OVERFALLS (The Merworld Water Wars, Book 2) (26 page)

With barely an inch before it struck, I heard the creature scream and combust. I turned around and found Troy holding my trident.

“Sorry it took me so long. Shall you, or should I?” he asked, nodding at the last lingering creature that looked as though it was about to pee itself.

“Oh, let me,” I said. He tossed my trident to me, and I spun it in my hands and skewered the beastie into nothingness. Watching it explode into sand, I said, “They turn into sand when they die? Didn’t expect that.”

“Now you know where a lot of the sand comes from,” said Troy.

Ew. “How’s Airi?”

“She’s resting. Your mom gave her a pair of your pajamas and tucked her in on the couch. Doctor Tenly’s waiting for us,” he said.

“Wait. Why the couch? She can have my bed,” I said, walking with Troy back to my window.

“Yeah, your mom tried. Airi refused to kick you out of your own bed,” said Troy.

Shaking my head, I said, “Only Airi could think of others after all she has been through.”

“Oh, I can think of another person just like her,” he said, kissing the top of my head.

We climbed through the window and headed into the living room where Mom sat holding Airianna’s hand. Trey and Doctor Tenly wiped sweat from their brows in an identical fashion; it seems Trey has been picking up some of the doctor’s traits while living at the manor. Jex, meanwhile, waved a feather along the windows and walls, chanting a protection blessing.

“Airi,” I said, hurrying to kneel beside her, “are you feeling okay?”

Sipping some chocolate milk, Airianna nodded. “Better now.”

“Could someone tell me what the hell happened?” I asked. “And what is this Tharnossa Troy mentioned?”

Doctor Tenly rubbed his eyes. “Tharnossa is a king of the underwater lands. Vile, disgusting merman. Some believe he’s worse than Hades himself. Those creatures were his minions. The reason they so easily broke through Troy’s stalking blocker is because they are under the strength of a merman-made curse. They were here to collect Airianna and bring her to King Tharnossa…to wed.”

“I’m sorry?! What?!” I said, totally not wanting to hear what I was hearing.

“My dad was so upset that I was dating a Normal, he cast the Tharnossa talisman against me,” said Airianna, taking another sip of milk. “He renounced me from the family, from his life…from the sea…and promised me to Tharnossa.”

“Can he do that?” I asked. “Your dad’s not a king. Troy, can’t you or your dad do something?”

Troy shook his head. “Mr. Hail got permission from Zale. He has the final word, at least until we find proof of them breaching the water pact.”

“Airi can’t touch the water. If she does, Tharnossa will know. He’ll send his beasties to grab her,” said Jex.

“But…the Overfalls?” I said. “She’s going to have to be in the water at least once for the games. Does that mean she’s out?”

“Not exactly,” said Doctor Tenly. “I tested the curse on her fin. It seems her father is exceedingly proud Airianna was chosen to be part of the Overfalls, thus the curse excludes any and all Overfalls-related activities involving the water.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said. “I’m sorry, Airi, but that’s the most repulsive thing a father can do.”

Staring into her mug, she said, “Dad’s the Cyclone Mercier of all the weather mermaids, kind of like a general or commander. He’s on the Committee for Weather Themed Competition…”

“Like mer-racing and—” said Troy.

“The matches for the Overfalls,” I supplied. Airianna nodded. “So, you’re not good enough to be his daughter because you fell for a Normal, but he’s far too good and important for you not to compete in the games he has had a hand in constructing. After all, how horrible would it look to his constituents if he ousted his own daughter from the honor of competing in the Mer-Nor Games? It’s all about him, isn’t it?”

“Afraid so. And if I’m not mistaken, Mr. Hail likely got something in exchange for promising Airi to Tharnossa,” said Troy. “Usually, Tharnossa hands out some sort of power in exchange for an untarnished mermaid’s virtue.”

“Well, Daddy Hail’s gonna have a debt to pay because I’m not letting Tharnossa anywhere near Airi,” said Trey, his knuckles white.

“That makes two of us,” I said.

“Three,” said my mom, squeezing Airianna’s hand.

“Four,” said Troy.

“Aw, make it five,” said Jex. “Six, if ya count Doc, here. And I’m sure everyone else back at Hambury, Mrs. Waterberry, Bobby, and Benji would be on board.”

“Hear that, Airi? You’ve got an entire army to protect you,” I said. Airianna forced a smile, but I could tell she was terribly hurt and scared.

“How do you think Mr. Hail found out?” asked Mom.

“My bet is Katrina,” said Trey. “That day at lunch, she mentioned Airi’s father to me, remember?”

Troy nodded. “Yeah, she referred to him as raging and disapproving.”

Trey clenched his fists. “Katrina will pay for this.”

Frowning, I said, “Hold up. I’m not convinced it was Kat litter. Obviously, everything points to it being her, but wouldn’t that have been awfully risky to her team? I mean, that move could have meant disqualification, right? Bye-bye wish?”

“That’s right. The brain coral made its choices. There’s no bringing it back to pick a replacement,” said Doctor Tenly.

“Even if she figured Mr. Hail’s ego would allow Airi to compete, it just seems too much of a gamble, even for her,” I said.

“Except she is known for being a hothead. Look at the smite she put on you, and what if she whipped up that hurricane in her name?” said Trey. “Katrina acts on anger, not reason.”

“Maybe,” I said. “It doesn’t matter right now anyway. What matters is Airi. With the ocean off-limits, what are her options for transforming?”

“She has to be able to transform to her fin at least once a week,” said Trey. “So, Doctor Tenly’s letting her use his ocean-y contraption at the manor.”

“How could a father do something like that to his daughter?” I said, completely shaken.

“He can reverse it. All he has to do is break the talisman,” said Airianna, somewhat hopefully. “I know my mom was devastated, at least.” She added the last bit as though it was a consolation prize.

“She certainly didn’t fight for you,” I said.

Airianna shrugged. “She’s too afraid of my dad.”

“Come hell or high water, I would’ve fought him fist to nail to protect you.” My mom was sporting her full mama bear-wear. “Doctor, you mentioned earlier that Airi can’t live with Normals because of the Overfalls. Why doesn’t she stay with Troy, if that’s all right with him? That way, I can watch over her.”

“That’s fine with me,” said Troy. “I have two extra rooms.”

“And I can do the blessing on Troy’s place as well,” said Jex.

“Good. For tonight, she’ll stay with us,” said my mom. “Tomorrow, we’ll get her settled with Troy. Now, Airi, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to mama you as I would Marina. I can get overbearing and annoying, but that’s how it is. Hope you’re good with that.”

With tears threatening her beautiful eyes, Airianna hugged my mom. “Thank you.”

Mom, choking back tears herself, hugged her back and turned to the men. “Okay, out! Shoo! My girls need rest. OUT!”

Jex handed the feather he was blessing the house with to Airianna. “Wherever you are, keep it nearby. I’ll use another on Troy’s place and leave it there.” Airianna promised she would keep it with her, and Jex touched my shoulder and exited through the roof.

“I’ll never get used to that,” said Mom, watching the angel up, up, and away.

When Trey approached Airianna, I tactfully moved to hug Troy and give them some privacy. “Do you think she’ll be okay?” I asked him.

“She has you and your mom,” said Troy. “She’ll be good in time.”

“I have things to work on for her,” said Doctor Tenly, muttering to no one. “Must go.”

“Bye Doctor,” I said before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Coughing, my mom waved her arms about, trying to cut through the smoke he left behind. “That man! And he forgot Trey.”

“It’s okay. I can walk. See ya later, Squiggle,” said Trey. “Watch over her.”

Giving him a hug, I said, “I will. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll give you a ride back to Tenly’s,” offered Troy.

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it,” said Trey.

“Night,” said Troy, giving me a peck.

“Night,” I said.

Once the boys were gone, Mom turned to us. “I’m all for girl-gab, but Airi needs rest, and so do you, baby girl, especially after fighting something I don’t want to ever fully know about, 'kay?”

“Double the 'kay,” I said.

“Good.” Mom kissed Airianna on the forehead and gently stroked her hair a couple of times before squeezing me and turning in for the night.

“Well,” I said, not really knowing what to say.

“Look,” she said, showing me something around her neck.

When she pulled it out from under her pajama top, I grinned. “Trey gave you his owl pendant.”

“He said it would protect me.”

“It will. It did for me through everything last year,” I said. “He only parts with it for those he loves.”

“He told me…tonight,” she said. “When he put it around my neck, he held me and whispered those three little words. Why
do
people call them ‘little’ words? I can’t imagine there are words any more powerful than those. I said it back…and I’m not ashamed of how I feel.”

“You shouldn’t be, Airi. You’re being true to who you are, following your heart. That’s never something to be ashamed of. Ever.”

“Speaking of heart-stealing boys, I hope I didn’t ruin your training with Troy. Were you able to finish before I, you know, beached myself?”

“Oh, we got through the training all right,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

“I’m glad. My timing has never been particularly good.”

Thinking for a moment, I said, “You know, I don’t think timing is a matter of being good or bad, but more like fate’s way of intervening for some bigger purpose.”

Whatever the reason, I’m pretty sure Airianna was the bucket of ice fate knew Troy and I needed.

Chapter Twelve

Fins v. Feet

Airianna has been settled in at Troy’s house for about a week now, and she may be the happiest I’ve ever seen her. With Trey coming around more frequently, Troy playfully interrogating Trey like a big brother, Mom cooking homemade meals every night, and me filling the long-lost sister shoes, Airianna finally had the family she dreamed about. Unfortunately, her new little family was on the brink of battle. In just a few hours, Airianna, Troy, Trey, and I would be standing on opposing sides, competing against each other for a wish that would markedly alter the lives of either Merpeople or Normals.

“When will your uniform arrive, do you think?” Airianna asked, sprawled across my bed, flipping through the gossip mer-magazine,
Sandierays
.

“No clue,” I said, sitting in a lopsided lotus position on the floor. “Doctor Tenly said to wait for it in here, so…yeah.”

Lowering the magazine, she said, “You don’t really think that yoga stuff works, do you?”

“At the moment,” I said, huffing a bit while trying to yank my leg into place, “no. If anything, it’s ticking me off.”

She pulled a face and shrugged one shoulder. “Not surprising. To Merpeople, yoga is—how would the humans put it?—bunk.”

Well, that killed my attempt at Zen. I fell backwards, out of position, laughing. Airianna saying the word ‘bunk’ was like hearing an old grandma say the ‘F’ word—shocking, but for some silly reason, totally hilarious.

“You said bunk,” I said, wiping my eyes dry. “It’s so not an Airi word.”

Pursing her lips and propping her chin on her crossed hands, she said, “Was it really that amusing?”

“It was to me!”

“Seems to have eased your tension better than that bizarre, unnatural sitting position,” she added.

“Uh, ya think?”

“Ah-ha! So I was right. Yoga is bunk! Honestly, why do you want to be all Zen before tonight anyway? I mean, you told me your Savior powers are in rare form when you’re angry, right? So, isn’t Zen the exact opposite of how you need to be?”

“Oh, God. You’re right! If I’m calm or scared or worried, my Savior skills are all ditzy. I need to be pissed or…”

“Or what? There’s another emotion that helps stabilize your powers? Tell!”

I grabbed a pillow, readying it to hold over my soon-to-be mortified face. “Uh, horny.”

“Beg pardon?”

“Yeah. Horny. Apparently, when I’m raging the hormonal horniness for my boyfriend, I can channel any power I want.”

Three blank blinks later, and Airianna was rolling around on my bed, laughing. “That’s so much better than me saying ‘bunk!’ You’re the angry, horny Savior!”

“What are the odds? I’m gonna forever be known as the R-rated superhero! Maybe King Tombolo will knight me—or trident me—The Horny Ho-In-Training, then thank Poseidon I found his son lust-worthy.”

“Oh…my stomach!” Airianna was curled in a ball, holding her sides, when a loud SNAP startled both of us.

“Did I hear a popping sound?” asked my mom, hurrying into my room.

“Yep, do you see anything?” I asked.

“There!” said Airianna, pointing to my closet.

Hanging on the door was a pale blue garment bag.

“It must be your uniform for tonight!” said my mom, sitting on the bed next to Airianna. “Come on, then! Open it up!”

“The only thing we have special to wear for tonight are purplish shell bras painted with golden fins and a matching sarong. Boring,” said Airianna. “And the guys have these heinous sash-things.”

“Yeah, well, at least you don’t have to wear a bathing suit. Really not digging having to bare my pasty ass for thousands to be blinded by. Here goes nothing,” I said, unzipping the bag and removing the contents. Hanging on a curvy silver hanger was an absolutely killer one-piece outfit. The black top was like a traditional bathing suit, only it had a patch on the left uppermost side. Blush pink and shaped like a heart, the patch featured a lavender eye, the pupil of which had a single sparkling blue sequin. Around the waist, there was a thin silver strip, similar to a belt. The bottom half was a stretchy, denim-like material, suitable for swimming. “I think I’m in love.”