My mer form finally wrapped around me. My gills sliced through my neck and the pressure stopped crushing my chest. Taking a calming breath, I settled myself against the bottom of the ocean.
“I heard her Call. Where is she?” the same male asked me again.
Turning my head, I looked up as high as I could. “Who is she?” My voice was hoarse and ragged in my throat. It felt like I was trying to swallow barnacles.
The male swam down to the floor and shoved his fingers through my hair. Yanking my head up, he glared into my face. “My mother.” His sharp fangs almost took off the end of my nose. His golden hair and bronze skin sparkled in the low light.
I had no idea who this male was, but he was hurting me. And all over his mother? I snapped my jaws at him. “I don’t know who your mother is. Let me go.” I wiggled against his power that kept me smashed against the ocean floor.
He laughed. But it didn’t sound like he found something funny. It sounded more like he was enjoying watching my death in his head.
He dropped my head and pulled back his power. “I haven’t been in this realm for eons. But I know this is where her last Call came from.”
I wanted to smash him in the face with a harpoon. I righted myself. “So you just attacked a random stranger and demanded answers?” This male was a gourami amberjack.
He shrugged as if my problems were non-issues. “Sorry for the tumble. Good luck.” He swam off and soon disappeared.
A rumble rushed through my chest at his audacity. I was glad he was gone, but, hades, did I wish I could stab him with a rusty blade. Masu.
Now that I was free to move again, I closed my eyes and got my bearings. As if the knowledge settled in my heart, I realized how far away from Aiseiri I truly was. At least three rotations’ swim.
Heaving a sigh, I set out for my kingdom. I set out for home and the males who waited there for me. It was the first time in twenty revolutions that I actually had family to look forward to seeing.
My mom’s face filled my mind as I swam. She’d been so beautiful. And if I could believe Aibek and Macabee, then she was out there somewhere. She was just beyond my reach. But I would get to see her again one day.
A smile pulled at my face at the thought. I stored up memories so I could share them with her. Meeting Aibek and Macabee and how I finally felt like I belonged.
I laughed softly. I’d even tell her about Conlan and Neron. The two mers to believe me after all this time. After all this heartache, I wasn’t alone in the world again.
I’d even tell her about Nox. My life had become so full in the last few rotations, I could hardly believe it. I had no idea what the next rotation would bring, but I was actually looking forward to it. And eagerly anticipating it instead of seeing it as another day of sorrow and grief.
It dawned on me after a few cycles that even though my life had been crazy and I’d been hit with one blow after another recently, I didn’t have that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach anymore. As if Conlan and Neron believing me had lifted that weight of supposed insanity from my shoulders and heart. It was…new and familiar. It was almost as if I was back to pre-Incident Seren. The only thing I was missing now was my mom.
**
Over the next two rotations, I continued to reach out with my mind. Aibek and Macabee had to be out there somewhere. I hoped they were looking for me, but I didn’t really depend on them doing so. But the thought kept me company on the long swim home.
I saw more of the ocean in those two rotations than I had in all of my revolutions before. While I knew all of the marine life that swam around and by me, I saw it all with wonder and excitement. The currents felt different and pushed and pulled at me in ways I never would have expected. I loved it.
Something Nox said while we were…wherever we were, pulled at my mind. Only those with the ability to transform are allowed Topside. Did that mean that all of the Tops transformed when they went to the surface?
Images of Conlan and Neron in biped form drifted through my mind. Conlan was definitely the taller and bulkier of the two. He also had the bigger personality. I wondered if his hair stayed that vibrant ruby color when he was on the surface.
Did humans have hair that color?
Neron’s violet eyes and golden hair slowly pushed Conlan’s fiery eyes and ruby hair out of my mind. Neron demanded attention. He was surly and quiet. Rude—hades was that male rude. But there was something about him…when he’d touched me to escort me as his prisoner.
I blew out a breath and shook my head. It was swims of fancy, nothing more.
But I couldn’t put those two males out of my head. And now that I had nothing but time to kill while I swam home, it was like I couldn’t think of anything else. I scowled and pushed them away. Again.
Aibek and Macabee. Those two I could think about all rotation. They were kind, fierce, smart, and loving. I wondered if they would be able to go up on the surface. I’d never seen a human, but I was pretty sure they didn’t have tails like my two males did. Could they hide them? In the end, it wouldn’t really matter. I was never going to the surface. No matter what Nox said.
Hunger started to rumble my belly on the third rotation. My smile was a little ruthless as I looked around at the marine life. I hadn’t had to fish to survive since training in the naval academy. But the idea of hunting for my food right now sounded divine.
Moving down deeper into the water, I settled in for a long wait near some coral. The underwater world was teeming with food offerings. But I wasn’t going to cut short the life of some random fish just because I was hungry. No. I waited for one that needed to be put out of its misery. Killing for mercy was something I could handle.
I floated there for cycles on end. Some of the resident marine life didn’t take too kindly to my being in their space, but they gave me a wide berth. Being a top predator did have some perks to it.
Soon, an injured fish came along. Barely big enough to be considered a full meal, I pounced quickly. Allowing my nails to lengthen into claws, I had his head off before another breath passed his lips. Not wanting to attract any other predators to the area, I swallowed down the fish as I gave thanks to Poseidon for the bounty.
Thinking of the sea god brought another memory with it. Nox had said I was the daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Two gods. How was that even possible? The gods and goddesses had abandoned us millennia ago. Only the legends of their antics remained.
Shrugging the thoughts aside, I left my hunting ground and continued on towards Aiseiri. My heart was light and happy as I swam. It was going to be so good to get home.