Page 87 of Oceansong
Shit. Shit.Shit!They were so close, and now, it was all going to the lowest level of Hell.
Any hope of a truce between them and the merfolk vanished.
“I can’t believe this. This can’t be happening.” Angie shook her head, as if what she saw, what she heard, wasn’t real.
“I wish it was not.” Kaden’s tone was emotionless. “After speaking with them, sentinels came to inform us of a commotion outside. We sent the sentinels to investigate, but they returned, saying the mer outside wouldn’tcalm down, and some were fleeing back to the palace. My father followed the sentinels to help.” His tail moved back and forth in the water behind him. “Something didn’t sit right with me. But he insisted, and now.” He trailed off. “I was not close to him. Still, he was my father. And he listened. He just wanted to protect me, and Cyrus, and my mother.”
Angie remembered the gruesome scene. How blood puffed out like a cloud from Aqilus’ mouth, and she dry-heaved. She let Kaden continue on, remaining silent.
“The one time my father decided to leave the safety of the palace to calm our people. We thought it was simply a sea pig or giant isopod infestation. We never expected humans. I will never know why he did not let the sentinels take care of it.” His voice grew thick, and Angie reached over, cupping his cheek. His bright amber eyes shone with unshed tears, and he squeezed them away.
“Kaden, I’m so sorry for your loss. Cry if you need to, alright? I’m here.”
“I forget that tears fall on land. They wash off underwater.” Kaden took in an audible breath. “But we will grieve for him properly when the time comes.” He set his lips in a tight line. “I also came to deliver a warning.”
“A warning?” Angie’s eyes sprung wide open, a chilly bolt piercing her core.
“Yes. My mother is distraught over my father’s capture and death. She will grieve, and then anger will consume her, and there is no telling what she will do in her rage. I urge you to stay away from the seas and the shoreline in the meantime.”
She nodded, mute. Those damned cameras. If only she investigated the cameras the first time she saw the red light near the sanctuary. If only she had moved or destroyed them. Told Kaden.
Then maybe their sentinels could have looked for others and found the ones near the palace, and the mer-king would never have died.
If only, if only, if only.
Her belly knotted up. Kaden’s voice broke into her spiraling thoughts. “I will let you know where to meet me in the future, at a spot which is safe for both of us.”
She looked at him in earnest, and moved closer to him. “You and your people should be careful where you go, too. They captured one of your mer recently. Discovered the blue tinge on his breath, and he’s being studied as we speak. They won’t stop until they find out what it is. If my father and brother-in-law get wind of the magic, they’re going to sack your queendom. They found the mer-king, so they know the general area to look.”
“Yes, my mother has sentinels stationed everywhere, and we have reinforcements coming from the central queendom. Thank you for the warning.” He gave her hands an affectionate squeeze. “I do feel we are overdue for a proper meeting.”
Footsteps trouncing on grass approached behind her, and Angie dropped Kaden’s hands. “You have to go.”
“Beibei?”
Kaden’s eyebrows went up, like he was questioning this name of hers she hadn’t told him.
“It’s my dad.” Angie racked through her upcoming weeks’ schedule in her mind. “Thursday night? Three nights from now. I’ll be working a shorter shift.”
“I will look for you. Come to our regular meeting spot.” Kaden blew a kiss at her before returning to sea.
Angie stood as soon as Kaden left. “Over here.”
Bàba jogged to her, his eyes creased with worry. “I got worried when I didn’t hear you in the house after I woke up. Thought you had left for work, but then I saw the porch doors wide open.” He rubbed his eyes. “I realized I hadn’t closed it fully this morning, but I knew I didn’t leave them like that.”
Her voice pitch heightened. “Lulu got out.”
Bàba raised his eyebrows, and Angie waved a hand in front of Lulu. Finally, Lulu noticed her.
“Come on, girl. Let’s go home, okay?” She made apsst psstsound, and Lulu rose to her feet, running ahead of them to the house.
Angie remained silent as she walked beside Bàba.
“I wanted to let you know.” Bàba held open the porch door to let her enter the house first. “That I’m going to be back and forth from the docks and mayor’s office this next week. We’re going to strategize about what else we can do. We have the owners of the Anchorage, Kodiak, Bethel, and Unalaska docks coming throughout the week, too. They still want to help us even if their own docks are shut down.”
“So, you’re not going to be at the docks most of the week, is what you’re saying.”
“I still will be, but I’ll be in a lot of meetings.”
