A grin barely ghosted his face, “And what were you before then?”
I stumbled a beat, my anger rising to protect, to destroy. The tips of my fingers frosted, the only sign I felt anything. My expression remained flat as I firmly retorted, “I was nothing.” My magic surged, a roar in my ears, ice chips flaking off my fingers.
Shadows swirled around him. One extended, warm and soft as it gently swept back a lock of hair that had fallen out of my braid. I tensed. The shadows retreated, gathering in rippled waves toward the fisted hands at his sides. A sad smile softened his jawline. “Names have meaning, and you are not what they call you, what they have made you believe.”
He turned then, disappearing into the cluster of trees. And I stood there, questioning my understanding of myself, perhaps for the first time.
We rode hardthe following day and arrived at the southern coast of the Zephyrus Sea where the Lyraean Shelf extended, and the great underwater trench beckoned. I had kept to myself, chewing on the words Dom had thrown at me. I found myselfacutely aware of where he was at all times. His presence irritated even as it calmed.
Xuri informed us that she was staying behind, to await our return and care for the horses. A sense of relief I didn’t dwell on followed her announcement. Finn, Bowen, Dom, and I prepared to enter the frothing deep.
This was my moment.
I had never been to the ocean before and the sight of the sea overcame me. I wished I had more time to savor it, but our mission took precedence. Concern that I could sustain our group crested higher than the waves before me. If my magic slipped, I would lead us all to inglorious deaths.
The ocean’s pulse soothed my apprehension. Waves broke at the shoreline, and I chose to leave the remnants of my doubt with them. I wouldn’t fail.
Dom inspected the horses, then spoke quietly with Xuri. I leaned in, trying to eavesdrop, but couldn’t decipher their words. Agitation crept over me and my mouth went dry. She knew him better than I did, his history with her much less sordid than my own.
Xuri had only been kind to me. There was no reason for me to act on this overwhelming urge to destroy her. I would leave as soon as this journey was complete and the sooner I accepted that, the easier this would go. Dom turned and took hold of a vial from Bowen that he downed in one swig. I forced myself to turn away, glaring into the horizon.
Our little group gathered and I explained my magic, more for my sake than theirs. “The Prime Chemist taught me how to enclose us in bubbles that will allow for oxygenated air to flow. We will be able to breathe and communicate normally. I won’t let us drown. I’ll also manipulate water currents to push us deeper, faster.” I was as prepared as I could be. While my control of the current helped in moving us quicker, it was reallyto compensate for my weak swimming skills. No one needed that detail, though.
Dom kissed the top of Xuri’s head and my stomach dropped. “We hope to be back by week’s end,” he said. “If there’s any way to send a message, we will. You will likely be too far for us to mind-walk.” I groped at the vestiges of my dignity and tried to pull them together, shoving my ill-placed possessiveness far below the surface.
There was no future here for me. I knew this. Whatever I felt for Dom was one-sided and fruitless. I could not have a divided mind when it came to what I was about to do. I sucked in a deep breath and reviewed everything Gemma had taught me, slamming any errant thoughts of the general firmly into some dark, crusty corner of my mind.
The weight of our lives rested heavy on my shoulders when the moment finally arrived. It was not a foreign burden, though; I’d carried similar for years with me and Delah. I dipped my toes into the sea, stepping toward the unknown.
The water parted at our entrance, our boots leaving wet prints behind us in the sand. I drew my magic upward, feeling its familiar hum beneath my skin. I used what I had practiced with Gemma in the lagoon, calling forth the power of the surrounding water, envisioning what I needed. Our bodies submerged as an oxygenated bubble encircled us. The current swept us outward toward the great trench.
Water muffled sound in our descent. Wonder coursed between us as we glided through the water, passing swarms of glimmering fish. The water turned darker as we dove deeper and deeper down the slope that would lead us to the trench. We could see it in the distance—a darkness separate from the rest of the surrounding sea. Our entrance to the Nereid Kingdom.
Wielding my affinity felt like breathing. The air bubbles and the harnessed current didn’t drain me. The easy cycle of releaseand reabsorption of my magic dissolved any lingering fear. Magic tingled in my veins and flit around my fingertips in silky ribbons.
A small smile formed, and I glanced to the side, accidentally meeting Dom’s eye. He offered a subtle, lopsided smile of his own, a small dimple shadowing his cheek. I could have sworn his shadows pulsed, or simply a trick of the undulating water and the rippling light. His nearness made me feel like I could conquer anything. In another life, what might we have been?
Ahead in the trench, two men emerged, or rather two fully armored oceanic nymphs. Their tails were weapons themselves, large and powerful. Each man held a glittering trident. I slowed our descent, pushing against the current, until we halted a respectful distance from the warriors.
Dom swam forward, introducing us and explaining our request.
A whirlpool appeared, spiraling next to one of the mermen, growing larger and larger. One of the warriors stood guard, while the other led the way. My heart throbbed hesitantly in my chest as we followed him into the abyss.
The whirlpool sucked us in instantly. My focus clenched as I sought to hold my magic tight over me and my companions. A scream tore from my mouth, silently disappearing among the frothing waters. I groped for anyone near me, and as quickly as we were sucked in, the chaos abruptly stopped. My chest heaved as I searched for Dom, Finn, and Bowen. Our hands all hovered at the hilt of our weapons in preparation for potential battle.
“A warning would have been nice.” Finn grumbled, his voice only slightly muffled in our underwater environment.
One of the mermen chuckled. “This way,” he commanded.
A brilliant castle, like a great mountain, emerged from the depths of the sea. Underwater vents expelled steam that warmedthe water around us, lending a comfortable temperature despite the depths we swam in.
We floated under archways, passing turrets and towers connected by parapets. The water glittered with the bioluminescent light of deep-sea creatures that flickered in shades of blue, white, and purple. Collections of worms with brightly illuminated bodies were packed every few feet—living torches along the walls.
I kept careful watch over all of our surroundings. Some merfolk swam around purposefully, others casually strolled, and some outright stopped and stared. Their hair floated around them along with the sheer material that did little to cover their toned bodies.
We were led swiftly through the palace directly toward the great hall, and throne room. I took note of every corridor and door we passed.
Brightly colored coral decorated the palace as both art and hardware. It wound around the doors and archways acting as a twisted, breathing molding. The walls and floors shimmered in opalescent hues as if made from the insides of thousands of oyster shells.
