“The mers are your main responsibility. They are a task you must master in a matter of days, as Omar will no longer be attending them. I do not care what you and Schwint must do in order to achieve magic at this level, but do it. If you believe that a greater infusion of my blood is needed, say so. You will drink from me, as my blood will have the most power. As I have stated, I do not believe it will increase your ability, but it may help you in other ways that will be necessary.”
I tried to pull my gaze away from the merman to look at Gwala, but I couldn’t. I was captivated in horrified fascination. Every tiny motion from his fins in the water caused his emerald scales to sparkle in the light from the sconce over his head. Already the strands of his hair were drying to straight orange ropes.
“Come touch him.”
At Gwala’s command, I was finally able to look away from the merman. “Excuse me, Your Majesty?”
“I said touch him.” He stepped away as if making room for me to come closer. “If you are to control them and keep them alive, you need to understand them as much and as quickly as you can.”
It was going to be my job to control them and keep them alive? I already hated myself for simply watching the abuse the merman was enduring.
Tentatively, I walked toward them, then paused as I came within a couple of feet of where his tail curved over the edge of the pool. I started to kneel down to be on the same level as the merman, but Gwala’s voice made me pause midmotion.
“He will kill you, if he can. Once you’ve mastered your power to control them that will no longer be an issue, and with me beside you, there is no such chance. However, be aware when you are with him the next time.”
From the hate continuing to pour from the merman, I knew Gwala wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.
“Touch him.”
Feeling like I was simultaneously reaching toward the jaws of a lion and attempting to touch the Holy Grail, I paused. I forced my gaze to hold the merman’s. “May I?”
Any illusion of gentility slipped away as Gwala sneered at me. “You do not ask his permission. While you are nothing more than a witch, he is nothing more than a cow confined to a field. You will command him. Do not forget the position to which I have elevated you!”
I lowered my head in a nod, both to show deference and to regain control of my expression.
Looking again at the merman, I no longer looked in his eyes. Feeling dirty, I stretched out my fingertips and touched his forearm, then quickly withdrew.
“I am running out of patience, warlock. I have shown great mercy to both of your sisters and the two fairies. Not to mention, the rest of your family is not outside my reach.”
I caught the man’s gaze again, trying my best to beg forgiveness through my eyes.
The merman’s expression didn’t change. Nor did he try to stop me as I stretched out my hand again and stroked my palm over his chest and up over his shoulder. His skin felt almost human, only slightly firmer. Thicker, maybe. Definitely stronger than my own. My gaze followed my hand over his skin, which glistened like the surface of pearls in the reflected light.
I nearly flinched away but caught my reaction in time and hid it, though I didn’t notice as my hand traveled back across his chest. For a moment I was back with Brett as we swam in the ocean. His body warm against mine, seconds before our first kiss. His skin nearly sparkling in the sunlight. One more piece of the puzzle fell into place. It was enough to send me reeling into insanity. Yet somehow it made perfect sense. So much of what we hadn’t understood, tried so desperately to figure out, was explained by this one creature’s existence.
Tears burned my eyes, and I squeezed them shut, refusing to give in to them. The smooth skin under my hand morphed into an even more muscular chest covered in blond hair. It was Brett held captive once more in the vampire’s clutches.
Once I was certain no tears would fall, I opened my eyes and found the merman’s expression had changed. While I wouldn’t qualify it as friendly, a level of confusion had replaced some of the hate.
I swiped across his chest slowly once more, this time taking in the small ridges that crisscrossed over him. Unconsciously, I leaned closer. Sure enough, there were welts all over his torso. I was willing to bet they would be much more noticeable out in the sun in full light.
I pulled my hand away and stood, waiting on Gwala’s next instruction.
He moved closer and ran his fingers through the red hair once more. “From your reaction, and judging from what seems like a disgusting lack of knowledge of the supernatural world, I assume you did not know of the mers’ existence.”
I shook my head. “We believe them to exist only in legends and stories.”
“That is common for most. Even the vast majority of vampires know not the truth about mers. That is how it should stay. Even vampires within the Cathedral.”
“Yes, sire.” Did he really think I was going around gossiping with the vampires that were holding me captive?
“What questions do you have? I will explain all that I can in the effort to help you master the skills you need quickly.”
The core of me revolted at the state of the captive in front of me. I should be fighting to set him free. Not in awe of his existence, much less getting a training session about the care and feeding of a merman. “What skills do I need to learn? What will I have to do with the mers?”
Gwala nodded. “Good. I’m glad you’re getting your senses back. Right to the point. I like that.” He stepped closer, reached down, and squeezed the merman’s shoulder so hard that blood seeped from beneath Gwala’s fingernails. “Stay.” He unwrapped the chain that still hung loosely around the merman’s neck and repositioned it on the sconce. It was taut enough that the captive’s arms were suspended several inches off his lap. I wasn’t sure how Gwala expected him to go anywhere.
Gwala seemed momentarily distracted by the crimson stream running down the merman’s body. Giving himself a slight shake that caused the firelight to bounce off the silver of his robes, he returned his attention to me. “You must be able to purify the water. I cannot say how long it can stay stagnant without negative side effects, but I do not want to find out. The mers must be kept healthy at all costs.”
