Paradise

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Something in my chest fluttered. My nerves tingled unexpectedly as nausea crept up my throat. "She really died?" I asked, unable to silence myself.

The mer appeared unperturbed. He got to his feet in a graceful manner and crossed his arms over his chest. "Have I killed her?" he asked them. "Or have you killed her?"

"Why would we kill our own sister?" Daphne snapped at him, her voice choked with tears as she cradled Odine's head in her hand. I could barely look; the image was just too painful. "I loved her!"

"I loved her as well," Liora said sadly, stroking Odine's crimson hair.

Something warm ran down my face. I realized I was crying again, and wiped the tears away, sniffing back the rest, which wanted to come.

"Perhaps if you hadn't brought the girl and boy up to your cathedral--" the mer said, shrugging his shoulders, "perhaps nothing like this would have happened. You have sealed your own fate by endangering theirs."

I felt heat fill my face. Different than the heat of my tears. This heat reached far below my skin. Thoughts raced inside my head, tripping over one another. I stole a quick breath. What he'd said ... just now ... did that mean he'd saved us intentionally?

That he actually came to our rescue?

He seemed to have some sort of magical control over water. Had he flooded the cathedral? Pulling us out of its shimmering walls with the force of waves?

"They were never in any danger!" Daphne cried, indignant. "They would have became so much more--"

"So much more than they could have ever thought possible?" he said over her, finishing her sentence before she could. He gave a chesty laugh and continued on, his voice now soaring into a falsetto as he tried to mimic Daphne's airy tone. "They would have felt immense pleasure and happiness and been oh-so-welcomed by the great siren leader ... who would not be dead anymore! Because his spirit would live on! Encased in the body of this dashing young man!" He laughed again, throwing his head back, unable to control himself, it seemed. When he spoke this time his voice was sensually smooth. "Yes, all of that," he said. "I heard every word."

"You kill our sister!" Liora snapped, eyes ablaze with tears and anger. "And now you mock us!" She rose to her feet and flapped the water from her wings like a bird. "You will know pain. You will know death!"

He tilted his head, his smile becoming crooked. "Oh, is that right?" he asked. "Have at it, then. Let's see what you can do."

"Oh, I will--" Liora sneered.

"No," Daphne suddenly said, gently placing Odine's head on the ground before standing. "We mustn't fight him. There are far more important things for us to do now."

Liora continued to glare at the mer. "Like?" she asked, voice rigid with anger.

"Like go to the great dragon and ask for dear Odine's life to be restored," Daphne said. She touched Liora's shoulder and Liora's expression softened before she turned to look at Daphne.

"Do you think he will restore her life?" she asked her.

Daphne forced a smile. "He must."

"Perhaps he can also restore our siren leader's as well," Liora said.

Daphne's smile became genuine. "Perhaps," she said.

"Yes, do go to the great dragon," the mer said dryly. "I am tired of looking at you."

Liora turned to him with a sneer, baring her needle-sharp teeth. "You will pay," she hissed. "That I swear!" Then she helped Daphne with Odine and they all flew off together. I watched them disappear above the clouds before dropping my gaze to my sodden dress. I smoothed the drenched material out over me and gave a heavy sigh.