Into the Deep Page 12

  “I did it,” I say, breathlessly. “I wasn’t sure I had it in me. It was hard to remember I wasn’t actually part of the water. Does that sound right?”

  “It does, that’s exactly how I feel when I use it. There are some who prefer to spend most of their lives connected with the sea. It soothes them. They often live on their own, apart from society. They’re the hardcore, naturalistic ones.” He smoothes my hair. “I’m proud of you. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to do it so fast, but we carry a long line of unbroken blood in us. Maybe Poseidon has decided to bless my daughter.”

  I lift my hand and the dervish stops spinning. Already, I miss the connection with the ocean and totally understand why the mer Stavros mentioned would choose to spend their time merged with this world.

  “What else can we do?” I ask, eager for more.

  Turning toward my father, I notice a shadow in his expression. Regardless of his praise, it seems as though the quickness of what I just did disturbs him. Suddenly, he rolls over and floats lazily, basking in the sun, and the moment is gone.

  “You’ll learn eventually. I don’t want to overwhelm you,” he says. “We can use it to communicate with fish, it’s used to heal, and we can make humans forget they saw us with a touch. There’s more, but as I said, all in good time.”

  I shift onto my back and float alongside him to stop the questions crowding my tongue. We remain this way for a while, bobbing in companionable silence.

  After about twenty minutes, he says, “I should return to reality.”

  With the dire threats he is facing, guilt jabs at me for keeping him from his duties. Of course, it doesn’t mean I’m not a tiny bit selfish and thankful he’s played hooky with me. It was more than I’d hoped for.

  I follow him into the depths and immediately start to miss the sun. As I do, though, I relish being in the deep more. Using Stavros’s tip from earlier, I reach out and touch the world around me.

  The ocean constantly moves in a rising and falling motion, as if it’s breathing. I stare out over this vast, rocky plain and the water is clear and crisp. But it’s not still. It pulses with energy. A school of huge grouper pass by, their bulky bodies swishing in a rhythm that echoes through me. On the floor beneath me, a sea worm crawls through the gravel and sand. When I concentrate on it, I swear I feel the grit sliding over my skin. Startled, I pull away from the feeling. Stavros didn’t mention being able to experience what a creature does. It’s perplexing. Maybe he just hasn’t gotten that far yet.

  Stavros interrupts. “It’s important to me that you are at home here, but until we understand more about these dangers and if any more of Calandra’s people have infiltrated us, I’d prefer you have a guard when you leave the palace. You have a lot to learn about our world and you should take advantage of that, so I’ll assign a permanent one to you. “

  This gives me an idea.

  “What about Nerio?” He cuts me a sharp glance and I add, “I mean, I know him, so I’m already comfortable with him. He saved my life which means he’s obviously adequate.”

  Emotions cross his face, turning from suspicion to understanding and, finally, agreement.

  “I guess it’s sensible to have someone you are familiar with. I’ll send him over.” We reach the courtyard and Stavros kisses me on the forehead. “Explore and later you can dine with the queen and me.”

  My stomach drops. I certainly do not anticipate that.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As I watch him leave, love blooms in my heart. Maybe it’s silly to let it after only a few hours, but at this point I can’t stop. Stavros has surpassed any expectations I had in coming here. He’s kind and smart and patient. I’m a girl again, one who only has eyes for her daddy.

  Kona appears beside me. “Can we play?”

  “You’re always popping up out of nowhere.” I meet his friendly stare. “I think we can. The king is sending Nerio to be my guard and then I’m free the rest of the day to explore.”

  Kona’s excitement rubs off on me, but nerves entwine my stomach. Last time I saw him, Nerio wasn’t exactly the friendly guy I remembered. Hopefully he’s in a better mood.

  By his stormy expression as he swims over to us, he certainly isn’t.

  “Hi,” I say brightly.

  He concentrates on a spot over my shoulder. “I’m at your disposal, princess.”

  I decide to ignore his snarky tone. Once we’re out of the palace, he’ll probably relax.

  “Stavros has been showing me some stuff and said I’m free to explore. So, take me somewhere.”

  Instead of answering, he sets out at his normal, brisk pace and I struggle to keep up as usual, slower but addicted to the movement. Kona speeds alongside us, oblivious to the tension, and I let the passing scenery distract me.

  Broad, sandy plains merge into rocky areas scarred by black canyons and rippled faults. The ocean floor reminds me of a scuffed up, wrinkled rug blanketed with silt. The sea creatures in this area are sparse and I remember from biology that most marine creatures live in shallow waters closer to shore. Again, the sensation of the ocean being lonely sweeps over me. It truly is an unexplored frontier.

  It must be at least an hour later when Nerio stops, but I’m not sure. It’s still disconcerting not knowing how far we travel or how much time is passing. I’ve yet to glimpse a clock and we cover distances quicker than I dreamed possible.

  “Where are we?” I ask in wonder. The shallow part of the ocean we’re in is extremely clear and full of life. No traces of turbulent seas or natural disasters in sight.

  “The South Pacific. The reefs here are pretty spectacular and I thought you might enjoy them.” His tone remains cold, but at least he took me into consideration when he selected the destination. I chalk that up as a small victory.

  “You should lighten up, Nerio.”

  I don’t think he’s going to answer, but he grumbles, “Easy for you to say. I got pulled out of a training session to babysit.”

  “Is it a custom of the guards to be grouchy?”

  “What do you expect? We don’t spend all day painting ourselves.”

  Visions of the heavily made up mer tempt me to giggle. “Why not?” I tease. “It’s a popular custom.”

  He looks at me as if I’m mad. “If you ever see me paint myself up like a clownfish, slap me.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Nerio scowls at me again. Over his shoulder, I spy what’s left of a ship sticking up out of the seafloor a couple hundred yards to our left. Remembering how my side trip brought us closer on our journey to the palace, I form a plan. We’ll race. Besides, I’m curious to find out how fast I really am.

  “See that shipwreck? I’ll race you to it.”

  I zip off with Kona hot on my tail. It’s spectacular, gliding through the water, and I push myself faster. My speed increases and right when I congratulate myself for doing pretty dang good, Nerio appears beside me and flashes a grin.

  I admire how he moves, sleek with power. Then, he passes and I have to struggle not to lose him. In the end Nerio wins, but not by much. The physical activity feels so good. My body is warm and loose, a sensation I’m quickly becoming addicted to. I itch to go again.

  The race does exactly what I hoped. It lightens the mood between us. Nerio relaxes and says, “You’re doing all right for a beginner.”

  “Careful. Don’t hurt yourself with a compliment, guard.” I wink.

  Determined to keep it light, I spin over top of him and dart off, pleased when he chases. Soon I forget about the race and revel in the powerful movements of my new appendage, of having a fascinating merman at my side. We spend an hour playing and swimming among the fish in the reef. I should say Nerio and Kona play while I’m constantly distracted.

  Almost exactly like at the aquarium, blue and yellow tangs search the coral for food as orange clownfish peek out from the anemones and tiny crabs scamper across the polyps. Giant eels fade into the background, camouflaging with the environment and waiti
ng for a snack to unwittingly pass too close. I avert my gaze from them and the memories they represent, waiting for one to jump out and latch on.

  Thick schools of fish churn, solid enough to block out the light. These are only a few of the creatures using the reef as a habitat. There are many nooks, crannies and tiny caves, each a home to different species of crustaceans. Shafts of sunlight cast strange shadows but also set afire the fish and vegetation. I decide these shallow seas are my favorite, they’re so lush. The taste on the water is slightly fishy, tinged by a hint of earth, but even then, it’s fresh on my taste buds.

  It’d be easy to sit here for hours and watch. That day in the aquarium seems like an eternity ago, part of another person I worry I’m starting to forget.

  Nerio shows me a few practical things—a piece of branch coral some mer use to comb their hair and a fat, yellow fish that enjoys having its belly tickled.

  This is how I dreamed a mermaid would live, frolicking in the waves with no cares in the world. The palace, with its intrigue and rules, is a distant memory. Part of me doesn’t want to go back, which is surprising. While I’m starting to love my father, I long for this kind of freedom, the adventure of the open ocean. I’m no longer the timid, sensible girl who worries about her appearance and what sets her apart.

  Eventually, Nerio pushes up onto a sandbar and reclines to absorb the sun, the rays dancing off his dark maroon scales. While the color shouldn’t be manly, it suits him, exotic and alluring. The water is about six inches deep so I join him, long past being shy. He’s so hot, resting on his elbows, and it’s not from the tropical climate. I settle as close to him as I can without being obvious and copy his position.

  I delight in how my fins also glisten in the direct sunlight. As I lift the tail, the sun catches it at the right angle, fracturing the light in a million pieces. I practice rolling the partly translucent fin and am comforted by how it’s become an extension of me. Kona plays next to us, jumping and doing flips.

  “I wish I could jump like he does,” I say, absently.

  Nerio peeks out of one eye and watches Kona for a while before closing it again. “You can. When you’re a stronger swimmer, I’ll show you. You’re all about speed and the rush so you’ll love it.”

  I want to mention that speed and jumping hasn’t really been an option for me and how this taste of freedom has opened me up, but I can’t. It’s too embarrassing, too personal. So I search for another subject.

  “I met your sister.” I blurt.

  One of his brows rises as his lids stay shut. “How?”

  “According to Galina, she’s my handmaiden or whatever. She said you and I can’t be friends.”

  “Galina? Why would she say that?” His eyes pin me with a confused stare.

  “No! Your sister, silly.” I chuckle.

  A relaxed and proud smile transforms his features. He obviously has a soft spot for his sibling. “Desma is strong willed, but I can’t imagine why she’d tell you that.”

  “You said the same thing last night!”

  His lip twitches. “Last night I was,” he searches for a word, “annoyed.”

  “Because of Xander?”

  “Because you looked as if you belonged with them and I was worried I’d been wrong about you. I was afraid you were more like Eusatcia.”

  “Ouch, thanks. That’s not very nice.” He’s probably not the first to make that assumption.

  “I apologize. I’m not known for my social graces.” He grins. “What else did my sister say?”

  “That I’m not your type.” I flick my tail, splashing water absently. “What is your type?”

  “I don’t know.” Color rises in his cheeks and he laughs. “I guess adventurous, brave, someone who respects nature. It’s impossible to say until I meet her and it hits me over the head.”

  He moves closer and I wonder if he’s doing it intentionally or subconsciously. My words trip over my tongue and, when I meet his gaze, I’m lost in the dark, brown pools of his irises and the building drumbeat of my heart.

  Our lips almost touch, but Nerio jerks up straight, listening. I detect a vibration coming from the water lapping at my waist. As I’m about to ask him what’s going on, he pulls me under.

  “A big ship is traveling in our direction,” he informs me. “We need to get out of here.” Once we’re safe, he stops. “You felt the shudder?” I nod. “Good, that’s the easiest way to judge if a boat is nearby. The engines cause a disturbance and we can sense it.”

  “Have any mer been caught?” It seems unlikely, especially since they’re still considered a myth and not flashed all over the news.

  “Some have, but if they carry any royal blood in them at all, they can make the human forget.” As we draw closer to the palace, he asks, “When do you want to do this again?”

  I wish we were back at the sandbar, with him leaning in to kiss me, only minus the interruption. Instead, I prepare myself for the scrutiny of the inquisitive mer. “I don’t know if Stavros has anything planned tomorrow or not. I’m sure we’ll spend some time together. How about the day after? Let’s do what we just did, only travel north instead. Show me someplace special.”

  “I can do that.”

  As the seamount housing the palace looms into view, his formal mask slips into position and he retreats from me, keeping us a respectable distance apart. I understand we have to be less familiar with each other when I’m being watched so closely. It sucks though. I’m starting to care for him, a lot, but there’s also hesitation.

  “I’ll meet you here mid-morning, day after tomorrow.” Before departing, Nerio bows, Kona zipping along in his wake.

  I watch him leave and brood over my hesitancy. It isn’t only his disdain for humankind, which I want to hear more about. Am I afraid Stavros will be disappointed? Am I afraid of doing something the other mer will perceive as rash? I saw how people watched me with Xander, but he doesn’t affect me at all. Nerio is dark and strong, brave. He saved me. I’m beginning to accept that we have a lot in common, we’re similar. Or at least this version of me is like him.

  And I cannot deny how drawn to him I am. Twenty-four hours in the palace and I already have a crush. How typically human of me, I grin to myself.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Desma is waiting in the hall outside my room to help me prepare for dinner. She follows me in and my body still hums with the adrenaline of such a great day. Not anticipating tonight one bit, I reluctantly perch at the vanity and brush my skin with the sponge as she combs my hair.

  “Did you have a good time, Zoey?”

  I grin at her through the reflection in the mirror, envious of her halo of hair. “It was awesome. Stavros showed me the palace and we got to talk some.”

  “I’m glad. The king is a wonderful man. It’s nice that you’re fitting in and learning your way around.”

  The residual excitement of being with her brother has me speaking without thought. “He assigned Nerio to be my guard and he showed me the reefs. They’re breathtaking.”

  Her expression darkens immediately and her fingers pause in my hair. “Nerio’s not for you. He has plenty of other maids lusting after him.”

  “We’re friends, Desma. He’s the only person I know.”

  The scowl deepens. “There is Xander. And you’re still new. You’ll meet more of our people.”

  “What is it you’re so worried about?” Her disapproval bothers me, especially considering there’s nothing going on and I genuinely like her.

  “I know my brother,” she says as her light brown eyes flash. “Despite you being human, he’ll respect your bravery for coming here. He’ll see you’re different from the others, that you haven’t been tainted by your position. Besides, you’re a royal. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

  It’s a bit harsh, considering I just met him, so I attempt to ease her fears. “I don’t want to hurt Nerio either. You’re freaking out for no reason. I told you, we’re friends and we’ve only known each other fo
r four days. I don’t plan on complicating this experience by falling for someone out of my league.”

  She obviously doesn’t believe me, judging by the twist of her mouth, but she drops the subject. Her normally energetic disposition fades. Instead, she points to a box sitting on the vanity, her voice stiff. “The king had a bunch of jewelry delivered earlier.”

  I lift the lid and discover a dazzling strand of pearls at the top. I pull it out, surprised at its length, and drape it twice around my neck. Desma offers me a matching bracelet. I’m awash in elegance, as only pearls can do. Jewels wink at me, but there’s too much to examine now. I’ll sort through the rest of the box later when I’m alone.

  Galina surprises me at the door to accompany me to dinner. After an awkward goodbye to Desma, we go.

  “Are you unhappy with Desma?” Galina obviously picked up on the tension.

  “Well, besides the fact I’m not used to having someone underfoot and waiting on me, she’s not too pleased that I’m hanging out with her brother.” God, I am an ungrateful, spoiled brat.

  She doesn’t remark on what I said. In fact, she changes the subject. “You’re wearing my mother’s pearls.”

  I lift them, amazed at their age. “They’re even more special now. I wouldn’t have guessed they were that old.”

  “I’ll ignore the fact you called me old.” Galina shoots me a look of mirth.

  The rooms the king and queen occupy are on one of the higher levels of the palace. The atrium works like an elevator. Mer are able to swim up and access any level. I manage a closer glimpse of the obelisk, adorned with carvings of whales and other giant creatures that I don’t recognize. The images fade, growing fainter the higher we climb, but there isn’t enough time to study it. I’ll save that for another day.

  All mer have sparse accommodations, according to Galina, housing only the most basic of furniture. My father and his wife are surprisingly no different. The only feature that stands out is the decorative touches on the walls and furniture. Their immense stone dining table is etched with shell-type scrolls and is intricately carved down the legs. Smaller tables hold figurines and an old ship’s wheel hangs on the largest wall. A gilded mirror graces another surface, almost too decadent for the surroundings.