Into the Deep Page 25

  I’m feeling bold and it’s probably not the best course, but I say, “Because that’s what you are.”

  Rage floods her face and she snarls, “Eustacia should have been queen!”

  Her words bring me to the very edge of losing control. She’s baiting me and I can’t let her. The merwitch reaches over and touches Magdalena on the arm, instantly deflating her anger. “Do not worry. She will be queen. It’s only a matter of time.”

  Examining her closer, I spot the amulet hanging from her neck, a starfish about four inches in diameter. The closer I look, I notice it isn’t merely hanging there, but embedded in the skin, similar to the brand on her sharks. It appears to be made of gold, but it glows, giving the illusion that it’s alive as it pulses with power.

  I avert my gaze so I’m not caught staring and because I’m deeply disturbed by the trinket in her skin. Her egg-white eyes quicken my pulse. They focus on me with a chilling intensity and I suppress the urge to crawl away, somewhere deep and far from her lifeless scrutiny.

  “Don’t worry, my dear child. I’m not done with you either. You’re special. I can sense it, and when I’m finished with your parents, I’ll have to find out exactly what it is. You dispatched poor Fallon too quickly and that means you can be of use to me. I can teach you to give in to the darkness.” Her deep tone echoes strangely. We’re out in the open, yet it’s as if she’s in a confined space. It’s almost worse than her dead pupils.

  “How can you keep up this destruction without recognizing that it’s affecting your home too? What do you hope to achieve?” My voice is deceivingly strong considering my insides are quivering. I hate that she is thrilled I took a life and seeks to use me. But I have to ask. If I get out of here alive, I have to have some information to show for this besides blood on my hands.

  “I’ll stop when every continent is covered with water. Humans destroy everything. The only way to save our people and the planet is to exterminate mankind. Once that’s done, all mer will bow to me out of fear and respect. They will quake when they realize the deadly power I possess.”

  Her passion and depravity freezes my heart. “You realize not all humans are destructive and heartless? Some are innocent.”

  It’s insane how often I’ve made this same argument as a mermaid—to Magdalena, to Nerio, and now to the creature who holds everyone’s lives in her hands. I’m sick of it.

  “They may start out innocent, but it always ends the same. More oceans are poisoned, more species killed off, and for what? Don’t worry, child. You’ll see.”

  “You won’t succeed,” I warn. “I won’t be your pawn.”

  “I already have. Soon your father will also realize it.” She flicks a long, black tail out of the water. “Remember, you cannot leave. These sharks are mine, they hunger for mermaid blood. We’ll talk when I return.”

  Before I can react, she disappears. Magdalena lifts a hand to her lips and blows me a kiss. I scream in frustration at letting them leave and not knowing more than I did a few minutes ago.

  Angry with wasting my opportunity, I sink in the sand and wrack my brain to figure out what she’s up to and how I’m going to escape. She’s using Mom to lure Stavros out. Then she’ll kill him in order to rule his kingdom and my mom will be killed, collateral damage.

  With my actions against Fallon, she now senses there is a fundamental difference in me. I’ve lost the element of surprise where she is concerned and I curse myself for that. While she may not know what I’m capable of, she’s planning to find out.

  There has to be a way off this island. And I have to calm my nerves to regain control. My skin is too tight. I feel brittle, like I will break apart at any second. I dig my toes into the sand and remember Gaia.

  Using a few precious seconds, I slow my frenzied breathing and draw on the air around me, letting the weightless sensation calm me. Tapping into the air, into the strength I can draw from land, I start to relax and gain clarity. Fallon’s death fades, releasing my conscience. I may have acted too soon, but it was necessary. Logic tells me he won’t be the last to die at my hand. Considering what is coming, what I’m fighting for, I can live with that.

  Feeling more myself, yet older in ways I can’t yet fathom, I wonder if I can affect the water to kill or stun the sharks, or have it shoot me over the rocky walls.

  I blow out a breath of frustration, which inspires me.

  My back aches with the strain of my concentration. I recall the lighter power, the less scary one, and peer out into the lagoon. I’m not familiar with the physiology of a shark, but I focus on the closest one and hone in on its gills. I imagine them closing, sealing up, and cutting off the oxygen rich water.

  The shark begins thrashing about as it struggles for air. Eventually, it turns belly up. Encouraged, I broaden my scope and work on small groups, closing their gills and abandoning them to death.

  Soon the lagoon is littered with the floating bodies of the dead—sharks and a merman. Foolishly I waste a moment to do a victory wiggle. The power isn’t pretty blooms and party tricks, as Batari promised. It has the ability to take lives.

  Except when I peer out over the bodies, I’m overcome with guilt and it halts my silly dance. How could I be so callous in the face of mass death? Even if they are deadly, the sharks were beautiful and it was a waste. They are different than Fallon, who had free will and chose his path.

  I stop and brush the thoughts aside for now, along with so many others. I don’t have any time to lose, so I dive in.

  As fast as I can, I swim to the underwater opening for the tunnels, avoiding the floating bodies. It’s impossible to avoid bumping into them and each time it happens, I flinch.

  Now all I have to do is figure how to get out of the labyrinth.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Instead of trying to remember which route Fallon brought me through, I follow the tunnels on instinct, letting the currents tell me which way to go. For a while, I think I’m traveling in the right direction, but the water starts to grow darker, colder. I’m wasting time. Panic and claustrophobia set in.

  A black shadow catches my attention, gliding toward me. I recognize the shape. It’s a hammerhead shark.

  I must have missed one. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

  The tunnels are too small to maneuver in and I have no choice but to face it directly. Earlier, standing on a sandy beach, I felt safe, no need to freak. An idea strikes me. Maybe the creature knows where Calandra went. My instincts scream to flee but, from somewhere deeper, I am tempted to communicate.

  It isn’t attacking so I reach out, tapping its conscious, hoping I can do it without touch. Once I’m concentrated, a sensation travels through the water that isn’t the least bit threatening. In fact, it seems as if the shark is reaching out to me. I decide to trust the tingle, for now.

  “Why aren’t you trying to hurt me?”

  Imagine my surprise when I hear an intelligent voice in my head. It says, you assume all of my kind are out to kill you?

  I brush the shock off and decide to roll with it, remembering the shark I sensed outside the palace that night. Instead of sending thoughts, I continue to talk. “Do you blame me? Whenever I’ve crossed paths with a shark it’s attacked me. Are you saying that’s not true?”

  We are the greatest predators in the ocean and the merwitch manipulates us into doing her more mundane tasks. She controls our consciousness. The ones who attacked you were not aware of their actions.

  Compassion sneaks in and I pity their predicament. It also helps ease my guilt for what I did to the sharks and to Fallon. “Can I help? Loosen her hold?”

  Your power rivals hers. I could tell that before you unleashed it in the lagoon. Do not feel guilt. Do not fret. You did what you had to. The merman would have hurt you without a second thought. He fed off her evil. We have no choice. Like her, you can reach our minds. Most are too far gone, too corrupted, to change. But you will reach some. We long for freedom again.

  I’m deeply affected by thi
s and make a split second decision. “I will do my best to free you. You have my word. I’m curious to find out more, and there will be time for that later, but I have to go. Can you show me the way out of here?”

  I am happy to. I can also show you where she is.

  The hammerhead glides past me and, even in light of our conversation, I press as close as I can against the rock wall. The eye on the side of its flattened skull locks on me as it passes.

  It leads me through the maze and I’m thankful I stopped to let it explain. I would not have gotten out of here otherwise. Its words also comfort me, reaffirming my choice to hurt the merman and beginning the process of forgiving myself.

  A creature you call a dolphin is coming, followed by two mermen. It would be best if you move in front of me. I fear if they see me first, it would end poorly.

  Swimming ahead, the dry humor in what it just said echoes and I smirk. Speaking with a shark is crazy enough. Discovering they are familiar with things like irony is sobering.

  A darkened shape darts into the tunnel and I cringe against the wall. It bumps into me and chatters excitedly. A sigh of relief bubbles out of my lips. Kona.

  “I found you, I found you.”

  More movement draws my attention to the entrance as Alexios and Xander lurch into view. I rush over and throw myself into Xander’s waiting arms. He holds me tight and strokes my hair.

  “You’re safe. Kona led us to you.” He tenses as he spots the floating leviathan.

  “No, wait!” I shout, noticing that Alexios is reaching for his sword. “It’s okay. I promise. It actually helped me.”

  Xander stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “It’s not possible.”

  “That’s what I thought. Not all of the sharks appreciate being controlled and manipulated. Some, including this one, want their freedom back.” They both continue to look unconvinced. “It can show us where she went.”

  “Yeah, because it’s a trap,” Alexios argues.

  “Please, trust me.” I glare intensely at the two mermen until they reluctantly nod. Turning to the shark, I say, “Follow us out and when we’re in the open, you can move ahead and lead the way.”

  The hammerhead glides around us as soon as we’re free of the daunting tunnels. Kona, who’s heart is the purest I’ve ever met, cautiously approaches it.

  “Are you really going to help us?”

  Princess, tell your champion that I will do my best. While our kind has never been friends, I vow to protect him as well, if the need arises.

  I repeat what it said and Kona ventures even closer. “I trust you. I can tell you don’t want to hurt us. Zoey is my friend, and you’re hers. That makes us friends.”

  And it’s as simple as that. The shark leads, with Kona flanking it.

  “That’s the strangest sight I’ve ever seen,” Alexios mutters.

  Once we’re moving again, I finally let the questions loose. “What happened? Where is the king?”

  Alexios answers, anger clipping his tone, “Calandra sent word to Stavros that she had you and your mother. She demanded that he meet her and discuss your release. He and Nerio left immediately, before they realized it was a ruse. Kona came barreling into the palace as we were preparing to follow and told us you went the other direction.”

  I can’t believe he fell for the trap, but he must have been desperate to save us. “They have Mom somewhere else. Calandra left me here, but I killed the sharks guarding me.” Slightly afraid of their reaction, I add, “And I killed the merman who brought me here.”

  I’m no longer sorry for my actions. Remorseful, yes, because a waste of a life always carries consequences, but I accept I had to.

  Alexios’s eyes widen as Xander asks, “Your power? Are you okay?”

  “He convinced me Mom was here and when I saw she wasn’t, it just happened. It was so fast. He tossed me on land and right after I changed, I hurt him. And I’m fine. I did what I had to. Then I planned to use it on Calandra, but I waited too long. I was too preoccupied with finding out where my mom was. Calandra plans to return and experiment with me.”

  “She knows?” Xander asks.

  “Not entirely. She suspects there’s more to me than normal, so she intends to find out, to show me how to exploit the darker side, in her words.” I grit my teeth. “I should have hurt her, or Magdalena.”

  “Don’t dwell on that. If you’d managed to hurt her, she wouldn’t have told you where you mom was,” Alexios says. “As far as Stavros, Nerio, and the rest of the guard are concerned, they think you are with your mother. We need to be fast if we have any chance at catching up to them.” He lays a comforting hand on my arm. “Don’t concern yourself with the merman’s death. This is war. There are bound to be casualties. I know from experience whatever you’re feeling will fade, but never fully leave you.”

  I offer him a grateful half-smile. With the support system I have, I don’t doubt that I will move past this.

  We set a grueling pace, the hammerhead guiding us. I keep a tether between the animal and me to be certain it isn’t a trap. Alexios wasn’t joking when he said we had to be quick. Even as strong a swimmer as I’ve become, I struggle to keep up with them.

  The ocean is void of any life. The floor turns rockier and shallower. It tastes metallic, like rotten eggs or sulphur. Steam rises from a jumble of rocks and I assume we’ve entered a volcanic area. It bubbles to the surface in a steady stream.

  Our guide slows, its movements growing cautious. I peer ahead of us and attempt to charge forward. Alexios grabs me and yanks me behind another pile of rocks.

  “We must not rush in. Let’s gauge the situation first. Stay out of sight.”

  He nods to Xander in an unspoken command and they guide me from rock to rock as we inch as close as possible. Kona and the shark hang back, keeping to the shadows. Finally, the scene develops into focus. As my heart plummets to the gritty floor, I’m aware of my mouth hanging open. It’s a sight I will never forget, no matter how long, or short, I live.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  A giant bubble envelopes Mom, floating deceptively easy in the current as its sides flex and pulse. Her gasping breaths and blue lips indicate she doesn’t have a lot of oxygen left. To have her so close is torture. Pain rips through my chest and the power prods me, tempting me to rush out and free her. My only solace comes in the familiar sight of her tangled blond hair and compact frame.

  Swallowing my fear, I’m determined to stay focused and not impulsive. Rash actions have already led to one dead body.

  I shift my attention to my father and our enemy next. He’s staring down Calandra, whose face is dominated by a wide, goading leer. Her presence is daunting, filling up the space and announcing that she believes she’s won. I study the black veins under her skin, vaguely wondering if it’s the result of using so much evil.

  Starvos’s expression is stone, resembling the statues of Poseidon scattered through the palace. He remains rigid and emotionless, his powerful body not moving except for his tail swishing through the water restlessly. That’s when I realize he has no clue where I am or if I’m okay.

  I tear my gaze from my parents and search for Nerio and the other palace guards. When I spot them, it takes a few seconds for the reality of what I’m witnessing to hit. Most of the guards are being held by giant octopi, their tentacles binding them into immobility. Each octopus is dark red and has to be at least thirty feet across. The tentacles are another fifteen feet on top of that. I didn’t imagine such creatures actually existed. As I struggle to accept this crazy reality, the word pops into my mind.

  Kraken—yet another myth to make its presence known.

  There are sharks too, focused on the captives with their unnerving stare. Not just great whites, but all shapes and sizes hover, silent and deadly torpedoes. There are some with brands and without. If I try, maybe I can reach them, convince them to help or sever Calandra’s authority.

  My eyes pause on Nerio as he struggles, despair etched on this
face. If I could maneuver over there, out of sight, and set them free, it’ll boost our odds. At the very least, I should incapacitate those creatures holding them by sending a shock through the water. Would that hurt the mer was well though?

  I reach out to touch the minds of the krakens, hoping I can release the hold Calandra has on it. All I’m met with is a blank void. I refuse to slaughter more sharks, unless it’s absolutely necessary, so I contact the hammerhead who led us here.

  Is there anything you can do? I ask, hoping it hears me.

  Yes, is my answer, some of the tethers she maintains are weak, more so if she is distracted. If I’m successful, I will have them attack the giant animals. That should give you a chance to do what you need to save your people.

  I sense it leave, hoping the cunning predator will be a good ally to have in a battle. I’m placing the lives of our warriors, and the merman who holds my heart, in its trust. Going with my gut, I shift my attention. I have to figure how to save my parents.

  Alexios’s words echo in my head, reminding me to be cautious, and I rein in my impatience. I catch sight of Magdalena lurking close by. As much as I hate Calandra and what she’s doing to my family, I have a strong desire to wrap my fingers around Magdalena’s neck. Her corruption and betrayal is personal. Maybe I can hurt her like I did Eustacia. No, that will distract me, too risky.

  All this indecision is wearing on me. I’m edgy and anxious. I have to act!

  I notice other mer gathered behind Calandra, but I can’t make out who they are, if I recognize them. What I do see is they are heavily armed with swords, knives of varying lengths, and clubs.

  Stavros’s shout snaps me back to the nightmare unfolding. “Where is my daughter?”

  “You have a more pressing matter to attend to, your highness,” the merwitch gloats, her white eyes flashing. “Once the air is gone, your lost love will die. Time is of the essence.”

  His glare remains locked on Calandra. “Where is Zoey?”

  “I know you care for her,” she barks, ignoring his demands. “Your queen says you pine for her, a lovesick child. Choose, Stavros.”