Chapter 55 Danica
Danica
Twenty turns, four hallways, and fifty-four doors later, we finally reach the restroom. Jesus, this place is massive!
"Wait outside; I'll call you in once I get it open," I inform Rhyland through our mental pathway.
Rhyland leans against the wall, arms folded across his massive chest, the picture of nonchalance. "I'll just wait out here," he says out loud, ensuring Mirella hears him. I can feel his tension thrumming through our bond.
I step into the most stunning bathroom I've ever seen. It's like walking into a work of art, with white and blue hues splashed across the walls like an abstract painting. The gold fixtures gleam like treasure, and for a moment, I'm dazzled by the sheer luxury of it all.
I can't afford to lose focus, not now. I'm ready to conjure up a portal and get the hell out of Dodge when Mirella follows me in. "Uhh... I think I can manage this solo, thanks," I quip, raising an eyebrow. "Unless you're planning on holding my hand while I do my business?"
Mirella's expression is far from amused, and I can tell she's not here for a bathroom break. She grasps my hands, her eyes wide and pleading. "Don't do what I think you're going to do," she begs, her voice trembling.
I decide to play dumb because hey, it's worked for me so far. "Don't do what exactly? Pee? Because I gotta tell you, that's non-negotiable at this point."
Mirella shakes her head—frustration evident on her face. "I know who you are, Dani, and why you're here. If you leave, Cordelia will—" She stops abruptly, her head falling forward like she's fighting against some invisible gag order.
"Just don't leave yet," she continues, her words coming out in fits and starts. "There will be consequences if you leave now... just..."
I pull my hands away, my frustration bubbling over. "Okay, hold up. What the hell is going on, Mirella? You're telling me you know who I am, and you've just been, what? Playing along? Spill it, sister."
Mirella takes a deep breath, her hands shaking like she's about to have a full-blown panic attack. "Yes, I know who you are—the savior and why you're here. But..." She stops again, her tongue seemingly tied in knots.
"I can't say more," she finally manages, her voice strained. "Just know that I want to help you. You have to hide the key. You cannot give her the key, Dani."
I stare at her, my mind racing. Hide the key? Fucking where—In my ass? And why? I've got more questions than a Jeopardy contestant, but something tells me Mirella's not exactly in a position to give me a straight answer.
"Alright, I'll bite," crossing my arms. "Let's say I do hide the key. Then what?"
God, this is frustrating—I need to get to Seraphina before something terrible happens to her, or worse, I'm too late.
Not to mention, Lucian is probably going ape-shit crazy right now, and I'm surprised he's not rattling around in my head, screaming at me to get back to the ship.
I can almost hear him now: "Dani, what the actual fuck are you doing?
Playing hide-and-seek with mermaids while Seraphina's in danger? Get your ass back here!"
Mirella grabs my arm tight, her fingers digging into my skin like she's trying to anchor herself to reality. "You cannot give Cordelia that key, no matter what. And you can't leave...She will…. Hide the key, tell her you lost it, whatever you must do. Please... trust me on this."
Trust her? Is she fucking serious right now? This is the same mermaid who tried to swipe my crown like it was a shiny seashell at a beachside gift shop. I narrow my eyes, ready to tell her exactly where she can stick her trust, when I notice the tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing her so desperate and afraid is like a punch to the gut. Something isn't adding up here, and it's making my bullshit detector go off like a foghorn in a lighthouse.
I take a deep breath, trying to make sense of this whole clusterfuck of a situation.
On one hand, I've got a mermaid I barely know telling me to lie to the Queen and hide a key that apparently everyone and their mother is after.
On the other hand, I've got my guardian angel in danger and a vampire brother probably tearing his hair out with worry.
I hate to admit it, but Mirella's fear seems genuine. And if there's one thing I've learned in my crazy, fucked-up life, it's that sometimes you have to trust your gut, even when your head is screaming at you to run the other way.
"Okay, fine," I cave, my voice low and urgent. "I'll hide the key and…wait. But you better have a damn good explanation for all of this, Mirella. Because right now, I'm flying blind, and I don't like it one bit."
Mirella nods, relief flooding her features. "I know, and I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you more, but... it's…complicated. Just know that I'm on your side, okay? I want to help you, but we have to be careful."
I roll my eyes because, of course, it's complicated. When is it ever not complicated in my life?
I don't know what to make of this, but I don't have time to dwell on it now. I've got a key to hide and a bitchy royal mermaid to lie to.
As I formulate a plan to hide the key and deal with Cordelia—
"What's going on?" Rhyland's voice booms in my head, his tone laced with worry and impatience.
"Change of plans," I quickly inform him of Mirella's cryptic warning, trying to prevent my doubts from seeping into my words.
Rhyland isn't having any of this shit.
He's through the door like a heat-seeking missile and in front of me in a blur.
Mirella yelps and backs away, leaving me with Rhyland's heat, "Nope.
Fuck that," he growls, his alpha male instincts kicking into high gear.
"Lucian and the crew need us right now, Dani.
And let's not forget about your guardian angel, who's currently at the mercy of a fucking psychotic pirate—Lucian's mate, no less. "
I close my eyes, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill over. The weight of the situation crashes down on me, threatening to pull me under. "I know, Rhyland. I know. But something is off about this whole thing, with Cordelia and—"
"I don't give a flying fuck, k?ra," His tone is sharp, laced with an alpha male authority that demands compliance. And there's that name he uses again when I'm pissing him off and going against him. It's like a verbal slap, a reminder that he's unhappy with my choices.
"But Mirella said something terrible would happen if we leave now," I counter, my frustration bubbling over like a pot of boiling water. "She said we can't leave. We have to—"
"No," Rhyland's tone is final, leaving no room for debate. His Nordic blue eyes blaze with a fierce intensity, his irises darkening like a stormy sea. "Conjure the portal, Dani. I'm done talking about this."
I can feel his tension through the bond, a tightly coiled spring ready to snap. His fear for his brother, Lucian's desperate need to get to Seraphina, pulses through our connection like an electric current.
I let out a huff of exasperation, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place.
I know Rhyland's right. Seraphina and Lucian need us; every second we waste here is another second they're in danger.
The thought of Seraphina, my guardian angel, at the mercy of that psychotic asshole, makes my blood run cold.
But I can't shake the feeling that Mirella's warning is more than just a bluff. There's a desperation in her eyes that I can't ignore, a pleading that tugs at my heartstrings and makes me question everything.
Why?
Why am I falling for this?
I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this situation than meets the eye.
You know what? Screw this; screw Cordelia and her weird temper tantrum and Mirella's vague warning. "Fine, but Mirella comes with us."
She's scared of Cordelia, so what's the harm in taking her along for the ride?
Mirella's eyes widen in shock, and fear creeps into her expression. "No... I can't—"
"Why the hell not?" my patience wearing thin. "I don't have time to play these underwater games of clue. Either come with us or stay, but make a choice, and make it now, Mirella."
She hesitates for a moment. Then, slowly, she nods. "Yes, I will come with you, but please...hurry."
Rhyland starts pacing like a caged tiger, his agitation rolling off him in waves. "Dani, we don't need to bring her along and get caught up in whatever underwater bullshit is going on here. Stick to the fucking plan, and let's go."
I briefly ponder if there's some underwater penal code that covers mermaid-napping. Is there a particular prison for those who abduct merfolk? A magical version of Alcatraz hidden beneath the waves?
I quickly shake off those thoughts, realizing now is not the time to contemplate oceanic law's finer points. We've got bigger fish to fry, and by fish, I mean a certain pirate captain who's about to learn the hard way that you don't fuck with my friends.
I stand my ground, folding my arms over my chest and giving him my best "don't mess with me" look. "No. She's coming with us, Rhyland. End of story."
He growls low in his chest, a warning that I'm pushing his buttons. His alpha nature clashes with my stubborn streak, and I know he hates it when I go against him. It's a dance we've done before and always ends with "punishment," which I am all too happy to take.
Focus, Dani.
I turn to Mirella, my eyes narrowing. "If this ever comes back to bite me in the ass, or if you even think about betraying us, I'll make sure there's not an ocean deep enough for you to hide in. Got it?"
Mirella swallows hard, nodding frantically. "Got it. But please, Dani... trust me. I'm risking everything to help you."
I don't have time to dwell on her words—Seraphina and Lucian are in danger. I focus on Lucian, Gideon's ship, and escaping this underwater nightmare.
With a flick of my wrist, a swirling vortex appears, the portal shimmering like a mirage. It's never as clear when I focus on a person rather than on a specific location, but I know it will get us where we need to go.
I grab Mirella's hand, yanking her through the portal with me. Rhyland is right on our heels, his presence a solid wall of muscle and fury.
As we step through the portal, I can feel the crackle of energy surrounding us, the rush of wind, and the sensation of falling.
And then, just as quickly as it began, it's over. We're standing on the ship's deck, the portal closing behind us with a snap.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. We made it. We're back on the ship, and Mirella is with us.
Now, all we have to do is find Seraphina, kick some pirate ass, and figure out what the hell is going on with Cordelia and her underwater kingdom of secrets.