Page 61 of Midnightsong
His eyes followed its movement. He’d never seen one until now, but he had heard stories of them from other mer.
“There are landwalkers here?” a sentry asked, hoarse.
“We have to hide before they see us.” Kaden inched along the rock face until he emerged from the other side, and behind the submarine.
Another set of lights lit up the dark behind him, and Kaden made a sharp turn, swimming away at top speed. He charged into the middle of a large ship that hadn’t been buried in sand yet. He glided over its deck and ducked into an open hatch at the stern.
He hid on the lowest level of the ship, inside the hull. The prospect of running into more submarines unnerved him and he waited. The sentries milled around beside him.
Kaden swam to the other side of the vessel, stopping short and letting himself float upright with his tail curled to fit in the small space. Letters on the side of the ship brought back a flood of memories.
Odyssey.
A large fishing vessel. Kaden recalled it. Two tidesyears ago, that was the ship that had set out to capture mer before the war started in full force. The one their palace sentinels had intercepted and killed the sailors aboard in self-defense.
This ship was the precedent to their war, the one that had set the events in motion. Kaden’s chin trembled and time slowed.
“Your Highness,” a sentry piped up when the tides changed. “I think it’s safe to resume our journey.”
Kaden made his way across the ship and back to the latch, poking his head out to check their surroundings. “They’re gone,” he whispered to the sentries who were all watching him with expectant gazes. He motioned them to follow.
Twenty-Six
Angie
Angie dialed Bàba’s number, pacing restlesslyback and forth across her apartment. Kaden’s remarks still lingered in her mind over a week later.
The remarks Serapha was killed at the docks Bàba worked at.
Angie finally gathered herself to call him and ask, ready to hear whatever answer he might give.
He answered right away. “Wéi, Beibei?”
“Hi, Bàba. Just wanted to call and let you know I’m going to meet King Varin and Queen Cassia. They’re agreeing to talk to our leaders.”
“Wait one moment. Celia!” His voice sounded far away. “You have paperwork for me?”
The younger woman’s voice came through in a muffle. Spending her morning at the docks and rushing off to class for the afternoon was such a normal, everyday thing, and it gladdened her that Celia seemed to have settled back into a routine
“I’m back, Beibei. Had to sign off on her papers before she left for school.” He cleared his throat. “But that’s wonderful news. Let me know how that goes and how I can help, okay?”
“Hopefully, this will help ease some of the tensions. We don’t need another war.” Angie fidgeted with the hem of her sweatshirt, a thick, heather gray one with Pacific Grove University written in elegant letters across one breast. “Um, Bàba, I wanted to ask. You didn’t know anything about the attack on Serapha, right?”
An unnerving moment of pause.
“I already told you I don’t. Why are you asking me this, Beibei?” His voice took on a hard edge.
“I–I wanted to make sure.”
“I want answers, too, you know,” he said, gruff. “The last thing I want is another war. But how is your schooling?”
The abrupt change in conversation told Angie that Bàba wasn’t going to talk about Serapha anymore, and she knew better than to press him.
She caught Bàba up on her experience on the Seattle Morning News, and after they hung up, she made her way to the seashore after another check to ensure Lulu’s food and water bowls were full.
The shores were empty when she arrived. The mer didn’t operate at exact timing, so she sat cross-legged on the cool sand as she waited for Calora to arrive. A flock of seagulls circled overhead, their “ha-ha-ha” and “huoh-huoh” vocalizations reverberating in the skies.
Ten minutes later, headstrong splashing ahead of her caught her attention. The waves had spiked and Calora’s square-shaped face, framed with sandy hair and embellished with eyes like black beryl, emerged from the sea, followed by her neck and shoulders. Her features were almost a fifty-fifty mix of Cassia and Varin. Her eyes locked with Angie’s and she gave an enthusiastic wave. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.” She beckoned Angie closer and gave her breath.
