Bastian's Song [Complete--Editing]

[ 34 ]

Bastian's vision blurred. He wondered how much he would be able to cry before there just weren't any tears left. Zareb lifted his fist and banged it against the glass dome that sheltered Atlantis from the open ocean. A solid thud rang out. 

"Tch. Thicker than it looks." 

"Well, we need to break through it, and quick. The Atlanteans are coming out to play." Lachlan's smooth voice was filled with concern, though he didn't seem to be panicked. Yet. 

Bastian wiped at his eyes to clear them. Below his friends, there were hundreds of mercreatures swarming outside of the main building. Several of them seemed oblivious to the fact that Bastian was above them, but some were pointing right at him. He didn't think it would be long before they were swimming up to attack. 

He shuddered when he remembered the body of Asisya crumpled and bloody on the ground. If she had stayed where she had fallen, then there would be no denying who had killed her. The people would be mad, and rightfully so. Even if she had been insane, Asisya had been their protector. 

Panic was a heavy weight in his chest. Bastian struggled to breath, his gills flapping wildly in the water. Zareb turned to face Bastian. The warrior's normally fierce eyes were filled with sadness. 

"Hey," Zareb spoke softly, "Look at me, Bast." The dark-skinned merman placed his hands on either side of Bastian's face. His hands radiated warmth. "Focus on my words. Remember our training? Let's breathe together." 

The soft hum of Zareb's voice, along with the solid presence of his touch, pulled Bastian back from his dark thoughts and into the present. Bastian matched Zareb's deep breaths; first he breathed in, held for five seconds, he breathed out, held for five seconds. Slowly, Bastian's breathing evened out. He gave Zareb a weak smile. 

Zareb patted his cheeks and then ruffled his hair. "I know it's been a rough week, Bast. None of us have really had a chance to process...all this." He gestured vaguely around them. "And we don't have time to do it now. It's stressful. But you still have us. We're here to be your support and your shield. Please, brother mine, trust enough to ask whatever you need of us. I promise, we won't let you down."

Bastian felt like crying again. He'd abandoned his throne, swam halfway across the Western sea, gotten captured by a crazy mermaid, and now her entire city wanted their blood... but Zareb and Lachlan were still by his side. His Trident and his Jewel, forever bound to him out of loyalty and something more that couldn't be described with words. 

Bastian wiped at his eyes again, and then nodded. He took another deep breath. "Yeah, okay." He ran a hand through his hair. "We need to get out of here. And we need Varya and Varick to come with us, or we'll never get to their tribe in time." 

Lachlan grinned mischievously. Bastian smiled. "You have a plan, don't you Lach?"

The green-tailed merman winked. "For you? Always. I know how to get their attention, but if they come up from the building, they'll be chased for sure. So, we need something big to hold back the Atlanteans."

Bastian waited a beat. Lachlan did not disappoint. "Zareb, I'm sorry, but I'm going to need you to bleed."  

"What?"

"Just a little..." 

Zareb frowned. "How much is a little?"

"Look, Zareb, just close your eyes. I promise it won't kill you." 

Zareb muttered under his breath, but he did close his eyes. Lachlan slipped a pin from his unruly curls and took Zareb's hand. Without waiting, Lachlan jabbed the pin into Zareb's pinky finger until a drop of dark purple blood spilled out and dissipated in the water. Zareb hissed. Lachlan calmly replaced the pin into his hair.