Page 25 of Stolen Magic of the Deep

Bang! Bang! Bang!

On the other side of the door, a fast and loud repeating thud ends my rambling thoughts. I open the large door, and standing before me is Orion’s general.

She speaks with hatred lingering on her tongue. “I was ordered by the King to bring you attire that fits in with our kingdom to avoid wandering eyes.”

Her presence and appearance are something from a child’s nightmares. She has a slim, long nose with piercing, silver eyes that don’t wander from mine. And when she blinks, they close vertically instead of horizontally. She does not appear like anything I have ever seen before. No textbook creature even comes remotely close to how terrifying she is.

Leo would be losing his mind right now, if he were here. Most of our dives involved him staying on the boat, glued to the radar while I ventured below. One time, I convinced him to dive with some sharks. We came face-to-face with a hammerhead within the first few minutes, and he couldn't handle it. That was the last time he ever went diving with me. And diving alone? Forget about it. Jokes? He can crack those all day long, but the moment something big or scary comes out to play, he turns into a complete baby.

It takes everything in me not to scream as I force myself to keep my composure, staring back at the general floating before me.

Her tail is sleek with bioluminescent scales that reflect a silver-white. Her hair is long and black, and flows in the water like drifting seaweed.

“Keep in mind one thing, land-dweller, he may appear as if he trusts you, but I can promise you, I do not. Your kind is selfish, manipulative, and evil. I will be keeping a close eye on you now that Orion has brought you here.”

I just stare at her, speechless. How do I respond to that?

Nodding seems to suffice, after realizing that she goes the extra mile to avoid touching me when handing me the clothing.

“The garments are created with magical properties to ensure that once you arrive anywhere dry, they too, will remain dry,” she educates, before adding. “This was at the King’s request.” She departs without speaking another word.

The doors shut and I observe the attire in my arms. Several dresses, all the same shade of blue or teal. Nothing vibrant. All matching with the sea and water herself.

I place all but one on a small side table, made from the same coral around the bed and door handles. It rests directly across from the foot of the bed. I choose to don a teal-green dress from the top of the pile. One strap goes across one side of my body, reaching underneath my other arm, holding the dress perfectly in place. The dress glides down to my calves and is surprisingly soft. The top layer has pieces that appear to be cut into strips that sway when I spin. It is very whimsical and majestic. Another reminder of the ocean. Walking over to the bed, I slide in under the silk covers, praying I wake up tomorrow and this entire day has just been an elaborate dream.

I jolt awake from a loud set of knocks on my bedroom door. I swear, if that's Leo interrupting my beauty sleep again, I'm taking away his code privilege's to my building. I turn over and reach for my phone—nothing. My fingers graze silk sheets instead of my nightstand.

My eyes snap open. No nightstand. No buzzing screen. My memory evades me for far too many seconds.

No, no, no.

My throat tightens, and for a second, I can’t breathe. I try closing my eyes again, shutting them tightly, thinking my mind is playing tricks on me. But as I open my eyes again, I’m still lying in the silk covers and coral-made room from last night, the weight of reality flooding my memories back into my mind.

I rise to my feet and rub at my eyes to clear the remnants of sleep. I stride to the door, opening one side forcefully, and see Orion on the other side. Without invitation, he slithers in, his tail shifting with sharp, controlled precision. There’s tension in every movement, like he’s holding something back.

His tail flicks once behind him, a snap of impatience I’m not supposed to notice. But I do. The air tightens between us as he halts in the center of the room, towering above me, silent but seething.

“We rise early in my kingdom. I expect you to be ready and downstairs shortly. We are leaving.”

“Leaving?” I echo, the word clawing its way past my tightening throat. “Where?”

“To Myrrhallow.” The way he says it sends a chill crawling up my spine.

"Why?"

“For you to relinquish your powers.” His words offer no room for arguing, but that hasn’t stopped me before.

“And if I say no?” I add as I cross my arms, popping a hip. “You talk to me like I’m a prisoner one moment, and the next you’re having small talk with me over dinner or doing things like this . . .” Gesturing towards the remnants of the room I slept in. “Acting like I’m some burden you have to lug around.”

Orion’s tail flicks again, his irritation clear as day. “Because right now, you are! And until I know how to deal with that, until I know you can relinquish these powers without getting us both killed, you do what I say!”

The coldness of his voice settles within me. His words are sharp, and I can feel the bite behind them. Like he’s still reminding me this isn’t a negotiation.

“Sarah, I'm the king. My subjects are in a panic. I will not be caught playing favorites right now, especially to the land-dweller who stole my father’s magic!” The sting of that settles deep. He knows by now that I did not do this on purpose, but he chooses to be angry with me instead.

He takes a breath, his words more controlled now. “We can discuss more once we're moving. But I will not delay this departure. We have already delayed too long waiting for you to arrive in the dining hall. And just to be clear, you will not say no.”

Somehow, his ordering me around rattles me more than when he yelled. I barely nod, the weight of everything pressing down again. This expedition still feels like a dream. Without another word, he turns, slithers out, raising a hand behind him, and the door closes with a firm thud.