I let out a breath. The bubble rose to the cavern surface with a smallpop.
That explained a lot.
“Well, I was able to wake the serpent,” I said. “Only a descendant could do it. We’re the blood of Eriana, you and I.”
Nilus stared at his hands as though I’d told him he had magic powers. “Cool.”
“Then Lysi saved my life by turning me into a mermaid.”
He glanced back up, gawking. His face broke into a grin. “I knew I liked her.”
I beamed.
Nilus finished on his hair and offered me the comb. I shook my head, not wanting to bother untangling my braids.
“How did Adaro get control, then, if Dani freed it?” said Nilus.
Though Dani and I had always hated each other, grief and pity twisted my gut. I glanced to the door, feeling for signs of life. Nobody was hovering nearby.
“He killed her,” I whispered. “Control is passed by blood.”
A moment passed in which the reality of the situation weighed more heavily on us.
“So … you kill him, you get control?” he whispered.
“That’s what I’m planning to do. I’ll keep her tame until I figure out how to destroy her.”
“Why do you refer to the leviathan as female?”
“She’s more than a serpent. She’s … she’s Eriana. The goddess. She’s a part of the serpent. There’s a whole legend behind it.”
Nilus’ mouth opened in a perfect O.
“The problem is that she makes a pretty good bodyguard,” I said. “We can’t get to Adaro.”
“Even if you get past that thing, I still don’t know how you’ll do it. We tried twice. There’s been at least one other attempt since then.”
“There must be some weakness. We just haven’t found it yet. I was hoping for power in numbers by coming here.”
Nilus considered this. He poked absently at one of the starfish on the wall.
“The focus here is on seizing Utopia before Adaro returns. They believe Evagore is—”
“The rightful queen, I know. They think Adaro took her. What do you think happened?”
“I think they’re right. Adaro is to blame for whatever her state—captive or dead.”
I nodded. That was what I thought, too.
“What are the chances anyone here will help me get to Adaro?” I said.
“If you can prove your plan will get their queen back, they might help you.”
“But if we can’t—or if she’s dead—Lysi and I are on our own?”
“Not entirely on your own. You’ll have me.”
I smiled.
