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I’d never known nerves quite like I did on the day of the wedding. Probably because I was fervently working with Odele in a plot to usurp the throne and take down the queen I’d spent most of my life serving.
The reality of our actions hit me full force as I realized the implications of what this meant. If things went well, then Odele would take her throne unscathed. If things went terrible, we could find ourselves thrown to the dungeons or beheaded. Even worse, my family could suffer for my actions.
In my worry for Maisie, I’d agreed to help, to protect the love of my life no matter the consequences. But she’d left us. I didn’t fully understand why, but maybe it was because of this, because she hadn’t wanted us to get hurt. But we were continuing with the plan, and surely, we’d get hurt anyway.
Truth be told, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to be feeling beneath the tight coiling of my stomach. The past few days had been nothing but a haze of emotion and confusion. I felt Maisie’s loss like the loss of a limb. For a brief moment, I thought I’d catch a flash of her around a corner, but when I chased her down, it was merely Odele, sneering or yelling at some poor servant.
I still couldn’t believe how she had left when she’d been adamant on taking the throne. We knew being queen wasn’t the job for Odele. The mer would be terrible at it. Everyone knew it.
But there was nothing I could do.
So the day of, I went to Odele’s chambers to escort her to the royal throne room, where the ceremony would take place.
The guards were on high alert today, just as I’d ordered them to be. We couldn’t afford any attempts on the Princess’ life, especially not today.
When Odele emerged from her room, she was dressed in a gown swathed in white, pinks, and blues. Her hair was in smooth, floating tendrils surrounding her face.
I couldn’t help but feel like Maisie would have looked prettier by far. Yes, they looked alike, but Maisie had a different aura. It was in her smile and posture. She wasn’t solemn or irritable. She was kind. She would have been smiling, instead of glaring.
“What are you staring at?” Odele demanded, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I ignored her snap and bowed deeply. “Are you ready, Your Majesty?”
She snorted and shrugged. “I suppose. It’s not like I have a choice, do I?”
My lip twitched with an annoyance that I had to force back. “Then let us leave.”
We swam through the halls, my eyes alert for any and all possible threats. Everything was quiet; it was eerie how quiet it was. I paused, cocking my head to the side, listening. Surely there had to be some noise, servants bustling around in the fray of the day. Not this... absolute silence.
I lifted my fist, and everyone stopped moving. Odele rammed into the back of a guard who swam before her, causing her to let out a sound of surprise and exasperation. “Oof.” She righted herself, straightening out the tendrils of her hair. “Move aside, you big oaf.” She pushed him, and in his surprise, he staggered and she swam around him.
“Princess,” I warned, starting forward...
But then all hell broke loose.
Something exploded, though I couldn’t be sure what. All I knew was that one moment, I was staring at Odele, and the next a bright light was blinding me. It encompassed the entire hallway like magic. Debris flew, vases cracked and exploded. Coral pelted us across our bodies, and in the fray, I kept screaming Odele’s name but heard no reply.
My eyes burned in pain, and it felt like forever before I could finally open them. When I did, some of the guards were on the floor, groaning and rubbing at their eyelids. Others were up, blinking as rapidly as I was. A quick headcount told me everyone was well and accounted for.
Everyone except Odele.
“Princess!” I bellowed.
Her answering groan had me moving fast to find her.
The explosion had blasted her further down the hallway, where she’d hit a wall and was crumpled to the floor.
“Are you alright?” I asked her, reaching down to help her up.
“Do I look alright?” she snapped impatiently, swatting away my hand and getting up herself. She smoothed down her skirts, and fixed her hair. “What was that?”
“A light bomb, most likely. It doesn’t do extensive damage, but it’s a nuisance.” I snapped my fingers and the guards immediately surrounded Odele, forming a protective circle around her. “Eyes alert!” I commanded. “That bomb could have been a prank by the servants, or it could have been nefarious. Keep your eyes peeled.”
“A prank?” Odele echoed incredulously. “What absolute bullshark. Find who did this!” she snapped at a nearby guard. “See to it they are punished for this! I could have broken my neck, and even worse, they could have ruined my dress!”
I pushed away the eye roll that threatened and placed my hand against her lower back. We started forward again, and I’d placed myself closer to Odele, to protect her and prevent her from bolting. She tensed at my nearness.
“Personal space,” she grumbled unkindly and went ignored.
I didn’t care what she complained about, not when her safety was at risk. The daft mermaid didn’t even seem to be worried that the whole hall had exploded and blasted her back. She treated it more like a nuisance or an inconvenience at best. I’d never understand her and her way of thinking.
Even if she had no regard for her own safety, that didn’t mean that I would take it lightly.
I had a duty to protect her, and I didn’t mean to fail.