Chapter 28
KYLER
Pure self-hatred boils in my blood, but I had to stop Gavin.
As soon as Gavin thumps to the ground, I jump. Ignoring the shouts behind me, I make it over the rails before anyone can catch me and dive under the waves. No one can follow me.
My shift rolls through me, ripping out the last of my breath.
The water sparkles with drops of magic. The deeper I swim, the more difficult breathing becomes, as if the magic stifles the oxygen in the water. I gasp, forcing my gills to take in more water.
I just want my freedom, that’s all. My heart pounds. But what of the sacrifice? What can I offer? I squeeze my eyes shut. I know. It’s the only thing I have, and then Gavin can become the Grand Mage he deserves to be.
Pressing on, the sea thickens with magic. My head spins. I lose my sense of direction. Of time. The phoenix stone is everywhere and nowhere, all at once.
I come upon the yawning opening of an underwater cave. Slowly, I enter, knowing it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“Please. I just…” I call out with my mind in case there are guardians. I just what? Want the adventure to be over? That would be a lie. I want to stay with Gavin for all eternity.
“I don’t want the stone for myself.”
“Who do you retrieve it for?” A new voice echoes in my head.
“A prince.”
“Lies.”
“A pirate.”
“Truth.”
“I don’t know what the pirate wants it for, but I know why the prince does.”
“Truth.”
“The prince deserves the world. He’s trying to better his realm.”
“Half truths.”
“He wants the stone to achieve his Grand Mage status. He plans to research where he hasn’t been able to before.”
“Why do you help him?”
“I believe in him.”
Silence.
“He’s shown me kindness where hardly anyone else has. I wish I could repay that, but I’ve betrayed him instead.” Fat tears bubble from my eyes. The pearls drop.
“What is your sacrifice?”
There’s only one thing I can offer. The one thing I wish for with my whole being. “My freedom.”
“The deal is struck.”
Pain rips through my body. My palm aches and the binding spell shines so brightly it blinds me. I hold my hand away. I can’t watch as my fate is sealed against me.
My mouth opens in a silent scream, and as it does, what appears to be black ink slithers from between my lips. As it leaves me, so too does the pain. The binding lightens until it flashes and disappears.
“I don’t understand.”
Silence. The water around me swirls, churning like a vortex sucking me in.
Three merfolk appear before me. The first I’ve seen in some twenty years. More tears prick my eyes, and the pearls fall to the sea floor. The merfolk’s hair flows around their heads, no doubt like my own. Fire red, blond, and black. Their tails are so colorful I almost let jealousy fight within me.
“Young Kyler. You offered the one thing you wanted more than life itself as your sacrifice. The one thing you’ve sought your entire life. The sacrifice was designed to give those pure of heart a gift instead of punishment.”
“I’m not pure of heart and haven’t been for decades.”
“Let us be the judge of that.”
The mer in the middle holds out their hand, offering me a smooth palm-sized golden stone. That’s what all the fuss is about?
“There is power you don’t understand in the unknown, sweet boy. Use it wisely.”
I nod as I take the phoenix stone. Power throbs through me, stealing my breath.
“One last gift we give you, young Kyler. Something no other mer has. Ease of shift. No longer do you need sand. Simply will your mer away. No more pain.”
“But why?”
“Why not?” the three echo each other.
“You’re just going to let me take the stone? Just like that?”
“We’ve seen the future. No need to fear it.”
I'm not sure I trust that answer.
“Our time as the stone’s guardians has come to an end.” The mer on the end, the redhead, takes my hand. “When you’re ready to come home. Find us.”
Home. “Thank you.”
“Hurry, young Kyler.” The black-haired mer waves me away.
I do just that, wanting to get away from the thick magic. It clings to me, making me heavy. Making my brain so foggy, I can hardly think.
The only thing I know for sure is I have to get the stone to Gavin. Not Vex.
Vex can choke on sea slugs because I am free.