Page 9

Chapter

Seven

S leep evades me the entire night as I toss and turn on the ocean bed.

It doesn’t matter how soft the mattress is.

Without my knights, I can’t settle. When did that happen?

When did my happiness rest on the shoulders of four brothers?

My simple life in Strongfair used to fulfill me.

I didn’t live in a castle or have folks who made sure I was shiny and well put together.

Lacy undergarments were unheard of, and a good sausage was the dream, not the norm.

Now I’ve tasted them, and they’ve touched my heart with their protectiveness. My sister is the only person who has ever been important to me. She’s genetically wired to love me, so that doesn’t count. It’s basically her job.

“Please quiet your mind,” the genie grumbles from his prone position beside me.

I groan and rub my hands down my face. “I can’t sleep. I miss them.”

“Let’s talk about the simple solution.”

I’m not that stupid. “I’m not wishing for anything.”

“I understand, but let’s pretend.”

“Do pretend wishes count?”

“Only if you say ‘I wish.’”

I sit up. The mirror man left to help the gang in the library. He’ll be back when the sun rises to inform me of any progress they’ve made. Currently, the plan is to beg Poseidon or steal his trident. Neither appeal.

“Okay. What if I decided I no longer wanted to be the Lady of the Lake?”

“You would be compelled to give the sword to one of the knights.”

“Meaning I would die and no longer be her.”

“Exactly.”

“What if I wanted to be free of the ocean?”

“Same consequence.”

I sigh. This is impossible. The genie folds his hands behind his head and stretches out. “What if I used one to get you to tell me the wish I could make to get out of here without consequences?”

“That’s against the rules.”

I arch a brow. “You have rules?”

“Very few, but enough to oppose what you’re talking about.”

“Tell me.”

Genie unravels his hands and lifts one finger. “One, you cannot ask me to disclose a wish which will have no consequence.”

“So there are wishes with no consequences.”

His mouth flops open and closes. “That’s right.”

I’ll need to ponder that. “What else?”

“I cannot bring anyone back from the grave.”

I scrunch my face. “That’s a given. I also don’t know any dead folks I would waste a wish on.”

He lifts another finger. “I cannot force love.”

I flick my hand in the water. “No requirement for that. I have four knights to keep me occupied.”

“Indeed,” he agrees, lifting another finger. “I cannot transform someone to become the main character in a narrative. That is messing with Idols. Even I won’t do that.”

“Can you do the opposite? Remove someone from a narrative?” He goes silent for a tempo. I’ve stumped the ancient genie.

“Nobody has ever asked me that, but I believe it is possible. But don’t forget the consequences of that wish.”

I snort, creating a wave of bubbles. “Probably murdering them, which removes them.”

“I resent the word murder.”

“Then stop committing it.”

“Lastly, you cannot gift or skip your wishes, and you cannot wish for more wishes.”

“Meaning you are stuck with me until I make three?”

“Yes.”

I contemplate what he has revealed. The wishes were a burden, not a gift, and I am not foolish enough to believe I won’t slip at some point. Everyone uses the words I wish without weighing the consequences, because we know it won’t happen.

“I need to get out of here,” I mutter.

“We already discussed the consequences of that wish.”

“No, just out of this house.”

“Didn’t your guide say you shouldn’t leave?”

I climb off the bed and spin in a circle. “I need to explore beyond this house before I cause chaos in my boredom.”

Genie rolls his eyes. “Come on. Let’s see what trouble we can find.”

I march out of the bedroom and through the living area before yanking open the door. The ocean is darker than what it was when I arrived, but as I step outside, the tiny luminescent creatures ignite under my feet. I stare at the path they form in awe.

Genie floats at my side as I strut forward. “Do you know where you are going?” he asks.

“Nope.”

Sometimes, a journey isn’t about the destination, it’s about discovery. I rarely have an end in mind, as my chaotic life doesn’t do well with rigid instructions. Best to have a general idea and nudge toward it. That way, it can’t run away from you.

“There’s something following us,” Genie says.

I spin on my heel to glare at whatever creepy creature has attached itself to us. The shadow comes into view, and I relax. “It’s Linda,” I explain.

Linda somehow adjusts her face into one of disappointment. She eyeballs the genie with curiosity before scowling at me. “Where are you going?” she asks.

“I got bored, so I am exploring.”

“The waters are dangerous grounds in the dead of night.”

I park my hands on my hips. “I am not scared of the night.”

“Return to your house.”

“Nope.” I spin and take a step forward. I want to stride like a badass, but the water restricts my movement.

She sighs as she swims up next to me. “Who is he?” she asks.

“Genie. He’s my, umm, genie.”

“I am an ancient being who can grant my master three wondrous wishes.”

That’s a better introduction.

“Why haven’t you wished yourself free?” Linda asks. “I realize you’d prefer not to be here.”

“He’s failing to tell you that all wishes come with consequences.”

“Like?”

“Let’s say I want to be free. That could, and most likely would, result in me giving a knight the sword.”

“And therefore you die, and it releases you. What a wicked, wicked creature,” she correctly concludes.

“I resent the implication that I am wicked. The consequences of a wish aren’t something I have control over. If I could, I would grant Daphne all her heart’s desires. But all magic comes at a cost. I am not the only fairy-tale creature that suffers such an undercurrent of maliciousness.”

It was reassuring he didn’t enjoy the horror that could result from his magic, but it didn’t diminish the fact it still happened.

“What is there to see and do around here?” I ask. Surely the entire ocean isn’t asleep.

“Ride me,” Linda instructs.

“Excuse me? Miss Daphne has four knights who wouldn’t be happy with this turn of events,” the genie states.

I side-eye him as I stop and climb on. “She means like a horse,” I tell him.

Genie blinks at the image of me on a seahorse. “Oh, I see. Yes, you were walking rather slowly.”

Linda shakes her head and turns to the right before racing through the ocean.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“There’s only one interesting place you can go at this time of night.”

“Which is?”

“You’ll see.” With that declaration, we ride for a turn before a structure comes into view. Initially, I believe it is Atlantis, until the circular stone building becomes clearer, and the roar of the crowd reaches me. I meet Genie’s eyes, and he shakes his head, as clueless as myself.

Linda darts through a small doorway, and we emerge into a crowded arena.

A large clearing dominates the center with layers of ascending seating surrounding it.

All manner of creatures fill the seats—mermen, mermaids, seahorses, turtles, lobsters, fish, squids, plus numerous other curious creatures I have no name for watch the arena floor with rapt attention.

Linda guides us into an empty spot on the lowest level. Probably for the best. I climb off her and settle onto the stone bench. Genie hovers next to me, while Linda flanks my other side.

The crowd quiets as something emerges from the shadows. An enormous crocodile moves sluggishly into the center, and everyone holds their breath as he eyeballs the crowd.

“The next challengers fight for the honor of becoming Felicia’s mate,” he snarls. “They have until the clock stops to end their opponent. Bets will close in one tempo.”

To end? Like fight to the death? There’s a flurry of movement as folks make their predictions. Gold passes hands.

“What is this?” I whisper.

Linda nods her head at the crocodile. “Mr. Tick is the owner of the ocean’s biggest underground fighting ring.”

“Why would they do this?”

“For riches and status.” She gives me a steely glare. “And to break their boredom.”

I deserved that. I’m only here because I got bored.

The crocodile’s beady eyes settle on me, and he grins. Wow, that’s terrifying. No one needs that many sharp and pointy teeth. Six or seven would do the job; the rest are for show.

“Don’t look him in the eyes,” Linda hisses.

“Too late,” I grumble. The crocodile winks at me. Oh, Idols.

She sighs. “Frank is going to kill me.”

Two mermen with spears in their hands block the doors nearest us. I swallow the knot of worry in my chest. “Why are they there?”

Linda glances toward the exit. “It’s standard. The fight is about to start, and they don’t want the deal makers escaping with people’s winnings.”

“Oh good. For a tempo, I thought it was a me thing.”

“It’s also a you thing.” Dammit.

Two tiny fish swim out of opposite ends of the arena. They circle the edge, causing the crowd to go wild. When they said a fight to the death, I wasn’t expecting cute little creatures. What were they going to do? Blow bubbles at each other? Slap their opponent with their small fins?

They sweep past us twice, and tension ripples through the crowd, nearly palpable in its intensity. This is what they consider entertainment? Huh. Compared to what I endure every diurnal, it’s quite bland.

Mr. Tick gives me one last look before a loud clicking noise echoes in the water. It’s so powerful that the ocean vibrates. A clock, I realize. My gaze narrows on the crocodile. His body jerks in time with it, and I realize the sound comes from within him. Now his name makes sense.

“How is he doing that?”

“Legend says a pirate forced him to swallow a clock, so he could have an early warning system when the crocodile was nearby,” Linda tells me.

“But he can turn it off and on at will?”

“Yes.”

“Seems like a flawed system.”

She chuckles. “I’m certain the pirate met his end.”

Mr. Tick retreats from the arena, and the tiny fish fly at each other. Blood spills into the water, making me suck in a breath. I lean forward, eyes wide, as a vicious flurry of fins and teeth ensues. I am equal parts enraptured and horrified. Never again will I dismiss a fish based on its size.

The ticking gets louder, and the crowd collectively holds its breath as one fish goes in for the kill. They clash, and one of them swirls upward, blood whipping around them before their lifeless body floats down to the ocean bed with a tiny thud.

The clock stops, and Mr. Tick scurries into the arena. “Joe is the victor!” The crowd goes nuts and glints of gold shine as the deal makers pay out. “Congratulations to the happy couple. Joe has earned the right to become Felicia’s mate.”

A fish several times larger than Joe swims into the center of the arena. Wait, that’s the female? How would that work? Where did he put his sausage? Do fish have sausages?

Joe swims under Felicia, who grimaces as a little blood fills the water when he attaches himself to her.

“Did he just bite her?” I ask.

“That’s how they mate. He will fertilise her eggs from there,” Linda informs me.

“Then they part ways?”

She shakes her head. “Nope, he’s there for life.”

The vicious crocodile’s eyes land on me again. I glance over my shoulder to find the mermen still blocking the exit. I don’t think I’m going to like where this is heading.

“They are still there,” I mumble.

Genie floats out to glare at them. “Perhaps they will move once the gold has been paid.”

I don’t think that’s the case.

Sure enough, people move toward the various exits, expecting the guards to allow them to pass. When they don’t, their curious gazes scan the arena for the cause of their delayed departure.

Two mermen swim up the small barrier outlining the fighting ground. “Mr. Tick would like to meet the new Lady of the Lake,” one of them declares.

“Mr. Tick will need to request that meeting through Poseidon,” Linda demands. “She has already been presented to him and accepted. You cannot mess with her.”

“Move out of the way,” the low rumbly voice belonging to the crocodile says. The mermen part to reveal the owner.

“I simply wish to meet the new Lady. I consider it my duty to be aware of everything happening here.”

That’s quite the claim, knowing all. I struggled to remember everyone’s name in my tiny village after living there for many annuses.

“I’m Daphne,” I tell him, hoping that by offering my name, he will let us leave. But there’s no mistaking the danger pulsing in the water.

“Daphne,” he growls. “Join me for a drink.”

It’s not a question, but I have danced with danger more deadly than him. Trying to intimidate a maiden who has fought to survive a realm intent on ending her every diurnal is a pointless endeavour.

“Nope, I’m good. Thanks, though. Maybe next time.”

He grins. “I have something you want.”

Doubtful.

“Then set a meeting with Poseidon, and we can talk.” I turn, noting the guards have moved to the side to allow the folks to leave. Good. I try to join the crushing crowd. Suddenly, my boring ocean bed seems much more inviting.

“Poseidon will never let you leave, Lady of the Lake.”

I give him a thumbs up over my shoulder like he’s imparted some incredible knowledge. “Thanks for the wisdom.”

He chuckles. It’s a metallic, rusty sound that hurts my teeth. “My mistake. It was my understanding that you wanted to leave the ocean and rejoin your knights.”

I freeze and spin to face him. “How?”

He winks at me. “When you are ready for the answers, let me know. But this is a timely deal.”

“Daphne, no,” Linda snaps.

“How much time?” I ask, ignoring her. He jiggles his chest, and the clock ticks again. Tempos, not turns or diurnals. I fold my arms and narrow my eyes. “I’m listening.”

A slow grin stretches his mouth. “Follow me if you dare, Daphne.” He spins and shuffles over the sand, his tail flicking in the water.

Genie shrugs while Linda shakes her head. “Never make a deal with a crocodile.”

I bite my lip and step over the boundary wall to follow Mr. Tick.

“I’ll just hear him out,” I mutter. “No harm ever came from listening to a deal, right?”

“Depends on how seductive the prize is,” Genie says from beside me.

My other side is empty. My seahorse has abandoned me.

I’ll listen, that’s all. My heart thunders at the possibility of returning to my sister and my knights. How much am I willing to risk for them? The answer is terrifying.

Everything. I would risk it all.