Page 11 of Secrets Among the Tides
“By lookingaroundyou, child.” His voice rose, passionate and eager. “By looking inside you and looking around you. You will see what it is that is wrong, what it is thatneedsto be fixed and you’ll do it.Bethe change you wish to see.”
He gave me one last look before he went back to the kitchens, leaving me alone in my thoughts. I understood what he meant. I looked around every day, saw what was wrong with the Lagoona, saw the injustice and the poverty. There was already a fiery rage inside me. Everything was wrong here. Everything needed to be changed. Obviously, the royals weren’t doing anything to help us, to fix what was wrong. If anything, they made an even bigger mess. The princess had done nothing. Theychoseto live that way. And now I had an opportunity to really fix things, to really make a difference. Would the royals listen to me? Maybe, maybe not. But if I wore the mask of Princess Odele, the people would listen to me. And that could be enough. Enough to give hope.
Enough for change.
My gaze went to the telly once more, to the images of royalty floating there and in that moment, I knew what it was I had to do.
~~
NIGHT FELL IN THE WATERS OF LAGOONAand the mer gathered about outside. The population was small and diminishing, but with all the extra soldiers around, everywhere seemed to be packed. I couldn’t turn without running into nervous and stiff bodies. Mothers held onto their grown children and husbands tightly. This was all too familiar to me, the heartbreak, the cries. It chipped away the pieces of my heart each time, leaving a hole in its wake, a hole that wouldneveragain be filled.
I wrapped my arms around myself as I swam slowly through Artisan’s Square. The night was cold, pressing up against me in an icy embrace. I braved it, pushing forward through the crowd. They all gathered near the stage, forming neat rows as they awaited names to be called. Soldiers floated on top of the dais, surrounding it as well. All eyes were alert on the citizens, waiting—hoping—there would be an escapee. That they would get their adrenaline rush for the night.
It was all a game to them.
But it wasn’t to me.
I hung back from the crowd. The Selection would soon begin and I needed to meet with Captain Saber. To let him know what I’d decided. The thought of voicing it out loud, of seeing him again instilled fear in me. But I’d thought about it for hours, thought about what Jo had told me. Every day I passed poverty ridden children. I’d seen so many executions, had known so many attempted escapees and things were only getting worse. To change things, to get them the way I wanted them to be, I had to first change myself.
And I was ready. So ready to do something about this life.
When I approached the nautilus, Captain Tiberius was already there. His hands were stiff behind his back, broad shoulders tight and alert. His aquamarine eyes assessed every single thing, darting left and right as if he expected everyone to rise up in arms at any given moment.
He turned his body when he saw me, but didn’t smile. His lips were in a too-tight line and I feared if they were any tighter, they’d snap off his face. I didn’t greet him as I approached and he didn’t greet me. We just looked at each other briefly before he asked, his voice strained, “Well?”
I took a deep breath, calmed my shaking hands by tightening them into fists at my sides. “I’ll do it,” I said. His face changed into a look of obvious relief before he masked it again. “I’ll do what you asked.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Tiberius
RELIEF CRASHED THROUGH ME BUTIdidn’t let it show. She’d agreed with my plan. I’d had doubts she would, but floating before me, she looked so determined, soreadyto face what was coming. I admired that for a moment before cleansing myself of emotion and nodding, as if that had been the answer I’d expected of her all along.
“You’ve chosen to do the right thing,” I whispered. Then I looked around, to the stage. It was time and they were all waiting on me. The other generals had all gotten together with what few Lords and Ladies this small pond of Lagoona had and chosen names based on a complicated, randomized system of numbers and letters. “Tomorrow, I will come for you at your home.” I did not knowwhereshe lived, exactly but I could easily find out. I just couldn’t bear to look at her any longer, to remain in her presence. I did look one last time to see if she’d heard me. She had and was nodding slowly. I let loose a breath and without a goodbye, I turned and left.
It was slightly unnerving, being in front of her, looking at the shade of her hair, at the shape of her eyes and not seeing Princess Odele in her place. But Maisie wasnotOdele and I feared those words would soon become my mantra, my daily reminder. It would be what I told myself any time my heart started beating at the sight of her.
Once I got to know her, I knew my body’s reaction to her appearance would change. My palms would no longer sweat and I’d no longer look at her lips, longing for something forbidden, for something I could never have.
Shaking off those thoughts, I weaved around the labyrinthine crowd until I was near the stage. I swam off to the side and up it where the generals and lesser ranked soldiers were waiting for me. As soon as I was on the dais, a soldier handed me a kelp list with the names written on them. I glanced at them all. Maisie’s name wasn’t on here but when I announced them, I’d be naming her regardless.
I knew how the Selection hurt some of the mer, knew there was a slim chance that they’d see their families and loved ones again. But that was the price to pay when there was a war. It was for everyone’s own good, for the safety of the entire kingdom. They were no more or less important than the mer in the capital or at any other town.
This had to be done.
I looked out into the crowd. They were all silent, holding their breaths it seemed like it, waiting to see who would next be chosen. I did a sweep of the crowd, my gaze catching on the flowing movement of purple-blue hair. Maisie had woven her way into the crowd. She was at the very back, next to the merman I recognized as her boss.
My eyes stayed on her, on this mermaid who was so different from the rest in Lagoona. No one else had her hair, her coloring. Where did she come from? Why was she here? And more importantly, why did she look like the Princess?
Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth and called out the names.
CHAPTER SIX
Maisie
FIFTEEN NAMES TOTAL, INCLUDING MINE.When Captain Saber opened his mouth to name those who were selected, I’d held my breath the entire time. And when he got to my name, I felt my heart drop like a boat’s anchor to the pit of my stomach.
I tried not to gasp aloud, but the sound seemed to tear out of me. I knew, logically, I had not been selected to fight in a war. I’d been selected for something else entirely. I’d be safe inside the palace, I’d be able to make a difference. But all of the logical thoughts flew away when I heard my name. For a brief moment, I was deep in the horror of the selected. For a moment, it had been real.
