Page 11

Chapter

Nine

E very maiden needs at least one adventure in her lifetime. Perhaps a nice jaunt through a forest while bringing a grandma with exceptionally large teeth some baked goods, or a mishap with a poisoned apple, leading to seven creepy little men watching over your unconscious body.

I think I’ve had more than my fair share of adventure.

I am ready to retire from the chaos and embrace my life of being kissed by the knights until I can’t breathe.

The Idols are cruel to keep us apart. Maybe on my way out of the ocean, I could leave Poseidon a note with suggestions for improvements?

I heave a deep sigh and close the kitchen cupboards. No sausage-like foods anywhere. I had hoped they might have sausages but didn’t realize because they called it something different. To my disappointment, the cupboards are packed with weird substances, but I can’t find any meat.

“Darla, are you decent?” the mirror man calls from the bedroom.

My heart skips a beat, and I hurry to the bedroom. “I’m here and clothed.”

“Too bad,” Theo grumbles from behind the mirror man.

“I have your knights wanting to check in with you,” the mirror man informs me. “Are you ready for the three of them to penetrate your world?”

“Dude, phrasing,” I mutter. Also, three? Where’s the fourth?

The mirror man floats to the left, revealing Theo, Hart, and Nash. Where is my happy twin? One tempo I need no man, and the next, I’m saddened I have three, not four.

“Where’s Malachi?” I ask, just as the genie floats through the wall to settle at my side. He’s taken to staring at the dead dude, which creeps me out.

“He’s with Gwyneth and Charming. The prince insisted she join him for afternoon tea, and we promised you we wouldn’t leave her alone,” Nash reminds me.

“To be fair, I think Gwyneth is more than capable of handling Charming,” Theo adds.

“I don’t trust him to play by the rules,” I tell them as worry knots my stomach.

Hart’s face becomes bigger, and I am even grateful to see his scowls. In fact, I miss them.

“Your sister uncovered a little information about the original Merlin.”

Of course she did. My big-brained sibling will always come through. “Tell me.”

Hart lifts a notebook and flicks through it. “According to a diary entry, the first Merlin had designs on usurping King Arthur. He sought a weapon of power to give him what he needed to succeed, making sure the realm would recognize him as their perfect leader.”

“If he had just killed the king, whom the people loved, the kingdom would have revolted,” Nash adds.

“Makes sense. Just because you take the throne doesn’t mean you can keep it. Fear is not a great foundation for leadership,” Genie agrees.

“He came across the Lady of the Lake, who protected a sword destined only for the worthy. Anyone who wielded the blade would be loved and unmatched,” Theo tells me.

“So he tried and failed to become worthy?” Is that why he is down here in a watery grave? Oh my Idols, are all Merlins fated to end in a watery grave?

“No,” Nash says. “He was a powerful wizard. He spelled himself to appear as a young, handsome knight. Then he called upon the Lady and wooed her.”

And now we are back to an unworthy male wooing one’s floof. Sounds familiar. “Did she see through it?”

Hart shakes his head. “Not at first. She fell in love with him, and as soon as she gifted him the sword because her emotions blinded her, he shed his disguise.”

Yikes.

“What happened?” Genie asks.

“She dragged him and the sword into the lake,” Nash tells us. “But before he could meet his end, he cast a spell and a curse.”

I did not like where this was going. “What spell?”

“The spell preserves him while under the water. He cannot be killed,” Hart says. “But it’s believed he can hear everything, sort of like being trapped inside his own body.”

How terrifying. I couldn’t fathom a future where I was a bystander to the realm, but never participate. “And the curse?”

Nash’s eyes narrow. “He made sure the Lady is compelled to give the sword, even though she knows it will kill her.”

My heart sinks. I’m stuck down here, fated, because of some power-hungry wizard who thought to play with the heart of a Lady.

“Are you sure he can’t die?” I ask. “Because I’m feeling very motivated right now.”

Theo tilts his head. “We have plans to visit my father and to see if he can shed any more light on how to get around the legend.”

I huff. The king will not help them. He’s set on Theo being murdered by one of his brothers. Looks like I’m stuck with Mr. Tick and the potential disaster of stealing a weapon from an Idol.

“Daphne has a plan,” Genie says. I glare at him. We hadn’t discussed not telling the knights, but it seems fairly obvious to me. One, I don’t want them to worry. Two, I don’t want to get their hopes up if I don’t succeed.

“It involved killing the creepy wizard,” I tell them. “Which you said isn’t a possibility.”

Genie frowns at me but seems to get the message.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Calamity,” Hart advises.

“Aww, you care,” I say with a grin.

“My brothers are insufferable without you. It’s purely selfish, I assure you.”

Sure it is.

“Do you have anything you can share?” Theo asks with an eye roll at his brother. Everyone knows he’s talking shit; everyone but himself.

I think for a tempo as six eyes stare at me expectantly. It’s like they know I’m plotting something they won’t approve of. “They have an underground fighting ring,” I tell them, and their eyes widen. Trust males to get excited about violence.

“Fish fight?” Theo asks. “For what?”

“These, in particular, for the right to become the mate of a female.”

“No truer quest than to win the heart of the fairest maiden in the land,” my mirror man declares from wherever he’s hiding.

“The fish weren’t fighting over me,” I correct him before Theo explodes into his dragon and starts devouring all sea life.

“They should be, given you are the fairest in all the?—”

“He’s relentless,” Hart grumbles.

A pounding knock sounds at the door. My time is up.

“Who is that?” Theo snaps.

“Delivery service,” I say. “Got to swim. See you soon.” Sooner than they realize.

Without saying farewell, I grab my sword and dash through the house to my door. Mr. Tick waits for me, alone. Which is probably for the best. We don’t need witnesses.

Genie floats at my side as I close the door.

“Ready?” the grumpy crocodile asks as he eyeballs the gleaming blade in my hand.

“I am.”

“Then climb on my back, Daphne. We need to make haste. The king is preparing for his afternoon dalliance, and that is our opening.”

I swallow the unease swelling in my chest and climb onto his back. Please tell me I’m not about to seduce an Idol. We all know how that turns out.

We edge around the ballroom behind the females presenting themselves for Poseidon’s perusal. He seems bored as he flicks his fingers to dismiss them again and again. In his other hand is my prize, the trident.

“Take this potion,” Mr. Tick instructs as a glass bottle materialises out of nowhere into my hand. “Seduce him, make sure he drinks it, and then let me inside the bedchamber.”

I am not enjoying the parallels to King Arthur. Why did everyone believe me capable of seduction? Seduction isn’t a natural gift all women receive. Or if they are, I clearly skipped the line when they were dishing it out.

“I don’t know how to seduce,” I hiss as I tuck the tiny glass bottle between my breasts. Good thing I have an ample bosom. “And fair warning, this never ends well.”

The sword emits faint amusement at my expense. Oh yes, he would laugh it up.

Genie bobs his head in agreement. “It’s true. While she is pretty, she is not graced with feminine wiles.”

“No need. You are in the minority of creatures he’s not had in his bed, and he can’t resist a new conquest,” the crocodile says.

“You stay here,” I instruct the genie. “No need to witness my botched attempt at seduction. Meet me back at the Hallows.”

Mr. Tick pushes me out into the crowd to join the dwindling line of unhappy females.

I’ve got this. Just me, my sword, and my charm.

The line shifts fast, and a tempo later, I am staring at the Idol of the ocean. He frowns. “Lady? You have brought the sword to show me?”

That seems like a far more innocent explanation than I am here to dose, seduce, and steal from you.

He wiggles his fingers to beckon me forward. I take the few steps up to his throne, and he smiles at me as I dart my gaze to the floor and try fluttering my eyelashes.

“Are you well? Is the salt irritating your eyes? Sometimes the ladies are sensitive to it and need a little help.”

If anyone could hear my sword, they would discover he’s laughing so hard, he is the one crying salty tears.

“I am well, Poseidon. I have brought you the sword for inspection and to enquire if there is any way I can be of use to you?” Okay, now I sounded like a harlot.

Poseidon’s lips tilt up in an arrogant smirk. So he enjoys easy females and loose skirts. Freaking typical.

I lay the sword in my palms and present it to him. He runs a finger along the metal, and it ignites in a golden glow as previously invisible words flare to life. “This is one of my prettiest creations,” he muses as his eyes flick to me. “Only to be cared for by the prettiest of creatures.”

Yuck. He tilts his head and leans forward, his gaze dropping to my lips. “Would you care for a private tour?” he whispers.

Why is he whispering? Everyone here knows if I walk out with him, it’s because my floof is about to get fondled.

“I would love that,” I answer. He lurches to his feet and nods at his subjects.

“Dismissed. Cancel tonight’s dance. I believe I am about to be preoccupied.”

Mr. Tick winks at me as we leave the room and stroll down a hallway. Sea creatures stare wide-eyed at us. Nothing to see here. Move along. Just a mysterious Lady and her sword traversing the ocean.

“What would you like to see first?” he asks.