Ripples (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 2) (19 page)

     “Hey!” Jillian called, as she came out of the living room. “I thought I heard your truck.” She smiled brightly and I tried my best to put on a tired grin, it worked. “You look so exhausted, you poor thing. Well, that’s to be expected. I still can’t believe your dress was ruined by those students.” I had forgotten Sean had told Jillian some kid from the prom had spilled spiked punch all over the dress and ruined it. Luckily, he’d heard someone had spiked the punch bowl and things had gotten out of hand quickly, resulting in the knocking over of the entire table, and police showing up to arrest those who were intoxicated. It just so happened that in the madness, no one had noticed I was missing and therefore left a perfect cover story for what had happened

     She sighed softly, “Why don’t you get to bed?”

    I nodded in a sort of strange daze, somehow my eyes found Sean’s “Thanks,” I said and he knew I meant for more than just the ride.

     I stumbled past the living room, where Justin was dressed as a superhero, and found my way to the stairs. Unbelievably, I made it to the top and into my room without tripping over my own feet.

     My bed looked so inviting and I flopped onto it, letting myself fully relax. I turned my head slightly to glance at the clock and heard a crinkling sound under my head. Confused, I sat up and looked at the piece of paper on my pillow. It was folded over with my name on the front; I recognized the writing and opened it with shaking fingers.

I miss you. Meet me at the beach.

     The sob I had been holding back ever since Derek and Sean had found me asleep on the floor, rose in my throat and consumed me. I wondered if I would ever feel less frightened and broken than I did now, then again I hardly cared.

_______________

     My room was dark when I opened my eyes. They felt as though they had been glued together all night and somehow, I knew I had been crying, even in my sleep. I felt more tired than before. My dreams had given me no relief from those parting words that had spilled from Zale’s lips. I heard them over and over again, and I could see him in my mind’s eye as he spoke each word, so carefully and threateningly. It gave me chills, even now, to think of the coldness in his eyes.

     I became aware of a soft red flash that continued over and over again against my bedroom wall. Slowly, I rolled over to find its source. The clock on my bed side table was blinking, the numbers stuck on twelve waiting, for me to set it to the correct time. I figured the power must have gone out just when a crashing boom of thunder rang through the night. Its loud rumble seemed to touch me inside and I shuddered. Feeling like a coward, I tugged the comforter up around me a little higher.

     Just then I felt a scratchy prickle in my hand and opened it slowly. There lay the crumpled up paper that had that familiar hand writing. I stared at it, reading the eight simple, yet meaningful words, over and over and resisted the feelings inside me and allowed a great lurching of anger to replace it.

     My teeth gritted in frustration and I knew what had to be done. So be it, if Zale would kill me, that was his problem. He was forced to choose a side and he went with all that he knew. Morven had brainwashed him and there was nothing I could do about that, but I could try and stop Morven and his plans.

     My hand tightened around the note Zale had written me and the words ran through my memory, as if branded in my mind. I knew the Hyven were headed for Lathmor tomorrow and that they would attack at night. They would descend upon the Lathmorians without warning, and would kidnap and torture Shaylee. The only thing they didn’t know is I would be there to thwart them.

     A small smile crept across my face and as I looked into the mirror that hung on my wall. I saw a different creature sitting in my bed. Her eyes were dark and there was an eerie whiteness about her teeth in the red haze. And when she grasped the dagger from the bedside table, it flashed with a red glow, as though ready for the coming fight.

     Somewhere in my chest, I felt a surge of fear and desire that collided into a shower of adrenaline. I rose from the bed, for what might be the last time, and looked back at the girl in the mirror. She flashed that smile at me once more.

     Without another glance, I darted to the window and out into the shadows of the night.    

The ocean water zipped past my body with incredible speed. It felt glorious to be embraced by the salty liquid again.

     Time was of major importance, I had until night to make it to Lathmor and steal Shaylee away. The past evening and day had slipped away quickly as I traveled through the dark ocean depths, but I still had a great distance to cover before reaching the Lathmorian shoreline.

     The familiar weight of doubt filled my gut. I was unsure whether this was the right thing to be doing, let alone, if I would be able to make it in time. Yet, it was for Tunder, that I pressed on. I couldn’t let what happened to me, happen to him. 

     A giant kick spurred me forward and I knew I was traveling faster than ever before. From where I was suspended between ocean floor and surface, I could see the rippled sand, flying beneath me in a blur.

     As the sun sank, the shadows of the sand dunes stretched across the ocean floor from what little light reached its depths. The anxiety grew in my stomach and the uncertainty of what was to come gripped my mind. The girl who had stared back at me in the mirror, had abandoned me on this trip. In her absence, was the fear of the unknown, the ignorance of what was happening on land at that very moment drove me crazy. But I pressed forward, urging my fins to push the water with as much force as possible.

     It was well past midnight when I began to recognize where I was. Any minute now I would be coming up on a Lathmorian guard. I tried to listen, as best I could, around the whoosh my fins made every time I kicked.

    
If only I had my mermaid hearing already
, I thought, but that would have to wait.

     The ocean floor began to rise, and I knew I should have passed a guard by now. Either, they were already dead, or off searching for the approaching Hyven. Whatever had happened to them, my arrival was colliding with the Hyven’s.

     Slipping into the shadows of the underwater caves, I kicked toward the surface. I adjusted my grip on the flat pack around my stomach, ready to change in midair. I was garbed in all black before my bare feet touched the grainy, rock floor. Hurrying, I tucked my dagger under the left sleeve of my black-sleek clothes. Flashbacks from the night of our pursuit into Hyvar ran through my mind, but I pushed them aside.

     Already dry, I hurried toward the exit and stepped out into the night air. Dew covered the ground and smoky clouds huddled over the land as I darted to the cover of the trees. On high alert, I tried to listen for any sounds, but nothing reached my ears. Maybe, I had made it in time.

    I walked beside the well-worn path, hidden in the even darker shadows of the trees. I couldn’t see the city yet, but knew it was up ahead. I darted from shadow to shadow, hoping my deepest fears were incorrect. Maybe the Hyven hadn’t reached the shores.
Then why were there no guards on duty?

     As if to confirm my doubts, a large lump lay huddled on the pathway in the moonlight. Picking my way through the shadows, I edged as close as I dared. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light, but all too soon I realized it was a slumped over body. The limbs were crumpled at odd angles and I didn’t have to get any closer to know  it was dead; my stomach gave a small lurch of nausea and fear.

     The Hyven were definitely here.
But how long had they been on shore?

     Obviously, they hadn’t reached the city yet or there would be piercing shouts and screams through the night air. I moved into a silent jog, my eyes and ears on alert and my heart pounding heavily in my chest.

     I rounded the last curve that would reveal the city, and stopped dead in my tracks. The Hyven were standing near the edge of the trees, their faces all turned toward the city. I could see the pale outlines of the white buildings behind the silhouettes of the Hyven. The stacked rows of living spaces rose on the familiar hill toward the grand palace, and somehow, it all looked out of place. 

     I had been so used to seeing Lathmor in its white washed walls, but what was in front of me wasn’t what I remembered. The walls were covered in dust and grime. There were very few lights coming from any of the many windows. It all looked dull and lost in time, as though ruins for excavation. The image made my blood pump faster and my anger burn deeper. The girl from the mirror was coming back to life. 

     The Hyven stood unaware of my presence; their stances confident and anxious, muscles twitching in anticipation of what was to come. Not wanting to be discovered, I stepped behind a tree and peeked around the side.

     Two large figures stood at the head of the group. It was these two, who spoke to one another in angry whispers. Their voices carried on the wind, but I couldn’t make out the words. One of them stood taller than the rest, I watched in horror, as he shifted his shoulders and gestured angrily at the other soldier. It was a motion I had seen before, one I was much too familiar with. Before my eyes, was the proof of what he had said would happen. The warrior was doing his master’s bidding.

     Tearing my gaze away from him, I scanned the crowd of Hyven that waited impatiently for their leaders to stop arguing. Their numbers were large and my eyes widened in realization as something clicked inside my brain. This group of Hyven soldiers wasn’t here to simply capture Shaylee. This was a massacre.

    
Find Tunder, he’ll know what to do
. The thought ran through my mind and I latched onto it. Surprise was the Hyven’s biggest ally at this point, but not if I ruined it for them.

     My pulse quickened, but I kept my breath under control as I tried to back away from the waiting soldiers. I dashed to the side across the pathway and into the opposing trees. I still had some time to thwart the Hyven, while they argued. The odds were slightly on my side, but only if I could alert the castle before the attack began.

     The darkness from the cloudy skies was a perfect cover for my approach into the Lathmor city. I tried not to think of the advantage this would give the Hyven as well. My only hope was for Zale and the other Hyven leader to continue arguing.

     I looped around the city, making sure I would be coming in near the back. I paused beneath the shadows, trying to make out any guards on duty. My mind was split between wistfully thinking no one would be there and hoping Tunder was smart enough to have guards stationed around the city at all times. Sure enough, I could make out a few Lathmorian mermen and mermaids standing at ease on a balcony above a house.

     I swallowed not wanting them to see me until I reached Tunder. I didn’t want the Hyven to get away once they realized their presence was known. Instead, the spiteful girl in me wanted them to get caught in their own trap, to be outwitted, by the one who was usually a pawn in their games.

     I scanned the distance I had to run to get to the shadows of the first building. It was at least fifty yards, a much greater span of land than I wanted to cross in such risky circumstances. For a moment I paused in thought and then grabbed a small fist sized rock off the ground. Putting all of my strength behind the stone, I heaved it into the shadows directly in line with where I was standing. As planned, the soft thud of the stone grabbed the guards’ attention and they straightened up, their heads turning in the direction the stone had landed.

     I broke into a dead sprint, careful to keep my feet as quiet as possible. I could see the white buildings on the outskirts getting closer and if I could just reach them, I knew I would have shadowy places to hide all the way up to the palace. I was holding my breath as I ran and when my body was enveloped in the dark shadows of the building I exhaled, not believing I had made it so far without being discovered.

     My eyes immediately darted to the palace at the top of the large sloping hill. For a moment I had a flash back to how it had looked the first time I had seen it, so long ago. Back then, there had been pale curtains drifting in the evening breeze, the walls and pillars had looked whiter, and the roof seemed to shine in the moonlight. It looked nothing like that now. Somehow, the fear and dread of the merfolk war could be seen on the dusty marble walls and unmoving veiled curtains.

     My body pulled my mind back to the present and I began to dash back and forth up alleyways, getting closer to the palace with each move. There was only one place I could think of where I might have a chance at getting in unnoticed, and I knew in order to get there, I would have to be quick.

     I could feel my breath growing heavy and each darting step was beginning to throb through my legs. I silently wished running came as easily and naturally as swimming.

    The palace walls towered over me and I reached my hand out to touch the cold marble. It’s cool, smooth stone soothed my nervous stomach just for a moment. Finger tips brushing the old wall, I crept and flitted my way around to the back of the palace and looked up at the windows above. There was one in particular I was searching for, but I had no idea how to find it.

     I stood much longer than I wanted to, all the while knowing the Hyven could be attacking at any moment. It had been at least five minutes since I had seen them standing at the edge of the forest, and how long could a whispered argument last?
Hopefully, long enough
. I was counting on Zale’s stubborn pigheadedness to help me out on this occasion.

     Risking exposure, I dashed away from the palace wall and turned around to get a better look at the windows. I scanned them quickly and then my eyes fell on one that looked exactly as I had remembered it. It was just the right height and facing the correct way, I was positive, it was her room.

     My body was acting quicker than my brain and it ran to a patch of trees that stood closer to the palace on this side. I was up in the branches of one before I could even consider how to climb the tree. I silently laughed to myself and then judged the distance from the longest limb to the window. It wouldn’t be too far, I gulped, slightly nervous and cast all fears aside.

     A deep breath steadied me and my mind wondered where I was getting this slinking ability; it was almost instinctive. I pushed hard off the branch with my legs and landed with a small thud against the palace wall, my hands wrapped tightly on the bottom lip of the window. Using all my strength, I hoisted myself up onto the wide ledge and looked into the familiar room.

     No lights were on in the room, but a small lump lay on the bed. I could see the soft movement of her breath, as the covers rose and fell over her still form. Opening the glass, I slipped softly onto the floor and darted over to the bed. When I touched her shoulder, she awoke with a startled cry that I quickly cut off by covering her mouth with my hand. Her blades flashed from her fingers, and she was just about to slice my hand when I whispered her name and she froze.

     “Just stay quiet,” I said and she nodded. Her blades retracted into her fingers and I felt her body ease. “I didn’t mean to scare you, but I had to wake you up without someone else noticing.”

     “Well, you did a fine job of that,” she said and whipped a hand over her mouth.

     “Not too bad for a half-turned mermaid, huh?” I asked and she laughed. “But enough of that,” I said, snapping back into reality. “The Hyven are here.” The words tumbled out of my mouth and Kryssa’s eyes grew wide with shock.

     “What? That can’t—”

     “I’ve seen them,” I butted in not wanting to waste any more time. “They’re at the edge of the forest waiting to attack, I saw a dead Lathmorian guard, they’re planning a massacre. We have to warn everyone.”

     Kryssa nodded quickly, she was in instinct mode just like I had been moments ago, and she turned to run out of her room.

     “Wait!” I grabbed her wrist and she turned back toward me, her long hair swaying in an unnatural way.

     “What?!” She asked, anxious.

     “Don’t yell out a warning, otherwise the Hyven will turn and leave without coming into the city. We need them to believe they still have the element of surprise. We have to find Tunder, he’ll know what to do”

     “Okay,” the dark head bobbed once and she turned to dash out the door, hair rippling behind her. I followed her lead knowing we were headed toward Tunder and Shaylee’s bedroom.

     Kryssa rounded a corner quickly and disappeared, I heard a loud thump and a groan.

     “What the—” a deep voice said but never finished because I whipped around the corner and toppled headlong into a hard body and another groan sounded.

     Strong arms caught and steadied me; my eyes lifted immediately and saw Elik looking down at me with the most peculiar expression on his face.

     “Lissie?! Why are you here?” Elik’s deep brown eyes flicked over to Kryssa who was rubbing her forehead, standing next to Daggin, who had a matching red spot on his chin.

     Kryssa opened her mouth to explain, but I beat her to it, my words gushed out like spilled coins. It was the moment for action and all this standing around explaining was wasting time. The Hyven might have already set upon the lower Lathmorian houses.

     As soon as I finished explaining, Elik’s eyes had snapped into those of a leader. “Go and get everyone ready without causing awareness. Lissie’s right, we need to bait them. Now go!” He pointed and Daggin took off running faster than I had all night.