The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) (40 page)

             
The last things I remember are his strong, fisherman’s arms keeping me from falling into the snow.

*     *     *

              “I don’t have pneumonia, I have strep,” I try to explain.

             
Christian frowns at me. “You have both. They only caught the strep at the hospital, but Ana showed me the x-rays. You undoubtedly have pneumonia. She believes that the attack and stress have severely weakened your immune system, even more so than initially thought. You’re under doctor’s orders to spend the next two weeks in bed and a third at home, resting.”

             
“The attack was three months ago.”

             
“Yes, however it was a very traumatic experience, and you’re still recovering from it.”

             
“Christian Kelp,” I use his real name. “Get Ana in here and have her take this needle out of my arm.”

             
“No, Ana and Bjorn have already left for the evening. They’re staying in the
Seaside Bed and Breakfast
while you are ill, and Bjorn finishes sorting out the accident. They are usually very busy, and I refuse to bother them while they enjoy some time together. Furthermore, you need the IV. Ana thinks it’s best if your antibiotics are delivered directly into your bloodstream.”

             
“I think you like ordering me around.” I glare at him.

             
He smiles. “I must admit I enjoy that you are still staying in my home. However, as far as the pneumonia goes, I would prefer that you were well. Both Thomas and I are very concerned for your health. Even after Ana’s breathing treatments, you are still very ill.”

             
“But I’ve missed too much school. I need to…”

             
“…rest,” he interjects.

             
“I was going to say, graduate.” I try to fight away a yawn but am unsuccessful. He sees it and smiles.

             
“You have just enough time to take a nap before dinner.” He kisses my forehead. “I’m looking forward to spending the next three weeks with you without high school getting in the way.”

             
“And how can you skip school?”

             
“Sven, Henrik, and I are recovering from a car accident.”

*     *     *

It’s obvious something is up when Christian stops speaking in Danish and begins blowing through his lips. I glance up from my history homework. Christian continues blowing silently. I watch him put down his laptop and stand up. He goes to a table in the corner of my room and begins sifting through a stack of hand-written documents. Picking up a document, he begins pacing.  The silent conversation proceeds for more than three quarters of an hour. Finally, he hangs up the phone and blows into the hallway. Sven, Henrik, and Sonia immediately enter the room.

             
“When?” asks Sven.

             
“Tonight,” Christian answers. “Emotions are very tense. King Barnacle has threatened political aggression if the treaty isn’t signed by midnight.”

             
“The treaty was signed months ago.”

             
“Yes, but King Barnacle is demanding amendments to the treaty.  With Father dealing with High King Crustacean, I must go and remind Barnacle that it is the Kelps who rule the Realm.” He sighs audibly.

             
“Thomas won’t be happy to return from fishing to find us gone,” Henrik says.

             
“We will try to make contact before we leave.”

             
“And, of course, I’ll stay with Alex,” Sonia adds.

             
“How long will you be gone?” I ask Christian.

             
“Only a day or two,” he says, gently kissing me. “And you are to remain in bed the entire time.”

             
I smile teasingly at him. “Nice try. You know what they say, ‘when the cat is away the mice will play.’”

             
“That is a human saying. We merfolk have a very different saying, ‘Stay in bed and be a good patient and you can choose the Hummer’s replacement.’”

             
“Ha, ha,” I say sarcastically. “I don’t know why you even bother. I can’t care less about cars.”

             
“Yet, you wanted to drive the Hummer?” He raises an eyebrow.

             
“It was the fever talking. I can’t be bribed with a car.”

             
“Perhaps you can be bribed with something else?” he says mischievously.

             
“A walk to the beach,” I say automatically. “It’s been too long since I last saw the ocean.”

             
His eyebrows furrow. “You are still very ill.”

             
“That’s fine,” I say with plans of a long walk already brewing in my mind.

             
“Alexandra, even if I’m not physically here, I will keep in constant contact with both you and Sonia.” He kisses me. “And Marjory and Sonia are more than happy to watch over you for me while I’m away.”

*     *     *

I’m too tired to follow through with any of my diabolical beach plans that first day. Marjory makes homemade chicken noodle soup and biscuits for dinner. Then, Sonia, Marjory, Jen, and I watch a movie. With a full stomach, I fall asleep before the closing credits.

             
The next day I have a little more energy. Even with the IV in my arm, I change out of my pajamas into a pair of sweats, thinking of a walk along the beach. I’m pondering how I’m going to get out of the house when a strange whooshing sound starts coming from a device on the wall.

Immediately Sonia runs into the room. Without a word, she cuts the tube to my IV. Li
quid sprays from it, but before I can object, Sonia puts a finger to my lips. “Someone’s broken into the backdoor!” she whispers urgently. “We have to get out of here!”

She directs me out of my room, leading me towards Christian’s. We are just about there when we hear Marjory’s voice.

“OUT, GET OUT OF OUR HOUSE!” she screams.

Philip is pointing a gun in her face.

“Get out of the way, old woman,” he says.

Marjory cackles. “You will never have the beauty!”

I look down and realize that she’s holding a large, glass bottle. Philip must be as confused as I am because he simply watches as she shakes the bottle and throws it at his feet. When it hits the floor, it explodes, throwing both Marjory and Philip backward. Philip’s gun goes off.

I don’t see any more. Sonia drags me into Christian’s room and locks the door behind us.

“Marjory needs our help,” I say, weakly struggling against Sonia.

She doesn’t loosen her grip on me. “Marjory did what she thought was necessary to keep you alive, but she only bought us a little time. Philip was getting to his feet as I shut the door. We have to get you out of this house!”

She pulls back a rug on the floor, exposing a hidden door. Opening it, she explains, “This will take you to the wine cellar. On the eastern wall there is a tunnel leading to the beach. Run to the beach as fast as you can! Christian and the IPS will be emerging from the ocean any moment.”

“You sound like you’re not coming with me!” I say frantically, looking into a very dark tunnel.

Splinters of wood fly across the room as bullets spray through the door.

“Come out! Come out, wherever you are!” Philip taunts as he starts kicking on the door.

“I’ll be right behind you!” Sonia pushes me into the black hole in the floor.

Suddenly I’m freefalling. I look above me, seeing Sonia struggling with Philip. She kicks the tunnel door shut, and I see nothing but darkness.

The chute to the basement is very short. Just as quickly as my decent began, it ends. I land abruptly on the hard, stone floor in the familiar wine cellar. I feel as though I’ve been swallowed by darkness. I fumble around while trying to remember which way is east.

I hear several gunshots. The tunnel door opens above me, and I gratefully glance up, e
xpecting to see Sonia, but it is Philip’s frightening face which peers down at me instead.

“Tyst, tyst, I’ve finally caught you,” he mocks me. “How nice of your friends to trap you down there for me! I wouldn’t be too upset with them. You should never speak ill of the dead.”

I force my mind not to think about what has been lost because of this insane man. I have to get out of there to warn Christian! After all the terrible things that have happened, I refuse to let the nightmares of his death to become a reality as well. I step out of Philip’s sight before I turn, finally finding east. I take off running as fast as I can. My only hope is making it to the ocean.

I wearily force myself forward, allowing my adrenaline to take control of my mind and body. I realize that if I am to survive, I must put myself on autopilot. I try to run quietly
so I don’t tip off Philip to my location, but I can soon hear his footsteps running after me.

“Alex, where do you think you’re going?” he mocks.

I push forward, hoping for an end to the long tunnel.

Philip is gaining on me, now only five yards away.

I come to what appears to be a dead end, until I see the scatterings of light. I desperately fling myself at the light, breaking through a dense, leafless bush. I roll down a frozen sand dune.

“Alexandra!” Christian yells.

I blink my eyes to find him, Henrik, and Sven emerging from the surf.

“Run!” I say hoarsely, trying to get up.

Christian sprints to my side to help. I push him forcefully away.

“RUN!” I scream. “HE”S BEHIND ME!”

The warning comes too late. Philip emerges from the tunnel. I’m not fast or strong enough to stop him, but I can’t allow him to hurt anyone else. I make a rash decision. I turn and lift my hands.

“Put away the gun and I’ll go with you without a fight,” I negotiate in desperation to save Christian.

Philip smirks.

“Too late,” he says.

The sound of three gunshots ricochets through the air. I watch in horror as Sven and Henrik hit the ground. Christian puts a hand on his shoulder, holding back an onslaught of blood. He pulls me away from Philip, defensively wrapping his unwounded arm around me.

“Hello, Philip,” Christian says rather calmly for someone who was just shot. “I was wo
ndering when you would make an appearance.”

             
“Just keep your mouth shut, lover boy!” Philip says, pointing a gun at Christian. The sight makes me nauseous.

             
“W-why are you doing this?” I force myself to ask, trying not look at Henrik’s and Sven’s fallen bodies.

             
“It’s simple. I want money.  Your life isn’t worth the paper they print your face on. I will free you from your meaningless life and then use your death to make a quick profit.” He laughs, frighteningly.

             
“Philip, don’t speak that way to my fiancé,” Christian says quietly as blood drips down his chest.

             
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll let you watch me put a bullet in her head, and then I’ll shoot you, too,” Philip cackles like the madman he is.

             
“Perhaps you overestimate your position?” Christian retorts.

             
“Then why is my gun in your face?” he asks, smugly.

             
“I don’t need a gun.” He blows through his lips and lets me go as he lifts his unwounded hand at the same time. Philip is immediately hit and thrown into the air by a powerful wave. The gun is knocked from his hands. It lands harmlessly into the snow. I watch in awe as Christian lifts his hand higher, and the wave moves faster, tightening around Philip’s fat body.

             
“YOU HAVE MADE A GRAVE MISTAKE, HUMAN!” Christian roars, releasing previously hidden fury.  I take an involuntary step backward. Christian has always been able to exercise relative control over his emotions. Philip’s actions have pushed him beyond his breaking point. I watch with awe. The water moving and flowing around the vile man awaits Christian’s command while he continues to roar, “I AM NOT A WEAK, LOVESICK TEENAGER! I AM LORD PROTECTOR OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN!”

             
Great waves surge from the ocean. The spray causes Christian’s blond locks to swirl around his head. He moves his uninjured arm like a conductor, directing countless gallons of water. He rotates his arm above his head. A whirlpool opens in the bay.

             
“IN THE ATLANTIC, WE DO NOT TOLERATE SUCH ABOMINABLE BEHAVIOR, AND WE DO NOT JUDGE ACCORDING TO THE END RESULT BUT RATHER YOUR INTENT! PHILIP BASKLE, IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER, HIGH KING KELP, I TRY AND FIND YOU GUILTY OF MURDER BECAUSE YOU ARE TRULY A MURDERER IN YOUR HEART!” The world seems to shake as he speaks. “YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN DESPICABLE! HOWEVER, YOUR FINAL ACT SHOULD BE OF SOME BENEFIT TO THE WORLD. YOUR BODY WILL BE USED TO NOURISH OUR DEAR BOTTOM FEEDERS!”