Lost Souls

Chapter 24

Soon after our talk with Mom and Dad, Ani and I went to Beltmare. I brought an extra cloak for Ani, but other than that, we traveled light. My stomach somersaulted with nerves, but I didn't say anything. I didn't want Ani to think I was second-guessing my decision. When we finally reached the entrance, I took a sharp breath.

Ani didn't say anything, but I caught her glance out of the corner of my eye. Dusk had just begun to blanket the water when we approached the palace. I nodded to the guards at the front but didn't speak. No sooner had we swum inside did I hear a tiny squeal, followed by a musical voice. "Drew!"

A genuine but strained smile spread across my face as a blur of curly black hair hurtled toward me. I bent down and opened my arms as Elle flew into them, hugging me tightly. Her thin arms barely fit around my waist; she was so delicate. Elle had grown in the time we'd been apart. She finally looked like a five-year-old mermaid instead of a newborn. Her face glowed with happiness as she grinned up at me.

"What are you doing here? Mom and Dad didn't tell me you were coming." Her bubbly voice was music to my ears. I lifted Elle into my arms and straightened up, brushing a stray curl from her face. Before I could answer, she turned, noticing Ani for the first time. "Hello. My name is Arielle, but no one except my parents calls me that. You can call me Elle."

I couldn't help grinning as Elle reached a tiny hand toward Ani. The latter threw a grin my way as she extended her hand to Elle. "It's great to meet you, Elle. My name is Adriana, but everyone calls me Ani." Her voice was gentle but not in a childish way.

"C'mon, Lil Bit. Let's find your parents. They're probably wondering where you are." No sooner had the words left my mouth than a mermaid and merman emerged from the palace. Both had grins on their faces, but a dagger of worry pierced my heart when I saw Aunt Izzy's hands trembling as she reached for her daughter.

The young mermaid clung to her mother as she picked her up, burying her face in her hair. It wasn't until Elle faced me again that I noticed the pallor in her expression, identical to her mother's. Uncle Kai spoke before I could, smiling at Ani. "You must be Ani. I'm Kai, and this is my wife, Isadora."

Despite not being dressed in palace attire, both exuded a regal presence. Ani began to bow, her hand still clutching mine tightly. Uncle Kai touched her shoulder before she could complete the movement. "Please. We've heard so much about you. We're glad you and Drew could visit."

Though there was a smile on his face, and his voice was light, I sensed the tension surrounding them. Something had happened. He clapped me on the shoulder as the five of us entered the palace. "We were just about to have dinner. Would you two like to join us?"

I nodded, but my eyes flicked between his face and Aunt Izzy's. Before we reached the dining room, his grip tightened slightly on my shoulder, inclining his head for Aunt Izzy, Ani, and Elle to proceed. Ani's eyes flicked to mine, but I dragged a false smile to my face, nodding. Only when all three mermaids had disappeared into the dining room, Ani's bubbly laughter filling the space, did I speak, my voice low and tense.

"Did something happen? Is Elle okay?" I recalled the nightmares Aunt Izzy and Uncle Kai had shared that Elle had been having, but I'd assumed they'd improved or ceased since no one had mentioned them for a while. I scanned Uncle Kai's face as I waited for his response, worry surfacing in my gaze.

Weary eyes, encircled by fatigue, met my gaze; the stress etched on his face became evident as he let out a tense exhale. "Elle hasn't slept through the night since Faye's death. Either she doesn't sleep until someone is there with her, or she cries until she can no longer stay awake."

I could feel the worry and fatigue emanating from him; he looked as though he was seconds away from faltering. I frowned. "Has Elle specifically mentioned it? Maybe it's the trauma associated with someone she's close to being in danger."