A Mermaid's Curse

Chapter 18

I was up before the sun had risen the next morning, swimming frantically for Aegrem. I had been pulled from a restless sleep by a relentless headache, each pound of my head repeating the same thing: "'You were too late, Isadora. Now you're going to suffer.'"

As I swam, the ghosts swam in and out of my vision, gazes piercing. I blocked them out as best I could, gritting my teeth with the effort. When the purple-and-grey flags came into view, I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying out. In my quick scan of the exterior, nothing seemed amiss, but I knew I wouldn't feel better until I saw Mom and Dad.

I sped toward their suite, dodging servants carrying linens and trays of food. My hand had no sooner brushed the door handle when it swung open. Twin pairs of eyes scanned my face, their expressions worried. "What is it, Izzy?" Dad asked, eyes flickering over my body. Mom did the same, her brows creasing as she signed. Is something wrong?

It was the gentleness with which she signed, the pure worry mixed with concern in their gazes, that had me biting back a sob. My hands rose to my head, gripping a handful of curls. I felt like I was going crazy. When another voice spoke up from behind us, I nearly collapsed. "Izzy? What's going on?"

I couldn't hold myself up anymore. I sank to the floor, the sobs flowing from my lips. Aunt Naia had been right. I'd unknowingly carried her own plan out, using the Lost Soul Pendant without any thought of how it might affect me. This was my curse, I realized with a shudder.

Her words floated through my head on repeat, voice smug. "'Oh, Isadora. I don't need to do anything. My goal has already been achieved.'"

My breaths came in sharp gasps as my tears finally slowed. Warm hands gripped my arms, gently lifting me off the floor, carrying me inside the suite. I could barely muster enough energy to lift my head. "We have to stop her," I said, my voice barely audible.

I looked up into dark eyes, the blackness of them comforting and reassuring. "We will," my husband said.

Mom was already signing, her hands steady and gaze clear. Let's look at what we have so far. 1. Naia and Brandon have the Lost Soul Pendant. 2. They have the might of most of, if not all, Nepptheas' citizens.

It wasn't much, but it was something. I wiped my eyes, breathing deeply. Familar shapes appeared in the edges of my vision, eyes hungry. I squeezed my own shut, using all of my mental energy to block them out.

Focusing on the beating of my heart, counting my breaths, I imagined myself building a wall. Brick by brick, I sealed the ghosts out of my mind, their presence slowly fading until they disappeared completely. Pressure began to build behind my temples, like a dam about to burst. I concentrated on my breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Just when I thought I would pass out, when I felt my heart skip a beat, the pressure behind my temples vanished. I gasped for water as I opened my eyes, slumping against a chair. Voices filled my ears, quiet and worried. "What happened?" "Are you okay?"

When my vision cleared, I saw multiple pairs of eyes staring at me. My body felt weak, my arms trembling wildly. What had I just done?

"I... I don't know," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I struggled to reorient myself, gather my thoughts. I waited a heartbeat, then two, for the ghosts to reappear, but nothing happened.

Mom put a hand on my shoulder, eyes filled with questions. What did you do?

I shook my head, barely able to comprehend it myself. Kai took my hands, his grip firm but gentle. "Take a breath and tell us what happened."

My chest rose and fell as I breathed, all the fear, confusion, and worry disappearing as I let it out. "After I saw Uncle Noah last night, I went straight back to our suite and fell into bed. Then when I woke up this morning, it was as if I had some string inside me being pulled taut. A headache pounded at my temples, each beat repeating the same thing: 'You were too late, Isadora. Now you're going to suffer.'"

I rubbed shaking hands over my face, not meeting any of the pairs of eyes staring at me. It was Dad who spoke next, his voice calm and soothing. "What happened just now? It was as if you were in some sort of trance."

I squeezed Kai's hand, my heartbeat speeding up. "I'd had a rather heated argument with Aunt Naia yesterday. I knew it was risky, going to Nepptheas, but I had to hear her side of the story. When I arrived at the palace, it didn't take long before she appeared." I guilty avoided Mom's gaze, even though I knew she was following me.

I took a shaky breath before continuing. "I basically screamed at her, asking her what she could've possibly had to gain from the attack. She was all too happy to divulge her secrets, explaining that Stella was only meant to be the distraction, while Aunt Naia executed the plan. Apparently, I had unknowingly helped her by getting everyone out. I'd retorted that not everyone had gotten out, asking if that had been a part of her plan as well."

My head was throbbing, my heart racing. "She'd replied that while Nadia's death had been unfortunate, it couldn't have been helped." Bitterness oozed from my tone, anger blazing in my eyes. "I asked her if she'd anticipated Uncle Noah coming over to our side, him betraying her."

A sob rose in my throat, but I pushed it down. I wasn't done yet. "She said that while his betrayal was a great loss to them, it didn't matter, that they had plenty more like him to use when the need arose."

I felt more than saw the collective shock roil through the room. Dad's face was deathly pale, his hand gripping Mom's. The latter's eyes were wide, her breathing uneven. When I glanced at Kai, I found only unforgiving malice in his eyes.

"I'd asked her if she'd anticipated Dad and Uncle Noah reuniting, the failure to tear our family apart. She'd replied that she hadn't needed to do anything, that her goal had already been achieved. I didn't understand at first, then suddenly I did." I swallowed hard, hands shaking at my sides as I prepared myself to voice the words that would change everything.

"The repeated uses of the Lost Soul Pendant over the years apparently had some... unintended consequences, ones that none of us could have possibly anticipated. I can hear them. The ghosts. At first, I wondered how I could possibly hear them when I wasn't even wearing the pendant. Then I figured it out. My depression and anxiety were manifesting in the form of incorporeal beings."

I dragged my fingers through my curls, breathing shakily. I'd never told anyone about this, so I had no way of knowing how they would react. Silence dragged on so long I almost begged someone to speak. When Dad finally spoke, his voice was hushed with disbelief. "How long has this been happening?"

I sniffled, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "A year or so. But as I said before, I didn't figure out why until recently."

Kai rested his hand on my shoulder, eyes locked on mine. "You said earlier that you'd figured out a way to block them out. Do you think with more practice, you'd be able to shut them out completely?"

I considered his question, nodding. He had a point. And, if I managed to keep them out, maybe one day soon I'd be able to teach others to do the same.

I stifled a yawn. It was barely noon, but I was already exhausted. I never seemed to have much energy these days. Kai wordlessly put an arm around me and led me back to our suite. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you. I'll be right by your side."

I nodded sleepily, my eyes already half-closed. He wrapped his arms around me as I swam into bed. The exhaustion dragged me under before my head hit the pillow.

Read and review!