Orchid

Mermaid Bay

When he nears, I see it isn't my Outsider dad after all. The same tannish dark skin, the same build, but not my foster father. 

 It's Talor's dad.

 He lands and brushes the hair out of his eyes. Yup. Definitely Talor's dad, though his darkish tan has lightened over the years I've seen him. His eyes sparkle with recognition.

 "Hello, Orchid," he says kindly but not too warmly.

 If Zilon is my real dad, and Shira is my real mom, then Talor isn't my cousin. But why does she look like me, then?

 "I can answer that question." A thin smile spreads over his lips.

 "Did I say that out loud?" I exclaim.

  "Yup." He slouches slightly. To estimate his age by looks, he looks only a decade older than Talor herself. "That's because I'm Zilon's brother. His younger brother." His voice is grim as he stares at me.

 "So you are my uncle!" I say in wonder. Then I slam my head against my hands. "This is confusing me so freaking badly, and I've only been in Vidalia for...what? A week?"

 "I know it is." He puts a hand on my shoulder. "After you're done visiting Tsukune, we'll go down to Earth," he promises. "With Talor. To get some ice cream."

 "Ice cream? I mumble. "But it's nearing winter."

 "Don't you want any cold and creamy stuff?" He winks. "And some bonding time with your cousin?"

 "I guess." I brighten up. "Better than being in the same dimension as Lycaeon."

  "Come. I will take you two." Amphitrite extends her hands out to us two, Jason and I, and we tentatively take them. She dives into the ocean. For such a delicate young woman, she's extremely strong. Strong enough to throw us into the ocean with us. I squeeze my eyes shut. I haven't been in water since I received my powers.

 Breathe, I hear Amphitrite's voice in my head as we sink into the water. You have your Water element with you, yes? We Water elementalists can breathe underwater and speak in our minds, since we cannot speak through water. Go ahead. Breathe like you do on land, and open your eyes, Orchid.

 I'm unsure how to proceed. What if she's a traitor, like Anubis and Anastasia? What if it drowns me? I keep holding my breath and shutting my eyes, though my lungs are screaming for air. I've never been a good breath-holder. Dang! I wish I had my goggles so I can at least see. What if she's swimming over me with a dagger in her hand? I'll be blind and helpless. And running out of air. Bubbles fly frantically out of my nose.

 Trust her, Jason's voice says.

  What if he's a traitor?

  Trust them. They are your friends, your allies. The amulet whispers softly, like a sigh.

  I decide to trust the amulet and breathe in through my nose, expecting myself to choke and fail...but it comes like I'm breathing naturally on land. I open my eyes, expecting water to run in and the world to be the blurriest sight ever...but it's crystal clear. I see a dolphin swim by, and Amphitrite smiling beside me, looking a tad concerned.

 Are you okay? she asks. I know, it's a lot to take in.

 She thinks I was frightened by the deep water, not thinking I didn't trust her!

Um, yeah, I lie, because I don't want her to be suspicious. I do sneak a glance at my golden ruby amulet, though, just to make sure it's there. I wouldn't want to lose Airillia's gift. "It's so pretty, underwater."

  I know, Amphitrite agrees. I grew up here, in Mermaid Bay, but it was more beautiful before than now. Back then, Lycaeon wasn't on the throne.

  Are there really mermaids? Jason catches up with us. 

 Amphitrite laughs. Not now. Her voice hushes. But there is a legend, a tale, that the first water elementalists were mermaids, the first fire elementalists were dragons, the first earth elementalists were elves, the first air elementalists were faeries, and the first Spirit elementalists were a mix of all of those. 

  Strange, I comment. Aren't the Water elementalists called  Faeries?

 Air and Water were great friends. But half of the mermaids died off because of the elves tried to snare them for themselves. The Faeries sent half of its population to ally themselves with the remaining mermaids, and in thanks, the mermaids renamed themselves Faeries. 

 That's cool, I say. 

 Ahead is the Palace, Amphitrite says, and points ahead to a faint violet light in the distance. That's where my  mate rules and lives. 

 Is Zetah okay? I'm concerned for my friend.

 She is living with the Fire Elementalists. Kyonnes's advisor Brisingr took her in.

 Halt! I hear an unfamilar, booming voice. Who goes there?

 Uh-oh. Amphitrite's voice is grim. Prepare yourselves, Warriors. We're about to meet the evilest person down here.

 Which would be?

  Amphitrite spins around, eyes burning with fury. This is Malumaquae. Her voice is colored with disbelief. He...he came back! He killed three of Tsukune's cousins to darken his soul. He's...Lycaeon's right-hand Faerie.