But something was breaking inside me. Battle after battle, I kept joining the fight, an obedient warrior. I was raised to massacre—to act on hatred. But what had gotten us safely home from the Massacre? My feelings for Lysi had been the driving force, not my need for revenge. Then, when we’d returned home, my blood had been the way to free the serpent—the blood of Eriana, the goddess dedicated to protecting the flora and fauna of my island.
I understood what Lysi had been trying to tell me. I understood what Spio meant after our encounter with the whale.
I couldn’t keep chasing revenge—not when compassion was so obviously my guide.
A deep, rhythmic thrumming sounded outside the cave. It grew louder, a mechanical groan pounding my eardrums.
It was the sound of a helicopter, large and low-flying.
“Do you think it’s looking for the serpent?” said Spio.
“Yes, and Adaro knows it,” I said. “He was keeping the serpent low in the water.”
The sound grew louder until it was directly over our heads, and then faded into the distance.
“We need to guarantee lasting peace,” I said. “Both underwater and with humans.”
“But how?” said Lysi.
Like she’d been trying to tell me, this had to be about more than killing Adaro. We had to take care of the Pacific Kingdom, especially with the world fighting against it.
“We can't get rid of him and then leave the kingdom in anarchy. His armies will still be on the move, his civilians still living under his shadow. We need a new king or queen to take his place, someone the kingdom will follow and respect, and who’s willing to negotiate peace with humans.”
“What about Queen Medusa?” said Spio.
“No,” said Lysi and I together.
Spio raised his hands in surrender.
“Evagore,” said Lysi. “I agree with the Reinas. She’s the rightful queen of the Pacific. Don’t you think? She ruled long before Adaro came. She’s the one we need on the throne.”
I nodded slowly. “Ideally. But we don’t know if she’s even alive.”
Lysi sat taller. “Oh, I haven’t been able to tell you. She is. Nestor and Thetis were talking about her.”
“She’s back on the South Pacific throne?”
“No. Held captive somewhere. They wouldn’t tell me where.”
That was a start. Theoretically, we had a queen. We just had to find her. The prospect was daunting—but at least she was alive. Maybe the Reinas had an idea where she was now that they had overthrown Utopia.
“Right,” I said. “A monarch is one thing, but we need to make sure Utopia holds an election to decide on the government. Everyone should be able to vote.”
Lysi and Spio looked surprised.
Heat rushed into my face. “Oh. Is that not—? I’m sorry. I don’t know how merpeople—”
“No, it’s a great idea,” said Lysi. “It’s not something we’ve ever had.”
“Think everyone will go for it?”
“Of course they will,” said Spio.
A ray of hope passed between us. I felt calmer than I had in weeks. We had a plan. Now, could we find Evagore? Where would Adaro keep someone like her captive?
The water in the cave pulsed higher, trickling over the clay at our tails. The tide was pulling. We didn’t have long.
“We should go, buddies, if we want to track him,” said Spio.
