Page 44 of Waves
By the time I came to that conclusion, Keelan had nearly reached me, legs kicking hard as he swam up toward the icy ledge, intent. I’d have to find Stavros later.
“I’ve just heard the most amazing thing,” the purple-haired siren declared as he floated down in front of me, wearing a long-sleeved, tight-fitting shirt that reflected the cold weather up here along with his trusty black breeches and boots.
My response was cut off by a loud groaning sound, not unlike a heaving ship. Our heads whipped to the side. Lizza had her bottle open, the kraken contorting and shrinking, trying to condense itself back into her container.
“Not even going to ask,” Keelan stated.
“Probably best.”
His good hand reached for mine, and his dimples made an appearance. “Can I steal you away?”
“Did your mother say you could?” I teased.
“Pshh. Who listens to their mother?” His light-hearted personality instantly lifted my spirits, let my lungs loosen and my expression soften.
Meanwhile, Mr. Whelk undulated his entire body, head bobbing, and it almost looked as if the little turtle agreed with the idea that listening to one’s mother was folly.
“I definitely don’t,” I said, and for once, a bitter taste didn’t flood my mouth.
Keelan, being the intuitive soul he was, squeezed my hand in solidarity anyway.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
With eyes brighter than stars, and his cheeks so round with his smile they looked full to bursting, Keelan swung our arms, yanking me side to side in his excitement. “I just found out that there is an entire maze of slides carved into an iceberg!”
“Wait, are we five?”
“Shut your mouth. It’s going to be amazing.”
I giggled and a tender look crossed his face, right before an impish one overtook it. “Besides, if I’d have known about these slides, perhaps I never would have left my post here.”
My eyes narrowed as I played along. “Are you saying slides are more fun than me?”
“I dunno. You’ll have to prove yourself, I guess.” His nonchalant attitude held a hint of challenge in it.
Unlinking our hands, I shoved at his shoulder first, then swung my hand wide, gesturing at the town. “Well, lead the way so I can show you how much fun I am.”
We swam east toward the edge of town with Mr. Whelk circling and head butting us, everyone’s mood sparkling.
“He must get the tendency to annoy others from you,” I said wryly as I pushed the little turtle’s head backward and then stopped to wave at a group of mer women who were harvesting some seaweed. They waved cheerily back.
“It’s our seduction technique. Annoy you into kissing us to shut us up,” Keelan confided mockingly.
Laughter peeled out of me, bright and light, the best I’d felt for days. My magic was finally starting to work, and though I still had to make inroads with the rebels, here in Kremos, the people seemed welcoming. Hope pervaded my system and danced through my veins.
I think it also might have pervaded Mr. Whelk’s because he headbutted me three times in a row, determined to bruise my shoulder.
“I’m not kissing you.” After I firmly shut him down, the little sea creature issued a strange little yowl and swam over to Keelan for a comfort cuddle.
“Meanie, queenie,” Keelan shook his head in mock scolding as he rocked his little pet like an infant in a show that made myovaries want to combust nearly as much as I wanted to smack the two of them for teaming up against me.
“I only have so many kisses per day,” I retorted. “I can give them to him or you.” Dropping the turtle, Keelan held up his hands. “Sorry, Whelkie. If it’s you or me, I gotta choose me.” Immediately, the siren sidled over to me and slid his good arm across my shoulders. “So…how many kisses are we talking?”
I was saved from answering him because we arrived at our destination.
A massive iceberg cut down through the water like a diamond, only it wasn’t carved into facets. It didn’t gleam. It was a rough gem, as though freshly mined. Wooden bridges wrapped around it, spiraling upward until they reached near the surface. A few mer children stood dotted about different platforms on different levels of the bridge. Routinely, they’d disappear into the dark belly of the berg, swallowed up only to be spit back out near the bottom.
Their happy yells and excited screeches wove through the sea and brought a small smile to my face.
