Page 10

Chapter

Eight

M r. Tick stops the irritating clock noise once he realizes I am following. I feel like I am being led to my doom, one slow step at a time, as we leave the arena, passing the extra-large mermen who scowl at me and Genie.

“I hope you know what you are doing,” Genie mutters. I never know what I’m doing. I find it best to never make plans, as the Idols see that as an invitation to mess with my diurnal.

Mr. Tick leads the way into a dark cave. The giant mermen take up the rear, herding us forward. I twist my hands together and force myself to keep calm. I’m just here to listen.

A short distance into the cave, the walls widen into a living area.

A long backless sofa flanks one wall, opposite a pair of high-backed armchairs.

A small kitchen sits tucked away in one corner, with two dark tunnel entrances to the side of it.

I bite my lip and avert my gaze. It would probably be a good idea not to think too deeply about what crocodiles eat.

“Take a seat, Daphne,” Mr. Tick offers as he climbs on the sofa, his tail whipping behind him. I wish I had a tail. Having an extra leg to keep me upright would be a great addition.

I fold myself into the chair, and Genie settles in the other. Not that he needs somewhere to rest his wispy lower part.

“Tell me a little about yourself,” Mr. Tick says.

“Not much to tell. I’m a clumsy maiden from Far, Far Away.”

“How did you come to be in the Hallows?”

“One of the Charmings selected my sister to be his potential Cinderella.”

He nods. “That’s where you met the knights?”

“That’s right.”

“And which of them do you favor?”

“I’m not choosing.”

He narrows his black beady eyes at me. “None of them?”

“No, that’s not what I said. I’m not choosing between them.”

A slow grin stretches his lips, revealing those teeth. “Ah, all of them. Greedy. I like it.”

Am I being greedy? I am not forcing them to be with me. If any of them chose to walk away from me, I would understand, even if they would take a little piece of my heart with them.

“You said you could get me back?”

Mr. Tick’s eyes flick to Genie before returning to me. “How did you come across a genie?”

“I found his lamp in a cave.” I omit it was Theo’s cave and what delicious things he did to me after.

“Then she rubbed me off and became my master,” Genie adds.

How many times do I need to tell people I am no one’s master? I don’t do well with responsibility. But arguing that right now is pointless.

“Have you used a wish yet?” Mr. Tick asks.

“No,” I say carefully. Where was he going with this?

“Are you aware of the consequences?”

“Yes, which is why I simply haven’t wished myself out of here.”

“What if I made the wish for you and took the consequences on your behalf?”

I tilt my head. “That’s not possible. The only way Genie gets a new master is when the current one uses all their wishes.”

Mr. Tick bobs his head. “That’s almost always true. But there is always a loophole. You just have to know where to look, Daphne.”

I lean back and fold my arms. If that’s true, then there is a way out of the ocean without wishes and thievery. “Explain that loophole to me.”

The water shifts, and the sea witch emerges from one of the tunnels. She smirks at me, causing a shiver to crawl down my spine. Nothing good happens when she is involved.

Genie swells in size as she slithers closer. “Daphne, let’s leave,” he snaps.

I glance behind me to find the guards barring our exit. “Let’s hear them out,” I mumble. Genie huffs but doesn’t reduce his intimidating size.

The sea witch slides onto the other end of the sofa. “I can return you to land,” she says, going in for the kill.

“What is the cost?” There’s no way she’s doing this out of the goodness of her withered soul.

“Your genie. I can transfer ownership.”

My teeth clench as Genie bristles beside me. “No,” I snap. I don’t sell my friends for my dreams. That is a poor way to live one’s life. We keep our hearts good and true and work hard. We do not use and stamp all over creatures who have helped us. Genie relaxes once he realizes he is safe with me.

“What use is he to you?” Mr. Tick asks. “If you refuse to use your wishes, you’ll be stuck with him for life.”

“What is your point?”

“He is failing to fulfil his narrative, because you are too mellow to use him,” the sea witch states.

“I am not mellow, but the consequences are not worth the prize. If that is your offer, then I refuse and will take my leave now.” I stand, done with this conversation.

“Sit down, Lady of the Lake,” Mr. Tick growls. “We’re not done.”

“I am.” I spin on my heel and get ready to battle two giant mermen with my non-existent fighting skills.

“If that is not acceptable, then perhaps the knowledge of how and when to steal the trident is. That alone has the power to release you from the legend,” Mr. Tick says.

My hands fist at my sides as I straighten my spine and turn slowly. “I’m listening.”

“Poseidon slumbers the deepest and is at his least powerful during the turn before sunrise,” the sea witch says. “With a minor spell, I can ensure he stays that way while you use the trident to return to those who hold your heart.”

“I believe the trident will kill me,” I say, folding my arms and leveling her with a stare I hope mirrors Hart’s worst one.

“I have a spell for that too,” she coaxes.

“That’s a lot of magic. What is the cost? I am not giving you Genie, and you cannot have my soul.”

She leans forward, her tentacles whipping in the water like she’s excited I am listening to her proposal. “I want the trident once you have used it.”

I scowl. Being released from the ocean would effectively free me from the consequences of her plans, but I couldn’t live with myself if I turned the water dark with the sins and blood I can see swimming in her eyes.

“Not acceptable,” I tell her. No matter how tempting it is.

She smiles like she expected my answer. “How about a simple trade?”

“Of what?”

“Your sword.”

Not my sword. It’s more like it attached itself to me, like a leech. “What would you want with a sword?”

“Power.”

I shake my head. “No deal. Let me leave, Mr. Tick.”

He scowls at the sea witch like she went off script before catching my gaze. “I have a different deal in mind.”

“No longer interested.”

“Hear me out. Then, if it’s not acceptable, you can leave.”

I sigh. It’s not like I have much of a choice. I make a mental note to get the knights to help with my non-existent fighting skills. “I’m listening, but I assure you, I will not give you any weapons or give you control of my weapons.”

The sea witch leans back, her tentacles freezing like they are waiting for the crocodile to make his case.

“I’ll give you everything you need to gain the trident, including the exact wording to release you from the legend. But I want to accompany you.”

“To Poisedeon’s palace?”

“No, to the land.”

Genie drifts forward like he’s trying to understand his motivations. They are murky, but I don’t sense the same ill intent and danger that accompanied the sea witch’s demands.

“Daphne has enough magical sidekicks. There are no job openings,” he snarls.

Mr. Tick glowers at him. “Once on land, I won’t be of any bother to you. I have no interest in witnessing your chaos as you bond with four knights.”

“Why? It seems you have a comfortable life down here.”

He grins. “I have a score to settle with a fairy.”

I tilt my head, weighing the sincerity of his words. “Fine.”

“Daphne, no,” Genie whispers in horror.

“Bring the sword. You’ll need to take it with you until a new Lady of the Lake is chosen,” he advises. “Otherwise, the legend will overpower the magic, and you’ll find yourself back down here.”

“Fine.”

The sea witch huffs. “If I give you these spells, we are even,” she tells the crocodile.

He nods. “Agreed.”

There’s a commotion behind me, and Frank appears with Linda in tow. Oh, wonderful. My scowling guide and bossy seahorse have arrived to return me to my judgy sword.

Frank points at the sea witch. “I warned you to stay away from the Lady.”

Her lip curls at one side. “She walked into my world willingly.”

Frank’s eyes find mine, and he sighs when I don’t disagree. I shrug. “I got bored.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “So long as you made no deals with the sea witch.”

“I did not.”

I fail to mention the deal with the crocodile, and Frank doesn’t bring it up, so I can only assume that means it’s not a problem.

“Excellent. Then let me escort you back to where you belong.”

I belong with my knights and my sister, and the only being willing to listen to me is the crocodile. How sad. I shoot Genie a warning look. He rolls his eyes like I’m the realm’s biggest idiot. Perhaps I am.

What would you do for love? The answer is stunningly simple. What wouldn’t I do?