OVERFALLS (The Merworld Water Wars, Book 2) (8 page)

Taking my wayward hand in his, he gently rolled me onto my back. The weight of his body on mine was an indescribable heaven. As our breaths and kisses grew more desperate, more yearning, I slipped a leg around him.

“Wait, wait,” Troy whispered, searching my eyes. “Your first time…our first time together…shouldn’t be out of fear. You deserve something extraordinary, never ordinary, and certainly nothing forced by evil.”

Though my body screamed angrily, my racing heart sighed with relief—he was right. “
We
. We deserve something extraordinary.”

“We,” he repeated, kissing my forehead.

Turning back over on my side to settle for some spooning, I groaned, “Why’d you have to be such a dang saint?”

As I cuddled against him, he said, “Believe me, a saint is the last thing I am. Now, if you make that a damned saint, you’d be about right. And I’m fairly sure you can tell just how
difficult
showing self-restraint was for me.”

“Difficult? Think that’s the right word?” I teased, my body now fully backed into his.

“I was attempting to avoid the crudeness of the obvious word.”

“And you say you’re trying to shed the gentleman and resume your Neanderthral ways. Not likely.”

He nuzzled my neck and gently traced his fingers around my bellybutton. “Sleep, now, Rubylocks. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. If they try anything, I’ll unleash a few tricks to rival those of Meikle—tricks, that once in place, the Imperia will wish to all of heaven above not to have seen.”

I put my hand over his and held it against my heart. Our heartbeats were in perfect unison. In that moment, life felt right. It was the last thought I had before drifting to sleep in his arms.

Chapter Five

Hear Me Out

The hearing
. The courtroom looked both larger and darker than before. Once again, the whole town was present and divided—Merpeople to the right, Normals to the left.

“Mom, why don’t you go ahead and sit with Trey and the others. I just want to stand back here and observe for a minute,” I said.

“Of course, sweetie.”

Watching her sit down next to my friends, I noticed something off about
how
they were sitting. Trey had the soles of his sneakers securely propped against the back of the empty bench in front of him; next to Trey, Meikle sat with her left knee up and turned to the side; Ophelia, leaning against Meikle’s knee, had her legs stretched flat out in front of her. Judging by the angles of their legs, I imagine a spell was currently in progress. I wish I could say it gave me more relief than it actually did, though I suppose some relief is better than none.

“Try not to worry. In an hour, it will all be over,” said a man from somewhere behind me.

“It’s the definition of ‘over’ that worries me,” I said, groaning.

With a slight chuckle, the man said, “I can certainly understand why. Though I do have faith in the system.”

“Then you really don’t know…the…Imperia.” When I turned to face the mysterious, yet strangely calming voice, pure shock slowed my speech. This man wasn’t simply handsome or good-looking...this man was beautiful. He was broadly built, standing about six feet tall, with light brown hair and dark eyes that could undoubtedly see into one’s soul. In other words, he was head-to-toe sex in a suit…an Imperia suit. “You’re one of
them
. What, did they think bringing in the hot Imperia dude to personally administer some form of top secret punishment would melt our girly little hearts and have us jumping through fiery hoops?”

“Well, they obviously gravely underestimated the strength of your mind…and tongue for that matter. No, I’m only here to see that things go smoothly and fairly. As in any governmental branch, there are those who have a different mindset from the majority.”

“Perhaps,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Luxton Vipor,” he said, smiling. “Call me Vipor.”

“Marina Valentine. Call me toast…or fugitive, depending on how things go tonight.”

“Well, Miss Valentine, toasted, fugitive, or otherwise, it has been a pleasure.” He bowed before heading off to consult with the albino, Prax Graytone.

The Imperia elite, having replaced their usual gray shirts with disturbingly dark red ones for the occasion, took their seats at the high bench, with Mr. Anderson, Principal Jeepers, Treeva, and Kyle Zale assuming the same seats as last time.

“We should probably take a seat. Looks like they’re about to begin,” said Troy, placing his hands on my hips.

“You’re cutting it close. Where have you been?” I asked.

“Last minute prep. Nothing for you to worry about.” He kissed the top of my head and took my hand. “Come on.”

“Nothing for me to worry about,” I said, walking with him to our respective seats. “You do realize that just turned my worry bug into a beast, right?”

Troy simply smirked and kissed my hand before letting go. Even though we were only sitting across the aisle from one another, it seemed like a canyon had grown between us.

Slamming his marble gavel three times, Prax Graytone spoke in his smooth, venomous tone that made my skin crawl. “Doors, lock now.” The sounds of locks clicking into place made the quiet courtroom feel like a coffin being lowered into its final resting place. “I’d like to welcome two new faces to today’s hearing. First, we have Luxton Vipor, Imperia Guardian.”

Vipor, seated next to Mr. Anderson, stood, bowed to the room, and deliberately met my curious gaze with a nod. I quickly shifted my attention to Troy, who glowered dangerously at the new Imperia representative.

“Mr. Vipor is here to ensure every side of every story is heard and reasoned. Consider him our devil’s advocate. We are very pleased to have our next guest with us tonight. Not only has she graciously aided us with her special talents for tonight’s proceedings—like acquiescing door locks—but she has also provided much needed insight into the minds of the banished students—Madame Helena Hambourg.”

“And the night just keeps getting better,” Mom groaned.

The smallish door behind the high bench opened and out walked the woman I hoped to never see again. With her lime hair piled high atop her head, and her icy, orange eyes piercing each Normal through the skull like icicles, Madame Helena slinked into the courtroom wearing her signature smug smile. While Ophelia whimpered and diverted her eyes, Trey, Meikle, and I gladly met Madame Helena’s arctic glare with those of our own. She sat next to Vipor and removed a green journal from inside her purple and peach silk jacket. Treeva watched Madame Helena with great amusement before shooting Mom a humorous little ‘OMG’ look; even Kyle Zale stared at Helena Hambourg as though she walked out of a corny science fiction film. Doctor Tenly, on the other hand, made quite a production of leaning forward to ogle her.

“May I help you?” Madame Helena asked Doctor Tenly, stroking her purple and peach checkered nails along her highway of a nose.

“Hard to say,” said Doctor Tenly. “Perhaps when I’m next cooking cinnamon raisin bread, you could be so kind as to let me know when it’s done,” he said.

Well, that did it—Treeva, Troy, Airianna, Trey, Benji, Mom, and I lost it, successfully offending most of the room with a combination of giggle-coughs, snorts, squeal-laughs, and even a few full-fledged belly laughs. Hell, even Kyle (shock) and Vipor used their hands to ineffectively conceal large grins.

Madame Helena didn’t flinch. I often wondered if the woman was a statue in her past life. “And who might you be?” she asked Doctor Tenly.

“Principal Jeepers. I run the school.”

“I see. Not very good at it, are you? We wouldn’t be here if you were.”

Doctor Tenly smirked, half-nodded, sat back in his chair, and allowed that smirk to stretch into a full cat-that-ate-the-goldfish grin. I could almost read
his
mind for once—he knew how easily he could crush her. Oh, if only the evil hag knew who she was dealing with! I’d pay good money to see her take on the doctor.

“Right, then, moving forward,” said Graytone, reclaiming control of the hearing. “In combination with our observations over the last month, we will be looking to ascertain three conclusions from today’s proceedings. First, there must be no threat or danger between the banished and Merpeople. Second, we must see an earnest desire from each group to learn from one another. Third, in order for the banished to remain in this town, we will need to garner a sense of calm from all inhabitants. Naturally, we will determine who is at fault for violating clause ten of the Banishment Charter—revealing the existence of Merpeople to the banished—and the appropriate punishment. Based on our surveillance, we have narrowed the witness list to nine. The chairs, if you please, Madame Helena.”

Nodding, Madame Helena waved her bony fingers in the air as though dancing them along a piano. Two deafening cracks shook the benches, startling all of us, and the entire left wall of the courtroom crumbled to the floor. From the darkness beyond the fallen wall, a row of nine individual iron chambers suspended from a swinging bar soared into the courtroom.

“Cannot believe they have the nerve to let Helena use her powers, yet outlaw you all,” said Mom.

“Probably some exception to the rule, you know, for the greater good,” said Meikle.

“Yeah, the greater good being whatever benefits
them
at any given moment,” I said.

“The Imperia calls Fletcher Gibbs, Camille Valentine, Katrina Zale, Troy Tombolo, Marina Valentine, Airianna Hail, Trey Campbell, Meikle Martinez, and Benjamin Wamberly to the chambers. Please sit in the order called,” said Graytone.

We all peeled ourselves from our seats, like weeds in a bed of perfect, plastic flowers. I felt Troy’s hand brush against the small of my back as I climbed into chamber number five. Sitting in the chamber was a bit like being in a birdcage for a really large, really dead zombie-bird.

“Shall we begin?” asked the albino. “Mistron, please commence the questioning.”

Mistron Havenot, their science control expert, opened his folder and removed several blood-red sheets of paper. He adjusted his glasses over his crooked nose and looked at Mr. Gibbs. “Fletcher Gibbs, are you currently in a relationship with banished Marina Valentine’s mother, Camille Valentine?”

“I am,” Mr. Gibbs said firmly.

“Mrs. Valentine,” said Mistron Havenot, turning his steel eyes to my mom, “have you or have you not had sexual relations with the merman, Fletcher Gibbs?”

“Excuse me?” said my mom, her jaw tightening.

“Have you or have you not had sexual relations with—”

“I heard you the first time,” said my mom. “I’m asking
you
how you have the nerve to inquire about my private life in such a public manner. Of course, it’s hardly surprising given your diligence in documenting each and every bathroom deposit I made.”

“Please answer the question, Mrs. Valentine,” instructed Graytone.

“This is hardly relevant to the—” said Mr. Gibbs angrily.

“Silence!” shouted Teldon Tyne, the Imperia’s combat specialist, his boulder-size arms flexing beneath his suit. “Answer the question, Mrs. Valentine. This is not a request. It is a command.”

“You command an answer?” said my mom. “Well, here ya go—and, I’m sorry baby girl, but sometimes bluntness is your only recourse when faced with ignorant prying—yes, Fletcher and I have had hot, steamy, pull the curtains, shut the door, close the blinds, wake the dead, pound the headboard, make your loveless asses seek alone-time sex.”

Apart from Katrina, the Ravenflames, scared Fairhairs, the Imperia, and Madame Helena, the room erupted in applause, hoots, and hollers.

“Since you are keen on providing us with such exceptional detail, Mrs. Valentine, perhaps you can be equally as vivid with our next question. Are you in fact…pregnant with an illegal species of human and merperson?” asked Havenot.

Mom’s face fell as Mr. Gibbs roared at the Imperia. “You have absolutely NO right to ask her such questions!” When he attempted to jump from his chamber, the sides shifted and spikes emerged from every angle, closing him inside.

“I’m afraid we have every right,” said Havenot. “You see, such an abomination must be immediately terminated, as per clause ninety-three, which states that no human shall procreate with any mythological being. Science has provided conclusive evidence that the creature resulting from such a union would prove devastating to society as we know it.”

“No,” said my mom, her head down. “I am not pregnant.”

“Can you provide the Imperia with proof?”

“She already answered your question!” I yelled.

“It’s all right, Marina,” said Mom. “Yes, I can provide proof, if requested.”

After a moment’s pause, Mistron Havenot said, “Noted. Teldon, you may commence.”

Teldon Tyne, by far the most physically threatening of the group, leaned back in his chair and held his red pages up by his ear. “Benjamin Wamberly, how would you describe your relationship with the banished students?”

“I didn’t really get to know them until Marina arrived, but I’d say it’s a very friendly relationship,” said Benji.

“But, isn’t it true that you did not get along with Miss Valentine and, in fact, thought of her as a threat?”

“No, I mean…that was before I knew her,” said Benji anxiously.

“Ah, so you did see her as a threat?” Tyne smiled sinisterly.

“Only because I didn’t know her! Once I understood the kind of person she was—”

“Mr. Wamberly isn’t the only one who considered Miss Valentine a threat, is he, Miss Zale?” Interrupting Benji, Tyne pointed his papers at Katrina.

“No, he isn’t. Marina has threatened me and my family on numerous occasions. She is a menace who has brought this town nothing but trouble,” she said eagerly.

“Really, Katrina? What happened to having ‘no concerns whatsoever about a filthy American Normal’ and ‘there is nothing about you I fear?’” I said. “You said those things to me at Sprinkles restaurant, remember…right after you bestowed your smite upon me?”

“Is this true, Miss Zale? Did you smite one of our banished students?” asked Vipor.