Page 37 of Secrets Among the Tides
“Now let’s talk about Princess Odele’s dress. Now, the Princess usually follows the tides, keeps up with the latest fashions and outdoes herself each time. But she seemed to dress down for her anniversary dinner. A beige dress with silver threading? How very boring!”
When she took in another sharp breath, I looked at her. She seemed to hug her tail tighter to herself. And I noticed, she was still wearing the dress they were talking about.
“I wonder if her newly found modesty was in protest to the engagement. Or maybe she just didn’t want to outshine the Prince. We all know she was in bedrest for a few months because of an illness. Well, honey, we could tell. Bags under the eyes? Loss of weight? Come on! Haven’t you ever heard of cosmetics?”
I swam over to the telly and slammed the shell closed, cutting off anything else that mer had to say. When I turned back to Maisie, a small bubble tear rose from the corner of her eye.
“She’s a bottom feeder,” I said unkindly. “She insults everyone. It doesn’t matter.”
Maisie sniffled. “Yeah.” She offered me a sad smile. “It doesn’t matter. Hey, Captain, I’m tired. Is it okay if I rest the remainder of the day?”
“Of course.”
Without even waiting for me to leave, she pulled the blankets up to her chin and turned away. I didn’t miss the shaking of her shoulders or hear the muffled sniffles she tried to hide from beneath the covers.
My hand tightened into a fist to avoid reaching out for her and comforting her. She had to harden her heart, or else she’d never survive among these tides. Everything in me screamed to reach out for her, but I ignored the part of my mind that demanded it and turned, leaving her alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Maisie
AFTER THE MERMEN CAME TOinstall the bars—an event which I shamelessly hid in the bathing room the entire time—I swam out and finally got into a change of clothes. I picked something easy to move in, something dark and not so fashionable—the merlady on the telly could kiss my fin.
I chose a black dress that I found hidden deep in the recesses of the Princess’s closet. It was unlike any other attire she had, which made it the perfect fit for me. Black, with long sleeves and a short train that was easy to flap my fins in, I tucked my hair beneath a black hat and attached my beloved black blade to my waist before shoving the chair in front of the doorway again and going to get the lava globe.
If the Princesshadescaped from under everyone’s noses, then she’d most likely done it from the inside of this room. More specifically, from the inside of that cove. That meant there was probably another hidden doorway down there that led somewhere else. And I intended to find it.
After securing everything in place, I went to the panel, pressed my palm against it and swam through the hallway, the tunnel and into the cove. I scoured the muddy floors until I found a messenger bag that I wrapped around my shoulder and shoved the disk into as well as a handful of golden coins and rubies. Once I found the doorway, I would find someone who could repair the disk. I needed it fixed so I could watch that recording, find outwhohad been chasing her and in turn, discover who had tried to poisonme.
After securing everything tightly against me, I began looking for a possible exit. I pressed my palms against the cold stone walls and began feeling for a panel like the one in the bedroom. I scoured nearly every inch of that cove, swimming up the ceiling and along the walls. There had to be a way out. Therehad to be.
The more the minutes passed, the more frustrated I became. The Princess couldn’t have gotten out if there hadn’t been a doorway. Was it hidden like the entrance to the cove was hidden? Or was it simpler? I pressed my hands along the edges of a dark wall, and to my luck, I heard the now familiar sound of stone scraping. I held my breath as bricks of stone parted to form a small doorway. I quickly swam through it and turned around in time to see it close by its own volition.
I hoped there was a way back in, or else Captain Saber would have my head.
Loosing a breath, I turned to observe my surroundings. I was in a dark alleyway of some sort in a place I didn’t recognize. Granted, I hadn’t been given the royal tour of Eramaea, so that wasn’t surprising. Beyond where I floated, noises and activity could be heard. I looked up, saw the pink spires of the castle behind me. Okay, so I was close to the castle at least. But why did everything look like I was in a bad part of the city?
I dropped my lava globe inside my bag to avoid drawing attention and swam forward a few strokes. I didn’t make it far before I suddenly found myself with company. Three mermen swam into the mouth of the alleyway. I froze and watched as the three hauled a fourth merman and shoved him painfully against the stone wall.
Their voices were too low to hear, but then one of them shouted a curse and shoved his fist straight into the fourth merman’s gut. The merman grunted in pain and slid down the length of the wall, his dark tail curling under him. The others didn’t waste time and began attacking him, kicking at him with their tail fins, throwing fists and curses in his direction.
I was immobile until one of the mermen pulled out a two-legger silver switchblade.
My tail was moving before I could command it to stop, hand reaching for the blade at my waist and pulling it out. I charged at them with a fierce cry, placing myself in a protective stance over the injured merman. The three mer looked at me with eyebrows raised. Here in the mouth of the alley, the light was brighter, bright enough to see their faces.
They had the features of sharks and eels. Sharp rows of teeth sneered at me and lidless black eyes that looked like they could devour my soul with just one look. I fought back my shudder and held the blade tightly in my hands.
“I reckon y’all should get goin’ now,” I said breathlessly. My body ached in places where the poison still lingered. I refused to let it back me down, though. This merman was in trouble. He needed my help.
“And who are you to be givin’ us orders, bottom feeder?” One of the merman puffed his chest out, looked at me with indignation. I refused to acknowledge his question.
“Leave him alone,” I spat.
The three of them looked to each other before turning and smiling at me. Their smiles chilled my bones.
I barely blinked as the one with the blade lunged forward. I dodged, blocking the blade with my own. Too late I realized he’d been the distraction because the mer to my left grabbed my wrist in his tight grip. The one to my right slapped my other wrist, sending the blade clanking to the ground. I thrashed my tail out, hitting a solid body. I smiled with satisfaction when one of my captors gave a grunt.
Fighting back only seemed to make them angrier. Suddenly, they had me pressed against their bodies, a forearm at my throat and blocking my gills from taking in water.
