Tridia (The Poseidia Series Book 3) Page 5

  “We already have. We’ve spent every dime we’ve made, and every resource, looking for a cure. There’s nothing more medicine can do for her,” she pleaded.

  His wife.

  What’s her name?

  Penny.

  Allison is his daughter.

  “I won’t accept this. I can’t,” Mark’s voice rasped, heavy with worry.

  “Your non-acceptance is making her fear you. Allison needs her father. She asks for you every day. You’re afraid of her. Of losing her, I know. But she needs you.” Penny approached and grabbed Mark’s arm. He recoiled, knocking her hand away.

  “No. I can’t… I can’t.” Mark grabbed at his chest, his face turning to the ceiling.

  “You must. Love her in what time she has left. Be present. Stop trying to fix her.” Penny held her hands out, hovering them over his turned back. Her face, drawn and pale, revealed the hard road she’d traveled.

  I can’t imagine.

  “I won’t let her die.” He dropped his chin to his chest, his hand rubbing his mouth furiously.

  “Her fate is not within your control, Mark. You. Can’t. Stop. This. Your actions and behavior are confusing her, making the situation more painful than it needs to be. Stop drinking. For once, in your god forsaken selfish pit of a life, put Allison’s needs before your own.” Penny’s face flushed red. Her hands finally touched his back and he spun, startled.

  “I put her before everything. I put you and her before everyone, risked everything we have for her. For your happiness. But my sacrifices have never been enough. You wanted miracles. I gave you the best miracle workers God created.” He grabbed the couch’s edge for support.

  “I wanted nothing but you, there by our side. But you were too busy chasing down deals with the devil, hoping if you bartered with enough high-profile assholes, one would somehow have the key. The answer isn’t in them. The solution,” Penny pointed down the hallway, “was in her.” She pointed to her chest. “In us.” Taking a step closer, Penny jabbed her finger into his chest, wrinkling his heavily starched, bright white oxford shirt. “That’s what you’re never going to understand,” she accused through clenched teeth.

  “Yeah, ‘cause ending up on the street, with only the clothes on our backs, would give her the care she needed.” Mark spun, knocking her finger away.

  “Nothing can cure our baby girl. Nothing. She craves your love and attention. Cold, scary hospitals are no substitute for her daddy.” Penny started crying, the last word squeaked out, barely audible.

  “I’ve provided for her care. The compromises I’ve had to make to ensure she has the best medical teams available—the decisions I’ve made—it’s all been for her.”

  “All the money in the world won’t save Allison. All you’ve accomplished is wasted time and energy.” Penny hung her head. Mascara stained her cheeks.

  Mark paced, pulling at his hair. “Stop trying to make me feel guilty for doing what a father should. I gave her a chance—her only fighting chance.”

  “I’m tired of having the same argument, over and over.” Penny sank down on the couch. “You’ll never understand that all she needed was you. You can’t even go in there and look her in the eye. Reassure her not to be afraid. Tell her where she’s going isn’t scary, she’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll never accept she’s going to die. No, I’ll never tell her it’s going to be okay. I’ll never lie to her.” His face turned bright red, the corded muscles standing out on his neck.

  Penny shook her head. “You’re a selfish asshole. You can’t even put aside your own fear of failure to be there for her. At least hold her hand, if you can’t tell her she’ll be okay.”

  “How long?” Mark paused at the entrance to the kitchen, staring into the fireplace’s dying flame.

  “How long what?” Penny’s voice became hoarse. Exhaustion evident on her face.

  “How long did the doctor say?” Mark whispered, fear seeping through his words.

  “I told you.” Penny wiped at her nose. “Six weeks, tops.”

  “That’s six weeks to fund the best research scientists in the world to save her life. That’s how Daddy is going to tell her she’ll be okay. I will never accept losing her.” Angry, he pounded his fist into his chest.

  “It’s not about you, Mark. It’s not about you.” Penny propped her head with her hands.

  Tired of listening to the sad argument, I crept around to the backyard. On the rear left side, a dim light shone through an open window.

  As I poised myself to peer in, a tiny female voice asked, “Who… are you?”

  Busted. Crap.

  “I… uh…” I stammered.

  The girl from the photo, Allison, perched in a window seat, legs crossed with a stuffed bear upside down in her lap. Around her face, and tucked into her nose, an oxygen cannula was connected by a long tube to a compressor at the bed’s foot. “Why… are you… walking… around… out here… in the dark?” Short of breath, she struggled to get her words out. “Aren’t you scared?”

  “Yeah, I am. I’m a big chicken in the dark.” I giggled. “What about you?”

  “Nah. Well… a little bit. But… I wanted to wish… on a star.” Her big brown eyes turned toward the heavens, searching the night sky.

  I followed her gaze, awed by how close the stars appeared, far away from civilization’s lights. “What do you plan to wish for?”

  “My mommy… and daddy… to stop yelling. They think… I’m asleep. I’m not.”

  On impulse, I removed the bracelet, which gave me the illusion of appearing human.

  Her eyes quickly diverted, from the search for stars, to me. “Wow… you… sparkle.” She smiled and leaned closer. “Are you… a fairy? Like Tinkerbell?”

  “Nope.”

  “A vampire?” She giggled, in contrast to the fear I saw cross her face.

  My turn to laugh. “No, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

  “Are you… an angel? Have you… come to… take… me to heaven?” Her smiled faded. The fear eased, acceptance taking its place.

  Sad at her fate, but inspired by her courage, I didn’t want to scare her.

  “Tell her the truth,” Sarah’s voice filled my head.

  “No, sweetie. I’m a mermaid.”

  Allison glanced down at my legs, clearly not believing me.

  “I only grow a fin when I’m in the ocean.”

  “Why… are… you so far from… the ocean?”

  Damn. Smart kid. Good question.

  “Angels sent me to let you know it’ll be okay,” I lied.

  Allison seized my hand and squeezed. “I… knew they… would.”

  Breathing a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes, and quickly drifted off to sleep, reclining back onto the pillows piled around the window seat. I sensed she slept in the same way I knew the Connective—her essence so gentle and innocent, as a human, she was easy to read. I reasoned this behavior, nearly appearing to pass out, must be related to her lack of oxygen. For several long minutes, I watched her, then closed the window for her safety.

  Tucking the hoodie around my head, and snapping the bracelet back on my wrist, I sprinted to Eric’s car.

  “Is the mission done?” he asked as I slipped into the passenger seat.

  “He has company, his wife and daughter. I waited, but I don’t think they are leaving. We’ll try again tomorrow night.”

  Eric sighed, an exaggerated exhale. He didn’t believe me, his mind revealed, but he’d grown tired of fighting. “Tomorrow night we have an opportunity—another fund raiser at Mark’s mansion. That party is the deadline.” He started the car.

  “I’m not wearing another slutty dress.”

  Putting the car into reverse, Eric eased out onto the main road. “You’ll wear what I choose.”

  “Whatever. Get me home. And by home, I mean I want my portal key back. I’m going to see my son. I’ll be back in time for your stupid fundraiser.” I put the hood of my jacket down and shook out my
hair.

  “You’ll finish the job first. By the way, the High Council wants to see you tomorrow morning.” He chuckled. An evil I-got-you kind of laugh.

  “What did you say to them?” I shot him an accusing glance.

  “Nothing. I follow my king’s orders.” Eric sped up as he got on the highway. The night’s wind whipped my hair.

  “You must have said something. Why else would they want to meet with me?”

  “I’m simply passing on the information.”

  “Consider the message received.” Looking back out over the night, I silently stewed on the potential reasons why the High Council would want to see me. Not one of them had good outcomes. Crap.

  Chapter 10

  Back at the Mer mansion, I quickly changed, and waited outside Eric’s door after knocking three times. “I want my portal key,” I yelled through the door, not hiding my annoyance.

  The door swung open. Eric leaned against the doorframe in red satin boxers, pink lipstick staining his lips.

  “Portal key, please,” I demanded.

  Behind him, a naked human woman squirmed, pulling on handcuffs tied to his bedpost.

  “What are you doing, Eric?” Disgusted, and stifling a jolt of jealousy, I looked from him, to her, and back again.

  He glanced at the bed. “What does it look like?”

  “You know the rules about humans,” I scolded.

  Eric disappeared briefly into the bedroom. When he returned, he closed the door behind him. “And you know the rules about compliance.” He placed my portal key snugly into my palm. “I prefer human women because they’re quiet.” He tapped his finger to my head.

  Scoffing, I knocked his hand away. “Whatever. Go back to your bimbo. I’m going to see my son. I’ll return by party time.”

  Shutting the door in my face, he disappeared into the bedroom without another word.

  Overjoyed at winning this round, and angry with myself for wasting energy being jealous, I clipped the tiny device to my ear and sprinted down the hallway to the portal.

  I missed Laith, badly. My heart ached to hold him.

  The familiar screen filled my visual field as I tapped the device. At the same time, a swirling black mirage appeared on the wall. Swearing to leave all the drama behind, at least for this one night, I walked through the portal and out into my Atlian bedroom.

  Home.

  Breathing easier, I shed a gazillion pounds of stress. Tonight, I had one focus—Laith.

  After freshening up in the bathroom, I hid the human mirage bracelet in the nightstand next to my bed.

  Dehydration plagued my exhausted body. I hadn’t been in the water for more than twenty-four hours. Heading to the nursery, I planned on taking Laith for a short swim.

  As I opened the nursery’s door, Laith ran to me. Now approaching his first birthday, he’d been an early walker. Of course, he’d been a natural swimmer since day one.

  Elated at seeing his cherub face, I lifted him up and spun him in the air.

  “Mooommmy,” he squealed.

  Healthy Mer babies developed quickly. Even though Laith maintained human DNA from his father, David, he grew and acted as any other fully-Mer child. I believed Laith’s brain developed faster than humanly possible because the Connective benefitted his learning, and he experienced higher sensory input due to his electroreceptors. Unlike my early struggles, Laith seemed to handle the overstimulation well. Perhaps because he had been born into a Connective—his nervous system quickly adapted.

  Accustomed to the daily physical changes, when he started speaking full sentences at nine months, I’d been caught off-guard. One day his words were Mama, Uby (for Ruby, the dolphin) and pointing. The next he told me he wanted more food. In contrast to the standard baby challenges, his ability to communicate helped decipher his moods and needs.

  Smiling ear-to-ear, I rubbed noses with my son before peppering him with kisses.

  “Mommy wants to swim. Laith does too,” he exclaimed, as I lowered him to the floor. Shedding his clothing, he ambled over to the pool, which connected to a secured portion of ocean. Tumbling face first, he broke the water’s surface before I had time to react. Holy crap, he’s fast. I dove in seconds before he swam out of my sight. He twirled in the water, giggling at my slowness.

  We played a game of chase until he tired and came to my side. His tiny hand securely in mine, we swam, staying close to the dome.

  Rejuvenated, we returned to the nursery, and dressed. After a healthy dinner, we headed to my room and played peek-a-boo until we fell asleep, spooned together on my bed.

  The next morning, a loud pounding woke me. As I opened the door, Lily announced, “We need to talk,” before she pushed past me.

  “Can’t the urgent drama wait until I wake up?” I pleaded, stomping back to my bedroom, where Laith lay curled up around his favorite blanket. Rejoining him on the bed, I wrapped my arms around him as he moved in his sleep, curling into my protective embrace.

  “This cannot wait. The High Council wants to see you. Now.”

  In between kissing Laith on the forehead, I said, “Eric told me. I thought the High Council resided in Og? Didn’t King Atlas send them there?”

  “In his absence, they have returned and demanded a meeting with you.” Lily calmed and sat on the edge of the bed, patting Laith’s hair.

  I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. “There’s no way I can get out of this, is there?”

  Lily lowered her voice. “I’m afraid not. If you are spotted trying to leave Atlia, for any reason, they’ve ordered you to be taken into custody.”

  After securing the blanket around Laith, I sat up and asked, “Why? I haven’t done anything.”

  Lily retreated to the bedroom door. Glancing at Laith, she said, “We need to go now. Laith can wait for you in the nursery. If I don’t report to them immediately, with you, they will send guards to forcefully bring you.”

  Angered at their demanding impatience, I gazed at my sleeping boy. “Screw them. They can wait until I’ve had breakfast.”

  Lily folded her arms into her billowy sleeves. “I seriously advise against making the High Council wait. A defiant move will only further antagonize them.”

  Keeping my voice low, to not wake Laith, I argued, “This is bullshit. What are they going to do? Banish me? Surprise, they already did! And you know what? Here I am. Everything is about control with them. No doubt they’ll have some crazy demand that reinforces the delusion they’re in charge.”

  “There’s only one way to know for sure.” Lily’s eyes begged me. In her lavender gaze, I sensed a deep fear for my safety.

  I scooped Laith into my arms, blanket and all. “Fine. I’m not happy. But, I’ll play their game. For now.”

  Chapter 11

  After dropping Laith off in the nursery, we headed to the Atlian pyramid where the High Council waited.

  Dread filled me. My defiant courage, of a few minutes ago, evaporated in the towering and intimidating presence of the pyramid. I considered a million different ways to escape, but each scenario only put Laith in more danger. In the end, I decided nipping whatever had twisted their non-existent panties in the bud would serve Laith the best. I didn’t want to live on the run.

  Face your fear. Stand up to them.

  At the pyramid’s top floor, Lily led me through enormous wooden doors. Similar to our last meeting, twelve thrones stood in a semi-circle around the room’s center. The only light source, a few dozen candles perched atop wooden pillars scattered around the room. The air smelled stagnant. Cobwebs clung to the corners. Dust covered the silver metallic floor. Creepy. They ought to get a new housekeeper.

  Familiar white-haired Mers sat on the thrones, their backs stiffly erect. Scowls crossed their faces as we approached. A ripple of distrust and fear ebbed from their minds. Sensing their similar attempts to read me, I conjured and reinforced my mirrored bubble.

  Breathe.

  Lily moved forward and knelt. Despite her terrified glances, I
refused to join in the submissive posture. I stiffened my legs and moved back a half-step, crossing my arms.

  A wave of anger nearly knocked me to my knees, but I widened my stance and regained my balance. The slightest twinge of amusement followed, quickly replaced by a firm resolution to break me.

  The High Council leader walked to the semi-circle’s center. For affect only, I guessed, she slowly twirled with her arms extended. Her hair hung to her waist and sparkled with the movement. Beautiful, I admitted to myself. I didn’t understand the point of her display, but the other Council members nodded their heads.

  Hiking her chin to the ceiling, she faced me, crossing her arms. “Anna, thank you for meeting with us on such short notice. Your attendance is appreciated.” A slight twitch at the corner of her mouth belied her fake politeness.

  A strong energy pushed at me. As a group, they attempted to burst my protective wall. She continued, “We’ve invited you here today in order to discuss a certain… compliance we require of you, to continue your residence among us.”

  What? “O… kay. Can you explain, please?” Scared, I glanced at Lily, who had returned to stand beside me. I sensed her tension mount, and her attempts to control her reaction.

  “Of course. We don’t know if it’s been brought to your attention, but our species is in danger of extinction.” The High Council leader walked closer to us, her essence pushing strongly against my bubble.

  “Lily mentioned something, a while ago…” I lowered my face, attempting to remember exactly what Lily had explained to me about their reproduction issues.

  “Ah, good.” She smiled at Lily, before returning her focus on me. “Then you are informed of our problem’s severity. You will understand why we require you, one of our few fertile females, to comply with our request. Everyone does their part for the greater good of our community.”

  “For… what?” My stomach clenched.

  “We believe now is the time for you to join our fertility program and become impregnated.”

  “What?” My mouth completely dried.

  “We have discussed this at length. Lucas reports you are a prime candidate for implantation.” Unwavering, she locked her orange eyes with mine.