The Broken Queen

Chapter 14

When I opened my eyes the next morning, Jay sleeping soundly beside me, the dream from yesterday surfaced in my mind. I quietly got dressed and made to swim downstairs, thinking a quick swim before breakfast would help clear my head. As I turned toward the door, I froze.

It was as if my very bones were vibrating. I whipped my head around to my dresser, heart pounding. Barely breathing, I swam back to the dresser, opening the drawer.

My muscles went rigid, my skin tingling as I stared down at the drawer, the object inside it. A dark-blue pendant on a string, the stone sparkling in the dim light from outside. I clapped a hand over my mouth in an attempt to muffle the cry that was building inside me. With shaking hands, I grabbed it, barely suppressing a shudder from the power that it exuded.

From the top of my head to the tip of my tail, power buzzed through me. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply as I felt the life force and energy of multiple souls enter my body. For a heartbeat, I forgot who I was, what I was doing. 

Alyssa appeared a few feet away from me, her mouth moving, but no sound coming out. From where I was floating, however, I could read her lips. Join us, Nerissa. We could rule the seas together.

My mind screamed at me to turn back, but my body had different plans. As if in a trance, I started to swim toward her. A heartbeat before my fingers brushed hers, I was yanked back into myself. Just as quick as it had come, the power dissipated, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. My eyes flew open, my chest heaving as I gulped down water.

Jay was instantly there, a hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles. His green eyes were wide, his face pale as he scanned my own. I'm right here. It's not real.

I tried to take a breath, but it was like an anchor was sitting on my chest. He picked up the pendant from where it had landed on the ground. We need to put this where no one can get to it.

As much as I wanted to get rid of it, I was also terrified to. What if someone else accidentally found it? I didn't want to be responsible for causing harm to other mermaids or mermen.

He met my eyes, gently taking my hand. I'll take care of it. Squeezing my hand once, he rose and swam out of the room, the pendant clenched in his fist.

As he left, a sob shuddered through me. Hot tears cascaded down my cheeks as I panted, letting all the sadness, fear, and anger from the past few weeks be released from my body. I vaguely felt someone swim up behind me and put their arm around me. How could I be a queen when I'd done such awful things?

Blurry golden-brown hair appeared out of the corner of my eye, framing a face lined with worry. Bella. Her grey eyes were wide, her dark skin pale as she scanned my face. Breathe, Nerissa. Take deep, slow breaths. I'm right here.

Her hand clasped in mine, I did as instructed, my breathing ragged. Every exhale was punctured by a sob, but I kept breathing until I felt my heartbeat return to normal. I was lightheaded by the time I finished.

I glanced at her, my head spinning, then threw my arms around her. She hugged me back, the remnants of the sadness, fear, and anger dissipating into the water as she did so. I took a few more breaths, deep and even, before pulling back, smiling gratefully at her.

My hands were surprisingly steady as I signed. I need to go do something. I'd debated with myself over whether this was the right thing to do, and after a lot of thinking, I'd come to a decision. The only problem was, I had no idea where Naia would be. She could be in Nepptheas, or any other of the surrounding areas.

She squeezed my hand. Whatever you need.

Leaving a note for Jay and David, we swam outside, the current calm. More than once, I felt my hand drifting to the ring on my left hand. As we arrived in Nepptheas, I immediately felt a shift in the current. Mermen and mermaids turned to face us, hundreds of eyes falling on me.

If not for Bella's hand on my back, I don't think I could've kept swimming. Whoever would listen, we asked if they had seen a mermaid matching Naia's description and height around. Not unexpectedly, most of them said they hadn't seen her, but I wouldn't have been surprised to know they were lying.

We continued swimming and wound up in the town square. My facade almost crumbled as we passed the Ocean Blue Cafe. I had almost given up hope when a flash of black-and-white caught my eye. Bella's eyes were wide, her dark skin ashen. I had no doubt either Jay or David had filled her in at some point about my checkered past with my youngest sister.

I swallowed hard, shoring up my courage as I swam up behind the mermaid, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder. She flinched, whirling around with a hand on the dagger at her waist. As she did so, I silently took in her new appearance.

Her once-blonde hair was now dark as night, the updo replaced with a sleek chin-length bob. Her emerald-green eyes—eyes that were as familiar to me as my own—widened to the point where I was afraid they'd pop out of her head. I wasn't wearing a crown—neither was Bella—but I had a feeling that wouldn't have made a difference.

Quickly recovering, Naia bowed, the gesture surprising me. Bella placed a soft hand on my back, a silent reminder of her presence. My hands shook as I raised them, suddenly hyper-aware of all the eyes on us. Naia inclined her head toward the Ocean Blue Café and we followed.

She made sure it was empty before beckoning us inside. My face was blank, no recognition crossing it as I took in where I used to work. What are you doing here, Nerissa? Shouldn't you be off catering to your adoring subjects? Her face showed absolutely no emotion, but the bite in her words was clear.

I took a breath, then slowly released it as I raised my hands. I didn't come here to fight. Have you heard from Brandon, recently?

Surprise flared across her face before it settled back into the mask of stone. Why?

A few days ago, I was swimming through Aegrem and noticed a merman floating near me. I flipped my hood over my face, hiding it from view, and swam closer. It was Brandon. He looked awful, like he hadn't slept in ages. I swam away before he could spot me, but I just thought you should know.

I lowered my hands, surprised to find them trembling slightly. Naia's cream-coloured skin was ashen, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to come up with a response. Taking that as my cue to leave, I turned around and swam away, forcing myself not to look back.

Bella appeared at my side as I neared the outskirts of Nepptheas. She took one look at my expression and took my hand. Silent tears rolled down my face as we swam home. How many people had I lost because of her actions? Because of my parents' actions? I mulled over those questions as we arrived home, my gaze blank when we swam inside the palace.

David and Bella retired to their respective rooms, leaving Jay and me alone in our own. He wrapped me in a hug, rubbing my back as more silent tears streamed down my face. Talk tomorrow? His hands were steady as he signed, his gaze worried.

I nodded as I swam into bed, too exhausted to even formulate a response. My eyes closed the minute my head hit the pillow, exhaustion enveloping me like a shroud.

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