Free to roam the seas once more, without the shackles of the life-debt binding me. With that thought buoying my spirits, I take my leave.
A transport shark is waiting for me outside the King’s office and I wearily hold on to its dorsal fin as it barrels through the water. The first time I traveled by shark had been a less-than-pleasant experience. Now, though, it has become just another mode of travel. The magic wears off slowly, allowing me to ascend without getting sick, but my body still feels off. I will never get used to this. Though, the view isn’t bad. I let my eyes roam around the sizeable underwater city.
The Ice Mer King might be a cruel overlord who apparently has a fetish for filicide, but his domain is breathtaking. The coral buildings reflect all the colors of the sea. The soft pinks and blues accentuate the incredible rainbow of hues as thousands of Merpeople and schools of fish swim through the city.
Few humans ever see Aqualis, and here I am. I wish I could enjoy it and play the tourist, but everything is just so damn heavy. I wish I had never met Henrick.
Murder an innocent. Not just any innocent. The Crown Princess herself. Is it too much to hope that she's a horrible person? It would make this so much easier.
Actually, considering she is the progeny of the cruelest being I've ever known to roam the seas, I'd bet my chances are pretty high. If she's cruel, then it makes my job easier to stomach.
The beautiful city loses some of its luster because of its cold brutality. It would be idiotic to look at the artistic value of such a place and ignore the soldiers with deadly seashell swords strapped on their backs.
We're drawing closer to the surface, and I see rays of sunlight shooting forth through the water. I cannot wait to get my legs back.
The shark brings me to a dock where my rowboat is securely tied off. My ship is floating in the distance.
My whole body heaves as I let out a relieved exhale.
I'll spend the day on land. My mind is swirling with things to do. Lists are good. They provide order. And right now, that’s what I need.
Nodding to myself, I pull on the spare sweatpants I had left in the rowboat for this purpose. I’ll stock up on supplies and get my crew back on the ship before our unwanted guest arrives. I know they'll want to leave as much as I do. The sea calls to our very souls.
As I go about my business, one thought remains in my mind.
Let her be cruel.
Behave
HELENA
Two years ago, the Consort of the Winter Court killed my older brother, Henrick, in front of a large audience.
My pompous older brother had been idiotic and brash, as usual. When he underestimated Elva’s lover, Nathaniel, he’d lost. If we’re being honest, I was almost happy when Henrick died.
All of that almost-joy had been short-lived when my father had returned to Aqualis from the Spring Mer Lands. When the Ice Mer King had burst into the small estate he had given me, I had been floating in my softest bed of kelp. I can still remember the way his emerald eyes burned with fiery rage.
In that instant, I had known his mind. He had wanted to invoke his birthright power. The magic imparted to the beings of our land from the gods.
I had poked my head out, waving my fingers as I flashed him my best smile and said, “Hello, Daddy.”
That had been approximately six seconds before he had exploded in a swirl of thick, green ink. My father had grabbed me by the wrists and dragged me into the courtyard. After some overly dramatic shouting, he had told me he was going to throw me in prison with the most wanted and dangerous Mer in the sea.
I had sweetly reminded him I was now the heir to the throne. Even for a mighty Mer, throwing his heir in prison might look a teeny, tiny bit bad.
He struck me once across the cheek, called me a bitch, and then told me the next worst thing: I would have to go live with Hallie and James in their private estate in the coral reef.
It was secluded, and Hallie had refused to so much as look at me since they found out Henrick was dead. She hated me and blamed me for his death. She made it very clear that since Elva wasmyfriend, I was at fault for everything that had happened. To make things worse, my father had gleefully informed me I would not be allowed any technology. He laughed as he told me I could kiss my contact with the outside world goodbye.
Within minutes of his proclamation, he had a servant pack my bags. Mirthless laughter had escaped my father’s lips as he sent me off with a team of shark escorts to live with my sister and her husband for the indefinite future.
I had known what he was doing, even then. I understood King Phelix well. He was biding time until he figured out what to do with me.
My father is a terrible person in general, but he is still the male who contributed to my conception. Growing up, he had forced us all to respect him and prepared for the possibility that any of us could take his place.
When I first arrived at Hallie’s house, I had been exhausted from the journey. The house had been cloaked in darkness, and not a soul had spoken to me while I was shown to my room upstairs.
Day after day, things remained the same. They all dragged on, morphing and bleeding into each other until I no longer felt the passing of days. Like the slow growth of a coral reef, each day creeped along. It was only because of the sweet notes from my nieces and nephews that I knew nearly two years had passed while I rotted away in that damned room. I tear the little letters the Merlings bring me to shreds until the enchantment on them disappears, and they disintegrate in the water.