Page 59 of Oceansong
Well, if she still had her phone. She didn’t own a camera.
Kaden’s earlier words came back to her, that this was for her eyes only, and not to be spoken of to anyone else.
The sea life stayed within invisible confines, and Angie’s gaze slid upward. “Some of these are shallow-water fish. They can survive with the pressure difference?”
Kaden flashed a knowing wink. “There is a barrier enacted to preventthem from being crushed by the pressure, similar to what’s around our palace. We have sanctuaries all over the seven seas, mostly to rehabilitate injured animals. We leave a lot of room in case we ever need to take in more. Out of reach from humans.”
Once the initial sense of wonder wore off, Angie trembled. She was on cloud nine, surrounded by schools of fish swarming her and creating soothing waves. Seagrass tickled her feet and legs, and she gasped when a king crab skittered past her, its mighty claws out, a warning. She obliged, watching the fish play and eat and explore, living free without a care in the world, swimming and skittering and sliding side by side. Vibrant corals were abundant, playgrounds and homes for the life surrounding them.
Massive schools of arctic char, salmon, pacific cod, and pollock surrounded her. A stark reminder that fish here were fish that her village and docks were not getting. If only she could bring some of them back with her.
Kaden appeared to read her mind. “I know what you’re thinking. You want to feed your family, your people. You see us selfishly keeping them here.”
“I do want that.” She kept staring at a ratfish moving along the floor, the cartilaginous fish’s rodent-like tail wiggling behind it. Her throat briefly constricted. “They look so happy here.”
“They are well cared for.”
Angie hung her head, and Kaden put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I thought I’d be happier to see this, and I am. It reminds me that this is what we’re fighting over, dying over. All this, right here.”
“If this is upsetting you, we can leave.” Kaden’s features were an expression of earnestness with a flicker of regret. “I would not have brought you here if I knew it would trouble you.”
She shrugged, pushing the despondent thoughts out of her mind. “I asked you; though, I’m ready to go.”
Her gaze lingered on the sanctuary until they were out of sight. She was torn. The fish deserved their lives and freedom–every living thing did–but her village also deserved to eat. Businesses relying on seafood also deserved to make a living and feed their families and themselves. Didn’t they? Still, human greed was a beast to contend with. Some could hold the world in their hands, and it wouldn’t be enough.
Angie sucked in a quivering breath. She’d worry about that later, when she figured out how to broach the subject to Bàba again. Kaden’s voice alerted her. “Did you still want to see the palace? I am happy to take you back if not.”
“Sure.” Angie followed him away from the sanctuaries, moving withthe currents.
Something flashed in her peripheral vision, catching her attention.
A red light flickered, and it appeared distant.
Then, it vanished. The only thing in front of Angie was a rock pillar dotted with starfish and corals.
“What’s the matter?” Kaden asked.
Angie studied the darkness, waiting for the red light to come back. It never did. Maybe she had imagined it. “I just thought I saw something,” she said. “Did you see anything?”
He shook his head.
Several more kicks ahead and glittering metal flashed into her vision. She slowed her pace. Gold and silver plates were buried beneath the sand, and she swam toward them.
“Buried sea vessels,” Kaden explained. “The same barrier around the sanctuaries is around our queendom. Anything non-biological attempting to pass will be repelled, and missiles will ricochet back to the vessel it came from. Hence, those.”
Angie tilted her head to one side, wanting to look closer. The vessels must have been over three hundred years old, if that was the last time humans and mer had contact with each other. What could she learn if she could unearth those wrecks?
She shook away the thought. The last thing she wanted was to be caught poking around in mer territory, studying the vessels they destroyed. “I see. Let’s keep going.”
“Of course.” Kaden gave her a gentle tug.
“Before we get there.” Angie pulled back, rubbing the back of her neck and swallowing hard. “Wh-what are you expecting?”
They were underneath a mossy arch, surrounded by smooth rock. Two translucent moon jellies drifted by, sweeping over her ponytail.
Soft wrinkles formed on his brow. “I wished to show you where I call home, and have some private moments with you. But I promise you, nothing you do not wish as much as I.” One eyebrow shot up. “Why do you ask?”
“Because uh, when someone asks you back to their place, they’re expecting you to, well, have sex with them.” She grew uncomfortable at explaining that to him. “Sometimes they get upset if you don’t want to.”
