“He never found out?”
Thayde shook his head.
“Wow,” I was beginning to sound like a stuck record player.
I stared into seawater below the bridge. Poor Ezen, the pain must have been incredible. Every merperson seemed to have their own tale filled with sadness and grief.
“Thayde,”
“Mmm?”
“What happened to Ezen’s hair?”
“It was burned off.”
“Burned?”
“He’s had dreadlocks a long time. He started growing them the year before we met. All those years and poof,” he made an exploding motion with his hands, “it was all gone.”
“Did it happen while you guys were looking for Limus?” I asked.
“It happened while we were trying to apprehend him. Ezen got caught in the crossfire.” Thayde turned and rested against the railing. “It’s just hair.”
“Not to him – it’s sacred. He’s upset about it.”
“He’ll get over it.”
“You’re mermaids aren’t you?”
The creepy, confident voice startled us and we turned to face the person who had said it. Carly stood alone in the middle of the bridge; her jaw set squarely, arms rigid at her sides.
“What?” Thayde nearly spat. “Mermaids? Where’d you hear that?”
“Don’t play with me.” Her voice was cold and different than we were used to hearing. “I’m not as stupid as you think.”
“What makes you think we’re a fictitious creature?” I asked.
“You’re not fictitious,” her voice snarled. Her hands flexed upward at an odd angle and turned slowly.
“How old are you?” I asked, readying myself.
“Thirteen.”
“Okay. Now, how old are you really?” I asked.
Her body shuddered before she answered. “Eight hundred and fifty two.”
Grotesquely, her head contorted to the side and her mouth hung open. Thayde instinctively placed an arm in front of me and I threw a protective shield around us both. The orb began to throb within me, and I relaxed, letting it soak in who she really was.
“You are a Genif,” I announced. Her body stopped its odd movements. “You are very rare. What are you doing inside this girl’s body?”
“I’ve been sent to warn you that The Link has not forgotten about you and she will have her revenge.” She hissed.
“I am The Link.” I said fiercely. “Herra was never meant to be The Link.”
At the sound of Herra’s name, the creature inside Carly squealed and her body bent to the side awkwardly.
“Tell Herra that I am not one with whom to challenge. I will find her and I will crush her. Go. Tell Herra.”
With my words hovering in the air, the Genif forced itself from Carly, opening her mouth as if on a hinge. The top of her head flew backward and a black shadow shot straight into the air, furrowing away until it could no longer be seen. Carly’s small body collapsed onto the wooden bridge. Thayde rushed forward, scooping her into his arms.
“We need to get her to her parents.”
“She won’t remember a thing.” I searched around for anyone who might have witnessed the scene unfold.
“I don’t think anyone saw,” Thayde didn’t need to read my mind to know what I was thinking. Carly’s head lolled unnaturally on Thayde’s arm.
“Let’s get her to the hotel,” I said and we ran.
The bellboy and attendants flocked around us. “Qu’est-ce?” They asked in shocked tones, wanting to know what happened. I answered in perfect French.
“We found her on the bridge.” Thayde lay Carly down on the leather couch. The maître-d took her sunburned hand in his.
“Did she faint?”
“I think so.” I smiled, hoping it would convince them I didn’t know what had happened.
“Thank you for bringing her here.” Snapping his fingers, the staff immediately jumped into action, leaving the girl and returning to their duties. “I will alert her parents at once. We have medical staff on hand.”
“I hope she is alright.” I said, taking Thayde’s hand and turned to leave.
“Merci.”
“Morgan,” Thayde released my hand. “Go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Alright,” I said. What’s going on?
“Nothing,” he answered quickly, “just go on ahead without me.” He made his way back to the maître-d. “And stay out of my head!” He added.
It didn’t take me long to get back to our private hut. A wave of sadness washed over me; our time in Moorea was drawing to an end. Even though we had a full three weeks booked there, the ominous situation that had just happened had put a dampener on the trip.