Ice Crypt (Mermaids of Eriana Kwai Book 2) Page 35
The three of them exchanged a smile—and that was more than I could have asked for.
My mother shivered violently. My father noticed as well, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“You two should go home and dry off,” I said. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“You had better be, young lady,” said my father.
They waded from the tide, looking weak and frigid.
I glanced back to the high boulder. Mujihi, his wife, and Dani’s body had gone.
I would never forget Mujihi’s contorted expression—the sorrow lined in his face.
Texas, Hassun, and a few members of the Massacre Committee had gone, too.
There would be a funeral for the victims. I would have attended, if fate had led me in a different direction.
On the beach, Blondie and Fern led the trainees in making a pile of weapons and ammo near the treeline. Others helped clean up, while many had disappeared, taking the injured with them.
Sitting among a cluster of driftwood, Anyo and Adette were hugging, father more emotional than daughter.
Seeing my parents leave, my friends splashed up. They’d clearly been waiting for the chance to swoop in.
Tanuu trailed behind, eyeing Lysi with an odd expression. I thought it might have been mistrust, but he projected something else.
Jealousy.
“I’m sorry, Tanuu,” I said.
His gaze darted between Lysi and me, apparently working out the situation that had led him to this bachelor status.
Blacktail watched him. Something hopeful flickered in her aura.
Of course. Why didn’t I see that before?
I bit my lip to hide a smile.
Annith slung an arm across Tanuu’s shoulders. “You’ll be all right. Won’t he, Meela?”
“Yeah,” I said. “There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
I splashed my tail, sending a waterfall in their direction. Annith and Blacktail screamed and covered their heads, but Tanuu was too slow. He wiped an arm across his eyes, laughing.
“That was terrible! Your first joke as a mermaid and that’s what you go with?”
I grinned.
“To be clear,” he said slowly, “what you’re feeling is real, right? She hasn’t got some, like, mermaid lure over you?”
Lysi laughed. “That only works on men.”
Tanuu squinted at her, looking as if he were preparing to run.
“I won’t use it against you,” she said.
Looking no less assured, he stepped behind Blacktail.
“If you do, you gotta go through her.”
Blacktail laughed.
Above us, the clouds dissipated, opening up a blissfully clear sky. The ocean had quieted. The world below the surface was calm enough that I felt disturbances against my tail from a distant school of fish.
“Think Adaro will be back?” said Blacktail.
“He’s got more important plans, now,” said Lysi.
“Like what?”
“Once he gets back to Utopia, I imagine he’ll break his promise to the Aleut people. He’ll use the serpent to chase them away from his territory.”
I was about to say how sorry I felt for the Aleut people when Tanuu said, “Excellent.”
We turned to him in horror.
“What’s the matter with you?” said Annith.
“The Aleutian Islands are a part of Alaska,” he said.
“So?” I said.
Tanuu sighed. “I forgot you were all taking battle-axe throwing lessons instead of social studies.”
“And what did social studies teach you?” said Blacktail.
“That pissing off the United States is never a good move.”
I considered the prospect. If the Americans did get involved, would their military be the answer? Would the world start caring about the war my people had been fighting for decades?
I felt a wave of terror from Lysi. “What’s wrong?”
“They’ll destroy us,” she said, paling. “They’ll drop iron bombs on us like … snow.”
“She’s right,” said Blacktail. “They’ll target more than just Adaro. They’ll want to get rid of all mermaids. Like we did.”
“So we’ll have to get to him before he can attack any more humans,” I said.
“Destroying the indestructible,” said Tanuu. “Sounds like fun.”
“We’ll find a way,” I said.
We were interrupted by a woman’s voice cutting across the beach, wondering loudly whether the Massacre would still depart today. It was the widow from the Massacre Committee. She had a gash on her forehead; I could smell the blood. She fell silent at the answering glares.
Along the beach, a few people still laboured, restoring the area back to normal.
In silent agreement, my friends and I began to help.
I relished my new senses as I pulled myself through the shallow tide, picking up scattered wood from the shipwreck. I sensed the love projecting from Annith and Rik as they shared a hug. I felt the quickening in Tanuu’s pulse when he gave Blacktail a playful jab in the side. I smelled the difference between water, wood, and rock. I heard the way the wind curved around each tree along the shoreline.
And when my parents returned, I knew my loved ones were close long before they arrived.
By the time we finished cleaning up, the sun sat low on the horizon. An orange line stretched across the glassy ocean.
I said a hug-filled goodbye to my friends and parents, promising to visit often. Annith and Blacktail surprised me with their boldness and hugged Lysi, too.
“We’ll leave a rock tower,” said Lysi, stacking a pile of stones. “When you see it, you’ll know we’re close.”
Annith’s hazel eyes locked onto mine, brimming with emotion.
“I guess I won’t be able to jump in if you need help, anymore,” she said.
We shared a smile.
My friends and parents turned for home, my mother wiping tears from her cheeks.
Then everyone was gone, and it was just Lysi and me, sitting in the water, side by side. Waves gurgled over the pebbles. I felt each one coming before I saw the swell.
“You’ll have to teach me how to be a proper mermaid,” I said, pushing deeper into the water.
Lysi laughed. “There’s nothing to it.”
“You’ll show me what coral looks like?”
“First thing.”
“You’ll show me how to hunt?”
“Until you can do it with your eyes closed.”
“Good,” I said, grabbing her hand.
“Hold your breath,” said Lysi. “Let’s go swimming.”
Illustrations
Note from the author
Thank you for reading Ice Crypt and supporting an indie author. Did you know reviews are the #1 way to help an author out? If you enjoyed Meela and Lysi’s story, please consider rating it on Amazon.com and Goodreads.
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About Tiana
Tiana Warner is an award-winning author from British Columbia, Canada. She spends her free time riding her horse, Bailey, and is an active supporter of animal welfare.
http://tianawarner.com
@tianawarner
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE The Massacre Committee
CHAPTER TWO Adaro’s Prisoner
CHAPTER THREE Training Base
CHAPTER FOUR The South Pacific Army
CHAPTER FIVE Red-handed
CHAPTER SIX The King’s Plan
CHAPTER SEVEN Skaaw Beach
CHAPTER EIGHT Lesser Evils
CHAPTER NINE Eriana the Mortal
CHAPTER TEN Fit for a King
CHAPTER ELEVEN Eriana’s Bargain
CHAPTER TWELVE The Mine
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Family Crest
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Capital Punishment
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Ravendust
CHA
PTER SIXTEEN Harpoon of Death and Teeth and Stuff
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Eriana’s Crypt
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Coho’s Dilemma
CHAPTER NINETEEN Sleeping Spirit
CHAPTER TWENTY For Eriana
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Goddess Rising
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Ancient Awakening
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Descendants
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Home
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The Missing Piece
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Sworn Oath
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN One Last Chance
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Sea Rats
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Passed by Blood
CHAPTER THIRTY Para La Reina
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE The Battle for Eriana Kwai
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO A Journey Ended
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE A Journey Begun