“No.” She tossed a dreadlock over her shoulder. “I was not a human, nor am I descended from one.”
As I suspected, she was taken captive because she was southern. Did that mean Adaro was trying to dispose of anyone whose loyalty didn’t lie with him? I wondered who in Utopia was truly safe, and, given these prisoners’ opinions of humans, what lies they were being fed.
“What were you doing this far north?” I said.
“I was searching for a new place to live.”
Liar, I thought, feeling the skip in her pulse.
There was one explanation. A southern mermaid wouldn’t come this far north unless she was part of the Reinas. She could take us to them.
Meela was silent.
I chose my words carefully, aware there might be prying ears. “If you’re up north for the reason I think, we want to join you.”
I watched her closely, but Deiopea showed no sign of recognition. She fixed her gaze ahead. “You are speaking nonsense.”
“I met some southern merpeople a few days ago,” I persisted. “Right near Eriana Kwai. They helped me. I saidpara la rein—”
Deiopea clapped a hand over my mouth. “What is the matter with you?”
Triumphant, I pushed her away. “I knew it.”
Her eyes flashed red. “You do not just blurt such things!”
“So you believe us, then?” I whispered. “We’re on your side.”
Deiopea studied me for a long while before saying, “I cannot tell you what you wish to know.”
Despite her stubbornness, my heart jumped. She knew where they were.
I nodded towards Meela. “Do you know who this is?”
Meela glanced furtively at me.
“Please enlighten me,” said Deiopea flatly.
“This is Metlaa Gaela, descendant of Eriana. Do you know what Adaro has control of at this moment?”
Deiopea hesitated. She seemed interested despite herself. “They are saying it is the most fearsome being in the world, and it rivals the power of the original Medusa.”
“It’s true.”
I paused. An idea had been smouldering in the back of my mind, and at her words about rivalling the power of Medusa, it glowed a bit brighter. I pushed the thought aside for later.
“Deiopea, the serpent came from Eriana Kwai. Meela is a former human, and she knows more than any of us about it.”
Deiopea squinted at us. “You are making this up.”
“I’m not.”
“He tried to kill me to get it,” whispered Meela. “He tried to kill Lysi.”
After a moment, Deiopea said, “He has tried to kill many. It has not stopped any of you from fighting loyally for him.”
“Ever since Adaro came to the Pacific,” whispered Meela, “my people have been descending further into poverty. We can’t fish. We can’t leave by boat. We can’t go near the beach without getting attacked.”
Deiopea stared ahead, appearing disinterested.
