Real Mermaids 2 - Don't Hold Their Breath (16 page)

Enough!
Dame Council bellowed.
Once
again, this is an open defiance of the Council and our mandate.
It
will
not
be
tolerated.

There
is
only
one
option
for
those
who
defy
the
Council.
Jowls smoothed his balding head as he spoke.
What
of
the
Freshie
prison?

Mers from all sides turned to consult with one another and several nodded in agreement. The elderly mermaid with the shell necklaces spoke up.
The
Freshie
prison
is
only
used
in
extreme
circumstances. We have not sentenced anyone there since the last uprising.

Uprising? Like, against the Council? I stopped to think. Mom had explained that Freshies were criminals, kept in Talisman Lake for their crimes. Was she wrong? Were those people just inconvenient squeaky wheels for the Mermish Council?

These
children
are
no
better
than
the
original
rebellion
leaders, Finalin and Medora,
Jowls said.

I looked at Luke. He understood right away. Finalin and Medora were Serena's parents. Sure, they were mean thugs, but had they been shut away in Talisman Lake for some political reason?

Dame Council narrowed her eyes, as if remembering something.

Only
then, we were able to justify Finalin and Medora's imprisonment by charging them with the murder of that era's Grand Council.
A wry smile crept across her face.
Unfortunate
but
quite
convenient
for
us, don't you all think?

A ripple of laughter swept over the Council.

At this, Serena whizzed out from behind the rock, her eyes blazing.
My
mother. My father. Framed for a murder they didn't commit?

Mother? Father? Finalin and Medora have been Freshies well past your age! That can only mean one thing.
Jowls looked from me to Luke.
These
two
are
freeing
prisoners
from
the
Freshie
prison! This cannot stand. It simply cannot stand.

Mers from all sides talked at once, debating the issue in loud, ear-piercing screeches.

It
is
time
to
put
this
to
a
vote,
Dame Council announced.
All
those
in
favor
of
imprisoning
these
three
on
the
grounds
of
violating
the
Secrecy
Decree
and
threatening
Mermish
Sanctity?

Eleven pairs of hands rose through the water and clapped in some sort of mer voting signal. The elderly woman with the seashell necklaces remained still.

Dame Council eyed her menacingly but continued with her ruling.
Passed.

I grasped Luke's hand and Serena's too. What would it mean, being shut behind the lock of Port Toulouse canal and becoming a prisoner in Talisman Lake? Finalin and Medora were going to have a conniption fit once they saw me return with their daughter. And what about Luke? Could I get the Merlin 3000 to a place on the lake where he could transform safely? Had Dad even got it working again?

I needed to get to Cori and Trey. Somehow, I needed to get a message back to Mom, Dad, and the others.

Alzear, escort the prisoners to the Freshie prison,
the Dame Council instructed.

Uncle Alzear swam to our side and pulled long strands of thick seaweed from around his torso. He bound our hands together with a sad expression.

The
way
is
clear,
Peach Fuzz dude announced after checking outside for the boat.

That could only mean one thing: the Coast Guard had caught up with Cori, Trey, and diabetic Cedric.

The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
was gone.

Uncle Alzear was the perfect host for our swim to the Port Toulouse canal even if, technically, he was leading us to our doom.

Traveling was slow, though, because our hands were still bound together like a double three-legged arm race with me in the middle and Luke and Serena at both sides. Plus, I kept whacking my tail against Serena's, sending us all off course.

Sorry,
I said for the millionth time.

My
apologies—
Uncle Alzear looked back to check on us—
but
I
must
keep
you
bound. If we were to be seen…

Don't worry,
I said.
We'll be a shoo-in for the three-legged race at the next Mermish County Fair.

I was grateful for the smirk from Luke to help lighten the mood because my jokes were falling flat with Alzear and Serena. Thankfully, the long swim back to the canal gave me an hour or so to talk to Luke and explain everything that had happened with the mall construction and my mom. Who knew what was waiting for us in Talisman Lake. What if we got separated? What if Finalin and Medora skewered us like fish kabobs?

Wow, a lot can happen in a day. Maybe I should go away more often, huh?
Luke joked.

Very
funny, but there's something else,
I admitted.
Your
mom. She's not doing very well.

Oh…like in the hospital?
Luke asked. I nodded. We swam for another few minutes before Luke spoke again.
She's the one who told me it was okay, you know.

I glanced his way to catch his meaning, but his face was unreadable.
That
what
was
okay?

She
said
I
could
go
find
my
mer-parents once I turned fifteen in October. I guess, being sick, she wanted me to know I had that option.

And
back
there, when Dame Council asked you if you wanted to go up north to be with them?

Luke laughed.
Well, it was sooner than I'd expected, but it didn't seem like I had much of a choice.

But
if
you
had
a
choice—?
I began. But just then, Reese swam up from behind and scared the scales off my tail.
Geesh, Reese. We're going to have to put a bell on you.

You
should
not
be
here,
Uncle Alzear said quietly, coasting to a stop a few dozen feet from the mouth of the canal leading up to the lock.

Is
this
what
it
comes
down
to?
Reese shot a glare his uncle's way.
Imprisoning
your
own
nephew?

Uncle Alzear's face fell.

It's not up to me.
He bowed his head and swam off to talk to the two sentries stationed at the mouth of the canal.

Nephew?
I asked.
Alzear's your uncle too?
I looked from Reese to Luke.
And
Reese…

Is
my
cousin,
Luke said with a smile.
We
figured
it
out
last
night
when
Reese
and
Alzear
tried
to
free
me.

And
now
what
does
he
do?
Reese muttered once his uncle was out of earshot.
Lock
you
up
because
it's “not up to him”?

He
did
what
he
could,
Luke said quietly.

Serena stroked Reese's arm, but meanwhile she shot furtive looks toward the canal as the sound of propellers vibrated through the water. I followed Serena's gaze and could make out two boats tied up along the concrete pier, just inside the canal walls. One I recognized as
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
; the other one was red and white.

Oh! That's our boat—and the Coast Guard?
Luke asked.
What's that all about?

Rescue
mission. Lainey Chamberlain's dog was a stowaway.
I could see Lainey standing on the pier snuggling Cedric while a tall woman in a blue uniform seemed to be reprimanding her, probably for failing to mention that Cedric was a dog and not human.

Luke's eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
Do
I
want
to
know?

I shook my head.
No, but I really hope Trey doesn't decide to take the boat to your house on the lake or else that's where we're headed too.

As if on cue,
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
shoved off and started to make its way up the canal.

I
think
I
jinxed
us,
I said.

Uncle Alzear returned and led us partway up the canal. Reese tagged along, despite the murderous glares from the other two sentries posted at the canal's entry.

This
is
where
I
leave
you.
Alzear used the tip of his spear to unbind our hands and hugged each of us.
Be
safe.

Safe?
Reese spat.

Alzear turned his back to the other sentries and rang in an almost inaudible tone.
Take
heart; there is talk of another uprising. I can't say more, but some of us will stop at nothing to see you free again.

Serena's eyes widened. As quick as a flying sea monkey, she grabbed Alzear and hugged him tightly. He smiled and scanned the boats making their way up the canal.

Take
a
few
moments, then they must go.
Alzear touched Reese's arm before swimming away.

Serena hugged Reese and kissed him on the cheek before she flicked her tail to follow
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
up the canal. Reese watched her go, his cheeks a deep pink.

Maybe
your
Uncle
Alzear
will
let
you
visit
on
weekends?
Luke kidded.

Maybe,
Reese said with a smile.

Seriously, though.
Luke held out his hand to shake Reese's, then pulled him into a big hug.
Thank
you
so
much
for
everything
you've done for us, man.

And
for
helping
me
find
my
mother,
I added.

Mother?
Reese said, his green eyes glinting.
She
is
safe?

Yeah,
I said quietly.
Is…do you still have your mother?

Here
and
here.
Reese put his hand to his head then his heart.
But
go!

Keep
the
watch!
Luke called to Reese, then he took my hand and we swam toward the lock.

•••

So, do we have a plan?
Luke pulled me through to the lock's holding area as the metal gate on the Atlantic side swung shut, trapping us inside the lock with
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
.

We still had a few minutes before the other gate opened to the lake side, but I wasn't sure the extra time would help because I didn't have an answer. I'd battled Finalin and Medora before, but the only reason I had won was because I could give them what they wanted: their daughter's freedom. Now I was showing up at their front door, delivering their daughter back to them. Plus, I was bringing a friend. Talk about crashing a party.

Swim
like
the
wind?
I offered.

Luke wrinkled his nose.
That
was
kind
of
my
plan
too.

I looked up through the water to see if I could catch a glimpse of Cori. She stood at the stern of the boat talking to Trey, but I couldn't be sure who else was in the boat. I checked to see how Serena was doing. It couldn't be easy being back here.

Home
again.
Serena waited under the hull of
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
as the water level rose to adjust to the lake level. The rush of fresh water into the lock made me want to gag.

Yeah, but don't worry. I'll figure out a way to get your legs back—both of you guys.
But I wasn't so sure. Yes,
I
could just crawl out of the water and become human again, but how was I going to get Luke and Serena back on their own two feet?

I slapped the side of
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
's hull to get Cori's attention, hoping no one else would notice.

“You made it back,” Cori whispered as she hung over the side of the boat. “Is Luke with you? And Serena?” She grabbed a bucket and dunked it into the water pretending she was about to swab the deck or something.

“Yes, and we could really use your help.”

“Okay, but make it quick. Lainey's up on the dock talking to the Coast Guard people,” she whispered.

I dunked underwater to catch my breath and racked my brain to try to come up with a plan.

“Get the water-skiing tow rope ready off the stern,” I said quickly as I resurfaced. “Toss me one of those little orange buoys that were on the bench seat. And get rid of Lainey.”

“Gladly,” Cori said, handing me a buoy.

I forced the buoy underwater then dove to rejoin Serena and Luke under the hull just as the lock's gate began to creak open to let the Martin's boat sail through to Talisman Lake. A few familiar mers peeked around the big metal barrier, no doubt hoping for a welcoming rush of salty water to pep them up after a long wait in freshwater. I swam out into the lake with Luke as nonchalantly as possible, fighting against the pressure of the buoy against my stomach as it forced itself upward.

Hi, guys!
I waved with my free hand, trying to look friendly.

I'm not exactly sure that my gesture was received in the spirit it was intended, because all of a sudden, the underwater realm was filled with ear-piercing screams.

Aieeaieee!

Serena's face lit up.
Mother! Father!

Medora zipped past all the other mers and screeched cries of relief as Serena emerged from the lock. She swam to embrace her daughter. Finalin, on the other hand, was less than enthusiastic.

You!
He pointed and shot me a menacing look. He was still as ugly and scary as last time, except now—thanks to a few Mermish lessons—I could understand what he was saying. Thankfully, Serena and Medora had him in a family hug, buying Luke and me some time to duck, dodge, and dash around the school of mers.

Just
keep
swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming,
I chanted under my breath to Luke while everyone enjoyed their little reunion. Just because it turned out that Finalin and Medora weren't murderers didn't mean they weren't capable of seriously maiming us.

Gladly,
Luke whispered back.
That
dude
looks
like
a
mob
boss.

Pretty
close.

I shot a glance into the lake to see if I could spot
The
Lady
Sea
Dragon
. The boat had almost reached a point about two hundred feet away, but it looked like it was slowing down. Cori stood at the stern, scanning the water.

I kept the buoy tucked under my stomach, waiting for the perfect time to signal Cori, but it kept pushing me upward, making it hard to swim. We'd only made it about a hundred feet past the lock before the metal gate swung shut. Like it or not, we were stuck in the lake, but if we could just put enough distance between us and the pod of mers…