as long as you need rehearsing the ways to address the kings of the mer cities, how to connect to their values, and how to avoid offending them, and we’ll go over that sound so you can soothe the kraken. You’re going to be the first modern human these kings have ever met. And, for as long as my cell reception lasts, I am going to do my best to make sure it’s not the—”
Beep.
Her phone shut down.
She held the dead plastic in one hand and massaged her stubbed toe with the other.
Lotar heaved himself over the railing and into the open window in one fluid motion, silent and sure, his muscles clenching. He wore only his boxers. He’d strapped his biceps and thighs with sheathed daggers, three each, for twelve daggers of various lengths and sizes, and the trident he rested in the crook of an elbow with such control that it didn’t even scrape the sill.
He stood, barefoot, before her like a Norse god, all rippling strength and power and flashing gray eyes. He’d scaled a building—twice—and hadn’t broken a sweat.
Dannika had been about to say “last.” As in, she would do her best to tell Hazel how to become smart and clever and articulate enough to banter with royalty, like Dannika did all the time, so that Hazel’s first visit with the mer kings wouldn’t be humanity’s last.
Oh. God.
Lotar would be fine.
But would his race be after they met Hazel?
Eight
Hazel’s expression moved from awe to terror. Her soul darkened in her chest.
Lotar’s chest went cold, synchronized with her emotions.
Why was she terrified? He carried his weapons now. Did the dangers of their journey frighten her?
She suddenly threw her arms around him. “Sorry. I can’t greet you properly. Everything is nuts. Total blur.”
Then…his weapons did not frighten her.
She released him and disappeared into the bathroom. A gentle shush of her shower started. Her voice drifted out to him. “You can use the door, you know. What happened to your clothes?”
“I do not know.”
He had left them on a wooden bench beside a sleeping man to dive into the nearest waterway. Strong currents had carried him quickly to the part of the harbor where he’d stowed his weapons, and an equally powerful crosscurrent had carried him back. When he’d resurfaced, the man had been gone, along with his coverings. Only these thin cloth under-coverings had fallen beneath the bench.
Humans disliked nudity, and their eyes had followed him with too much attention as he’d navigated the few streets back to Hazel’s apartment building.
“And I think you’re not allowed to have weapons until you leave,” her voice continued, echoing from the small room. “Isn’t that what the customs guys said?”
“I am leaving,” he said.
The shower shut off. Hazel hurried out, towel haphazardly around her, and opened a small door. Inside was crammed a mass of human coverings. She flipped through, tossed them toward a bag, and pulled others onto her body. She dropped the towel and raced around the apartment, muttering as she moved.
“Go bag, go bag…sunscreen? Sure. Definitely aspirin. Sunglasses…wipes…stain stick? Sure, why not?” She yanked open a cupboard. “Have you had breakfast?”
“No.”
“Help yourself to anything. I have to unplug appliances. Oh, but not the fridge. Ugh, I should seriously empty that. Look at this mess. How can I leave this for over a year? Oh God, oh God.”
This panic led to her dropping things, tripping, causing more problems for herself.
It was not the action of a female who could handle herself.
Hm.
The square metal next to the locked door buzzed.
Hazel dropped more small things into a bag and raced to the square. She pressed a button. “Yes?”
“Hazel? It’s Flora. I’m from the foundation.”
“Did you bring the battery?”
“Is this like a test? A password?”
“Didn’t you get the message from Dannika? I really, really need it.”
“Oh. You know you won’t be able to take a cell phone where you’re going.”
“God, don’t remind me.”
Flora was silent for a long moment. “I was… I didn’t see that. Um… Could we get you one on the way? There’s kind of a car here. And a private plane is waiting, but we’ve only got clearance for the next little bit.”
Hazel’s soul fluctuated, dark and bright and dark again. She fixed on him. Standing in the center of her apartment where he’d been from the moment he’d returned.
Her soul brightened again, steadied by his presence.
His shoulders lowered in response.
How odd. He hadn’t felt panicked this whole time. He’d only been watching her.
She took a deep breath, let it out, and spoke into the square. “We’ll be right down.” She released the button, shouldered her bag, slipped her feet into shoes, and opened the door. “Here we go.”
He exited.
She took one last look around her apartment. Her soul dimmed again with worry and another emotion. Sadness? She closed and triple-locked the doors, squared her shoulders, and resol
utely turned away.
Panic crossed her face. She patted her pants. “Oh, God, I forgot my phone.”
She shoved her bag at him. He held it patiently while she unlocked her door, raced in, returned triumphant with the square of metal and plastic, and locked it all up again. Then she remembered something else, and a third thing.
He studied the construction of the hallway. The mer rarely swam in these narrow caves. If someone attacked, they’d have no room to maneuver.
“Okay. Take four.” Hazel finished locking her door and hurried for the elevator, then halted. “Oh, wait. Maybe I should get—”
“Come.” He caught her hand, turning her around to face the elevator again. This panic was making her make mistakes. “You cannot take it with you beneath the water.”
“No, but we’re going to be on a yacht, so I should—”
“You do not need it.” Whatever it was.
“But I might—”
“And if you do, I will get it for you.”
She rocked onto her heels and looked up at him. “You will?”
The electrical impulse of panic vibrated out of his core. Into the hand holding hers. Up to his face and down to his toes.
Where had that promise come from?
He must not make vows.
He couldn’t be trusted. He wouldn’t get her what she needed.
But on this journey, he must provide everything for her.
And so he must.
She expelled a small sigh. “No, I don’t. I’ve just never been on a private plane or a yacht before. I’m sure you’re right.” She linked their fingers easily. “Okay. Take, what? Five? Haha, that’s not right. Whatever. Oh, Dannika’s going to work hard getting me into shape. Ugh.” And she stepped into the elevator, tugging him after, and descended while her soul fluctuated with new worries.
And he felt…
Released.
She didn’t berate him for his arrogance.
The impulses in his body pinged without an escape.
They reached the ground, met the female Flora, and strapped themselves into a car. His trident barely fit.
