4. Allarick
Chapter 4
Allarick
I close the door behind me when I leave Erin’s room. There were many ways I pictured our first meeting going, but none were like this. I’m not sure what to make of the human or our current situation. Half of me wants to demand Ender come back and take Erin away. It’s evident she’s unsure about being here.
But on the other hand, Erin is mine now. I recognize my time with her won’t be easy, but I’ve never been a man to give up. What type of king would I be if I gave up when things got too difficult?
A weak one, I imagine.
There’s also another reason I don’t want to let Erin go, but it doesn’t quite make sense. There’s a certain rightness about her presence. I feel the need to protect her and an even bigger need to make sure those who hurt her in the past can never reach her again.
My sister knocks, louder this time, before opening the front door. “I don’t know why the hell I’m knocking; this is my damn house,” she spits, storming inside. Atina tosses her black tricorn on the couch and runs a hand through her curly hair. I notice her bruised knuckles and do my best not to roll my eyes.
My little rebellious sister. Always looking for fights and finding them around every corner.
“So? Where is she?” Atina looks around the room as if Erin will suddenly spring up from the floorboards. “I even dressed up and everything.”
“Did you bring the salve?” I ask, ignoring her questions.
“Of course I did. I don’t have the memory of a goldfish.” She searches the small bag slung across her shoulders. There are a few patches, hastily sewed, from random fabrics. One thing about my sister is she will use something until it disintegrates.
Which is why I’m surprised to see her in lavish clothing. Well, lavish for her, at least. She wears a flowy white tunic with a navy-blue and gold coat atop, perfectly tailored to her body. Her black breeches also fit her seamlessly and don’t look like she stole them off a drunken sailor. Her freshly waxed leather boots complete the ensemble. If she’s not careful, someone may mistake her for royalty.
She is, but Atina likes to pretend otherwise. Luckily, she has that ability because the throne will never be hers—only mine—and not because I wish to keep it from her, but rather because she is the product of my father’s infidelity. It’s not proper for a bastard to become queen. And even if was, Atina would never take it. She wasn’t built for that life.
She was made to sail, sail because she never steps fin in the ocean, even though she is part merperson. She claims there’s nothing down there for her, but I believe it goes deeper than that. My sister fears very few things, but being stuck below the water is one of them.
“Just rub it in like a lotion. You should start feeling the effects immediately.” Atina hands over the jar and scans my nude chest. “I don’t see injuries on you.”
“It’s not for me.”
Atina’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second before they darken. “I see. Is that why she’s not out here?”
I nod. “It’s bad. I was even afraid to carry her here. Every part of her body is covered with bruises. Her neck is the worst, though. I think someone strangled her so severely that they injured her vocal cords. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened.”
“Fuck. Does she understand the deal she made with Ender to be here?” Atina knows about my contract with Ender. She was the first person I approached when I originally contemplated it.
“I don’t know. Ender seemed to think she did.”
“Do you have everything the human needs? Clothes? Feminine products?”
Luckily, I had things arranged before Erin got here. King Malix, the Dragon King, was the first to get his human mate. He graciously agreed to provide me with items for my human wife after I spoke with him during our meeting with the six kings of Mescos.
“I have that covered. Anything else she needs, I will retrieve.”
“Always so gallant, Kraken.” She sighs dramatically before falling onto the couch, spreading her body across it. “So, other than your new wife-to-be, any news from down under?”
“I’ve heard an interesting story from a man I sentenced to death,” I say, remembering back to Kaleo’s sentencing. His words still replay in my head, and although they very well could be the musings of a man facing death, there could also be some truth in them as well.
“Yeah? What did he say?” Atina prompts.
“He brought up the Leviathan again. What do you know of them?” If there is a creature to be discovered or known, my sister is my fountain of knowledge. She hears and sees things I can’t by spending her time on the surface. My knowledge of these creatures is minimal at best.
“Seriously? Did they teach you anything in those posh lessons of yours as a child?” She laughs humorlessly. Our childhood is always a sore subject. Our experiences were vastly different. My father was a good man, but he had his faults. Infidelity was one of them, and Atina is a walking reminder of that.
“I was a little preoccupied with learning how to run an entire ocean,” I growl. “I remember whispers of them, warnings, but that’s all I recall.”
Atina waves away my comment. “The Leviathan are the closest cousins to the Nephilim. Or so we assume, since we don’t know the origins. You know of the Nephilim, don’t you?”
I scowl at her taunting tone. Even if I lived under a clam, I would still know what and who the Nephilim are. They are the whole reason Mescos is fighting for their territories. We grew up learning about The Great War. I often wondered how these creatures would endanger my people, but I think I’m beginning to understand.
“Are they working with the Nephilim? Are they more dangerous?”
Atina sighs like she is feigning patience for a guppy who isn’t understanding their lesson. “I’ve been tracking the Nephilim since the meeting with the six kings, as you requested. Wolf territory was hit, but they managed to come out victorious. They've split up, but the majority of the Nephilim are headed to Demon’s Clan and Fae Court. Want to hear my theory?”
“Obviously, Guppy.”
“One, don’t fucking call me a guppy. Just because I’m younger and smaller than you doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass. King or not. And two, my theory. I think the Nephilim are trying to surround Pixie Cove. Fae Court and Demon’s Clan will provide them entry from both sides, an entry point through land and the other through water. The water access is dependent upon the Leviathan…” she trails off, and I fill in the blanks.
If the Nephilim are able to access land and sea because of the Leviathan’s help…our world and people will fall.
My mind is still fixated on the idea of these creatures surrounding Pixie Cove. It makes sense, though. Pixie Cove houses the majority of Mescos magic, the magic we use to heal, shift, make enchantments, and many other things that would debilitate us if we lost it.
Already, the Nephilim are powerful. But with access to a nearly endless supply of magic? I shudder to think of a world where that happens.
“I don’t need to tell you how disastrous it would be if the Nephilim gained access to Pixie Cove.” Atina shudders, not from the crisp air, but rather the grim reality of the potential future we face.
“For now, your concern should be the Leviathan. I would argue they are just as dangerous, if not more, than their cousins. Because, if the Leviathan take charge of the sea, the Nephilim have safe passage into any port within Mescos. What did this man say exactly?”
“He mentioned their song can be heard outside their prison. That it’s faint but grows stronger. I don’t have any verification of this yet. Delmare is?—”
“Ugh, Delmare’s about as useful as a turtle without its shell.”
“Delmare is a good man and an even better guard. He’s served our family well over the past decades,” I say sternly. I won’t let anyone speak badly about my faithful guards, especially ones I consider friends. Not even my sister.
“‘Decades’ being the key word.” She rolls her eyes. “Listen, let me and my crew look into this too. Delmare can only get you so much information. I can provide you more.”
Well, she’s not wrong. Not only is my sister an expert explorer, but her true talents lie in digging up information people believe to be buried.
“Very well. Take time to investigate Kaleo’s claim and report back with anything you find. Anything that needs my immediate attention, call for the merpeople. They will deliver the news.”
“I’ll deliver the news personally on land.” She picks herself off the couch. “I better be going, then. No time like the present, or some shit like that. Make sure you give that salve to your human mate.” Atina does her exaggerated bow that would be an insult coming from anyone else, but since it comes from my sister, I find it amusing.
“Safe travels, Guppy.”
“Shut it, Kraken,” she growls before grabbing her hat and leaving the house as suddenly as she came.
Once again, I’m faced with the reality of my wife-to-be. And no one, not even my sister, can advise me on this decision.
Erin is mine to deal with alone.