Page 65 of A Magic Deep & Drowning

But as she reached over, her hand only met with the soft crunch of more seaweed. Maurits was not there. Thinking he must have gone to fetch something for her to eat, she took the time to comb her hair and lay out her clothes to dry. Anything to keep her hands busy, her mind occupied so that she could not dwell on what was to come next.

The light grew stronger, and still Maurits did not return. She paced the rocky ledges as much as they allowed, willing herself to remain calm. Perhaps he had ventured back to land, trying to find something he knew she would like to eat, perhaps he had been waylaid by Neese or another friend. If there was a more sinister possibility for his disappearance, she tried not to let herself dwell on it.

She had resigned herself to her fate, and the delay was a cruel prolongment. But whether Maurits was here or not, she would still go through with it. She would wait until the light was at its highest peak, and if he had still not returned, she would slip into the water and let it take her as it would.

The spiritual rapture she had never experienced in church washed over her now, as she felt the overwhelming need to pray to something, to someone. She poured out her heart between sobs, begged for forgiveness for whatever sins she had committed, wished that there was more time, not to delay her death, but to map out the love she held for Maurits in her heart. To die with regrets, even if it was honorably, was a punishment beyond all cruelty. She had always assumed that there would be time to forgive him, to come to terms with all the hurts. Which meant that somewhere deep in her heart, she knew that all was absolvable, that he was hers.

The light above was piercing through the crack, shafting down in a sharp line. Her knees were sore and bloody from kneeling. But before she could get to her feet, there was the sound of water splashing. She cried out in relief. Maurits was back, and she would not have to go alone. But the heads that surfaced were slick and scaly and full of sharp teeth.

The basilisks gave a hiss of greeting, then began circling below her. “You came back.”

“Foolish little girl.”

“Did you think that you could solve yourself what has been wrought by centuries of wrongdoing?”

“How human to believe that a solution could be reached by one creature itself.”

She ground her teeth. “Where is he?” she asked.

The creatures continued circling.

“What about Neese?” she asked. “Surely she can find him?”

“The nixie?”

“She is gone.”

“Thade found out that she was carrying messages to the prince.”

“So he took her as well.”

“Took her away.”

Clara didn’t want to consider what might become of the nixie at the hands of Thade.

“Where is Maurits?” she asked again. “I know you know.”

“He has gone,” they said in cold unison.

Clara had been expecting as much, but the finality in their words still made her head go light. “Gone where?”

“Deep.”

“Very, very deep.”

She had thought herself past the point of feeling anything besides numbness, but the basilisks were driving her to madness with their evasive replies.

Clara dug her fingernails into the damp stone behind her, forced herself to drag in a deep breath. “What has he done?TELL ME!”

The basilisks finally stopped their circling, and seven pairs of black marble eyes blinked back at her. “Come, look at what his love for you has done.”

They arrived at a palace in chaos.

The basilisks had towed her along, depositing her in the throne room. Doors to chambers stood ajar, furniture was upturned. Merfolk were hastily throwing belongings and treasures into trunks, barely sparing her a glance as they shot down the halls and out into the deep.

Clara turned to ask the basilisks what was happening, only to find that they had disappeared and she was alone with Thade and a flurry of harried advisors. This wasn’t how she’d imagined her next and last encounter with Thade. She had thought that there would be a sort of calm that would fall over her, a sharp clarity that would guide her to her fate. Therewould be a final, beautiful farewell between her and Maurits, and all grievances would be forgiven. She would be brought before the king, bow her head, and she would be enveloped in serenity as she stepped into the unknown.

“I’ve come...” Clara started, her words no match for the overlapping chorus of frantic voices.

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