Ice Kingdom Page 24

  A guard behind Guenevere spoke. “Are all of you a part of this movement?”

  I followed his eyes across the Utopian army. The leaders floating on either side of Dione had been chosen wisely. I’d been worried Utopians wouldn’t follow Dione if she went storming into Utopia with a group of South Pacifics. But she’d selected a balance of north and south, mermaids and mermen, young and old, to join her. The message was clear: this was a revolution for everyone.

  “We are,” said Dione.

  Guenevere hissed. “Don’t believe them. He’s not dead.”

  “Even if he’s not—” said the merman.

  “You swore to protect this kingdom! After everything His Majesty has done for you—”

  “Done for me?” He shook his head. “So he didn’t take away my wife, my children. What about everyone else? My neighbour’s family disappeared. All of them.”

  Guenevere leaned back, regarding him like he was a tumour.

  “I’ve known it for ages,” he said. “That is not the kind of kingdom I want to live in.”

  Motivated by his own words, he dropped his longblade. We all watched it sink. It hit the rocks soundlessly.

  “If you join them, you fight against all of us,” said Guenevere.

  “If the king’s still alive, I’ll face the consequences. But this—” The merman pointed to the Utopian army. “—is proof enough for me that I’ve been fighting on the wrong side.”

  He swam to them. My heart lifted.

  There was a heavy silence. I turned my gaze subtly to the dropped longblade. Something beside it caught my attention. A gap in the rocks. It was wide enough for a merman to squeeze through. The way the water rushed in and out told me it stretched a long ways. It was a tunnel.

  Dione spoke in clear, ringing tones. “If anyone else wishes to help us bring a new kingdom to the Pacific—”

  “Remember your oath,” shouted Guenevere. “Traitors, turn around if you do not wish to fight.”

  I glanced again at the longblade, dreading what might come. How quickly could I grab it if a fight broke out?

  There was a period in which no one moved. Then somebody in the crowd of prison guards let loose a roar, and everything happened at once. My body changed instinctively; I felt my teeth descend as the guards spilled over the rocky landscape, weapons up. The two sides met in a clash that filled the water with sand.

  Whether anyone else had intended to switch sides, we never found out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Meela

  Daughter of Eriana

  The pain didn’t come. The serpent’s breath continued to bathe me, warm and sticky.

  I opened my eyes, trembling, and saw fangs the length of my arms hovering above me.

  The serpent had stopped with her jaws open over my head.

  In the silence, the purring waves returned to my attention. The groan of the distant helicopter pulsed in my ears.

  Through the serpent’s fangs, I could see Adaro lying on the rocky beach inside the broken hull. Blood pooled from both the bolt and the rock embedded in his ribs. His eyes were wide. He was perfectly still.

  The sky lightened as the serpent’s heads arched away from me, bobbing in the air and hissing—perhaps tasting Adaro’s blood on the wind.

  A presence consumed me, as though my body gained a second soul. I gasped, feeling her in my mind and spirit, a goddess greater than myself.

  “Eriana,” I whispered.

  Her reply came to the front of my mind, the thoughts forming as though my own.

  Daughter. It is a relief to share a mind with someone pure.

  Slowly, heart pounding, I turned my back to the island and Adaro. From the frothy waves, two massive heads stared down at me. In those deep blue pupils, glassy and vertical, I saw no threat. She gazed expectantly at me. The vastness of the ocean lay beneath her expression, filled with millennia of wisdom.

  Is the serpent mine? I thought, heart beating faster yet.

  Yes, daughter.

  My throat constricted. I was grateful to have no need to speak aloud, because I would not have managed it.

  Help me, I thought. Our island has been at war, and now the rest of the world is, too. I need to stop it.

  A forked tongue emerged from each head, tasting the air. Behind her, the ship fire consumed ocean and sky, multicoloured flames and black smoke billowing. The sun was on its descent to the horizon.

  If you are concerned about war, we can force others to leave our island alone. With the leviathan Sisiutl as your guardian, you will never be defeated.

  I don’t want to use aggression. I want peace.

  The sea gurgled as the ship took its last breaths. There must have been at least one crew member left to rescue, because the helicopter still hovered, dodging flames and smoke.

  As long as the leviathan exists, there will always be those seeking to control it, said Eriana. You will never have peace as long as others see potential to control the world’s most powerful weapon.

  I shook my head. It is the most powerful force, then? Nothing can defeat it?

  Nothing in this world is stronger than Sisiutl.

  I considered what this meant. If nothing could defeat the serpent by strength, did that mean I had to defeat it by wit or logic?

  Where did the serpent come from? I thought. Help me understand.

  Sisiutl was born from the volcano that created our island. She swam free for millennia, fearing nothing and driven by hunger.

  Skaaw Beach came to mind—the black swells of lava rock that marked Eriana Kwai’s most remarkable section of shoreline.

  I’ve been told the legend of how you came to control the serpent, I thought. Now your soul is bound to her body. If I kill the leviathan, you’ll be free, right?

  Yes. I will ascend to the stars and will protect our island as the Gaela intended. It pains me to know the suffering my children have endured in my absence.

  But how do I kill it?

  Fae could kill other fae, Lysi had said. What about a creature who had no equal?

  For a moment, no further thoughts came to me. I scanned the sparkling waves, feeling like the world met my senses with new clarity.

  Then Eriana said, Nothing can destroy the leviathan. With the presence of two heads, there is also nothing the leviathan cannot destroy.

  I considered her words. The leviathan can destroy anything in the world?

  Yes, daughter.

  My gaze drifted to the burning ship. It disappeared beneath the surface, leaving behind a smouldering chemical slick and scattered debris. The helicopter rose and came towards us. They must have rescued the last of the crew—or had given them up for dead—and were now free to drop explosives on the serpent without worrying about endangering human lives.

  We had to get away from here.

  In my most private thoughts I’d wondered how it would feel to command the serpent, and whether I would know what to do when she came to me.

  Now I understood. She was a part of me. There was no command to give.

  Let’s fix this, I thought.

  The serpent submerged. A wave crashed over her, and she became no more than a black shape in the water.

  Reluctantly, I took a last look at Adaro. I didn’t care to ever see him again—even if he was dead—but I wanted to be sure.

  He lay in the hull where I’d shot him, blood pooling under his twisted limbs. It had splattered over the rocks and was still oozing from his ribs. One side of his face was crushed against the ground. His eyes were open but I could see, even from here, that they had grown glassy and vacant.

  Only the black crown remained unspoiled. It had not moved, rooted in its nest of black hair.

  I left my crossbow on the beach.

  I dragged myself to the water, following Eriana. We passed beneath the helicopter on its way to the island. It was looking for her.

  Though I knew I was safe, I fought the instinct to flee from the serpent. E
very encounter with her since the moment she’d woken had involved her trying to eat me. To swim as equals—as her master, even—was hard to comprehend.

  When we drew near enough to the sinking ship that the chemicals burned my nose and skin, I let Eriana continue on. My stomach flipped at the feel of the massive structure sinking to the vast depths.

  The wall of smoke blocked our view of the helicopter. I heard it circling back. They knew the serpent was here—but they didn’t know exactly where.

  The serpent moved gracefully around the ship, spiralling through the inky water. She opened both mouths and began to swallow the chemicals and flames. The waste disappeared inside her massive body until only the ship itself remained, rapidly disappearing into the void.

  The sky was dark with smoke, but the flames had gone. A few pockets of oil remained. Eriana had swallowed most of it, but there was no time to get the rest. We needed to leave before we were seen.

  I commanded Eriana to dive to the bottom.

  You wish to find humans, she said.

  Yes. We have something to discuss.

  Eriana fell silent for a moment. She swam at my pace, far below.

  Follow me, she said. I will take you to a ship.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Lysi

  Nereid Secrets

  Several others lunged for the longblade on the floor in a scuffle. I squeezed through the crowd and shot towards the gap in the rocks, determined to finish this before lives could be lost.

  “Don’t let them get to Evagore,” shouted Guenevere.

  I cursed. They knew, then, why we were here.

  The tunnel was short and pitch black. I followed it into a massive cavern, too big to feel how far it reached. Above the surface, the smooth walls converged in a dome. A hole at the apex let in a beam of daylight. The only other light was a soft blue glow cast by tiny bioluminescent creatures. They brightened at the wave of activity.

  Where were the prison cells? This would take searching.

  Dione’s army and the Nereid guards swarmed in behind me. Based on numbers, Dione and her army would get to Evagore before I did. I had to find Dione.

  A merman blasted up to me, sending a whirl of bubbles in my face.

  “Where’s Meela?”

  I dropped my fists. “Nilus!”

  His eyes were wide, aura clouded in panic. “Why isn’t she with you?”

  “She’s taking the serpent to find humans,” I said, stomach knotting.

  “Serpent? How—she killed him?”

  “Yes.” I hesitated. She had to have done it. It was the only outcome I would accept. I repeated it more firmly. “Yes. She did. We split up so—”

  Fingers closed around my tail. I screeched, whirling. My fist made contact with the mermaid’s temple at the same moment as Nilus punched her in the stomach. She toppled away, dazed. Nilus pulled me closer to the rock wall.

  “Where is she now?”

  “East. She told me to meet her at Eriana Kwai.”

  “Eriana Kwai,” he breathed.

  “I have to bring the queen—”

  He was gone.

  I had half a mind to call after him, to tell him not to try and chase her, but I had more pressing matters. Dione was shoving through the crowd a short distance away, scanning the cavern. I raced over and grabbed her arm.

  “We have to meet Meela at Eriana Kwai with Queen Evagore.”

  She looked at me sharply. “The queen needs to secure her throne in Utopia.”

  “I know, but first we need to make a peace pact with humans.”

  From the black tunnel, her army continued flooding into the cavern. The Nereid guards fought to stop them, but they were outnumbered. Weapons and fists collided everywhere I looked.

  “Queen Evagore has spent years imprisoned,” said Dione. “She will not be in a state to go make bargains with humans.”

  “Dione, the humans are stalking the serpent, waiting for the moment to drop an explosive. They’ve already tried some kind of sound explosion below the surface. If we don’t negotiate something as soon as—”

  Two bodies somersaulted into us in a storm of bubbles. One hooked an arm around the other’s neck. They stopped brawling. It was Galene, holding a guard in a chokehold.

  “Lysithea’s right, Dione.”

  Dione looked affronted. “If you understood the state of the Pacific Kingdom as I do, then you would know Her Majesty needs to go directly to Utopia.”

  “I understand plenty, which is why I know the bigger risk is from above. We need to take the humans seriously.”

  Dione scowled. “I trust Her Majesty will do what she must to restore peace. This is her decision, not yours. Excuse me.”

  Before I could say more, she left, continuing to search the cavern.

  I turned to Galene. What did this mean? Maybe Dione hadn’t agreed, but she hadn’t disagreed, either. A decision this big was up to the queen.

  Galene grimaced. “I’m here if you need me, sugarkelp.”

  She took off, dragging her victim with her. A corral was forming in the centre of the room. Dione’s army surrounded a group of disarmed Nereid guards. Though this hadn’t gone according to plan, I was grateful to have Utopia as my ally. Our bigger numbers were proving favourable.

  I cast my senses around the cavern, wondering where all the cells were. Maybe there were tunnels or secret passages leading to the inmates.

  A faint presence overhead caught my attention. Something in the way the current broke as it swirled around the dome was suspicious. It would make sense to put the cells near the surface, wouldn’t it?

  I was about to rise when someone slammed into me, knocking me so hard that spots erupted in my vision.

  I righted myself, teeth bared. For a moment, I saw no one. Then fingers closed around my upper arm. Too close, I felt the rush of a swinging mace. I caught a glimpse of brunette hair—and a merman jetted out of nowhere and tackled her. They rolled away. Their struggle stopped with the merman locking an arm around the mermaid’s neck and snatching her weapon.

  “Thanks,” I said, the word escaping as a bubble.

  “Let go of me,” shouted Guenevere, voice strained as the merman squeezed her throat.

  I did a double-take of my saviour. I’d seen him before—fought him, let him escape. He’d been on the South Pacific battlefront and a reluctant part of Adaro’s guard.

  “Anthias?”

  “Hi!”

  “You made it back!”

  Guenevere thrashed beneath his arm, roaring. He squeezed tighter.

  “Sort of. I was in the Aleutian Trench. I got to Utopia as everyone was leaving after the coup.”

  “The Aleutian Trench? I thought a soldier like you would get sent back to the battlefront.”

  Anthias’ forehead wrinkled. “Battlef—Lysi, I abandoned my post protecting the king.”

  I grimaced. Right. Treason.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I was hiding with a former human and his wife and kids. They were supposed to be sent down to the labour camp. Anyway, you here for the queen?”

  At the word queen, Guenevere struggled harder in Anthias’ grip.

  “Which cell is she in?” I asked her, pointing to the dome’s perimeter.

  In answer, she blew in my face.

  “All right,” I said, “Anthias, help me search …”

  My chest tightened. A feeling like homesickness overcame me. Deeper than homesickness, this was an overwhelming ache.

  I whirled, heart pounding. They were here, both of them. The cavern was too dark to distinguish faces. Everyone’s auras blended together.

  They must have come with the coup at Utopia. Unless—

  “Oh, no,” I whispered. Were they in one of the prison cells? Because of me?

  A group sped over to us. It was Galene and the three young mermen from Kori Maru.

  “There’s gorgeousness that needs rescuing,” said Creon. “Y
ou look like you’ve got a plan.”

  I looked around, mind hazy. I couldn’t think of anything but that feeling squeezing my heart. If I felt them, that meant they must have felt me. Were they out here searching for me, or were they stuck somewhere waiting to be rescued?

  I shook my head and, with great effort, pulled my attention back. I had to stay focused. This was too important.

  “A plan,” I said, taking in what had suddenly become my team. “Right. I think there are cells near the surface. One of them should have the queen.”

  They all looked up.

  “She’s definitely here?” said Creon.

  I looked at Guenevere’s fierce, desperate face.

  “Positive. Spread out—”

  Dione rushed to a stop beside us. “What are you all doing?”

  “We’re helping Lysithea find Evagore,” said Creon. “She’s in one of the cells up top.”

  Dione glared at me.

  I scanned the cavern. My pulse had reached a peak, pounding in my ears. They were so close. Where were they?

  Dione addressed the others. “Spread out. Trace the walls. Anthias, bring that one over here with the rest.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Anthias.

  I grabbed his arm. “Wait. Keep her with us. I want her to tell us where Evagore is.”

  Anthias glanced between me and Dione.

  “I’m not telling you anything,” said Guenevere, her voice strained under Anthias’ arm.

  “See?” said Dione. “Now put her—”

  “Force it out of her,” I said. “We’re wasting time. Creon, take your friends over there and search the far wall.”

  “Do not tell my soldiers what to—” said Dione.

  “Aye aye!” said Creon, speeding off.

  Dione looked at me furiously. I shrugged and hurried away. I smelled blood. We had to get out of here before anyone was killed—if it hadn’t happened already.

  I hit the wall two-handed and pushed along it, feeling for anything odd in the stone.

  Around the cavern, the army was slowly disarming the guards and pushing them inwards, circling them like a baitball.

  Ephyra flashed by. She was searching the crowd instead of fighting. I wondered if Nilus had told her he was going to find Meela, or if he’d left without saying goodbye.