Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) (9 page)

I ripped myself from her grip and staggered backward, my clumsy feet creating sand clouds as they traveled unsteadily across the floor. Holding my wrists to my chest, I did what made the most sense at the time.

I threw an attack spell at her.

“Back,” I commanded, quickly extending my hand – palm facing her, fingers spread apart. An invisible force sent her flying across the room and against the wall. This time, the effect of being underwater did nothing to aid her. She dropped to the sand with a
thud
.

I swam close enough to speak evenly to her, but far enough away to avoid possible retaliation. “I’m sorry about the spell, but you gave me no choice. I may not always have faith in my so-called destiny, but it is
mine
. I am the Chosen Daughter, and while I understand being kept in the dark for my own protection, there are some things I need to know. I am sick and tired of being manipulated.”

Elvina’s expression was a mix of anger, fear, and sadness. But I wouldn’t know the stronger emotion of the three until she spoke. I curled my hands into fists and waited patiently for her reply.

Slowly she rose from the sand, reaching out to the wall for balance. I wanted to help her, but if I showed any remorse now, I wouldn’t get any answers. As much as it pained me to see her this way, I had to hold back. It was the only way.

“I underestimated your will. Forgive me,” she said quietly.

I watched her warily. “Let’s make a trade. My forgiveness for your information.”

She smiled sadly. “For one who pretends to be more elfen than fae, you certainly know their games.”

“I’ve learned a lot…being in their company so often,” I said bitterly.

She nodded. “Fair enough. Eder’s job is to see you safely to the rebellion. He will visit each Realm before we do to secure allies in every capital city. I don’t know the exact moment he will join us, but when he does, then and only then will he disclose the reason he’s so involved in your path.”

“So Brielle told you and Eder about the rebellion. Okay.” I nodded, accepting this. “But how can Eder travel through the Realms without the help of crowns?” I asked.

Elvina blinked. “He used Queen Taryn’s crown to travel to the Mermaid Realm. Beyond that, I don’t know. He must have attained a mermaid crown somehow.”

As much as I hated to admit it, her answer sounded credible. “By the steely look in your eyes, I’m guessing another attack spell wouldn’t reveal any more information,” I muttered.

She shook her head. “I’m truly sorry that I must keep so much from you. But it
is
necessary.”

I nodded, unwilling to fight anymore. I was exhausted, thoroughly depleted of strength. And hurting Elvina had felt so wrong….

“Are we…are we going to be okay?” I asked her, already dreading the response.

It was one she didn’t even have time to give. Prince Orrin sailed into our room like a madman, his eyes frantic and his hair wild. His father’s crown sat firmly on his head.

“The council has discovered our plan. We must leave now.”

I barely had time to sing a few notes into Kelby’s shell before Orrin was dragging us out the window.

The city of Atlantis was immersed in chaos. As if under a spell, the mermaids seemed to be in a frenzy, darting at us from all directions. They screeched at us like animals, rows of pointy teeth gleaming and eyes rabid with hunger. I couldn’t believe the transformation they had undergone.

“Prince Orrin, what’s wrong with them?” I asked.

The Prince, grim-faced and focused, ignored me as usual and continued to tug at my hand, urging me onward. We had to dodge feral mermaids and move around buildings to avoid any collisions. I closed my eyes each time we got too close, but Prince Orrin managed to narrowly evade every potential accident.

But the mermaids were difficult to avoid. Elvina threw out a few defensive spells to keep them at bay, but I couldn’t concentrate enough to help. Since my arrival, the mermaids of Atlantis had been in a state of tranquility, concerned with order and self-preservation. Now they were wild and untamed, completely out of control. What had brought on the change? I had figured the King and Queen would be upset about our escape, but how had the rest of the city learned of our plan so quickly?

“What’s happening?” I asked, trying again to get Prince Orrin’s attention. “Why are they acting like this? Like animals?”

Through gritted teeth, Orrin replied, “It is the Queen. She sent out a signal. It has alerted the city of your escape.”

“What kind of signal?” Elvina asked.

“The Queen is a siren,” Prince Orrin replied, scarcely skirting a particularly fierce merman with a very sharp spear. “Her voice controls our kind. That is why my father took her as his bride. No mermaid can deny her wishes. If you listen carefully, you will hear her song.”

I closed my eyes and breathed slowly, trying to separate Queen Naida’s voice from the hysterical mermaids. But try as I might, I couldn’t hear any singing. All I could hear was this horrible screeching.

I covered my ears and winced. “I can only hear screams. Is that what singing is to you mermaids?”

Prince Orrin shook his head. “No. You are unable to hear her call in its truest form because you are not a mermaid; the call is not designed for your kind.”

“What does it sound like to you?” Elvina wondered.

Orrin grimaced and tightened his grip on my hand. “Tempting.”

So that was why he looked so tense. As a merman, the call affected him too. Fear began to gnaw at me. Would he be able to resist the Queen long enough to help us escape? Or would he succumb to her will?

“Orrin,” I said warily. “Are you okay?”

He was trembling now. His eyes blazed like the feral creatures hunting us. When he opened his mouth to respond, his teeth gleamed white and pointed. “No. Most assuredly not.”

“Your face,” I said, completely horrified.

He sighed, but it sounded more like a groan. “I cannot control the physical changes, but my will is stronger. I will not harm you. I promise.”

I didn’t trust him. I hadn’t since the moment we met. But we needed him. With a Realm full of mermaids at our heels, he was the only one we could count on at this point. But those eyes, those teeth….What if trusting him got us killed?

My gut was churning. I was too conflicted. I looked to Elvina for an answer, and her eyes confirmed that we had no other choice. We kept moving forward. Presently, the Prince was able to control himself. But for how long?

While Elvina’s spells kept the aggressive mermaids at bay, my focus remained on Prince Orrin and his current state. His features hadn’t returned to normal. In fact, they seemed to be growing worse. His eyes bulged and his muscles tightened. My hand felt like it was about to break into millions of tiny pieces. I doubted that he would be able to hold on for much longer.

Sensing my concern, Prince Orrin loosened his grip on my hand just enough to avoid permanent damage. “We must make it to the border. We will be out of Queen Naida’s range, and her call will no longer affect me.”

We had made it to the edge of the city, but the border still seemed far away. Tall coral buildings stood between us and freedom. It was impossible to know how many angry mermaids lingered in dark alleyways or behind doors.

“We should get out of sight,” Elvina advised.

Prince Orrin and I agreed. We headed behind one of the coral buildings and paused underneath an alcove to catch our breath. So far we seemed to be alone with no other mermaids in sight. That probably wouldn’t last long. I knew we should get moving again, but Prince Orrin looked like he needed some time before we started again. His breathing was erratic and he kept clenching and unclenching his fists.

“We’ve reached the final stretch. Will you be able to make it?” I asked Prince Orrin.

He doubled over, groaning and hugging himself as his body shuddered violently. Intending to comfort him, I placed my palm against his back, rubbing in circles in an attempt to soothe him.

“Orrin, are you okay?” I asked slowly, keeping my voice gentle and even. I didn’t want to set him off.

The Prince moaned and threw back his head. A spasm rippled through his body, and the motion was enough to throw me off balance. I braced myself against the door of the building, my head spinning. Our eyes connected. The fire in his was unmistakable.

He had just answered my question. We were no longer safe with him.

Elvina and I had to get away from him fast. I collected myself and motioned for her to follow. My plan was to hide with her in one of the nearby buildings and wait for Kelby and the others – and if that didn’t work, form a better plan – but the Prince had ideas of his own. In a matter of seconds he pulled Elvina close and wrapped an arm around her neck, immobilizing her.

“Do not come any closer if you value her life,” he spat.

“Prince Orrin, don’t do this,” I pleaded. “You promised Eder you would help us.”

He blinked hard and hung his head. “I wish I could. But her call is too strong. I must obey my queen.”

“Ramsey, get out of here!” Elvina cried.

“Quiet!” Orrin yelled, his arm tightening around her throat. She coughed and writhed against him, but he was too strong for her. “You will accompany me back to the palace, or I will kill her.”

I looked from Elvina to Prince Orrin. We couldn’t go back to King Almog and Queen Naida. They would either kill us or lock us away forever. And I had a journey to continue. But if I didn’t listen – if I left – Elvina would die. Despite our differences, she had always treated me with kindness. I couldn’t just leave her. But I also couldn’t stay….

“Make your decision, Half-blood. She is not used to breathing underwater, and my arm against her throat only impairs her further. It will not be long before she takes her last breath.” Prince Orrin’s sharp teeth shone as he smiled menacingly at me.

“Ramsey, listen,” Elvina said, struggling against the Prince. “You have to leave now. There isn’t much time. The mermaids will overtake us. You have to keep going.”

I shook my head. “I can’t just leave you.”

“I promised Eder I would keep you safe. This is me upholding that vow,” she declared.

“Silence!” Prince Orrin yelled, jerking her sideways. Elvina cried out and I rushed forward to help her, but stopped just as Prince Orrin fastened his teeth on her neck.

Stunned and confused, I sifted through my memory of spells, but none seemed to fit getting rid of a crazy vampire-merman. Fire spells wouldn’t work underwater. Water spells wouldn’t work on a watery being. If I used the spell I threw at Elvina earlier, I could risk hurting her as well.

My only option left was immobilization.

After accidently immobilizing Nathan mid-step on the way to ability school this past December, I had long since perfected the spell. I didn’t even need to speak; the hand gesture was enough. I threw my hands outward and watched as Prince Orrin froze in place. Unfortunately, the spell had also affected Elvina. And Atlantis’s mermaids were steadily approaching. They would find us soon enough. We didn’t have much time.

Elvina was sobbing heavily. When I reached her, Prince Orrin’s teeth were still embedded in her skin. Her dark fae blood mingled with the water. “What do I do?” I asked frantically.

“I don’t know!” she cried. “I can’t move. It hurts.”

“I know, Elvina. I know it hurts. Just…hold on,” I said, trying to think of a way to remove Orrin’s teeth without injuring her further. But my thoughts were getting me nowhere. I had no idea what to do.

“Just pry him off me, Ramsey. I can take it,” she said.

With my eyes trained on Orrin’s sharp teeth, the blood spilling from her neck – I wasn’t so sure. “Elvina, if I pull him away it could kill you.”

Elvina winced, attempting to hold back a scream. “The mermaids are coming. This is your only chance to save me. Waste time and we’re both dead.”

I wondered how I had ever missed this bold side of her before. I nodded to her and placed my hands tentatively on Orrin’s face. He couldn’t say anything, but his eyes spoke volumes. They darted back and forth like a caged animal. He growled madly, the sound sending chills throughout my body. I jumped back and hugged my arms to my chest.

“Ramsey,” Elvina said quietly.

I blinked a few times and took a deep breath. Now was not the time to back down. I swallowed and repositioned my hands on the Prince’s face. Slowly, I pried open his mouth further, which was difficult because it was already pretty wide. Blood began to flow freely as his teeth disengaged from Elvina’s flesh. I groaned as I continued to push and pull. The immobilization spell made it difficult for me to move him without a struggle.

“Ramsey!” Elvina cried in warning.

I turned to see a mermaid darting savagely toward us. She opened her mouth to strike, and I had no choice but to remove the immobilization spell. It was Elvina’s only chance to get away while I fought off the mermaid. I quickly brought my hands to my chest. The spell was reversed just as the mermaid crashed into me. I kicked and punched to avoid her vicious biting. I felt my skin tear, but luckily she hadn’t clamped on to me like Orrin had to Elvina. I shoved her out of the way and immobilized her before she could attack again. Leaving the unmoving mermaid behind, I swam to where Elvina lay floating in the water.

“Are you all right?” I asked, peering nervously at her still bleeding neck.

“I’m alive. Let’s go,” she insisted, taking my hand while the other was pressed to her wound.

“Where’s Orrin?” I wondered, scanning the sea for his frightening appearance.

“I performed an offensive spell. A current of water carried him off, but won’t hold him for long. We need to move.”

I smiled, impressed by her strength even after suffering a nearly fatal attack. But my smile fell rather quickly. “We don’t have the crown. Orrin does. And Nathan and the others….Elvina, what are we going to do?”

Elvina closed her eyes briefly. The stress and loss of blood seemed to be eating away at her. “Let’s just get out of the city. We’ll figure something out then.”

I nodded and took her hand. We made it past the border with little trouble and no sign of Prince Orrin. But we were still stuck here, and I doubted that Queen Naida and her followers would give us up so easily.

“Elvina, let me heal you,” I offered.

She shook her head, the motion only increasing the flow of blood from her neck. “No. You have to save your strength. We haven’t seen the last of the mermaids.”

“But you need strength, too,” I argued. “I can’t fight off a dozen mermaids on my own.”

She laughed lightly. “You would be surprised by the power you possess, Chosen Daughter.”

I lowered my head. “I’m not what you all say I am. I’m not invincible or any more powerful than the average fairy or elfen.”

Elvina’s fingers grazed my chin, bringing my eyes level to hers. “Only because you haven’t accessed that part of yourself. When you do, you
will
be all that they say. I promise you that.”

“How do you know?” I asked pleadingly. “Is that what Eder told you?”

Elvina smiled. “Eder doesn’t form my every thought and opinion. This, I know because I know
you
. I’ve watched you grow so much since your first visit to Tarlore. I’ve watched you change.”

“I still have a lot of growing to do,” I realized. “I should never have attacked you, Elvina. It was selfish of me. I was willing to risk anything just to know everything.”

“It’s all right. I should have been more patient with you,” she admitted. “You stand in a very difficult position, having to be so much while knowing so little.”

I nodded, blinking back tears of uncertainty. “What should we do now?”

Elvina sighed. “You might as well heal me while we have time.”

I smiled and placed my hands gently against her neck. “Heal,” I commanded, watching the soft glow of light appear underneath my palms. Her blood began to disappear as the wound closed. I removed my hands and inspected my work.

“Well done,” Elvina praised. “I barely felt that.”

Prince Orrin’s hands were on my neck before I had time to smile.

I screamed but remained still to avoid injury. How had he snuck up on us like that? We were in open water. Where had he hid?

“Mermaids may not have spells at their beck and call, but we have plenty of magic at our disposal to surprise creatures like you,” the Prince whispered in my ear, his closeness making me sick with fear.

“Let her go, Prince Orrin.”

Kelby’s voice was like a miracle. I couldn’t help relaxing even though Orrin’s hands were still on me.