1. Allarick
Chapter 1
Allarick
I hear the accused’s pleas before I see him. The doors to the throne room fling open with a burst of bubbles. Two of my guards lead the merman inside. His teal tail swishes awkwardly, stunting his movement. The two guards wrap their tentacles tighter around the male, bruising his pale flesh as they pull him along and drop him unceremoniously in front of my throne.
My guards swim forward, presumably to draw their weapons on him, but I put my hand up, and they cease movement. They take their places behind me, golden swords drawn and at the ready. The prisoner trembles, and I sense his unease with so many powerful krakens around him.
Good. He deserves this for what he’s done.
“State your name,” my thunderous voice booms around us, demanding subservience.
The merman trembles and pushes himself up from the hard stone floor to gaze upon my throne made from aquamarine and pearls. It’s a symbol of power. My power. And the man blubbers like a guppy.
“Kaleo, my king,” he shrieks. “I’m sorry! The rumors, they are not true. I’ve been framed?—”
“Which is it?” I interrupt him, arching a brow. The merman sputters nonsense, not understanding my question, so I repeat myself. Something I’m not fond of doing. “Which is it? Are you sorry, or have you been framed?”
“F-framed, of course, my king!”
Lie.
He smells of rotten seaweed and rum. I know these types of mermen. Men who think the law doesn’t apply to them. Weak men who take advantage of women simply because they can.
“Bring her in,” I say to no one in particular.
A moment later, the doors open again. Much different than before. Two females, both merwomen, swim in. One wears the steel uniform of my guards, while the other wears orange shells that match her sunset-colored tail. A band of pearls is clasped tightly around her, accentuating her waist. Her small form shakes, but an encouraging nod from Danika—the guard—has the merwoman standing taller.
The bastard on the ground tenses, face contorting into a violent rage. “You bitch !”
The guard nearest the merman lurches forward and brings the hilt of his sword down hard into his stomach. He doubles over, coughing and groaning in pain.
“My king,” the woman says, her voice small but mighty. It takes great courage to stand up to monsters, and, as far as I’m concerned, she’s the strongest one in the room. “My name is Aerwyna. I’ve come today to…”
Aerwyna hesitates, eyes wandering over to the male on the ground. For a brief moment, fear overtakes her features. Then Danika is at her side, providing comfort in a way only a woman who has seen the ugly ways of men can. “Go on, Aerwyna. No one here will harm you.”
Aerwyna takes my guard's hand in a way that makes me wonder if this bond goes deeper than friendship.
“I’m here today to tell you the crimes of Kaleo,” she continues, a new hardness to her voice. “I speak for myself, but also for the victims not ready to come forward. For the victims too traumatized by what this man has taken from us.”
“And what has he taken from you, Aerwyna?” I know very well what this man did, but this is Aerwyna’s chance to heal, and I shall not deny her that.
“My safety and peace of mind. He stole from me, just as he has done to several other merpeople, a gift we did not willingly give.”
“It was willingly!” Kaleo shouts. “Each one came to my bed willingly and laid themselves out for me. I took what they gave.”
“Silence!” I roar, and Kaleo flinches like I’ve slapped him. He’d be so lucky if that is the worst of what I do to him. “Keep him silent,” I command, and the guard on his left tears off the tattered shirt Kaleo wears and gags him with it.
“None of us came to him willingly, King Allarick. He forced us to sleep with him, and I do not want anyone else to go through what we did. He is a danger to us all.” Aerwyna turns her attention to Kaleo, her face hardening. “You are a weak, sorry excuse for a merman. May the sea goddess rip your soul to shreds.”
“Thank you for recounting the horror this man put you through. I know that wasn’t easy. I will punish him with the full extent of my power. He will die so he’ll never hurt anyone again.”
At the proclamation of his death, Kaleo screams, though the gag muffles his cries. He thrashes against my guards when they reach for him, but they wrap their tentacles around his body and squeeze, immobilizing him.
“Thank you, King Allarick.” Aerwyna bows, and Danika leads her out. She doesn’t need to see what comes next, but she can trust I’ll keep my word.
Once the door closes behind the merwomen, I focus back on Kaleo. My red tentacles move to his gag and rip it free. “Any last words, Kaleo?” I ask as my personal guard, Delmare, hands me his golden sword.
All color drains from Kaleo’s face, and his cries start back up. If I weren’t such a patient man, I would end his life now and be done with it. It’s exactly what I should do…but decorum suggests I give this pathetic excuse of a man his last words.
I don’t even realize I’ve raised my sword until Kaleo screams, “Wait! Please wait! I have information you’ll want to hear!”
My attention flickers to Delmare. The older kraken frowns, crossing his arms over his chest. Something akin to curiosity sparks in his eyes. “Speak fast, felon. You try our king’s patience. ”
“It’s just whispers from the dark sea?—”
“I care not for whispers.” I raise my sword back up.
“It’s about the Nephilim and Leviathan!” he screams, and the room goes silent. Not even a swish of a tail or tentacle can be heard.
I hate to admit it, but I’m intrigued. “Go on,” I growl.
A spark of hope flashes across his face, and Kaleo quickly spills his secret. “There’s talk of the Leviathan’s song carrying through the walls of their prison. The Nephilim strength fuels them, and it’s only a matter of time before they become powerful like the Nephilim. They will escape if someone doesn’t intervene.”
If Kaleo expects his news to shock me, he’s sadly mistaken. This information started as a rumor one would hear whispered in a pub. Slowly, it trickled out, as gossip does, and alerted those closest to me. When rumors gain momentum, I find there is some truth to them. It’s why I have been looking into this privately for the last few weeks.
My expression remains blank, and I see the moment he realizes his life will not be spared. “Please! I can help! I can?—”
I don’t get to hear what Kaleo claims he can do for me because I bury my sword into his neck. Crimson red stains the water. I watch the life drain from Kaleo’s eyes, and I feel no remorse. Not for him. He has to answer to the sea goddess now. His fate it out of my control.
Still, Kaleo’s final words ring in my ear. A reminder to not give up my quest for knowledge about these creatures known as Leviathan. “Delmare.”
My guard is at my side in an instant. “I will look into it, my king,” he says without prompting. That’s simply our relationship. We’ve been by each other’s sides for decades. Delmare can read me better than anyone here. He offers me advice and has become more of a father figure than anything.
“Report back.”
My order is acknowledged with a nod, and just as suddenly as he came, Delmare swims away.
“Dispose of the body. Send female guards to check in on his victims and see if they need anything. We will provide it,” I tell the remaining guards. They all nod and make a quick exit. One carries Kaleo’s corpse. The damn merman tracks blood throughout the room, tinting the water pink.
Finally, I’m alone and sink into my throne. It’s not comfy, but it lets me take in everything that just happened.
Kaleo.
Nephilim.
Leviathan.
And it’s my job to protect the merpeople and krakens under my care.
I’m not alone with my thoughts for long. A sudden noise down the hall draws my attention, and I sit up. Moments later, a grave-looking merman comes in. He bows, and I motion for him to speak. Nothing can prepare me for what he says, though.
“My king, Ender is here. He has your queen.”