“I’m so glad you’re safe.” He breathed into my hair.
“We need to patch you up,” Sam said. “Liesa’s a nurse.” He motioned and called toward the house. “Liesa, get your med kit out!”
Her head appeared from behind the screen door and when she saw us walking the battered Thayde toward her house, she popped back in. People stopped what they were doing and stared. A Jimmy Buffet song happily bubbled along on the stereo.
“What the hell happened to you?” A skinny guy holding a half-eaten banana asked as we passed.
“I got jumped.” Thayde brushed the comment off as if it was a common occurrence.
“Damn.”
People watched us walk into the house. Liesa motioned for Thayde to sit on one of the stools.
Easing down, he sighed. “I don’t think this is going to end well,” he said.
Liesa hesitated before she placed the cotton gauze filled with antibiotic down onto the first cut.
“I’m sorry if this hurts,” she apologized from behind his back.
Thayde shook his head. “It’s ok.”
“Thayde, what’s going on?” I asked and he looked at Sam and Liesa doubtfully.
“It’s ok. They’re merpeople like us,” I said and he seemed to relax.
“Did you tell Akin you were going to kill him?”
Dread filled me. “Well, yes, but it was because he tried to hurt me again.”
Thayde looked furious as I filled him in on what had actually happened. By the time I was finished, he shook in anger.
“He’s never going to stop,” he said angrily and winced as Liesa began to stitch some of the deeper cuts.
“Who did this to you?” Sam asked.
“One of my father’s friends. I went home to talk to them and they’d already assembled all their friends and followers. When I tried to reason with my father, Lot attacked me.”
“Lot?” Sam seemed deep in thought as if trying to recall the name. “Lot. Lot Abiseth?” Thayde nodded and Sam’s eyes grew wide.
“You’re lucky you’re in such good shape. You must be very strong to withstand his type of punishment.”
“How do you know of him?” I asked, shifting my attention to Sam.
“I’ve heard of him. You always hear of the trouble makers, especially in Vero Beach. It’s not exactly a large town. Lot is one of Limus’s best friends and he’s a nasty one at that.”
“Akin told my father you threatened to kill him, and that pushed him over the edge.” Thayde said. “He’s livid you had the nerve to threaten his family. The fact that you’re Elan and Tammer’s daughter didn’t help things either.”
“Well I’m Elan’s daughter, not Tammer’s,” I added and sighed. Thayde was right – this was never going to stop. Akin was completely out of control. He’d already told me how he’d go about hurting me.
“I have to go back and stop them.” Thayde watched Liesa circle in front of him and start cleaning the cuts on his chest. “Thank you,” he said, making her blush.
“And just how do you expect to do that?” Sam asked. “You can barely take care of yourself!”
Thayde narrowed his eyes at Sam. “Just because I choose not to fight back doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself.”
“Why don’t you fight back?”
“I don’t think fighting is necessary. Not when it can be talked out.”
“It seems that the time for talking is over, Thayde.” Sam pressed.
Liesa had finished and was looking over her work. “Do you feel like anything’s broken?” She asked.
“I don’t break,” Thayde answered.
She raised an eyebrow at his comment and began to clean up the mess left over from caring for him.
“Thank you again,” Thayde said and stood. “We’re going to have to get some allies to help us stop my father.”
“But who?” I twiddled my hair between my fingers. “He’s pretty powerful, Thayde.”
“People are sick of him, Morgan.” Thayde leaned against a counter and stared at Sam. “I feel like I know you.”
“I guess I have that kind of face.” Sam shifted uncomfortably.
“Have we met?”
“No.”
Nodding, Thayde breathed in deeply. “We have to get back tonight. Swimming is our only option at this point.”
“Mom didn’t want me to swim.”
“It’s faster than a boat. I’ll swim for the both of us.”
“Are you sure you’re in any condition to fight?” Liesa asked.
“I’m fine,” Thayde answered, pushing away from the counter. “They’re just cuts.”