“Clever girl.” Idris smiled. Her eyes were intense. “You don’t want to wake Carnevole. He isn’t very pleasant.”
“Who’s Carne-bowl?”
“No, stupid girl, Carnevole.”
“Idris,” Tahmi paused. “Can I ask you something?”
“I already know what you’re going to ask.”
“Will you help us with the Hammerloons?”
Idris’ long tail curled at the end in the shape of a circle. She turned sideways. “No.”
“But I don’t want the others to be put into danger because of me.”
“You should’ve thought of that before.” The Steel slipped from her chair and slithered across the wet, stone floor. Her tail wrapped around Tahmi’s waist.
“What are you doing?” Tahmi exclaimed, struggling. Idris tightened her grip. She tugged, pulling the girl into the water. “Let go of me!”
“Did you really think that if you came down here I’d just ‘jump’ at the chance to help you?” Idris lifted Tahmi out of the water. She hung in the air parallel to the Steel’s face. Her deep eyes studied her. “You don’t look like much at all.”
“Why does everyone feel the need to examine me?”
Idris laughed, submersing Tahmi. She sucked up water and bubbles escaped her mouth. Was the steel going to drown her? “Silly girl.” The steel lifted her once more. “You’ve been all our world’s talked about since you disappeared. If you ask me, you’re quite a disappointment.”
“I never claimed to be anything special,” Tahmi shouted, flailing her arms and legs, trying to free herself with all her might. “Let me go,” she cried now. “I’ll just go. Forget I even asked.”
The steel dragged Tahmi closer. Their faces were inches apart. Tahmi could see what Idris wore on her head. It was a star fish. She was so close, in fact, that she could smell the steel’s scent. She had a strong musky odor, almost like tree bark.
“Now, child, you know I can’t just let you leave.” Idris shook her head. “What sort of message would that send to all those who fear me?”
“You’re a monster.” Tahmi sobbed. Her arms and legs grew limp. “Do whatever you want, I’m tired of fighting.”
“Tired?” Idris tightened her grip, suffocating the young princess. “You haven’t even begun to understand what it’s like to be tired. Do you realize that we’ve been tired of fighting for years? Do you realize the damage you left behind?”
Tahmi’s face turned blue. The blowgels dimed and the steel’s face vanished in the darkness.
“Oh.” Idris chuckled. “I’m killing you. Oops.” She laughed hard. Her tail loosened some and Tahmi gagged, gasping for air. “See, there’s still a little fight in you left.”
“Do you torture everyone you kill?”
“Yes,” Idris admitted. “It’s a very bad habit, I admit, but there isn’t much else that I find fun these days. Her eyes set on Tahmi. “Say, suppose I did help you across the border, what would you do then?”
“I’d find Lorcan and demand he give my friend back.”
“Who is your friend?”
“Jerry Landers.”
“Jon Landers’ nephew?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“He never visits me.”
Tahmi rolled her eyes. “I can’t imagine why not!”
Idris dunked her under the water. Tahmi splashed about, struggling to free herself.
“See,” she spoke to the splashing water, “Tahmi, my dear, I don’t see why I should intervene just so you can save some useless little boy.”
Tahmi bit the steel on one of her small fins. Idris jerked, releasing her. Tahmi kicked as fast as she could, focusing on the escape tunnel. What had Eytan said? If she felt her life were in danger to leave right away and get into the open water. That’s exactly what she planned on doing.
She kicked, dipping low.
Idris jerked her back, holding her high above her head. The steel’s eyes narrowed and she dunked Tahmi, letting her stay submersed a minute then letting her up for a second and then back under.
“The audacity!” She screamed, dipping her again. “How,” “…think you can,” Idris took a deep breath, lifting Tahmi out of the water. “I won’t torture you any longer.”
This was it. The steel was going to kill her.
“Can I just ask you a question?” Tahmi’s eyes watered, “Please?”
“What is it?”
The steel looked uninterested in anything she had to say.
“Why do you hate me so much?”
Idris narrowed her eyes. “Hate? That doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Please, just tell me. No one will tell me the truth. I get bits and pieces only. Everyone says ‘oh, you’re going to be the future queen but you’ll also be the biggest disappointment’ and then I get ‘you’re not special at all’ or ‘fix Gadaie, fix me, fix all my problems or else I’ll torture you so you can see what it’s like to be me’.”
The steel grinned, loosening her grip. “You’ve met quite a lot of people, haven’t you?”
“I’ve met the ‘black ones’, stars, war pigs, an evil donkey, sparklers, a muddler, a loonette, octaloons, a needleloon, snaps, horses who used to be people, I’ve lost my sister—she was special—loonies, merloonies, gups, spitos, blowgels—”
“Okay, enough mumbling,” Idris said. “You’re exhausting.”
“Well, each one studies me and decides I’m not special and that I’m not enough. Who do they think they are? Who do you think you are?!”
Idris placed her on the slippery stone floor. “I’ll give you thirty seconds to disappear from my home. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Thirty seconds?” Tahmi exclaimed. She put her hand on the stone next to the star fish. “It takes at least a minute to get out of here.”
Idris shook her head. “It won’t matter now anyway.” The steel sighed, “You’ve awakened Carnevole.”
“Carnevole?”
The rocks vibrated under Tahmi’s fingers. She jerked her hand away. What was happening? Were the rocks growing larger?
Two eyes opened.
Tahmi screamed, scrambling backwards.
“I warned you,” Idris said, disappearing under water.
Carnevole’s eyes glowed in the blowgels’ light. He brushed rocks away from his face and off his shoulders. He was solid and had a man’s torso with bulging muscles. His long fins were ripped and torn in several places as if he’d seen many battles.
Tahmi noticed that he too wore a star fish on his head. Was that some sort of defense mechanism? Or maybe a way for them to hunt down their prey! Either way, she wasn’t about to find out.
She dove, keeping her eyes focused on the tunnel up ahead. This time, she had to make it.
Spitos sat on the bottom and opened their clamshells. They sprayed her with oil. Blowgels grew larger, exposing even more sharp ridges in their flesh.
Tahmi ignored them all. Her heart beat furiously. He was gaining on her. She could tell by the way the water parted in all directions. Carnevole was enormous and each flick of his tail caused small tidal waves that splashed up against the walls. Blowgels spun in circles, knocking into rocks and spitos buried themselves in the mushroom’s flesh.
She was at the stone doorway. All she needed to do was get—
Carnevole’s tail whipped her in the leg. It stung, paralyzing her. She didn’t give up. Tahmi kicked one leg and cupped her hands around the door. She squeezed inside, grabbing the sides of the mushroom tunnel.
She ignored its slimy texture and pulled herself higher and higher.
Bubbles floated past her, some getting caught in her shirt.
That could only mean one thing…
Carnevole let out a scream. His body slithered into the tunnel. His fins lay flat against his torso and he opened his mouth wide exposing sharp, pointed teeth.
Tahmi climbed higher and forced herself to ignore the fact that she needed oxygen. Up above someone’s tentacle
tangled. She grabbed a hold of it.
The tentacle was full of suction cups. They attached themselves to Tahmi and pulled her up.
But, not fast enough.
She screamed, grabbing her foot. Blood colored the water around her.
The seahorse circled, motioning for her to grab ahold of him. Tahmi couldn’t move. Everything darkened.
As her eyes closed, she saw Eytan and several octaloons surrounding Carnevole. His torso was halfway out and his eyes were glued to hers.
“Tahmi,” a garbled voice shook her. She was fading fast. Everything blackened. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
Small tentacles wrapped around her waist. They burned. Her skin was raw where Idris had nearly strangled her. Was that light up ahead?
Amberlyn struggled under Tahmi’s weight. She strained, pushing her up onto a floating daisy. She poked the princess. Was she dead?
“Wake up,” Amberlyn whimpered. Her lip trembled. Was she too late? “Tahmi?”
The little octaloon searched the empty surface. Ziv landed on Tahmi’s shoulder. “What’s happened?”
“I didn’t save her,” Amberlyn cried. She shook, tears pouring down her cheeks. “She isn’t breathing.”
“Push on her stomach. There’s water in her lungs.”
The octaloon turned the girl over and pressed her abdomen with all her might. She pumped, watching as Tahmi choked, spitting out water.
“Tahmi!” Ziv shouted. His light glowed and he pressed himself against her. She doubled over, pushing the star away. Tahmi gagged, spitting up even more water and a little oil from the spitos.
“Sorry Ziv.” She could hardly speak. “Amberlyn,” Tahmi looked up into the young octaloon’s eyes, “Thanks for saving my life.”
“Carnevole was going to kill you,” Amberlyn said. “I heard him make his ‘kill’ cry. It was scary.”
“Well, he’s failed—at least for right now.”
“Are you ready to go? Your raft is finished. A big, funny looking creature is sitting on it. He won’t leave and when I try to force him off he makes a scary sound.”
“Rolls? He’s back!” Tahmi tried to stand. She wobbled, falling on her bottom. The daisy swayed back and forth. She steadied herself in its center.
Eytan leaped through the air, his fins outstretched like wings. “Get her out of here!” He shouted.
They didn’t have to ask why.
The water grew violent. Carnevole surfaced. His eyes searched.
“Go, Amberlyn,” Tahmi whispered. “This is my problem. Take Ziv with you.”
“I don’t breathe under water,” Ziv said.
“Then fly away dummy!” Tahmi shouted, she turned and pointed at the angered Steel. “Hello, Carnevole. What took you so long?”
The steel’s mouth opened exposing teeth stained with blood—her blood. He didn’t need much encouragement. His head disappeared underneath the surface.
Tahmi stood, barely able to move. If she survived this, she was going to need some serious rest. Carnevole was coming. He wasn’t as graceful as the octaloons or even the needleloon who could appear without causing a ripple in the surface or even a sound.
She grabbed onto a large stem. Tahmi looked up; the flower was at least twenty feet above her. Could she make it up the stalk? She hesitated, watching snaps hop from flower to flower—out of Carnevole’s way. He was wreaking havoc on whatever bit of environment the others had left. Didn’t he care?
“Hello, dear.” Idris sat on the edge of the daisy. The weight of the steel nearly tipped them over. “I see you and Carnevole have been busy making nice.”
“He’s trying to kill me.”
“Tahmi.” Idris twirled a strand of hair. “Would you please sit still? It’s rather distracting.”
“Gee, Idris, I’m so sorry that my desire to survive bothers you.” Tahmi continued to climb up the flower stem. “You’ll just have to be inconvenienced.”
“I don’t care for your poor attitude.”
“And I’m not ready to die.”
Idris’ long, eel-like tail surfaced. She wrapped it around Tahmi’s waist and then dunked her.
Tahmi struggled, opening her eyes. Carnevole was only a few feet away! What was Idris thinking? Would she really hand deliver her to the enemy?
The enormous steel was there in an instant, his mouth open and his teeth ready. Carnevole’s eyes narrowed and his battle-scarred fins spread. What was he about to do?
Idris lifted Tahmi out of the water.
Carnevole leaped nearly ten feet. He fell hard. A tidal wave raced their way. Idris sat, unconcerned.
Tahmi’s heart pounded. She’d have been dead either way. He could’ve snatched her right off the flower stem! “What are you doing, Idris?”
“I was trying to have a conversation with you but you seem like you’d much rather play with Carnevole than with me.”
“I don’t want to play with Carnevole,” Tahmi cried. Her body grew limp. Her skin was raw and now all she wanted to do was close her eyes—forever.
“What did I tell you about being tired?”
Tahmi ignored the steel. Why should she watch as Carnevole devoured her? What was the point? At least this way she wouldn’t know when he was coming or even care.
Idris shook her.
Water splashed, knocking the daisy over.
She was under water again.
Why bother holding her breath?
“Tahmi!”
“Tahmi!”
NEWS CHANNEL 10
Donna and Charles sat in Tahmi’s bedroom. It’d been nearly a week since they’d seen their daughter.
Charles looked out the window. “The reporters are here. I see Peg and David going out to greet them. Are you ready, Donna?”
Donna didn’t respond.
“Honey, we need to notify the town.”
“They’re going to think ill of me.”
“Why? Because your sister ran away from home twelve years ago; is that it?”
“Yes, Charles, and now my daughter—she’s run away from me too!”
“That’s nonsense!”
“How so?”
“Andy is missing, too. How could you have possibly had anything to do with that?”
“I don’t want to go down there, Charles.”
“Well, I’m going, Donna, with or without you.”
Donna looked up. Her husband had always stood by her side. But, this time she saw a different man. He wasn’t the same. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“This is our daughter!” He shouted. “You should be willing to do whatever it takes—no matter what others will think—to find her. I’m leaving.”
She was alone.
Donna shook.
Her eyes misted. She glanced outside. Peg and David embraced each other. A reporter pointed a microphone at them. Peg sobbed and David turned aside—hiding his tears from the camera. She watched as Charles joined them.
AMBERLYN
“Tahmi!”
Suction cups stuck to her chest. A bright light flickered above her face. Tahmi covered her eyes with her arm.
“Wake up,” the voice pleaded.
A car engine revved.
What was a car doing in this crazy place? Wait. Did that sound mean she was at home?
Tahmi shot up. Her eyes opened and a smile spread across her face. “Mom? Dad?” She was expecting to see her bedroom and her poster bed. On either side of that bed she wanted her mom and dad sitting, waiting for her to awake from some horrible nightmare.
“Tahmi?”
She turned.
She sobbed.
Instead of her bed, she was on a raft made out of fallen flower stems and instead of her room she was surrounded by water.
Her parents weren’t there either; just Ziv and Rolls.
“We’re nearly to the border,” Ziv said. “Aren’t you happy? Why are you crying?”
“I just miss my parents and my home.”
“But this is yo
ur home.”
Tahmi didn’t respond. What could she say to that? Oh, no its not. Why hurt Ziv’s feelings?
“Look! Just up ahead! The hammerloons!” Ziv glowed brightly. “Do you see them?”
“How did I get on this raft anyway? The last thing I remember was—”
“Pay attention, Tahmi,” Ziv said. Rolls revved circling them. He bounced unraveling into the seated position. There was a smile on his face.
“How are we moving anyway?”
“I’m pushing you,” Amberlyn answered. Tahmi turned around. Small tentacles were perched on the edge of the raft. Her face was submersed and barely visible.
“Does your mother know you’re here?”
“Yeah, right!” Amberlyn twirled round, rolling her eyes. “She’d have a heart attack if she knew!”
“You better go home, Amberlyn, this isn’t safe.”
“That’s never stopped you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ziv says that you never quit on your friends.”
“Well, Ziv has a big mouth.”
“You wouldn’t believe the stories he’s told me!”
“I bet I would.”
“Look! I’ve never seen a hammerloon before. They’re amazing!”
Tahmi turned.
A few yards away she saw them. There was a dam made out of old flower stems. They were rotted and brown and held together by licorice rope. A female hammerloon sat half above the surface. She had long flowing hair and an actual household hammer on top as if it were a hat of some sort. Fins ran along her back and she didn’t have arms. There were large fins that ran down the sides of her where normally a person would have shoulders. She had bright eyes and a frown spread across her face.
An enormous, snake-like muddler appeared. His eyes looked for an opening. He noticed the hammerloon’s attention was on the raft full of intruders. The muddler took his chance.
He slithered halfway over the border, dipping his head into the clean, blue water. The hammerloon let out a shrill cry. A shark fin cut through the blue. The muddler scrambled, trying to make it over the border. There was desperation in his eyes. A hammerhead shark smacked into the side of the muddler; his body slid across the dam. Splinters jammed into his flesh and he wailed. The female hammerloon dipped her head and charged. She bucked, hitting the creature back over the border as if he were a volley ball.
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