Chapter 35
Aeliria glided elegantly out the water and onto the shore, water streaming from her as if she was wearing a dress of oil. Frankie stumbled after her, not quite so elegant. Her muscles were shaking with exhaustion, and she was that any minute now she'd pass out on the rocks.
"Come on," Aeliria said impatiently - and then, in a surprising show of kindness, reached out an arm to support Frankie before her shaking legs collapsed.
"Thanks," Frankie whispered, allowing the Siren to half lead, half drag her to the Resistance Cave.
"I am sorry we had to leave your friend there," Aeliria said, choosing not to respond to Frankie's gratitude.
Frankie's heart sank at the thought. "You think he'll be okay?"
"Of course," Aeliria said confidently. "No Siren will be able to touch him. He was very happy to see you." Her tone was almost teasing, like a teenager human girl.
Despite her anxiety and exhaustion, warmth flared through Frankie. "Really?"
Aeliria snorted softly, despite the way she visibly flinched a little at Frankie's sudden hope. "Are you blind? Or just very stupid? Of course he was happy to see you."
"Well, since you're a mind reader and all, I thought you might... I don't know," Frankie mumbled, as Aeliria pushed aside the stone door. "Know what he was thinking."
"You stopped me from looking, remember?" Aeliria sighed regretfully. "His thoughts were rather amusing."
One selfish part of Frankie was desperate to ask what Ryan had been thinking, but the more reasonable part knew he would hate that kind of invasion of privacy, so she held back. Aeliria led her through the empty hall, down the empty passages to her room.
"I wish we could've found Noah as well," Frankie said mournfully. "Ryan would've wanted me to see he was okay."
"You know we could not. I think the guards spotted as leaving Ryan's cell. They would have tightened security." She paused for a second, then asked curiously, "Why does he call you Franks?"
"I don't know. It's a nickname." Frankie shrugged as Aeliria pushed open the door to her room. She sank down immediately on the small hard bed.
"Nickname?"
"When you shorten someone's name. It's a fondness thing." When Aeliria still looked blank, Frankie smiled, shaking her head. "Probably a human trait."
"Hmm." Losing interest, Aeliria stepped toward a stone shelf and pulled out another Siren dress, draping it across Frankie's bed. "We must see Mahla soon. You can take your time to get ready, but then you must meet me in the hallway when you are done."
Frankie nodded, too tired to talk. Aeliria gave her a strangely motherly pat on the arm, then slipped noiselessly out the room.
***
"At last!" Aeliria exclaimed, as Frankie, freshly washed, dressed and warmed up, slipped into the hall. "I thought you were never going to arrive!"
Frankie raised her eyebrow. Apparently, Aeliria's kind, patient side had worn out. "You said I could take my time."
"I did not think your time would be so long." Sighing, Aeliria beckoned her towards Mahla's cave. "Come on."
Half amused, half exasperated, Frankie followed after her friend. "I was, like, an hour."
Aeliria sniffed in reply as she slid open the door. Frankie hurried through it as it began to grind shut, enveloping them in murky darkness.
"Child. You found your friend," came Mahla's voice from the darkness, and a second later the torches flared, revealing her sagging grin.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath The Waves
FantasyThere are creatures in the water. Creatures more dangerous and deadly than you can imagine. Creatures that want to wipe out man from the earth. Creatures who could succeed. Frankie is broken. A tragic accident has not only left her orphaned and shi...