Page 100 of Midnightsong
Once she said Serapha’s name, Bàba nearly spat out his tea and said nothing for a stretched-out moment as he stared into his teacup. The color on his face drained, and the fingers holding his teacup twitched.
Angie looked at Mia who shrugged and shook her head.
Had he struck up a friendship with her in the years she was at school? He’d never mentioned it and it seemed Mia didn’t have the first idea, either. “Bàba, you, okay?” Mia poked his shoulder.
Bàba regained his composure and set his teacup down. “I’m still mourning the loss of our treaty and the peace we had with them.”
They finished dinner, and though Bàba tried to get up and put the dishes away, Angie and Mia beat him to it.
It was eight in the evening, and even though they hadn’t left their family room, Angie relished the time they had together. She loved it when the kids were around, but the bonding time between the three of them was precious to her. Especially now that the mer were attacking again, and Bàba was hurt.
“What exactly happened to you?” Angie asked once they sat back down.
“I was overseeing a fishing boat we purchased before the mer attacked us. While we were doing inspections, something slammed hard into it, and it tipped. All four of us went over.” Bàba furrowed his brow, continuing his story in a matter-of-fact tone. “Two of us were closer to the shoreline, but the boat fell onto my leg and lower back.”
Angie winced as she visualized his story. Bàba wiggled his toes and flexed his foot forward and backward. “My colleague helped me get to shore. The others—” He choked up. “—were never found. But...” Bàba sat up straighter, a flicker of confusion appearing in his gaze. “I saw something else that gave me concern.”
“What?” Angie rubbed her hands on her pants legs, her hands clammy with what he might say next.
“There weren’t only mer there. We also saw two orcas and a large shark with them. And they disappeared with the mer as soon as the ships, and people on it went under.”
Beside her, Mia sucked in an audible breath. Angie’s fingers inadvertently tightened around her pants, bunching them into her fists.
She knew the mer had a symbiotic relationship with sea life. But to have marine animals joining them in their fight, some of which were the biggest and most powerful animals on Earth?
The sea was revolting, and she didn’t know whether to feel terrified, or in awe of nature’s synergy.
The seas would never be safe for people again.
And if the attack on her school and their docks were any indication, they weren’t safe on land either.
At ten o’clock, when everyone, including Lulu had gone to sleep, Angie lay in her bed after showering and brushing her teeth, fiddling with the seaflute.
She longed to hear Kaden’s voice and she traced his Renyuhua name onto the seaflute.
“Angie? Are you okay?”
“I miss you,” she replied. “I’m in bed, wishing you were here.”
He replied in that sultry voice she loved so much. “I wish I was next to you to, as well.”
She told him about Beau and Emily, and about MDRT and their visit. “I feel awful, you know? I came home and my dad is hurt, and the docks are completely shut down.”
“I saw what happened when my uncle attacked the docks.” Kaden’s voice laced with sadness. “I tried to stop him, but his sentinels escorted me away.”
“My dad told me there were marine predators fighting with the mer. I didn’t expect that.” Abject fear laced her words. “How? Why?”
“They are trained specifically to fight with us in the rare moments we require their aid, and we must earn their trust. But they live wild and free,” he replied. “It is solely their choice if they wish to aid us, and we ensure they are always protected. We would give our life for theirs, and they are released right after their service. We cannot compel animals who are born wild.”
In these moments, Angie wanted nothing more than to touch him, or hear what he was doing, or him breathing. But she heard only silence and the occasional rush of water. “I understand.”
“I wish I was there to protect you. At the docks, at your school. You shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of my people’s fury again.”
She twisted the edge of her comforter into a bunch. “I know you would have protected me. And I’m glad you’re okay, too.”
“I would drown the world if it meant keeping you safe,” he said softly.
Angie stared at the seaflute. “No, don’t say that! It wouldn’t make you any better than your uncle and aunt.”
