“No. I’m negotiating a cease-fire.”
Once, I would have considered this guy intimidating, but now that I’d spent time in the presence of mermen, he seemed laughably small.
“Why the sudden change?” he said.
“This war was King Adaro’s. I used to be human, and more than anyone, my people understand what pain this war has caused. With cooperation, we can stop this.”
The man raised his eyebrows. “What are your terms?”
“I only want peace—starting with ending that noise.”
I forced my anger down, not wanting to transition into demon mode. I wanted them to feel like they were talking to a human. My tail was masked behind Eriana’s mane of horns, and I had the impression they’d relaxed a little since I’d begun talking.
The crew stared, seeming to weigh the threat of the serpent against my request.
The back of my neck prickled at Eriana’s continued discomfort. Any living thing for leagues around was suffering, and we all knew it.
The wide-necked man turned and strode into the helm. He was gone a long time. Nobody spoke. Finally, Eriana let out a groan of relief. A moment later, the man returned with a phone.
“I’ve told the others to pause the sonic charges. Now start talking.”
Others?How many places was this happening? My mind jumped to Lysi. I gritted my teeth.
The man held out the phone as though expecting me to come aboard.
“Um,” I said, scanning the machine guns aimed in my direction and wondering if the bullets were iron. “Pass it to the serpent, please.”
Eriana raised her other head beside the ship. The nearest soldiers scrambled back as seawater cascaded onto the deck.
The man obliged after a moment’s hesitance, dropping the phone onto Eriana’s tongue. She brought it to me. I picked up the phone gingerly, trying not to get water on it. I had the urge to laugh. What was wrong with me?
A call was connected, the timer on the screen counting up. I raised the phone to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Officer Miller here,” said the other end brusquely. “I understand you are holding my ship hostage.”
“My name is Metlaa Gaela. I am a mermaid and a former human from Eriana Kwai. King Adaro is dead. I have possession of the serpent, and I intend to make peace between us.”
He was silent, then said in a constricted voice, “That is quite a remarkable achievement, Metlaa Gaela.”
“Um. Thank you.”
“Are you prepared to have all merpeople cease their attacks on human ships and beaches?”
“Yes. The king’s armies no longer serve him.”
“I see,” said Officer Miller. “Interesting.”
“We have a new queen. She would like to meet you and sign a peace treaty.”
It wasn’t an outright lie, but my stomach twisted all the same. The plan had better follow through on Lysi’s end.
“A treaty? Metlaa Gaela, are you aware the last peace treaty we signed with merpeople was broken? Are you aware we lost lives in the Aleutian Islands?”
“Those actions were King Adaro’s. You have my word that merpeople will stop invading beaches and sinking ships under our new queen.”
“What’s the word of a girl from Eriana Kwai?”
