Into the Deep (23 page)

Chapter Forty-One

I’m haunted the rest of the trip, unable to move past the sight of the dead fish. It fuels me in a way I never imagined. I want revenge, to guarantee it does not happen again.

The guards slow and I assume we’re nearing Batari’s island, so I focus on what’s coming. I’ll be human again, talking to a perfect goddess. Not to mention Xander will see too. It doesn’t bother me as much as it would have a couple days ago. The more I show my friends and family, the less conscious I am.

“I’m nervous.” I admit, letting that emotion break through and push aside the others.

“There’s no reason to be. Batari’s probably not what you’re expecting. She’s spent centuries with humans and is incredibly easy to talk to.”

“What’s her island like?”

“It’s small, lush, and inhabited by a small tribe indigenous to this part of the South Pacific. They’ve been her people for as long as she’s lived here. They know our secret and will always keep it. This is actually one of the islands mer children visit for their education.”

“I have to warn you about something,” I blurt.

He fixes a wary gaze on me. “What?”

Once again, I relate my story, realizing the frequency has made me stronger.

When I’m done, Xander touches my arm. “Zoey, none of that matters to me. It won’t change how I see you.”

I nod, thankful my friends are so accepting. Humans are different. They seek out the flaws and find ways to exploit them, especially teenagers. It’s nice not hiding or feeling ashamed.

We swim around the side of the island and a small dock droops into the water, pressed down by the higher sea levels. Even in paradise there are signs of the danger our entire planet is in. The guards distance themselves to keep watch, fanning out to each side of the landmass. As Xander and I surface near the edge of the dock, I catch my first glimpse of the woman who used to be a goddess.

Batari is gorgeous. Her coffee skin glistens in the tropical sun and curly black hair falls to her waist. Kindness shines from her face. Standing on an old, rickety dock in a homemade dress, she commands the attention of everyone around her. She resembles the figures of women carved into the bows of old ships.

“Welcome. It’s nice to see you again, Xander.” She turns her powerful smile on me. “And you, Zoey, it’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

I put my fist to my chest and bow. It’s the only action I have to show my respect. “I am honored, Batari. Thank you for agreeing to visit with me.”

“Xander speaks very highly of you. When he told me who you were and what your questions are, I knew I had to meet you.”

“He told you why I’m here?”

Batari carefully walks closer to the edge of the dock, where its submerged, and sits down, sticking her feet in. As she makes herself comfortable, I realize we’re in for a long story.

“Before we address the reason you’re here, you need additional history about our enemy, Calandra. Not many are familiar with her origins or what caused her insatiable appetite for destruction, but she’s desperate for it. Calandra herself is a royal from the Indian Ocean and her appearance is a mystery. Some claim she is hideous to look upon, other claim her beauty is like no other. She’s always had power, but it was never enough.”

“Aren’t those in the Indian Ocean supposed to be peaceful?” I ask.

“They are. Her family banished her once they began to comprehend just how dark she was turning. Or so the story goes.”

“How old is she?”

“It’s difficult to decipher. Mer have a fairly long lifespan, up to two hundred years.” I blink rapidly at that piece of information. It’s news to me and I have to swallow the fifty other questions springing into existence. “I believe she’s older than anyone suspects because she’s managed to prolong her years.”

Older means more opportunities to hone her skills. It’s disturbing to contemplate she’s been lying in wait for decades, possibly centuries. That level of patience is a daunting reminder of her deviousness. It could mean she’s willing to let this plan of hers play out, with no regard to how bad the conditions get, and avoid any battle Stavros initiates. Why fight him when she can destroy him or starve his people?

“I’m going to delve even farther into history.” Batari pauses. “Poseidon was gifted a very powerful amulet in the shape of a starfish from his brother, Zeus. He wore it around his neck. The three brothers—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—divided the world into their domains. Zeus governed the skies, Poseidon the seas, and Hades the underworld. Legend states, Zeus poured a portion his own power into this amulet before giving it to Poseidon. There are conflicting reports as to whether he did the same for his other brother, Hades.”

I flash on the statue of Poseidon in the palace courtyard. There’d been a starfish nestled in the hollow of his neck.

“Needless to say, the amulet holds extremely potent power, power directly from a god. Somewhere along the centuries, most likely in battle, Poseidon lost his necklace to the depths.” She shakes her head. “For years he searched and the seas were turbulent with his fury. He demanded Zeus give him another, but Zeus felt Poseidon would only lose that one as well. It was too precious a gift to be lost so carelessly.

“Eventually the amulet turned into myth. Many have searched for it, confident that if they found it, they’d manage to harness the power within…the power of Zeus himself.”

Ice runs through my veins as I guess where Batari’s story is leading.

“Calandra heard the story of the Sky Amulet, as it’s been called, and became obsessed with locating it. About seventeen years ago, she did. It’s not an easy thing to master and I suppose it’s taken her all this time to fully control the power within it.”

She frowns. “What we’re experiencing, with the sharks, the storms, and the rising temperatures, is a small example of the Sky Amulet’s power. Make no mistake, it can and will get much worse.”

“I’ve often wondered why Poseidon, the god of the sea, and essentially our creator, hasn’t stepped in. His amulet has been found, so why hasn’t he come for it? Is he even in existence anymore?”

“He is. Gods and goddesses are immortal so they continue to live. As Christianity grew, along with the human population, they became obsolete and faded into myth. They are among us, but they find no pleasure in this modern world. In a way, they’re jaded parents. They probably assume that since we didn’t need them for so long, why should they swoop in and save us now?”

“It doesn’t seem right,” I mumble.

“You must remember time is different to a god,” she answers. “When you’re immortal a year may pass in a second, a century in a minute. To Poseidon, he has all the time in the world.”

The idea that Poseidon and the other gods are sitting around letting their children right their own wrongs is strange to me. Why is it so easy to accept these myths? Catching myself swishing my tail in the water, I realize exactly when I started believing in them. It was with one step into a frothy, salty ocean. Isn’t a mermaid a living, breathing fairy tale brought to life?

Xander interrupts my thoughts. “As interesting as this is, what does it have to do with Zoey?”

Batari studies me. Finally she says, “The gods have not forsaken us as many would believe. Calandra finding the Sky Amulet set into motion a deadly unbalance in nature.” She wiggles her toes in the water. “Gaia is the great Earth Mother who gave birth to the Titans, who in turn produced gods such as Zeus and Poseidon. Many call her Mother Nature. She is mother to us all. She instigated a turn of events to correct the unbalance.”

With each word, Batari is leading me farther and farther off the map. I pictured the warning I’d seen on old charts, “Here there be monsters”.

“Gaia knew what was coming for the creatures of Earth and wanted to oppose it, not be idle as the other gods, her children. One special night, sixteen years ago, she saw an opportunity to put that plan into motion. She gifted a child, to be born of both land and sea, with the power to protect animals, humans, and mer. She blessed
you
and gave you the ability to stop Calandra and restore peace and balance. I felt it then and I sense it in you now. Gaia channeled her own power into you.”

I’ve got to be dreaming. What Batari is saying is difficult to digest. I’m inundated by a buzzing in my ears and my mouth has gone dry. I expected some of it, but nothing remotely close to this. The mother of all gods chose me to fight a war. My head spins and I’m worried I might pass out.

Turning to Xander for strength, I meet his wonder-filled gaze. High school is suddenly a foreign world. How long ago was it? A week? Maybe more?

He and Batari are both silent as I struggle to accept what she’s told me. I manage only a few words. “Not only am I a princess, but I’ve also got super goddess power in me?”

Xander swims over and puts his hand on my neck reassuringly. It keeps me anchored in this moment and prevents my head from popping off with this new information.

Batari smiles patiently. “It’s a lot to take in, Zoey, and will require some getting used to. I didn’t share your origins to scare or overwhelm you. It’s not a gift you can learn to harness overnight. Deep down, you’ve known and been prepared, whether you confronted it or not. Why else has this transformation has been so easy?”

I nod numbly. “Last night I was attacked by a merman. Without being aware of it, my arm rose,” I mimic the movement, “in defense and halted his advance. Next, he flew into the wall.”

She regards me proudly. “That’s your power. It’s as much a part of you as breathing or sleeping. When you’re strong enough, it will only take a thought. That’s when it can become dangerous. You must learn to control and separate the power until you need it.” She pushes to her feet. “I wish to speak with you privately. If you surface on the other side of the dock, I left clothes to wear once you transform.”

“This may sound strange, but do you have anything I can use as crutches?”

Intrigue floods her face, yet she keeps her questions to herself. “In fact, I have an old pair one of the children had to use. I can send someone to fetch them.”

She steps aside and speaks to an older woman, and I glance at Xander, trying to speak.

“You’ll be fine,” he promises. “Don’t let this new stuff smother you. Breathe.”

I concentrate on his words and suck in a deep breath of moist tropic air. It helps a little. “Thanks, I guess I’ll be back in a bit.”

He kisses me lightly on the temple and I swim over to where Batari indicated. Gathering myself onto a shaky leg, I slip the dress on as the beach reminds me of another, with Nerio. I accept the crutches from Batari, ignoring the curiosity burning in her pretty eyes. Thundering footsteps cause me to jerk around.

A group of five young children clamor onto the sagging dock, yelling Xander’s name. Clumsy with the shorter crutches, I move over only to see the kids jumping into the water. They laugh and splash him.

Xander plunges his hands in the water and a plume shoots up under each of the kids, throwing them a few feet in the air. Their squeals of delight as they splash pull a smile from me.

Batari stands beside me. “He has such a wonderful heart.”

“He’s a wonderful friend,” I say, turning on the happy scene. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Chapter Forty-Two

She guides me off the beach and into the lush tropical jungle. The air is heavy, but also fresh and invigorating. I inhale another huge lungful of it. Here, away from the ocean, it’s humid, primitive and clings to my skin, leaving it damp. I have to concentrate on not tripping over the thick vegetation.

Batari leads me on a well-worn path. Finally she says. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“It’s no big deal. It was an accident I’ve learned to deal with. Strangely enough, I am more accepting of it lately than I ever have been.”

“Our strength rises from adversity.”

“I’m beginning to realize that, finally.” I smirk, ready to change the subject. Reflecting on my relationship with Nerio, I ask, “Xander mentioned you choosing love over your duty as a goddess. Do you ever regret it?”

“Yacci, my husband, has been dead for three hundred and forty-five years. I’ve felt the pain of his loss every day since. But not once have I regretted choosing him. Our short years together were more meaningful than being a revered deity. He showed me a love I never would have experienced otherwise. I told you time is different for an immortal. Our life together was a raindrop, refreshing but gone too soon. This was our island and as long as I’m here, I am with him.”

“It’s so sad.” I ache for her and hope I don’t end up that alone.

Batari watches me with pity. “I’m sorry you feel that way. Soon, when you love with all your soul, you’ll remember me. You’re too young to imagine that kind of commitment.”

We stop in a barren clearing. It’s another world. The trees are stripped of their leaves and the dry, brown grass crackles beneath our feet. Even the air is thinner, not as lush from the life-giving plants that should be here. The sun bakes down, intense and unrelenting, searing anything left out in the open. It’s completely foreign on this beautiful island.

“What happened here?” I gasp, leaning on the crutches.

Batari touches the trunk of a tall, barren tree. “It was a type of moth, driven farther south by unrelenting monsoons. Luckily my people contained it to this small area. I brought you here to show you that your power will work on land the same as in water.”

I swear my mouth drops to the ground. “Is this part of Gaia’s gift?”

“It is. You know how to use it underwater, yes?” I nod. “This will be exactly the same. I could easily start you off simple and have you give life to this single tree, but we can do better than that.” She winks. “Plus, it will show you the tremendous scope of what you can do.”

She leads me to the center of the clearing. “Kneel down and touch the earth. You’ll feel its energy, same as you do in the sea. Imagine what it was. The power will flow out of you and bring it back.”

She motions for me to do as she said and I kneel in the dry dirt struggling for balance. It wasn’t a lot of instruction, so I sort of wing it. Licking my lips nervously, I lay my palm on the ground.

Immediately I’m assaulted with what I’d describe as a fresh wind. It flows into my body and I revel in it for a couple seconds. It reveals a deep unknown part of myself I didn’t know existed, not even when I used the power in the water. Then I stretch my mind outward. I recognize Batari, but beyond the clearing the amount of life astonishes me. Every living thing—the trees, the vines, the insects—pulse with their own unique energy. I want to explore with the small monkeys, leaping from branch to branch. Lounge on a warm rock with the lizard, soaking up every ounce of warmth I could. It’d be easy to lose myself here. It’s exquisite and for once, I’m not hungry for the sea.

Being part of this thriving world almost distracts me from my mission. Drawing back to the clearing, I conjure up an image of how spectacular it once looked—towering green trees, soft grass cushioning my feet, and brilliantly colored wildflowers. To add my own little flourish, I position a small spring of clear water in the middle of it, the liquid bubbling up from within the earth. I have no clue if it will show up, but it’s worth a shot.

My palm grows warm as the power flows out of me and into the scarred ground. For a brief second, I’m part of this. The girl named Zoey glimmers into the distance and my essence tangles with that of the plants and trees I’m drawing from. Similar to how I become liquid in the water, I’m an extension of these life forms, flowing and free.

Slowly the sensation fades and I’m bursting with curiosity to check if it worked. I push up slowly and bobble as exhaustion sweeps over me. It’s as if I ran a marathon. I grasp onto the high that is humming through my veins and some of the tiredness diminishes.

Beside me Batari laughs gleefully and I’m knocked speechless. The once dead clearing has been transformed into my vision, even down to the spring. No trace of the destruction remains.

Exotic flowers of all sizes sway in the breeze—deep purples and whites and yellows. And the greens! So many different shades surround us. The once bare trees shelter us with giant leafy umbrellas. The clearing reminds me of a secret, whispered in the rustling leaves and babbling spring, too precious to speak of.

“It’s wonderful, Zoey.” She hugs me as I continue to gawk in wonder.

“I actually did it. I didn’t think I could.” My cheeks burn from the force of my wide, enraptured smile.

“You must have faith in yourself. Let’s sit by this gorgeous pond.”

We perch on the rocks surrounding the spring. The shock gradually wears off and my shoulders sag from the lack of energy. It’s nice to sit. I pull my knee up to my chest and wrap my arms around it.

“I can’t believe how drained I am. Mentally, I’m energized, but my body feels as if it fought a war. It’s worse than physical therapy.”

“As you grow stronger, the fatigue will lessen. Executing small jobs, such as communicating with fish or restoring a single bloom of a flower, won’t have the same effect. You must train your body, build up stamina. This is to remind you it’s a gift and not to be abused.”

I will myself to adjust quickly. “What else can I do?”

She spreads her hands. “Only you can find out for certain. This has not happened before, that we’re aware of. You’re truly unique. You’ll have to work with it to test the edges of your abilities. I can’t begin to guess what this gift will allow you to do.”

“So it will be a while until I understand how to use it against Calandra?” I’m a little disappointed. As unrealistic as it sounds, I expected to come away from this with all the answers. It figures an all-knowing earth mother wouldn’t make it too easy. I’m sure there is a lesson involved that I don’t have the patience for. Caution is smart, but not when the world is falling apart.

“I will warn you again, it won’t happen overnight. This predicament with Calandra will last a while yet. Even with your powers, you’ll have difficulty. It’s almost impossible to go against the power of a true god when you’re so fresh with your own. She’s had seventeen years to hone it. You may have to face her multiple times before you discover what you have to do.”

“Can I counter or lessen the fury she’s unleashed on land and humans?”

“Of course, but to return the balance to nature, she must die. The Sky Amulet will have to either be destroyed or returned to its rightful owner, Poseidon. That will be no easy task. It tempts mere mortals, like mer, with its power.”

“We can’t fix this instantly?”

“No,” she shrugs sadly. “The water will stop rising, but it won’t recede, not for years. Once nature stabilizes, the new sea levels may remain, but it won’t deteriorate anymore. That’s what matters. The world will be different, there’s no doubt. It’s how both races move forward that dictates how we survive.”

I remember the incident with Eustacia. Shame tells me not to ask, but I have to. “This power, my gift, how similar is it to the merwitch’s? Can I harm someone, unintentionally?”

Batari’s features pale. “Yes, you can. It isn’t all flowers and beautiful fountains. There are parts of it you can’t even imagine right now, things that will come to light as you mature. If not mastered, you can inflict pain when you’re overly emotional. This responsibility has a price, and a temptation. If you give in, it will lead you down dark roads. I faced many of the same temptations as a goddess, so I understand how alluring the other side may appear. But I have faith you won’t let it control you.”

I bite my lip. It’s too late. I already did, unconsciously. That scares me. The possibility of what could have happened had I not realized it is chilling. Eustacia may have died. I have to be vigilant.

She pauses and I sense an uncomfortable subject coming.

“Have you heard of what’s going on out in the world while you’ve been in the kingdom?”

“Not really.” Alarm settles in the pit of my stomach. “I hear the storms are worse and flooding is severe in coastal cities.”

“It’s exceedingly worse. A devastating tsunami hit the eastern coast of the United States and the casualties are extreme. The capital is in ruins and residents are panicking. It’s not only the sharks who are acting out. Fish are attacking humans and mankind is scared. Coastal cities are becoming ghost towns as residents are evacuated. From Louisiana to Florida entire neighborhoods have been buried under the encroachment of the sea. Each day it escalates and I’m afraid it will keep deteriorating before it gets better. At least, until she is stopped.”

A tear rolls down my cheek. “This happened in the US? The tsunami?”

It’s horrible, but underneath my sadness is anger. What kind of creature is Calandra to inflict this horrendous suffering on millions of innocent people? What was happening to my home? My friends? My mother?

“Can I see my mom?” I whisper.

“I wouldn’t, not until this is over. If you’re being watched, it may put her in danger. You will be reunited soon enough.”

I can’t believe how this stranger is upending my life and how much of it is tied to her survival. Calandra will get what’s coming to her. Somehow I will master the gift Gaia gave me and bring her down.

“I can see you’re angry. You must not give in to it and go after Calandra. Until you’re fully aware of what you can do, confronting her is pointless. Or worse, you won’t control it and that will only make matters worse. She
can
hurt you.” Her expression grows stern. “Besides, you’ll need help.”

“You mean from the king? Trust me. He’s more than willing to hunt her down.”

“He’s important, as is anyone with the fortitude to fight. I’m talking about the four kingdoms. You must somehow reunite the oceans. It won’t matter as far as your power is concerned, but with the oceans banded together, she’ll have fewer places to hide. If she’s constantly looking over her shoulder, she’ll be distracted.”

I catch on. “And if she’s distracted, she’ll be easier to locate and easier to defeat.”

“Exactly. My advice is, test yourself. Test your powers as often as you can. The more you understand them, the better chance we have at a future. You must stop her and strip her of the amulet. Not to mention, whoever returns the Sky Amulet to Poseidon will be greatly rewarded.”

No matter how desperately I want to track the merwitch down today, I realize the wisdom of Batari’s words. Once I have a better idea what I’m capable of, we’ll form a plan.

“It can’t be as easy as sauntering up to Poseidon and handing over his necklace.”

“No, not quite that easy.” She smirks knowingly. “It won’t be simple to find him. We’ll deal with that
when
the time arrives.”

Having the faith of this exotic woman humbles me. I’m stuck in the middle of my own odyssey with no clue of what the outcome will be. There are so many roads, so many choices. And I’m barely sixteen years old. It’s a lot of pressure.

“What happens once Calandra is gone and the balance is restored? If I was created, or blessed or whatever, to combat her deeds, what happens to me?”

“The ideal situation would be for you to keep your power in case this situation arises again. You could lose them completely.” Her lips thin. “Or the gods will judge that you’ve done your duty.”

“Meaning, I’ll die?” I exhale loudly. “I can’t dwell on that right now or else I’ll lose my nerve.”

“Did you know the name Zoey means life? That cannot be a coincidence. Keep the dark thoughts at bay, Zoey. They will only cause more damage.” Batari stands. “I’d love to linger here with you, but you have a long journey home. Let’s gather some papaya for Xander. They’re his favorite.”

“Wait,” I halt her retreat. “Can I heal myself?”