Fins(53)
“We want you to take care of Naira, Morgandy.” Mom stood, her hair messy and tangled. “Can you do that for me?”
“Of course,” I agreed. “But I can’t just let you guys fight for me!”
“Hopefully, there won’t be any fighting at all.”
I was doubtful, but there wasn’t any more to be said. Naira was in her room and Mom asked me to stay there with her. Gathering her into her arms, Mom kissed her and told her to do as I said. After holding me briefly, she left.
Thayde held my face in his hands.
“Please don’t leave this room, Morgan,” he said, his face inches away from me. “I think we’ll be able to stop them without any violence.”
“I don’t want you to go,” I complained and he kissed me. I kissed him back, terrified this might be our last.
“I’ll come for you,” he said, releasing me and backed away.
“I love you,” I cried out, desperate for him to know.
“I love you more,” was his reply and he shut the door.
An hour had passed and Naira was getting tired of playing with her Barbie’s. I wasn’t putting much effort into it and finally she gave up and lay down on her bed.
“Where’s Mama and Daddy?” She asked, cuddling a stuffed sea lion.
“They went for a swim,” I said, faking reassurance. “They’ll be back soon.”
Her big green eyes stared me down. “Why you so scared?”
“I’m not,” I lied.
Instead of answering me, she curled into a little ball. I sat next to her and stroked her pretty, blonde ringlets.
“They’re fine, Naira. They’ll be home soon and we’ll all go for a swim in the pool ok?”
“You’re scared. Me too.” Her little voice echoed my thoughts.
I was scared. Did they really need an hour to talk things out? I could feel that something was wrong. I promised Mom that I’d watch Naira, but I needed to do something. It wasn’t right, hiding away when you’re the cause of the problem. Standing, I called for the housekeeper.
“I’ve got to go, Naira, but I want you to stay with Shirley, okay?” I said when she arrived.
“Please stay in this room with her,” I asked Shirley, who promised.
Giving Naira a hug, I ran all the way to my room. What could I take? I didn’t even know where I was going. I didn’t have to wait long for my answer. The skies began to rumble and lightning streaked across the water. Tammer was bringing a storm. That had to mean one thing; talking was no longer an option.
Grabbing the dive knife Tammer had given me, I strapped it to my left arm and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I dove off my balcony into the sea and made my way to the Dartmoth house.
Hardly five minutes had passed when I saw another merperson in the water, swimming quickly in my direction. With the sun beginning to set, it was difficult to see far, but once I saw the red hair, I knew it was Tiesa. She seemed frantic and horrified once she saw me heading in her direction.
“What are you doing?” She grabbed my arms. “You can’t go there!”
“What’s going on, Tiesa? It’s been over an hour and I can’t take it any longer!”
“It’s awful, they’re fighting!”
“Who?”
“All of them!”
“What happened?”
“Tammer showed up with a bunch of friends and once Limus saw them, he blew! They talked for maybe ten minutes when Limus had enough and attacked!”
“Wait, how do you know this?” I asked, surprised she knew that much.
“I was there from the beginning. My family and I joined up with Tammer the instant he asked us. My Dad’s friends with him remember?”
“Yea, but you’re younger than I am!” I was incredulous.
“You’re more important,” she said.
That took me back a few steps. More important? She knew all along!
“Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” I asked and she looked down at her purple tail.
“Does it matter? You know now. My father sent me to be with you. I have to make sure you stay at the house.”
“No chance in hell,” I said and started to swim around her.
“Morgan, stop! You can’t. If you get hurt, it’s over. You can’t go!”
“I have to! Thayde and my parents are there!” Tearing out of her grip, I pushed past her. “Take care of Naira!”
I didn’t look back; instead, I swam as fast as I could toward the sparks of light in the distance. I knew there wasn’t much I was going to be able to do, but my mind kept going back over what Geiruna had once told me - that I could do anything I set my mind too. I hoped she was right.