Page 27 of Sea's Secret

“Meria, I cannot allow this.”

“All I know is that she was a traitor; isn’t there something more you could tell me about her?”

“These lies have changed you. You have been poisoned!”

“I have?” I asked without thinking.

Is that a possibility?

No. You have to save your people, my song answered my thoughts, and I believed it.

“Yes, trust me, Meria, all is well; we are well, and most of Marren is thriving. Mother Ocean will continue to provide as she always has. The Ancients will come.”

I knew Marren was not thriving; although, yes, a majority of the mer had not yet died or become sirens, a significant minority of mer were dying and losing their souls. All mer were of value, not just those fortunate to have been born closer to the light.

Why is he lying to me?

“I don’t think we are thriving,” I said, softly, with real fear.

His head moved sharply to meet my gaze. “Enough! I am sick of the blasphemy spewing from your lips. I am ashamed of you. Leave at once!” He swam closer to me, grabbing my shoulder in one of his strong, large hands, pushing me toward the exit of the throne room.

“So I am banished?” I sang in disbelief.

“You give me no choice. If you do not match with and marry Edmar, I will banish you. Once married, you will listen to him, always. He will keep you in check. These wicked ideas and thoughts shall never pass through your soul’s melody again!”

“‘Keep me in check?’” I had no desire to be a prisoner, let alone a prisoner to my husband. This is wrong. I cannot do it. It would be wrong for me to do it.

“If you show that this rebellion is done with, I will not be forced to banish you.” A look of anger pulsed within his eyes.

I didn’t speak. I was too afraid, confused, and heartbroken. I felt beaten down.

The doors opened, and a current rushed in. Coral came inside with her bright purple tail flipping behind her.

“Coral, what did I say about coming in when the doors are closed?” Father asked, looking from me to Coral.

“‘Do not open them, but Father, the watchers came back from the surface, and they said that there is a storm coming, along with a human ship. The waves are changing, and the city needs to be evacuated. The humans are closer than they have ever been before to Marren Island.”

“That is the third storm this week. It isn't even storm season.” Father stroked his light blue beard, looking at his navy blue tail.

“It is rather odd, but Finn has informed us that the same ship has been circling the area for a few days, even with the storm approaching. We are afraid that they are looking for Marren Island,” Coral added.

“Okay, thank you,” he said to Coral. Coral looked at me with a confused look on her face.

“What is wrong, Meria? Father?”

“Nothing. Go, Coral,” Father said. With one last saddened look for me, Coral turned and swam away. As soon as she was gone, he turned to me. “Leave. If you refuse to do as I command, I never wish to see your traitorous face again,” Father swam out of the throne room, calling for more patrolling mermen to follow him.

His words struck me like a spear in my heart, and I was frozen there. I sank to the floor of the throne room. He may have thought I had been poisoned, but it was clear while he was speaking with me that his soul’s melody was not as strong as it should have been, and–he was wrong. No matter what he believed, I knew I had found that information for some reason, and I knew that I could help our people. I did not have all the answers, but I would find them.

I might have been banished from my home there under the sea in the Kingdom of Marren, but I would return, and I would save all the merpeople, even my father, who held no more love for me.

Chapter Eleven

Dominick

“Captain?” I began, walking to Veeto at the ship’s helm.

“She can hold a bit longer,” Veeto said, with greed in his eyes as he fought for control of the ship in the raging storm.

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