The Sea Witch (The Era of Villains Book 1) (16 page)

“You’ll
have to excuse my mother-in-law,” said Triton, his voice as
stony as his face. “She’s not big on manners.”

Moira laughed, a slow
chuckle deep in her throat, the smallest of smiles on her face.

“Such a kidder,
Triton,” she said with a wink.

“Would you mind
going to fetch the children, Moira?” said Triton, his jaw
still tight. “I’m sure they’ve been a little on
edge since the shark attack. I’d like to let them know I’m
alright. And I think they would like to meet Athena and hear about
where she’s from, don’t you?”

“Oh yes,”
said Moira, her voice ominously tranquil, pronouncing each syllable
with care. “I’m sure it will be very…educational.
But I really haven’t the time to go searching about the
palace. That’s what the help is for. Hazel, go fetch your
nieces, will you?”

Moira didn’t
even look at Hazel, who was floating slightly behind her. A coy
smile twisted Moira’s lips, as if she didn’t even need
to turn back to see the hurt look on Hazel’s face. Triton bit
back his anger, not wanting to cause a scene in front of Athena.
Moira’s jabs at Hazel had tapered off over the years after
Triton and Serena’s marriage, but lately, Moira had started in
on her again, picking at the fact that she still did not have a
husband or children and still couldn’t do magic well enough to
start her own practice. Moira’s newest form of torture was
referring to Hazel as “the help” and ordering her to do
menial tasks because “You have to contribute something around
here, Hazel.”

“Yes, Mother,”
said Hazel, barely above a whisper. She swam off in search of the
children without another word. Athena’s brow wrinkled in a
look of pity and confusion. Surely the queen’s sister couldn’t
really be a servant?

“Tata,”
said Moira with a little flitter of her fingers. “I have
things to…,” she looked Athena up and down, “
deal
with.”

She swam back up to
the second floor, and Triton watched her with concern as she headed
toward the cauldron room.

“I really don’t
think I should impose any longer,” said Athena quietly.

“Please pay no
mind to Moira,” said Triton, surprised by the high, desperate
note in his voice at the idea of her leaving so soon. “She’s
awful to everyone. I mean, did you notice the way she treats her own
daughter? It’s a miracle Serena turned out as kind and caring
as she is.”

“Serena is your
wife?”

“Yes. She’s,
well, she’s amazing,” said Triton, the truth of it
swelling his heart with love. “She’s a sea witch. Her
whole family—her mother and sister—are sea witches.
Serena is the gem of the family though. She’s become somewhat
legendary around here. She changed a lot of things for the better in
Adamar.”

“She sounds like
someone I’d like to meet,” said Athena with nothing but
genuine interest.

“And you will. I
think the two of you will get along splendidly. Who knows, after a
week or so here, you may not want to leave.”

“A week? You’d
let me stay that long?” said Athena. The idea made her heart
beat fast as she looked into his eyes. She tried to scold herself
for getting so breathless around this married merman—this
married king (married to a sea witch, no less)—but she
couldn’t seem to form the word no around him.

“Of course,”
said Triton. “You’ve come a long way, and I thought you
wanted to take in all the new sights, experience different cultures.
You can’t do that in a day.”

“No, I suppose
not,” said Athena, a laugh bubbling out of her at his
enthusiasm.

“I’ll make
sure you get to see the best of Adamar,”said Triton, his face
alight with the prospect of rediscovering his city with this
intriguing mermaid.

She stared into his
eyes for a moment, both of them a little breathless. The invisible
line that both of them knew should not be crossed hovered between
them like a dare.

“I’m sure
you will,” said Athena. Her hand moved to his arm, shaking a
little. “I think perhaps you already—”

“Triton?”

Serena floated in the
middle of the open palace doors, frozen, her eyes locked on Athena’s
hand. Casius was right beside her, his skin a murky purple, the
color of Serena’s fear. When Serena spoke, Athena snatched her
hand away so fast it was a blur, but it was too late. Triton whirled
around, the sickening weight of shame in his stomach.

“Serena!”
said Triton, scratching his beard with one hand and extending the
other toward her. “Angel fish, I’d like you meet Athena.
She saved Dariel from a net. She’s come all the way from
Meridia by herself. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Serena didn’t
say a word. Her hand snuck up to touch the locket. When Athena’s
hand had touched Triton’s arm, another terrible shudder in the
golden heart had rocked Serena to her core.

Triton cleared his
throat and tried again. “Serena, isn’t that
fascinating?”

“Oh, yes,
quite,” said Serena, her voice weak.

Triton looked at her,
as if expecting her to say more, to ask about Meridia, to thank
Athena for helping Dariel, or perhaps to even suggest that Athena
should stay in the palace so that he would not have to bring it up
himself—the idea made him nervous as he looked at her oddly
blank face and the strange color of Casius’ skin. When she
offered none of these things, he pressed on. “I thought
perhaps that she could stay here as our guest, in thanks for her
service to Dariel. At least until she is ready to continue her
travels. What do you think?”

Serena bit her lip
hard enough to hurt, trying to hold back the furious, fearful scream
of “Get out! Get out! Get out!” that was trying to burst
from her mouth. Something was not right. Something about this
mermaid was tampering with the locket, tampering with Triton’s
affection. If she threw a tantrum and banished Athena from the
palace, Triton’s anger at her might be the final push that
broke the spell, and not in Serena’s favor.

Using all of her will
power, Serena forced a smile on her face. “Of course! It’s
a splendid idea. It’s the least we can do. Dariel is very dear
to us.”

“That’s
very kind of you, your Majesty,” said Athena, “but, as I
told King Triton, I couldn’t possibly impose.”

Athena had been
excited about a stay in the palace while looking into Triton’s
eyes, but Moira had scared her, and now, despite the smile plastered
on Serena’s face, Athena was getting a hostile vibe from her
dark eyes. She had seen the look of horror on Serena’s face
when she first entered the palace.

“And I told her
it was no imposition at all,” said Triton, an easy smile on
his face, apparently oblivious to Serena’s rigid posture, or
choosing to ignore it.

At the sight of his
beaming face, Serena’s heart sank into her stomach, resting
there with an unpleasant
thunk
. She had been about to tell
Athena that if she was sure she wouldn’t stay in the palace,
she could recommend a marvelous hotel, but Triton’s expression
stopped her. He was set on having her here. Part of Serena couldn’t
bear to disappoint him. Another, stronger part feared sending Athena
away despite Triton’s wishes would make the situation
worse—the little redheaded tramp would become forbidden, and
thus even more tempting.

“Please don’t
let my lack of enthusiasm when I first arrived make you feel
unwelcome,” said Serena, feeling as though she was going to
choke on the words. “Casius, here, and I have been hard at
work trying to help a young mermaid attacked by a shark. I’m
exhausted. Casius is too; aren’t you Casius?”

“Oh yes, very,”
said Casius, already picking up on Serena’s strategy of
playing nice. “That’s why I’m this dreadful color.
I’m usually stunningly handsome, if I do say so myself.”

Athena laughed. “Well,
in that case, I humbly accept the invitation, and I look forward to
getting to know you all better.”

“Welcome to the
palace,” said Triton, throwing his hands up in jubilation.

— — —

“I knew it,”
hissed Serena. “Every time I can’t find him, he’s
always with
her
.”

“She’s
disgustingly girlish,” said Casius. “I can’t see
him choosing her over you, Serena. I don’t think you need to
worry. I’m quite sure it’s her who’s following him
like a little lost guppy, not the other way around.”

The two of them were
peeking out of a fourth story window into the palace garden where
Triton and Athena were swimming lazily through the rows between the
growing plants, chatting.

“Thanks for
that, but you and I both know he seeks her out too,” said
Serena with a bitter sneer in her voice that was becoming more and
more common every day. “He takes her on those little tours of
the city every day. He always asks me, you know, but each time I’ve
gone, I’ve felt like an intruder. He finds her fascinating. He
can’t shut up about her. We used to talk about everything. We
used to talk about each other. Now all he talks about is, ‘Athena
did this,’ ‘Athena said that.’ It makes me want
to…”

Blue sparks of
electricity danced between Serena’s fingers, heating up the
water around her.

“Ouch! Take it
easy, you’re going to boil me,” said Casius.

The sparks vanished.
“Sorry, Casius.”

“You’re
forgiven.”

“Why is she
still here? It’s been a week already. I thought the wonderful
little explorer wanted to swim around the whole globe. Shouldn’t
she have moved on by now?”

“I’m
afraid you and I both know what’s keeping her here.”

Serena’s noise
of frustration was alarmingly like a growl, and she slammed a fist
against the wall by the window.

“Why don’t
you say something?” said Casius, putting a tentacle on
Serena’s arm. “Kick her out. Confront her. Tell her to
back off, to leave.”

“I can’t!
She hasn’t done anything wrong. Ever since that first day I
swam in on them, she’s kept her hands off him. All they do is
talk. Ugh! Why does she have to be so…so…NICE! It’s
nauseating!” Her voice took on a sweet, high-pitched squeak.
“‘Thank you so much for allowing me into your home,
Queen Serena.’ ‘Your children are just darling, Queen
Serena; you’re a wonderful mother.’ ‘Your powers
are so amazing, Queen Serena. And you’re so very kind. No
wonder you’re such a beloved queen.’ If I kick her out,
I’ll be the bad guy.”

“Alright, then
tell Triton how you feel,” said Casius. “He still loves
you. He wants you to be happy. He’ll do anything you want.”

“Does he really
love me?” said Serena, her throat closing with the threat of
tears.

“Don’t be
silly. You’re his angel fish, remember? You’re the
mother of his children.”

“I’m also
the witch who gave him a love potion without his knowledge.”

As Casius watched,
Serena’s strong, beautiful face crumpled. She sighed—a
sound so sad and heartbroken that it made Casius’ skin blaze
crimson with rage at Athena.

“Sometimes I
think it would be best if I just took the locket off and broke the
spell. At least then I’d know if it was real or all a big lie.
He has to love me by now, right? Maybe not in the way the spell book
thinks he should, but he must love me.”

“I have no doubt
that he does.”

“Then why can’t
I bring myself to do it?” She sighed again, and Casius’
skin turned grey. “If she is his true love, part of me wishes
she would just go ahead and kiss him already and be done with it.
This is torture, Casius. I can’t take it much longer.”

“You’re
really going to give up?” said Casius, a hard edge in his
voice. “You’re really going to let that giggling,
wide-eyed little tramp take everything from you? Who says she’s
his true love? She’s just a redhead with a tiny waist who’s
appealing to Triton’s old habits. He’s reliving his
youth a little. It’s typical at his age. It could still be a
problem, but only if you let it. You have to remind him that you’re
the one who’s perfect for him. You’re the one who’s
been by his side all these years. And you have to make sure Athena
knows you’re not going to give him up. If you give up, she’ll
get bolder. Is that really what you want?”

“No,” said
Serena, her jaw set, her eyes full of light again. “If she’s
staying because she likes quality time with
my
husband, then
we’re going to make sure she doesn’t get any.”

— — —

Hazel had a nasty urge
to laugh at the desperate urgency in Serena’s voice.

“The children
are saying they haven’t seen you enough the past few days,”
she told Triton. “Fiona asked me where you were just a few
minutes ago, and she looked so sad with her little pouty lip.”

Hazel held back a
scoff. Triton had been seeing his daughters just as much as usual.
Serena was just pissed because Athena was usually with him when he
did, and the little mermaids hung on her every word when she talked
about her travels—swimming side by side with migrating whales,
dodging sharks in a feeding frenzy. Hazel had just seen Fiona before
she’d come around the corner and seen Serena blocking Athena
and Triton’s path out of the palace. Fiona had been playing
with Rona, and both had been laughing. Serena was only saying Fiona
was sad because she knew Fiona was Triton’s weakest spot.

“I think we
should go on a family picnic,” said Serena. “Just you,
me, and the kids.”

Triton looked sideways
at Athena and said, “Oh, yes, a picnic sounds good. We haven’t
done that in a while. Are you sure you don’t want to invite
your mother or Hazel or Casius or…anyone else?”

Serena’s smile
flopped and then turned into a stony grimace. “No, darling.
Everyone is busy, and besides—”

“I’m not
busy,” said Hazel, swimming around the corner she had been
hiding behind. “A picnic sounds fun.”

“Are you sure,
Hazel?” Serena said through clenched teeth, her dark eyes
boring into Hazel, begging her to take the hint.