A Mermaid's Curse

Chapter 15

I've always been a very light sleeper. Even when I was little, before the nightmares, thoughts and images would haunt me, the slightest noise would wake me up. I'd never viewed that as a positive trait of mine because I would always be exhausted the next day. Until now.

Only this morning, it was the silence that woke me, the eerie feeling that something wasn't right. I glanced over my shoulder to the merman sleeping beside me, the lines that had been on his face softened by sleep. He hadn't stirred, his breathing deep and even. I quietly got dressed, my eyes darting around the room. Everything seemed to be in place, but that pit in my stomach just wouldn't cease.

I hadn't seen Nadia yet, but figured I would see her at breakfast. I had barely left our bedroom before a mermaid appeared in front of me. Her eyes were filled with a sort of light that I hadn't seen in a long time. But there was something else, too. "Stella," I said uneasily. She smiled at me.

"Hello, Isadora." I figured it out a heartbeat too late. My attention had been on Stella, not on my surroundings, so I hadn't noticed the merman slinking out of the shadows. When he glimpsed Stella, an expression of horror appeared on his face. I barely had time to take in his appearance before I felt the shock wave roll through the water.

My heart stopped as I struggled for balance. It was just like... Horror sluiced through me as I opened my mouth to call for a guard. "Someone help!" I turned to Stella, but she was gone.

Mermen in crimson-and-gold uniforms sped towards me, concern on their faces. I was edging towards hysteria, but I managed to get out an order. "Get everyone out of the palace. As fast as you can."

I was readying myself to try to find Kai when another shock wave rolled through the water. This one caused a chunk of concrete from the walls to break free, heading straight towards me. I immediately lost my balance again, this time falling to the ground. I was frozen as I watched the concrete get closer and closer...I opened my mouth to cry out, but was suddenly shoved to the side.

I glimpsed a gold-and-crimson blur as I gasped for water. The shock hit me before the pain did as my head collided with the ground.

The next time I opened my eyes, the first thing I realized was that the pain was gone. The second thing was that I was lying down. Tears streamed from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks. As I looked around, I realized that I recognized this room. It was my room at home. I tried to sit up, but faltered as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

A shrill ringing began in my ears, causing me to wince. What had happened? The last thing I remembered was seeing a chunk of concrete break from the palace walls, heading straight for me. I'd lost my balance and fallen to the ground. It kept getting closer and closer, and then I was shoved to the side.

My head slammed into the ground and then... nothing. How did I get here? A headache formed between my eyes and I bit my tongue to keep from crying out.

The door to my rooms opened, a mermaid sticking her head in. Her normally pale skin was ashen. Her eyes were red from crying as they locked onto my own. I struggled to focus as Mom swam towards me, her face swimming in and out of my vision. She lifted her hands and began to sign. Are you okay? We came as soon as we heard. You were out cold when we found you. You hit your head.

It took every ounce of concentration I had to push the unconsciousness back as it tugged at me. "Where's Kai?" I managed to get out, breathing through the nausea that rolled over me.

She reluctantly met my gaze, tears in her eyes as she signed. Kai's in the hospital. He has a severe concussion and a broken arm, but he'll be fine. He's awake and asking for you. Should I tell him you're awake?