Always Remembered (20 page)

“What is this child’s name?” I asked. “Where
is he?”

Azuria moved closer to me, searching my face.
“You know him as Evan.”

I stared at her. My mouth was probably
hanging open, gaping like a fish. She couldn’t mean my Evan. He was
human. His parents were Lydia and Darren Mitchell. They ran a bed
and breakfast. He’d lived in Canada his whole life. Evan wasn’t
Azuria’s grandson. That would make him one of the Blue Men, and
that was impossible. “Evan is human. He can’t—”

“He can, and he is,” she said gently. “Evan
is Ken’s son. Granted, he was conceived under nefarious
circumstances. Ken tricked a human female into thinking that he was
her husband. I am not proud of my son’s behavior. I am, however,
pleased with the result. As I said, Evan will save us all.”

“How?” My mind was whirling. The headaches,
the glowing eyes, the mood swings… it all made sense now if Evan
went through some kind of change. Did his blue form look like
Ted’s? Did he hate me? Would any of the love he had for me remain
or was it replaced by the anger and repulsion he felt for me last
summer?

“Meara!” Kieran called for me, the panic
clear in his voice. Instinctively, I turned at the sound of his
voice, but I couldn’t see the cave from where we stood. When I
turned back, Azuria was gone.

Find Evan. Find our savior.

Her voice whispered through my mind along
with an image. She showed me a map, the western coast of France.
Below the waves, a jeweled dwelling appeared.

He awaits you here.

Meara!
This time, Kieran’s voice rang
through my head. The map disappeared, and I no longer sensed
Azuria’s presence.

I’m okay
, I responded.
I’ll be
right there.

Walking quickly, I made my way back to the
cave. The entire time, I weighed our choices. Did we stay here and
try to find the Blue Men’s keep, rescuing Dad and Aunt Brigid? If a
battle was coming, the Selkies needed them back at Ronac. On the
other hand, Azuria made it clear that finding Evan was imperative.
Somehow, Evan could end this threat. If Ken realized that Evan was
the key to his undoing, he’d never let him live, son or not. Both
tasks were critical. Both tasks were treacherous, requiring that we
prepare for the unknown. I kicked a rock and let out a frustrated
cry. I had no idea what to do first.

“Ken
seriously called in sick?”

Evan tried to figure out if Vesh was telling
the truth. He didn’t look like he was joking. Of course, in Vesh’s
blue form, Evan couldn’t read his expressions that well. A smile or
snarl both looked creepy on Vesh’s elongated face.

“What are you complaining about? You get a
free day.” Vesh’s large form filled the doorway. He was neither
moving in, nor out. Loitering. That was probably the right term for
it. Waiting. “So I was thinking…” He paused and this time, Evan
knew Vesh was smiling at him. “We spent yesterday afternoon
experiencing your world on land. Today, I want to show you our
world.”

Evan didn’t agree with Vesh. While The
Chamber’s tropical dome with its warm light was similar to being on
land, it wasn’t the same thing. Not even close. How did you
describe the feeling of the sun on your skin to someone who has not
felt it in centuries? Evan didn’t want to learn about sea life. He
was tired and wanted coffee.

“I’ve been living in your world for a couple
of months now,” Evan said, trying to keep his voice neutral. He
wasn’t a morning person, and Vesh was too chipper for this hour of
the day. “I think I know what it’s like.”

“No, you don’t.” Something like anger flashed
in Vesh’s eyes. Evan took a step back. Vesh sighed and ran his
fingers through his hair. “Look, all I’m saying is that you only
know what Ken showed you when it comes to our abilities, which
isn’t much, right?”

“Right,” Evan admitted. “Although Deanna
showed me some stuff.”

“I bet she did,” Vesh leered. Evan kept his
gaze steady and waited. After a moment, Vesh rolled his eyes and
continued, “You’re no fun. Anyway, whatever Deanna showed you is
only what she knows as a Siren. She doesn’t really get us, you
know, being a different species and all.”

“Okay.” Evan’s stomach tightened. Was it
excitement or hunger? Shouldn’t he be able to tell the difference?
“What do you have in mind?”

“We can grab some food first,” Vesh jabbed
Evan’s side. “Your stomach is yelling for food, and I know you’ll
be more pleasant after you’ve eaten. Then, we’ll head out to sea,
and I’ll show you a few things.”

They went to the cave instead of the mall
food court. No one seemed to notice them or care. Bustling about on
their way to work or home, the other Blue Men and Sirens barely
acknowledged them with a nod. Vesh ate more than any living
creature should be able to fit in its stomach, and for the first
time, Evan didn’t feel so bad that he was hungry all the time.
Maybe the voracious appetite came with the territory.

“Where are the others? Slate and…?” Evan
couldn’t remember the other guy’s name. Sure, he met him twice, but
he was quiet and reserved, blending into the background. In some
ways, the quiet guy reminded Evan of Professor Nolan.

“Dex,” Vesh supplied. “I don’t know what
they’re up to. I didn’t bother asking them. Figured you might not
like an audience.”

Evan blanched at Vesh’s words. What exactly
was he going to show Evan?

Vesh stood. “You’re ready then?”

“Sure.” Evan didn’t know what he was getting
ready for, but he was hoping that he might learn something new at
least. Possibly something to help him with his fight. Once again,
he wondered, was Vesh on his side?

They slid the trays into the compartment by
the entrance and swam out. Vesh headed out of the city, in a
direction that Evan hadn’t gone before. It was the opposite way
that he went every day with Ken.

“Where are we going?” Evan asked
curiously.

“Nowhere in particular. I wanted to get out
of town, away from prying eyes. The waters are fairly calm out this
way, and there’s a trench up ahead. We’ll try there.”

While he talked, Vesh kept up his speed. It
wasn’t hard for Evan to pace him, but he wondered why Vesh was in a
hurry. Was he really worried about others following them?

He dipped down, and Evan saw the trench. It
was a wide chasm in the ocean floor. Plants and fish abounded in
the area, their colors bright in the dark water.

“Close your eyes,” Vesh commanded. “What do
you feel?”

Evan obeyed. The current rocked him gently.
“Water,” he said with his eyes still closed. Silence ensued. He
wondered if Vesh left, but when he opened his eyes, the other man
was staring at him, an incredulous expression on his face.

Skin bristling, Evan asked, “What?”

“Water? That’s the best you got?” Snorting
derisively, Vesh turned to swim away. “If you’re not going to take
this seriously…”

“Wait.” Evan reached out and caught Vesh’s
arm. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. Give me a chance.
Remember, I was human for twenty years first. Tell me what I’m
supposed to feel. What do
you
feel?”

Vesh closed his eyes. His features smoothed,
his expression growing peaceful. “A tiger shark is terrorizing a
school of fish, and two dolphins are playing in the currents
nearby…” Vesh turned his body, eyes still closed. “Further out, a
whale is swimming with her calf.” His nose wrinkled and his lip
curled in distaste before his eyes flew open. “That horrid mouthful
of decay must be Ken’s project.”

“You picked all that up?” Evan was amazed.
The mantle plume was miles in the other direction. How far did
Vesh’s senses reach?

“You could, too,” Vesh said. “If you tried.”
He swam closer, stopping in front of Evan. “You’ll need to, if you
want to realize your full power. The ocean sustains us, but we must
be one with it. Only then will you be able to pull energy from the
living forces around you.” He paused again, considering Evan. In a
lower voice he added, “You’ll need to, if you want to have any
chance of defeating Ken.”

“What? I—” Evan’s first instinct was to deny
what Vesh was saying, but Vesh brushed off his protests with a
quick shake of his head.

“You better damn well be trying to defeat
him. We’re counting on you.” Vesh motioned angrily. “You don’t
agree with what he’s doing, do you? You can’t possibly like the
fact that he’s torturing your girlfriend’s father.”

Evan felt the shock of Vesh’s statement rivet
through his body. “Ken has David?”

“He does. David’s sister, too. The hot one
with the purple eyes.”

“Brigid.” The name came to Evan immediately.
Although he’d only met her once, Meara mentioned her aunt often
enough. “But how?”

“They were looking for you.” Vesh sat on a
rock, idly sifting sand and silt through his hand. “Ken caught them
over a month ago, and four others in their rescue party. Two more
were captured recently.”

Eight Selkies. Meara must be worried sick.
She was coming next. He knew it. It wasn’t in her to stay behind
and let others fight. Knowing her the way he did, the situation
would be killing her right now. He thought she had given up on him.
She hadn’t. If David and Brigid attempted to rescue Evan, it was at
Meara’s request. Although the rescue attempts failed, he felt
better knowing that they tried. They cared enough to risk their
lives.

“What is Ken doing with them? Are they
okay?”

“The last I heard, they were alive. My
brothers are not the most hospitable of folk.” Vesh shook his head.
His eyes filled with regret. “We don’t all feel the same, but it’s
not safe to argue with Ken. He’s quite mad, you know.”

“I know,” Evan said softly. In his mind, he
saw Ted Nolan, swollen and bloody.

“He killed our brother.”

When Evan met Vesh’s eyes, he nodded. “Ken
killed Theodore. We are immortal and connected. All of us. When one
dies, we feel it.” He put his hand on Evan’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,
Evan. I know he was your professor, and you were close.”

Evan’s throat tightened. He was surprised how
much it affected him to know that Professor Nolan was dead.
Guessing was one thing, knowing was another. Ted Nolan was a flawed
man, but he meant well. Ken had no right to kill him. “Why didn’t I
feel it?”

“I don’t know.
”
Vesh
frowned at him.
“
Maybe you
haven
’
t honed that ability
yet.
”

“Ted wasn’t a bad man. He apologized for
bringing me into this,” Evan said. Perhaps his words might ease
Vesh’s pain too. After all, he lost a brother. “He tried to help me
in the end. With any luck, he got my message to Meara before he
died.”

“He was one of the gentlest of my brothers
when my mother was alive,” Vesh said. “But Ted was also one of the
most loyal to Ken after her death. Look where that loyalty got
him.”

“How many of the Blue Men think like you?”
Evan asked. He assumed Slate and Dex felt the same, but were there
more?

“Slate and Dex,” Vesh said, confirming Evan’s
thoughts. “Potentially a few more. It’s risky to talk about it. We
don’t know for sure. If I can help you harness your power, that
might get us the furthest at this point. We won’t revolt against
Ken on our own. We’re not strong enough.”

There was an apology in Vesh’s voice, but
Evan didn’t acknowledge it. Vesh didn’t need to apologize to him.
Evan knew Ken’s wrath all too well. He wouldn’t wish that on
anyone. As Ken’s son, though, perhaps he did stand a chance against
him.

“I’m ready to try again,” Evan said. Closing
his eyes, he let the moving water settle him first. A peace flowed
through his veins, and he became part of the ocean. He felt the
moment it happened, like every pore in his body opened to the life
around him… so many sounds, so many smells and feelings. He
breathed it all in, and the power thrummed through him. His chest
expanded and his eyes flew open. “That’s freaking amazing.”

Vesh grinned, his sharp, white teeth
glinting. “Now we’re talking. You’re glowing, man. Looks like you
got a rush of power.”

“I did!” Evan felt like he could swim the
Atlantic and back. “Is it always like that?”

“Pretty much, if you’re open to it. The ocean
sustains us. If we accept her gifts, our power grows.” Vesh stood
and stretched. “Child’s play, my friend. That was only step one.
Now that you have the energy, you need to learn what to do with
it.”

Evan listened as Vesh explained the basics to
him. They could control the waves, the rise and swell of the water.
Blue Men sunk ships, but raised them too. It was all in the will of
the wielder. They could also speak to the animals, although they
could not control them. Ocean dwellers varied in intelligence, the
same way that living beings did on land. Fish were not that bright,
while great white sharks and humpback whales were very
intelligent.