Sara’s frustration grew with every passing moment. Locating her husband had been much more difficult than she’d expected. Half of the effort she’d exerted in her search had been used to keep the guard on task. He hadn’t been able to keep his stupid, groping hands off her. She worked a few words of exasperation into her tune, as she once again slapped him away.
With each passing moment, she’d grown more and more anxious until now, she was about to panic. A couple of times she’d stopped singing to call out to her husband, only to find the guard snapping out of his trance and making a grab for her. A few desperate screeches of a melody was all she needed to be safe again.
“Moro Mou.” A familiar voice came from down the passageway. Sara turned and found Xanthus and another Dagonian swimming toward her.
“Xanthus,” she cried as she swam at him so fast that she nearly knocked the wind out of herself when they collided. His arms encircled her. His warm embrace had never felt so good.
“I was so worried,” she said. “We’ve been through these cells three times, now. And I couldn’t find you. This guard insisted you were here. Well, I don’t know if insisted is the right word. He said it in his I’m-under-your-spell-and-will-do-your-bidding voice.”
Xanthus shook his head. “And here I thought I’d be the one saving you, Mou. But it looks like you’ve saved yourself. How could I have forgotten the siren’s song? So you hypnotized them with your voice?”
Sara nodded. “I guess you could say that. I just found out I could. It was cool at first, but now it’s just annoying. This Dagonian keeps touching me. But still, I was able to get out and find you. By the way, how did you get out of your cell?”
“Hello Sara.” The Dagonian stranger inched forward.
“Hold it right there.” The guard raised his spear.
“Oh, not again,” she said and then opened her mouth wide to continue her stupid song.
The stranger lifted a trident and froze the guard on the spot.
“I… uh…” Sara’s song ended in startled surprise. The guard’s statue-like form floated down to the floor. She turned to Xanthus and whispered, “Can all Dagonians do that?”
Xanthus smiled and shook his head.
Sara turned back to the stranger. He looked like any other Dagonian, maybe a bit larger and more muscular. About Xanthus’s size actually. But his eyes, they had the same blue luminescence as hers own! “Are you Triton?” she asked, suddenly timid.
Triton nodded. He looked unsure.
“Are you my dad?” she asked, hopefully.
He gave a tentative smile. “Yes, I am.”
“Majesty,” Xanthus said, “may I suggest we take this reunion to a more appropriate place?”
Sara could hear the wailing of prisoners in the background. Xanthus was right. This was not the best place for a family reunion. Light blinded her for a moment and then her vision came into focus in the most beautiful seascape gardens she could have ever imagined. There were huge, colorful anemones, giant clams, coral the size of palm trees, hundreds of colorful fish, and towering sculptures all set in front of the most amazing castle she’d ever seen.
“Sara,” Triton said. “I don’t know what I can say or do to make up for not being there for you. Living as a mermaid amongst the humans must have been very difficult for you. I’m truly sorry.”
Sara shrugged. “You can’t help what you didn’t know. I don’t blame you for anything. Besides, I think I did all right.”
“You ended up in Panthon Prison.” Triton’s voice was thick with regret.
