Into the Deep (8 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Each school of fish we pass has the usual reaction. They dance and show off, watching us swim by. A giant sailfish, a marlin, soars overhead, its shadow blocking out the sun. The colors of its fin are so vibrant and I recall that as soon as they are caught and pulled out of the water, their color fades. It’s a shame because the animal is gorgeous.

“Do the fish really know who I am?”

“You’ve noticed, huh?” Nerio chuckles as a torpedo-shaped animal twirls in front of us.

“It happened before I knew what I was. We went to an aquarium and things got pretty interesting.”

Nerio shudders at the word “aquarium” and I can only imagine what my reaction would be now, considering I’m swimming around with a tail.

“Fish following you and showing off?”

“Exactly, except the sharks. They always tend to have a more violent reaction.”

“Always?”

Not a story I want to share with him on the first day. “Never mind.”

“Sharks don’t like us,” he says abruptly, then softens his tone. “The fish, though, they can smell you because of their heightened senses. They detect your royal blood. It’s how they acknowledge you.”

“Can we talk to them? I mean, is it the same as with Kona?” I have a vision of Ariel with her fish and crab friends in
The Little Mermaid
. I hope it isn’t as silly as that. It would be disappointing.

“Only the purest royals can communicate with the sea life. You’ll find out more once we arrive at the palace. It’s not actual talking. As far as Kona, mammals are different. Even I understand them.”

It’s disconcerting how fast we cover distances and there aren’t many chances to be scared. All my focus goes into not getting left behind. Nerio leads us deeper and the temperature grows colder. It doesn’t affect me and I attribute it to the thicker skin.

I use every second I’m not gawking at my surroundings to revel in the way my body moves, so free and unencumbered. The fluid motion of my muscles is heaven, filling me with a happiness I thought I’d lost. This is truly who I am supposed to be.

The water darkens more and the fish practically disappear. It hits me then how lonely the ocean is. It’s immense and, at times, not a single creature can be seen. It doesn’t mean they’re not there, only invisible. The landscape morphs so quickly, becoming foreign and lunar in the blink of an eye, or broken into a seemingly bottomless abyss.

As nonchalantly as I can, I study Nerio swim. He’s strong and his movements are graceful. My gaze drifts down over his tail and, to my surprise, I find it attractive. His hair is a rich chestnut brown and the longer style brushes his jaw when not flowing behind him. On land, he would have been the kind of guy girls fawned over. Heck, it’s probably the story down here as well.

“Nerio is an interesting name. Is it Greek?” I ask.

He flashes me a grin and my heart stutters a couple beats. “Yes, it means
sea traveler
. Most mer have names that are Greek in origin.”

“Why?” Interest overtakes my blossoming crush as I listen to learn as much I can about these mystical creatures.

“Most of our history is enmeshed with theirs. Long ago we lived in harmony with them. When the Greeks wrote about us, it wasn’t fairy tales or fantasy. It was real.”

“So mermaids originate from the Greeks? Do you mean the people or the actual gods?”

“From Poseidon himself.” He straightens proudly. “Homer’s Odyssey is based on truth.”

“You’ve read the Odyssey?” That detail surprises me more than being the descendant of a god. Maybe because it’s easy to assume mermaids and myth fit together so seamlessly.

“We have school, same as you do.” He smirks. “Part of our Sojourns, the week we spend on land, is to help us identify with the surface and learn the language. We start at the age of five. They say it’s necessary, keeping us linked to a species we’re so connected to, but I’m not as impressed with the human world as others are.”

The disdain when he mentions my race fills the space between us. “What do you find wrong with it?”

“What’s there to like?” He shoots me an incredulous glance. “Don’t be so shocked. There are many mer who feel the same.”

Part of me wishes he’d elaborate on what he considers appalling so I can try and change his opinion. I don’t know why it’s important for me to have him perceive my world in a positive way. Or maybe I want him to picture me in a pleasant light. I worry I’m not measuring up, which is lame. Instead, I switch gears.

“How many mer are there?”

“In all the oceans, there are about twenty thousand. The numbers used to be triple that. We’re slowly dying off, along with the seas.”

We swim over the destroyed wreckage of a large ship and I stop. Curiosity pulls at me, calling out for me to explore the object, which probably hasn’t seen sunlight in at least fifty years. The bow is buried in a layer of silt, leaving the rear of the ship to stick up at an angle. Many of the details lie in shadow.

“Can we check it out?”

Nerio gazes around carefully, then nods. “Keep your senses open. They will alert you if danger is nearby. We’ll spare a few minutes.”

I follow him down and most of the light from above fades, more than I’d experienced before. What happens to my sight startles me. I have night vision! The darkness lightens to a soft gray and I can actually
see
everything. Then, a valid concern hits me.

“Why doesn’t the pressure affect us at this depth?”

“The same way it doesn’t affect a regular fish. Our bodies have adapted to it. You’ll know when you are too deep.”

I swim closer to the wreck. The metal is almost rusted through, but judging from the turrets and broken antennas, it used to be a naval ship. I reach out and touch the corroded remnants of a big gun, clouding the water with rust, and wonder how many souls were lost when it sank. For people who are not used to it, the sea would be a scary place to die. The vast empty space is so cold and dark. It’s no wonder ancient sailors were both fascinated and terrified of being taken into the ocean’s depths.

“You’d be surprised how many of these are down here,” Nerio interrupts my contemplation, his intense gaze locked on the wreckage. “Human wars are horrible. As hard as I try, I can’t fathom that level of hate. For the most part, we are peaceful.”

“If mer are so peaceful, how come you’re a guard?”

Absently, he fingers the sheath housing the sword slung across his chest. Foreign symbols and etchings run along it and my gaze shifts to the broad chest beneath. “Mostly, we’re for ceremonial purposes. We have had wars and uprisings, but not often. There are rumors of unrest and a lot of us are worried.” Catching himself he adds, “But I shouldn’t say.”

“You mean because of the strange weather?”

He nods, his expression turning to steel, giving me the impression he has a deep sense of duty in him. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m not sure anyone has. It requires a lot of power to unleash that kind of fury.”

“So, you think it might be a mer who’s doing it?” I ask, remembering the merwitch Kona and Galina mentioned.

“There’s no other explanation. The state of the oceans has been deteriorating steadily for decades, but this is too serious, too sudden. It can only be someone with tremendous power.”

I fully intend to reply, but his proximity derails my train of thought. There’s a small scar along his left cheekbone, but instead of marring his face, it adds depth and character. His pupils are so dark I could fall into them. My imagination plays tricks on me and I swear the heat coming off him sears into me. We exist in our own little world for one precious second.

Until Kona spirals down between us and breaks the spell. I’m glad, because I have to catch my breath. It’d be stupid to develop a crazy crush on a merman. I mean, I’m a novelty. The freak half-breed, of course he’ll be interested. Plus there’s the fact he appears to hate my kind.

He retracts, putting a respectable distance between us. “Come on, let’s get moving again.”

Kona and I follow wordlessly. Nerio plays the part of silent guard flawlessly, rarely smiling, and stays ahead, just far enough that I can’t question him anymore. What exactly happened at the wreck? My heart is still racing.

I brush it off. No need to take it personally.

Chapter Fourteen

The farther south we travel, the more diverse the fish become. They’re big and vibrant, set apart by the simplest and grandest of differences. Two silver ones swim side-by-side, nearly identical, although the shapes of their fins and contour of their bodies identify them as two distinct species. The variety is endless.

Even at the safe depth Nerio keeps us at, we don’t pass unnoticed. I’m growing used to the sea creatures and how they react to me. Sea anemones reach their pink and purple tentacles up, stretching and waving in the current as I pass by. A school of tiny fish swirl around me, tickling my skin and making me giggle. A huge tuna approaches cautiously and tracks me with its bulbous eye.

The landscape continues to morph and shift, dominated by clear, crisp water. Colors surrounding me brighten and the magical world I pictured leaps into view. It’s very similar to the exhibits at the aquarium—dazzling, colorful, and teeming with life. Floating debris, algae and pieces of wood churn, buffeted by the motion of the waves.

I’m surprised by how warm the water is, almost the temperature of a spa. If all the oceans are like this, it’s no wonder the ice caps are melting so fast. I wonder how it affects the sea animals. It’s got to be uncomfortable if they’re not used to it. Did it bother the mer?

Far above us, night is falling. The light trickling from above fades, kicking my internal clock into gear. I’m starting to tire, but I don’t want to stop. I can’t believe an entire day has passed. I’ve been lost in a constant state of awe. The nonstop travel has caused my limbs to go from warm and fluid into the beginnings of lethargy.

We pass beneath a huge cloud of jellyfish and I roll onto my back in amazement. They’re eerie yet peaceful. This species isn’t that big, but their soft colors shimmer in the water as they slowly drift past. I have the strongest urge to touch one, except I’m worried about the poisonous tentacles.

“They won’t harm you,” Nerio says beside me, somehow reading my mind.

I watch as he reaches out and carefully runs his fingertip along the top of a jelly. As he touches it, the creature pulses and the colors glow brighter. I laugh in delight and do the same. The thin membrane is tough, not delicate, and ridiculously soft. I trail my finger along the surface and the light coming from the creature grows and fades in rhythm with its movement. One of the tentacles grazes me and instead of a shock of pain, it’s pleasant.

“It doesn’t hurt,” I whisper in wonder.

“Your thicker skin protects from the sting. We’re a lot tougher than humans in that regard. We’ve had to adapt for years to survive here and prosper.” I’m rewarded with a smile, unguarded and cheerful.

All of a sudden, I’m surrounded by jellyfish. Normally, I would have panicked or became frightened, but no threat emanates from these animals. Time slows and I exist only in this ethereal wonderland. Their occasional touches seem to draw my cares away, replacing them with tranquility.

I wish I could stay here all day, but, eventually, the jellyfish move on.

“It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Nerio continues to beam at me and reaches out. My pulse quickens, but all he does is pull a stray piece of algae from my hair. It’s an innocent and simple gesture, yet my cheeks burn in embarrassment. Once again, I trip into the deep pools of his eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, “and incredibly brave. The way you’ve embraced this other side of you, I’m not sure I’d remain as positive as you have. It’s easy to appreciate this is who you’re meant to be.”

My mouth gapes unattractively. No boy has ever said anything like that to me. Of course, he wouldn’t be calling me brave if he had met me before, on land, where I’m the complete opposite. Yet I’m caught in his gaze, a prisoner of this fascinating merman.

A large shadow passes overhead, breaking our moment, and I immediately recognize it as a shark. The sight slams into me, imprisoning me with fear, and my body trembles and jerks uncontrollably.

The predator circles closer, waiting to strike. Its movement is eerily similar to the ones at the aquarium and my attacker from years ago. Terrifying memories dig in, latching on like the razor sharp teeth I know are inside the monster’s mouth. Nerio darts in front of me, pulling a long serrated sword from his sheath. It’s only slightly reassuring because it doesn’t seem useful against a giant killing machine.

“When I tell you to go, swim as fast as you can and find cover, preferably where he can’t reach.”

“I c-can’t,” I manage to squeak.

“Zoey, you need to hide,” he shouts.

Frantically, I search in every direction. Is he serious? There’s nothing. Way down below is a tiny cave. The opening is small enough I should be able to wiggle into, which is good. If I have to struggle to fit inside, the enormous shark won’t get to me.

Nerio shouts, “Go!”

Catching a glimpse of the shark coming at us with disheartening speed, I dive straight down toward the cave with all I have, panic ripping at my sanity. The closer I swim, the smaller it looks. I won’t fit at all.

I glance over my shoulder and the shark flashes past Nerio as he swipes at it with the sword. The beast doesn’t flinch. It also doesn’t lunge for Nerio, who, at such a close range, is the easier kill. Instead, it focuses on me with a chilling intensity I can feel, same as the others. For a couple seconds, I’m frozen again, watching it bear down on me with its torpedo-shaped body. Blood trails from the wound Nerio inflicted, clouding the water and pounding me with nightmares.

Finally, I snap out of my trance and move. Panic sends me in the opposite direction of the cave. The shark follows, coming at me with open jaws, and I use every trick I’ve learned to maneuver out of its path. I flip, twist, dip, and, at the last minute, spin out of the way. The disturbance in the water is chilling as his mouth passes within inches of me.

“Stay behind his head, as you are now. He can’t see in that direction. It’ll buy us time,” Nerio orders before jetting down above the shark.

I understand what he needs and a warm flush of strength surges through me. The fish is focused on its prey and doesn’t detect the real danger above. Putting myself at risk, I swim under the giant and flick my tail hard under his jaw.

It has the desired effect. The shark reacts violently to my smack and Nerio bites out a curse. I execute a quick turn and, again, miss the gnashing teeth by inches. Noticing Nerio only a few feet above us, I stop directly in front of the shark, facing it down like I didn’t have a chance to in the past. There’s a dark mark behind its gill, in the shape of a star. It’s a brand, but that can’t be possible. Weren’t the eels supposedly marked?

It shoots forward, disrupting my observation, and I propel myself backward as fast as I can. Right as I’m convinced this will be the end of me, Nerio’s sword slashes through the skull, killing the great white instantly. The powerful body goes limp and Nerio yanks the sword out, darkening the water with more blood. His muscles flex with the movement and a fierce expression clenches his jaw tight.

As the dead shark swirls down into the depths, Nerio draws alongside me and takes a moment to catch his breath, studying me. I’m still emitting unattractive half-sobs and choke down the embarrassing cries. He re-sheaths his sword then wraps a comforting arm around my shoulders.

“That was very stupid,” he says. “But also very brave.” He kneads my shoulder and I find myself leaning into him for comfort.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I babble. “W-when I was six I was attacked by a shark and then two sharks at the aquarium did the same thing.” I gasp. “It was so focused on me and I just reacted. I’m usually not so brave…or reckless. What are they after?”

“You, I suspect. If you say it has happened before.” Please don’t let him ask about it, I pray silently. He doesn’t. Nerio releases me and scowls, putting distance between us. Instantly, I miss his close presence. “Sharks are unique, temperamental, always have been. Now they’re under the control of Calandra, a particularly nasty merwitch whose goal is to rule the oceans.”

He breaks off and guilt clouds his expression.

“How do you know this?”

“From the way it was branded.”

“She brands them?” A vision of the star on the shark resurfaces. I can’t help but feel pity for the creature, to be burned like that. “And this merwitch is causing all the problems lately?”

Reluctantly, he begins talking. “We’ve gathered information from other fish and believe she’s responsible for the disturbances in the world’s oceans. Calandra’s an old mermaid, possibly the oldest. She’s managed to access and harness an old magic which she uses for evil. Every day she grows stronger. The sharks are her minions.” He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m sure the king can do a better job of explaining it than I can. All you need to know is if those sharks were after you, she must realize who you are. That increases the stakes, to use a human term.”

A chill grips me. Was the attack when I was a child purely coincidence? Had they sensed who or what I was even then? I figure it can’t get any worse, until he continues.

“I’ve heard rumors about her already controlling a couple of the other oceans. She plans to replace the current kings with ones who will do her bidding. To make matters worse, she wants to destroy humans. She desires it with a ferocity I cannot fathom. The oceans will rise until they wipe out a majority of your civilization.”

My heart flutters in panic as a lump lodges in my throat, brought on by a sudden longing for home. “My mom?”

“She should be safe if she’s far enough inland.”

“And my mer family is in trouble, too?”

“It’s all connected.” He motions at the sea. “The merwitch’s location is unknown. Trust me, if the rumors turn out to be true and we discover where she is, the king will lead the attack himself. But she keeps her whereabouts tightly controlled.”

After hearing that, the ocean no longer seems safe or exciting, and I question my hasty decision to thrust myself into an unknown place.

Nerio senses my discomfort. “Come on, we’re getting closer to the palace. Other sharks in the area will smell the blood and show up to feed. And I’m not confident that Calandra herself won’t make an appearance. Not for someone as important and special as you.”