Page 60 of Entangled

“Stop here,” said Sebastian. “I think this was the area.”

Darium and his brothers stopped the boat and dropped anchor.

“Go ahead,” said Rhys. “Call Merrow’s family with your mind.”

“I’ll try.” Sebastian closed his eyes and thought really hard but nothing happened. “It’s not working.”

“Perhaps you should get into the water to do it.” This suggestion came from Elric. Sebastian didn’t really like that idea. Especially since he didn’t doubt the elf might convince the others to leave him there and go back to shore without him. After all, up until today they’d all been enemies. He wasn’t sure how fast the other kingdoms would really accept him after all the horrible things his uncle did.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

“If you want to contact sea nymphs you need to do it from the water,” said Elric. “It’s a conductor of sorts.”

“Is that what you all think?” Sebastian asked the Blackseed brothers.

“We have no idea,” Darium answered with a shrug. “You are the one who said you’ve done this before.”

“Sea nymphs are a complete mystery to us,” added Rhys.

“Well? Are you getting into the water or not?” Zann nodded to the side of the ship.

“I’m not sure.” Sebastian looked at the men who were staring at him disappointedly with their arms crossed over their chests. He got the distinct feeling the Blackseed brothers considered this a waste of their time. He shouldn’t care what others thought of him, just like Merrow told him. Sadly, he still did. “All right. I’ll give it a shot.” He stood up, taking off his weapon belt and boots. Then he removed his tunic. “If Elric thinks it’ll work, I’ll try it. He’s a sage and supposedly knows more than the rest of us. I’ll go into the water and call for any of Merrow’s family with my mind. But if you see a portal opening, be sure to pull me out at once. I don’t want to get sucked through it and end up on the other side.”

“Got it,” said Rhys with a nod.

“It might be better if you did,” grumbled the elf. Sebastian thought it best to ignore Elric’s comment.

After lowering himself into the water, Sebastian took a deep breath and dove down. He called in his mind for Merrow’s family, hoping at least one of them would hear him. Dee! Melite and Galene. Merrow needs you. Please, hear me. She is ill and I don’t know how to help her. You need to come right away.

He resurfaced several times, but by now the sun was disappearing and it was getting late. He’d had a long day and was tired and drained. All he wanted to do was to go back to his castle and curl up in bed with his arms around Merrow.

“It didn’t work,” he said, after breaking the surface, feeling more than defeated. Mayhap he didn’t do it right. But even if this was so, there was no one who knew anything about this to ask for guidance right now. “No one heard me.” He put his hands on the side of the boat and pulled himself up.

“Don’t be so sure,” said Stone. “It seems your mind is strong enough to call the sirens after all.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian flipped over the side and into the boat.

“Look for yourself.” Zann nodded at the sea.

After wiping the water from his eyes, Sebastian looked out at the water. At first he didn’t notice anything. Then he saw it. One by one heads popped up in the water until they surrounded the ship completely. They kept coming until there were so many that Sebastian started wondering if all fifty of Merrow’s siblings had answered his summons for help.

“Oh, I see,” he said, feeling a little intimidated to have so many of them there when his entire army was back at Macada Castle and he had no means to protect himself whatsoever. He hoped Merrow’s father wouldn’t show up as well. The last thing he wanted after all they’d been through was an attack by undines, especially from the God of the Sea.

“For the last time, there is nothing wrong with me. Now step aside and let me leave. I need to find Sebastian.” Merrow was fully dressed and standing at the open door. Sebastian had requested several of Evandorm’s soldiers to guard her door. She’d been told he did it to protect her, but for some reason this didn’t feel any different than when he’d held her as a prisoner at his own castle.

“I’m sorry, but we have our orders,” answered one of the guards. “We can’t let you leave the room.”

“Then fetch the lady of the castle. Or one of the Blackseed brothers’ wives or mother,” she instructed.“I need to talk to someone. Someone with power. Yes, call the women, please.”

The guards didn’t have a chance to answer before she heard a sloshing sound coming from down the corridor. She peeked out the door to see Sebastian, half undressed and soaking wet. With him, to her pleasant surprise, were her mother and sisters Melite and Galene.

“Mother! Sisters!” Merrow pushed past the guards and ran to them, throwing her arms around the women.

“I’m here too,” she heard Sebastian say. She looked over at him, realizing her mistake. He seemed so sad that she hadn’t greeted him in the same way as she did the women. Merrow threw her arms around Sebastian and kissed him firmly on the lips.

“Now, that’s better.” His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer.

“Why is my family here?” she asked him.