Tridia (The Poseidia Series Book 3) Page 7

  Engorged, my pelvis had grown so intensely sensitive, I couldn’t walk without a swagger.

  Lucas’s injection.

  What the hell did he do to me?

  Eric giggled under his breath.

  “You knew about this?” I accused, gripping Eric’s arm for balance.

  “I do now.” He smiled from ear-to-ear, completely enjoying my discomfort. “An example of what happens when you neglect your needs as a Mer.”

  Looking around the room with a huge fake smile, I mumbled, “This has never happened before… well, not to this extreme.”

  “Relax and enjoy the sensations.” He laughed again. “Keep smiling, we’ll only be here a few hours. Tonight is extremely important. This is your last chance, don’t screw this mission up.”

  “I won’t. Just tell me what to do; I want to get out of here and back home. Please, I need a cold shower.” My electroreceptors hummed, sending what resembled electric impulses up and down my female anatomy.

  “A cold shower isn’t what you need.” Eric laughed louder as he navigated his way through the crowd with me on his left arm. Again, women swarmed to him. He kissed cheeks and touched asses as the women shot me death glances. Rolling my eyes, I ignored all of them.

  Chapter 15

  An hour after our arrival, Mark walked through the front door. In a rush of maternal emotion, I remembered fragile Allison. There has to be a way to help. The High Council had pissed me off badly enough, I considered stealing some of their precious, advanced medical technology to heal the child.

  Eric pressed the lip balm into my hand and quietly disappeared into the crowd.

  Mark walked straight to the bar and ordered a double Johnny Walker on the rocks.

  Quietly approaching, I placed my hand on his shoulder, startling him out of his trance. “Hey,” I greeted with a smile.

  “Hey yourself, gorgeous. I’m glad to see you here.” Relief poured from his mind. “Where’s your date?”

  “Meh, he’s off chasing some bimbo,” I answered, rolling my eyes.

  The bartender set his drink on a napkin in front of him. “Why?” Mark asked. “Why do you stay with him?”

  “We… have an arrangement,” I hedged, sliding my hips onto the stool beside him. Belatedly realizing sitting would cause me discomfort, I wiggled until I semi-stood, with the edge of my ass merely leaning against the chair for support.

  “Which means what?” Mark looked down at my body, noticing my unusual posture. Confusion crossed his mind, considering potential reasons for my awkwardness, but he quickly dismissed the thought, not caring.

  Weird, I thought Eric said human minds were quiet. “Eric does what he wants, and doesn’t care what I do.” The lame explanation was partly true.

  Briefly considering my description, Mark asked, “Would you like a drink?” He gestured to get the bartender’s attention.

  While Mark’s mind wasn’t overly projecting all of his thoughts, I caught a few random emotions as they crossed his psyche. “Sure, I’ll take a dirty martini.” Why not? Play the part. Do my job. I wiggled again, turning the front of my body toward Mark.

  Mark gave the order to the bartender, then boldly ran his hand over my leg to my knee, where his palm massaged my outer thigh. “God, you’re so beautiful. Looking at you makes me feel better.”

  An unusual amount of distress flowed from his mind. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  “Nothing will ever be okay again.” Mark downed the contents of his drink and gestured to the bartender for a refill.

  “Do you want to talk?”

  His mind screamed yes. “No.”

  “Great party.” Taking the cocktail the bartender had placed on a napkin before me, I sipped on the bitter liquid. I’d discovered by accident that gin gave me a slight buzz.

  “How about you and I take a walk, get some fresh air? The guest of honor will be here any minute; I need to clear my head.” Mark accepted the fresh beverage from the bartender and pointed to a side entrance.

  “Sure, I’d love to.” Better to walk and get off this uncomfortable barstool.

  This is my opportunity. The lip balm container’s bulge, now tucked into my cleavage, burned, its presence ticking like The Tell-Tale Heart of Edgar Allen Poe.

  Kill him and be free to go home.

  Mark took my arm and led me through the ballroom to the side exit. Fresh ocean breezes engulfed us. I followed Mark down slimy stone steps that snaked between the cliffs towering on both sides. At the bottom, I kicked off my shoes, stepping into the soft, damp sand.

  Mark’s hand landed on my lower back and he steered me to the tide’s edge. We strolled on the beach in companionable silence, sipping our drinks. The gin rushed to my head, a welcome and familiar relief from the day’s stress. I relaxed, pretending Roman walked beside me. With a smile, I remembered our first time on the beach.

  The sun had long ago sunk. Waves broke in a cheery cascade of bubbles on the shore, lit by enormous tiki torches strategically placed along the walkway. This beach’s stretch remained deserted, reserved for the local owners, I presumed.

  A good quarter mile from the mansion, Mark drained the remaining contents of his glass and launched the empty tumbler into the waves.

  “Such a waste of perfectly good crystal,” I teased, finishing my own drink and carefully setting the stemware on a nearby log. Gin had a strange effect on me tonight—my mind swirled in a surreal loop. Electroreceptors hummed. My breasts swelled by the minute, and I could’ve humped anything. Out of character for me, I wanted to throw off my clothes and run into the gentle surf.

  Can’t be the gin. What the heck did Lucas do to me?

  “Everything’s a waste. Life’s a waste. Fighting is a waste. I can’t win,” he fumed.

  My hands shook, not out of fear, but due to the strange sensations my body experienced. “What’s happened?” I asked Mark, forcing concern to etch my voice. But I knew.

  His daughter.

  Allison.

  She’d been tucked into the back of my mind, while I dealt with High Council drama. Mark’s angst projected, bringing her plight to the forefront of my concerns.

  “My daughter. The doctors say there’s nothing more they can do—they are giving her only weeks to…” He jammed his fist to his mouth, crushing his lips. His eyes turned red.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?” A crazy idea formed in my mind. But I had no idea how to pull the logistics off, and could only imagine how much trouble I would get into with the High Council.

  “I’m a failure. I’ve failed her. Everything I’ve done… sacrificed. Pointless. In the end, death will win.”

  “It’s not about winning. You’ve done what any good father would do,” I consoled.

  “You don’t understand.” He faced the ocean, his back to me.

  Fearing he would run and jump into the waves, a place I could not follow and maintain my human disguise, I touched his shoulder.

  Before I could react, he quickly pivoted, taking me into his arms. Mark kissed me hard, crushing my lips to his. When he pulled away, he murmured, “What is it about you? I can’t control myself. Your scent is intoxicating. You are intoxicating. Stay with me tonight, Hannah. My wife isn’t here. Ditch your boyfriend and make love to me, all night. Please. I’ll make this the best night of your life.” Bending his head, he kissed my neck, and behind my ear.

  My body reacted, tingling from head to toe. A reflexive, deep throbbing in my pelvis made me curve into his embrace. I ached badly with need, and wanted to rip off his clothes. Have sex, rough and unbridled, right here on the beach.

  ‘Hannah,’ he had called me. Stop. This isn’t you. “I can’t,” I whispered, voice quaking. The lip balm container’s edge pushed into my ribs, reminding me of its sinister purpose. My purpose.

  Damn. Can I truly go through with this?

  “Where’s your daughter now?” I asked, fighting primal desire pulsating through my body.

  “She�
�s upstairs. Asleep. She sleeps a lot.”

  A cell phone in his pocket buzzed. Mark glanced at the screen before answering, “Okay, thanks, I’ll be right in.” He took a crisp, white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his lips clean of my lipstick. “The guest of honor is here; I need to get back. We’ll continue this later.” He gently brushed his lips over mine. “Don’t leave without seeing me, please.” His hands dug into my hips and drew me against his body, burying his head in my short hair.

  “Sure,” I agreed, as he backed away. I have to if I want to complete my mission.

  Following him back to the party, I picked up my empty glass on the way, and returned to the bar for another drink. In the mirror behind the various bottles of liquor, I searched the room for Eric, and found him cozied up to three women in the corner. I rolled my eyes, although at this point, I wouldn’t have expected anything different.

  The loud music, which had filled the room, quieted. Someone announced the guest of honor’s arrival—Nancy Trident—a name I didn’t recognize. The chosen candidate for governor, the announcer said. All heads turned towards the entrance and applause roared through the crowd. Distracted, I sipped my drink.

  Chapter 16

  Casing the doorways, and remembering my tour during the prior party, I tried to determine which route led to the house’s upstairs residential section in the least conspicuous way.

  Surrounded by an entourage of secret service, a black-haired woman strode to the podium, set up on a platform at one end of the room. The crowd’s crammed bodies blocked me from having a clear view, but a strange tingly sensation sent a wave of goose flesh rippling over my body. A dread-filled sense of doom engulfed me. Nearly suffocating from anxiety I didn’t understand, I could barely think, let alone translate the potential reason behind the energy change in the room.

  As the candidate stood confidently behind the podium, my mouth dried and my tummy attempted to regurgitate my last drink.

  Queen Atlas.

  Holy fudgecicles.

  No.

  No way.

  No. Freaking. Way.

  My body trembled, from head to toe. She appeared as human as Eric and me. Glancing at her bodyguards, I now recognized their minds as Mer. They must have the same human skin illusion tech Eric had. Of course they do. How naive to think they wouldn’t.

  Catching my balance before I collapsed from shock, I leaned against the bar, slowing my breath. Restraining myself from running to kill her took every ounce of strength I had. Other than the poisonous lip balm, I had no weapon. And a Mer ointment, intended to kill humans, would have no fatal effect on her.

  “Welcome!” she began, her eyes meeting and boring into mine. “Thank you for coming tonight and showing your support of my campaign. Now is the time we take back what is rightfully ours. Time for our new beginning.”

  An ear-splitting cheer rose from the crowd.

  Get out of here.

  Terrified I’d be caught by her goons, and tortured again, I scanned the room, planning my escape.

  Get out of here. Now.

  Queen Atlas—er, Nancy Trident—continued with a speech full of deceit. Well, not actually lies—she told the truth. But the humans didn’t understand she wanted to take back what she believed to be rightfully Mer’s—not cater to human political agendas.

  She carefully and skillfully manipulated her speech. The humans loved her. Her charisma was powerful enough to nearly persuade me—had I not known the truth.

  What she planned wouldn’t be beneficial to humans.

  Blending in, I made my way around the room’s edge to the entrance.

  Queen Atlas watched my retreat.

  After stealing Eric’s keys from the valet station, I found his Jaguar parked at the property’s outer edge. Adrenaline pumping, I circled the affluent neighborhood several times before parking his car under a tree, about a block away.

  Nervous, and on high alert, I speed-walked back to the party, my feet burning in the stupid high-heeled sandals.

  Move, now.

  By asking for the ladies’ room and adjusting my cleavage, I easily snuck past security. With car keys in hand, I found my way to the stairs. I edged down the hallway, peeping in every room, until I found what I sought.

  Don’t chicken out.

  Don’t chicken out.

  Queen Atlas won’t do anything with all these strangers here.

  But her goons could.

  Move fast.

  Do this and go.

  Forget Eric.

  Tiptoeing into Allison’s room, I crouched beside her bed. Reconsidering my crazy plan, I watched her sleep for a few minutes, until her eyes fluttered open and found me.

  “You’re… the… mermaid,” she whispered, recognizing me under the human mirage. “You… look… like… an… angel. Did… you… come… to… take… me… to… heaven?”

  “I’m here to take you someplace magical, but it’s not heaven. Would you like to go with me?” The sinking fear residing in the pit of my belly hoped she’d say no. But my mother’s heart screamed for her to say yes.

  This can work.

  This will work.

  “Fun.” Struggling, she sat up in bed. “Can… daddy… come?”

  “No, sweetheart. Only special little girls can see this place. Adults wouldn’t understand this kind of magic.” Sadness filled my heart as I watched her gasp for breath. Her eyes had dark circles around them, and her face seemed sunken, much more than twenty-four hours before.

  This has to work.

  I will make this work.

  “Can… Boo-Bear… come?” she asked, lifting up her pink teddy. She frowned and touched the worn fur on his ears.

  “Of course. But we need to hurry. Can you walk?”

  “Yes… but… I… get… tired…” Tucking Boo-Bear’s head under her left arm, with his stubby tail aimed up in an undignified manner, she pointed to her portable oxygen tank. “I… need… that.”

  “You can bring whatever you require. Hopefully you won’t need oxygen much longer. Where I’m taking you, the doctors have a special kind of magic—they can heal your lungs.” I hope.

  “Will… they… make me… like… you? I… want… to be… a… mermaid… too.” Carefully, she slid off the bed and, in a practiced move using only her right hand, unhooked her cannula before turning off her large compressor. Gasping, she pulled on a fuzzy pink robe, alternating her hold on Boo-Bear as she pushed her arms through the sleeves, before finally attaching her air tube to a portable device. Spent from the effort, Allison sat back on her bed, Boo-Bear again tail up under her left arm, her right hand on the wheeled dolly that pulled a small tank and pump.

  “They have amazing magic, and will make you better.”

  She nodded, attempting to smile, her left hand turning in to fiddle with Boo-Bear’s exposed tail. Weakness and death surrounded her. My throat tightened. In my mind, there remained no other choice.

  This will work.

  “Is there another way to get out of this house, without going through the party and all those people?”

  Allison nodded, pointing at the door. Clearly too weak to walk, I carried her, Boo-Bear securely under Allison’s arm, on my left; her cart with its equipment in my right hand. With nods of her head she directed me through a private exit. Though Allison was longer than Laith, I noted she was significantly lighter than my hearty son.

  Her head tucked to my shoulder, wrapped protectively around her teddy, she fell asleep as soon as we left the house.

  Luck on our side, we made our way to the car without anyone seeing us.

  Shaking, I secured her and Boo-Bear in the passenger seat, setting the dolly on its back in the footwell, hopped in the driver’s seat, and started the car. Careful not to exceed the speed limit, or drive erratically, I hurried home to the Mer house.

  This will work.

  This will work.

  Eric will notice my departure soon, if not already.

  I’m totally crazy.
>
  Chapter 17

  At the Mer house, I gently lifted Allison from the passenger seat. Balancing her, the teddy bear, and her oxygen tank, I headed straight to my room. Frantically, I searched for my portal key, which I kept hidden in the bedside table.

  What am I doing?

  I’m a kidnapper.

  The High Council will kill me. If Eric or Mark don’t get me first.

  Fighting back panic, I found the device, and tucked the key around my earlobe. Carefully cradling Allison, who remained asleep, I activated the portal.

  This is the right thing to do.

  Lily will help me.

  No going back.

  In the Atlian Healing Center, I headed straight to a patient room. I laid a sleeping Allison on a bed, depositing Boo-Bear and her oxygen less carefully, and ran to find Lucas.

  In his office, Lucas worked inputting data from his scanner into a larger computer system. “Lucas, come quickly. I need your help. Please.”

  “Anna? Are you okay?” Lucas placed his hand to my forehead. “You are burning up.”

  “I’m fine. Please, come.” I grabbed his hand and tugged on him to follow.

  In the patient room, where Allison lay on the bed, Lucas froze.

  “She’s dying. Her lungs are bad. Please, Lucas, do to her what you did to me,” I begged, tears freely rolling down my cheeks.

  “Get Lily, right away,” Lucas ordered. “She is in her quarters.”

  The reality of what I’d done hit me full-force.

  Fuck.

  Blinded by fear, I ran to Lily’s quarters. Without knocking, I entered her room and found Lily sleeping soundly with another Mer female.

  “Lily,” I yelled, loud enough to wake her.

  Unfazed by my intrusion, Lily sat up, allowing the bed clothes to fall away. “What is it, Anna?” she asked, while she slid a robe over her shoulders.

  “We need your help in the Healing Center.”

  “It’s not Laith, is it?” she asked. “I do not sense he is in peril.”

  “I rescued a human. A young girl. She needs our medical help,” I rambled, the enormity of what I’d done catching up with me.