Breathless: A Little Mermaid Retelling Page 8
The closer they ventured to Stavros’ lair, the less fish they saw. Eventually, the wide ocean became empty and changed color, from an opalescent blue into a murky green tinged with brown. Adrian held his breath as they swam through the water, and the cave of Stavros emerged.
It was a towering mount of dead coral that Stavros had elaborately fashioned into the shape of a castle, though no servants bustled around it. Stavros lived alone. Adrian steeled himself for courage, but Moona whispered one last time, “Please, Adrian.”
Adrian grabbed both sides of her face and looked her in the eye. “If there was another way, I would. But Moona, this is the only option I’ve got.”
He kissed her forehead, then let her linger outside as he ventured into the cave. Moona peered around the edge and watched at a distance, her black eyes tinged with concern.
Adrian entered the cave. Inside, there were bottles upon bottles of potions lining the walls, and jars filled with all sorts of disgusting ingredients… whale skin, fish eyes, bowels of sharks. Adrian gagged and tried not to look at them.
And bones. Bones of merfolk were littered throughout the cave floor, many of them still reaching for something Adrian couldn’t see. Stavros had killed many of them while they were still trying to fight back.
Adrian could see the glow of a cauldron at the end of the cave. Stavros was there, waving his hands over a green concoction that bubbled and brewed. Adrian hadn’t made any noise, but it was like Stavros could hear him as he swam up behind him.
Stavros turned around, a wide smile on his face. “My boy.” He spread his arms wide, like a loving uncle welcoming his estranged nephew home. “I knew you’d come by eventually.”
Adrian swallowed. “You said I could come by at any time.”
“And so you can.” Stavros threw a living octopus into the cauldron. It screamed before it died, and Stavros turned his back on the potion. “Though I’m not stupid enough to believe you’re here to visit.”
Adrian nodded. “There is something I want.”
“And I suppose Daddy isn’t strong enough to give it to you, so you came running to me.” Stavros’ smile only grew bigger.
“Can’t. Won’t. It doesn’t make a difference,” Adrian said. “Are you going to help me, or not?”
Stavros picked up his staff, then settled on a chair made of bones comfortably, twirling his many tentacles around his form. “That depends on what you ask for.”
Adrian clenched his fists. This wouldn’t be easy. He knew Stavros had the power, only that what he would ask would be more than what Adrian could give. “I’ve found my mate. She’s a human.”
Stavros stared at him. Then his eyes popped out of his head, and he began laughing. He wiped tears from his eyes and threw his head back on his throne. “Oh, that’s rich.” Stavros settled to chuckles, though humor still danced in his expression. “I suppose my dear brother wasn’t too thrilled when he heard.”
“No. He’s demanding I pick someone else.”
“But it’s not that easy, is it?” Stavros became serious again. “A mating bond is powerful magic. Not easy to break, and devastating to the bonded once it is.”
“I don’t plan on breaking it,” Adrian said through clenched teeth. “I want you to make me a human.”
Stavros’ expression gave nothing away. But his eyes instantly turned greedy, and Adrian noticed.
“Hm.” Stavros tapped his chin with one of his tentacles. “Interesting.”
“What? Is it impossible?” Adrian asked, growing impatient. He just wanted to get out of there. “Do you not have the power?”
Stavros glared at him. Adrian felt the water around him swell with heat, and he regretted saying anything.
“I have the power, boy,” Stavros said lowly. “There is more magic in me than what you could ever speculate in your wildest dreams.”
“Great. Then let’s get it over with. What do you want in exchange?” Adrian asked bluntly.
“I? I haven’t asked for anything,” Stavros said, feigning a shocked expression. “I would do anything to help my nephew.”
Then, after a beat, he added, “In exchange for an alliance, of course.”
“I won’t make an alliance with you. This deal is as close to an agreement as you’re ever going to get.”
Stavros sighed, and rolled his eyes. “You’ve always been so dramatic, Adrian. Fine. I’ll make you a deal.”
Stavros got off his chair and floated to where Adrian stood. “Yes, I do have the magic. But as you expected, I want something in return.”
“Name it.” Adrian swam closer so they were almost touching. “I’ll pay any price.”
Stavros’ grinned. He had Adrian right where he wanted him. “I’ll turn you into a human for three days and three nights. You have until then to convince your mate to fall in love with you… but you may not tell her that you love her first, or say that you do if she asks. That’s cheating,” Stavros said when Adrian went to interrupt. “She must say that she loves you before the sun rises on the fourth day. Otherwise, you will turn back into a merman. Permanently. Never again will you be able to walk on land.”
“Never again?” Adrian asked breathlessly.
“Never again.” Stavros shook his head.
“What happens if she says that she loves me?” Adrian asked.
“You’ll be a human permanently, and will be able to live the rest of your life happily-ever-after on land,” Stavros said.
“But… if that happens, my father will be left without an heir.” His eyes darted back and forth, calculating. “That means— the sea will pass to you.”
“You are correct. If you are unable to assume the throne, on your father’s passing, the sea will belong to me,” Stavros said. “I will become the new Poseidon.”
Adrian didn’t like this. How could he turn his back on his subjects, on his people, even for his mate? If he agreed to these terms, he’d be betraying his father, and the throne. Everything he’d been raised to do would be for nothing.
But his father had turned his back on him. He had barely listened when Adrian had told him about Isa. Why should he care what happened to the kingdom?
“Okay. Let’s just say, for argument’s sake, she doesn’t say she loves me. Then I’m stuck as a merman. What do you get out of it?” Adrian asked.
“Nothing.” Stavros shrugged. “You will go on being your father’s heir, and no doubt I’ll be disappointed you didn’t succeed, though I can’t say I won’t revel in your failure.”
Adrian didn’t believe him. Stavros was hiding something— a secret in the magic.
Yet the offer was too good to pass up. “It’s a deal.” Adrian stuck out his hand to shake.
Stavros couldn’t contain his glee. He smiled so broadly Adrian was afraid he’d break his face. Heclapped his hand into Adrian’s. “Yes! We’ve done it!”
The minute Adrian’s hand connected with Stavros, he immediately felt sick. He let out an agonized sound as a pain grew in his gut, spreading throughout his middle, his chest, his legs. The pain was so crushing, so excruciating, that Adrian couldn’t move. He bent over in the water and grimaced, shutting his eyes to the horrible agony that was coursing throughout his body.
When he opened his eyes, Adrian looked down and realized he had two legs.
Adrian opened his mouth to let out a cry of joy, but the water that flowed inside choked him instead of revived him.
The water. His gills were gone. Adrian couldn’t breathe. He floundered for help and tried to swim, but he didn’t know how with legs. He’d never tried.
Stavros was laughing, and laughing. He didn’t even care Adrian was dying in front of him.
Hearing the commotion, Moona swam in. She knocked Stavros aside, and he stumbled. Moona pressed herself against Adrian, and he hung on for dear life as his friend pulled him along, hauling him to the surface.
Black spots dotted his vision and his lungs were screaming for air. The water pressure alone was too much to handle. Adria
n felt like he was going to die, knew he was going to die. He clung tighter to Moona as the cave dissolved and the surface appeared so far above. They weren’t going to make it.
But Moona wasn’t going to let her best friend die , not on her watch, so she swam as fast as her fins could take her until she finally crashed against the line where the water met the sky. Adrian took a deep breath, then immediately started gagging, not used to this strange new feeling that was coursing through him. Moona waited for him to stop, still supporting him with her weight.
When he was done gagging, his head lolled. Any moment he was going to pass out.
Moona cried out something, but Adrian didn’t hear her—or couldn’t understand her.
Moona hauled Adrian across the ocean. It was a far swim from shore, but Moona paddled until her fins were sore, slapping Adrian across the face with her tail to keep him awake.
Finally, the blessed line of the beach was in sight. Moona pushed him toward it, going as close as she could without accidentally beaching herself.
Adrian pulled himself on shore, until he was out of the water completely. The earth rocked below him, and his head hit sand as he finally fainted.
Chapter Ten
Isamaria
Isamaria was walking on the beach that morning at sunrise, thinking about what she was going to say to Adrian the next time she saw him.
Those thoughts were completely erased from her mind when she realized Adrian was lying on the beach in front of her, passed out and completely naked.
Isa’s first thought was how freaked out she was that Adrian didn’t have any clothes on. She wondered if she should look away, if Adrian was going to sprout a tail right in front of her, or if she should just turn and make a run for it. But on second glance (she really couldn’t help it) Isa realized something was wrong.
He didn’t look right. He looked— dead.
Isa immediately panicked. She rushed forward and fell to her knees at Adrian’s side, breathing hard and trying not to scream.
Oh God. Oh God, oh God, he’s dead. He’s really dead.
Isamaria poked him to see if he was still alive. He shifted. A bout of hope rose in her chest and Adrian rolled over, opening his eyes and coughing.
“Adrian!” Isa said. She worried over him, not sure of what to do or how to help. “Are you all right? What happened?” Countless scenarios swept through her head.
“Clothes,” he gasped, and he pointed at the cove in the distance. “There. Under— a rock.”
Isa wasted no time. She ran to the cove and tiptoed around the sharp rocks that led inside the cave. There underneath a strange looking ledge were a pair of sandals, jeans, and a white tank top.
Isa ran back to the beach with the clothes in hand and tripped twice on the way back to Adrian. He was on his hands and knees trying to get up. Isa helped him. Adrian pulled his clothes on, though he needed Isa’s arm to keep him steady.
She was worried about him. Yeah, she had to admit Adrian had a cute butt, among other things, but this was an emergency here.
“You need to go to the hospital,” Isa said. This was like a replay of what had happened to her, except now she was on the other side of it, and it was far worse.
“No,” he gasped. “I’ll be all right.”
It was true. Adrian was recovering before her very eyes, just slowly. She was about to ask Adrian why his clothes were so far away from him when she remembered that he was probably a merman. It would be obvious for him to hide clothes in a place nearby where he could get to them, but also where they wouldn’t be found.
“What happened?” she repeated, feeling like a broken record.
“I went for a swim. Took in too much salt water,” he rasped. “Good thing I washed up on shore.”
Isa knew he was lying, but at the same time, she didn’t want to question him when he looked like this.
That body, though. Adrian was a perfect ten.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?” Isa repeated, looking him over.
“I’m sure,” Adrian insisted. He was able to stand on his own this time, without help. “Sorry you had to see me like this.”
“I tried not to look at anything,” Isa said, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable.
“Doesn’t bother me what you saw.” Adrian smiled roguishly at her, and she giggled. “Thanks for helping me out.”
“I couldn’t just let you lie there,” Isa said. “You had me super worried.”
“I’m cool now.” Adrian looked at her. “What are you doing up so early?”
“Couldn’t sleep. I had a lot on my mind.” She shrugged. “The beach helps me think.”
“Me too.” Adrian stuck his hands in his pockets and looked out at the water. “Though not sleeping is a bad thing to do when you’ve probably got school and work to go to.”
“No, don’t mind it. I’ve got the next three days off, from work and school.”
“Really? Why?”
“The Seaside Ball,” she said glumly. “The whole town practically shuts down for it.”
All she’d been hearing from her friends lately was about that stupid ball. It was in three days, and Isa had received an invitation. Not surprisingly, she’d been signed up for the Coral Queen vote. Isa didn’t know the two other girls on the list, but she hoped whoever they were, one of them would get picked instead.
“Are you going?” Adrian asked. He raised an eyebrow.
Isa shook her head and looked down at the water. “I’m not sure. I’m expected to go. But I haven’t really made up my mind.”
There was an awkward silence, one Adrian broke out of necessity.
“I, uh… I need some clothes,” Adrian said. “I know it sounds weird, but I don’t have any, besides these.”
Yeah, because you wear scales most of the time instead of pants, Isa thought, but she asked instead, “Where are your clothes?”
“It’s a long story. But let’s just say I don’t have anything to wear and nowhere to sleep for the next few nights.”
“You can stay with me,” Isa blurted out. “I don’t mind.”
Adrian’s eyes brightened. “Really? You sure that’s okay?”
“Yeah,” Isa said. “My dad won’t notice you’re there.”
He really wouldn’t. Having someone around besides Lupe would be nice for a change. Adrian would be a blast to hang out with.
“We can go to the mall,” Isa suggested. “I have cash.”
“I’m not going to make you pay,” Adrian said, as if it offended him. “Wait here.”
Adrian went back to the same cove Isa had gotten his clothes from. He came back with a wallet that looked stuffed full of bills.
“I have a ton of money,” Adrian said when he caught her looking. “I just never use it.”
Hm. A ton of human money. He had resources, despite being a merman. His dad must be very important. Which reminded her…
“What does your dad do again?” Isa prodded as they walked back to her car. “I don’t remember.”
“I didn’t really tell you.” Adrian had gone quiet. “It’s a family business.”
“Oh, really?” Isa left the question open-ended, so he was forced to answer.
“He’s… kind of a boss. He tells people what to do all day. It’s really not my thing,” Adrian mumbled.
So his dad was some sort of ruler of mermaids. Which had to make Adrian a prince. Isa’s dreams were practically coming true.
Hold on, Isa. Princes don’t just wash up naked and perfect on the beach for girls to find. There has to be a catch to him. Isa decided that by the end of their extended weekend, she’d find out exactly what was the downside to Mr. Wonderful himself.
When they got to the mall Isa figured Adrian would want to go to all the high-end stores, but Adrian was boring. He stuck to tank tops in different colors, shorts and jeans, and ignored accessories entirely. He thought hats were dumb, though Isa insisted he’d want one to keep his head out of the sun.
“I’m not a flashy kind of guy. What do I need to show off for?” he asked.
“Girls,” Isa said instantly. “All the guys I know are obsessed with impressing girls.”
“There’s only one girl I want to impress, and she doesn’t care about clothes,” Adrian told her. He tweaked her nose, and Isa smiled.
They had their first official argument as boyfriend and girlfriend when it came to pick out swimwear.
“I don’t like wearing swimsuits. I don’t need one.” His nose wrinkled as Isa held up a pair of trunks, decorated with black palm trees against an orange sunset.
“Clearly, as you were tanning on the beach buck-ass nude this morning. And it’s Florida. You need a swimsuit. You want to show everyone the boys?” Isa asked as she shoved the suit in his face. “Because I don’t want anyone to see them.” Anyone but me, that is. He’s mine.
Isa wasn’t sure where this sudden territorial-ness had come from. She hadn’t been the jealous type before, but it was a whole new story with Adrian.
Adrian snatched the suit from her. “Fine. But only when we’re with other people. I don’t have to wear it if I’m swimming with you.”
He definitely wasn’t bashful, but that didn’t mean Isa was slipping out of her bikini for him anytime soon.
They stopped to eat at a food court when lunch rolled around. Originally, Isa wasn’t eating, but when Adrian made it known that not-eating wasn’t an option, she shared an order of orange chicken with him they got from the Chinese takeout place.
She rifled through a celebrity magazine someone had left behind while they ate. She stopped when she came upon a picture of a woman with long hair the color of a sapphire drifting down her back. It was a scandal she’d changed her hair in Hollywood to such an outrageous color. If a celebrity couldn’t get away with it, Isa knew she couldn’t either.
“There a secret message on that page or something?” Adrian asked as Isa kept on staring.