Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) (7 page)

***

Queen Naida didn’t return for hours. Nathan and I were the only ones awake when she swam to the prison bars, gliding gracefully through the water like it was air. I looked to where Aimee, Tavis, and Elvina lay on the floor and wondered if I should wake them. Before I could decide, Queen Naida cleared her throat, demanding attention.

I rose and progressed awkwardly to the front of my cell, my movements a struggle compared to the Queen’s innate fluidity. Her tail probably made underwater travel more suitable than my gangly legs.

She took my approach as encouragement to begin speaking. “The council has met and come to a decision. We require your presence in the highest level of the palace.”

Feeling nervous but determined not to show it, I said, “All right. Let us out so we can follow your instructions.”

Queen Naida smiled, and on an elf or even a fairy it would have been considered sympathetic. On the Mermaid Queen, it was just patronizing. “I am afraid you are mistaken. Your elf friends must remain here. You and your fairy companion are able to leave.”

“Why only us?” Elvina asked suddenly. I hadn’t even noticed her waking up.

“Answers will be provided by the council,” the Queen replied vaguely, with a smug sweetness that made anger bubble up inside me.

Nathan peered at me uncertainly. I didn’t know what to say to help our situation, so I tried to give him a reassuring smile and beckoned Elvina forward. Hesitating slightly, she joined me at the bars. The Queen removed a key practically out of nowhere; it was rough and probably fashioned out of coral. She inserted it into the lock on our cell and opened the small door to the right of us.

“Come now,” she instructed.

I bit my lip and considered the possibility of never returning to this cell, of never seeing Nathan or my friends again.

“Tell Aimee and Tavis what happened when they wake up,” I told Nathan, keeping my eyes trained ahead of me, on Queen Naida’s exotically beautiful face. I couldn’t look into his eyes. I would surely break down if I did. I was so frightened that I could barely keep my voice steady.

I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t ignore the Queen’s request, so I stopped wondering about the future and followed her robotically, leaving the prison cell and the trapped elves behind.

***

Passing through the palace was a huge blur. Everything was bright and loud, and after spending so much time in silence and close quarters, I wasn’t prepared for so much chaos. The palace was divided into multiple rising levels with large holes in the floors rather than stairs. Queen Naida had two of her attendants, the mermaid Arva and merman Latimer, guide us through each floor because Elvina and I weren’t used to traveling underwater. The trip made me dizzy. Arva swam incredibly fast for such a small creature. Her nimble movements disoriented me quickly, and I had to close my eyes until we reached the top where the council awaited our arrival.

When we reached the final level, Arva set me down gently and departed with Latimer. I stood with Elvina before an assembly of seven mermaids including the Queen. Each sat on a lavish throne decorated with jewels, coral, and undersea plants. Queen Naida took her place beside a dark-haired merman holding a scepter encrusted with pearls. I knew right away that he was King Almog. He exuded poise and royalty, his stature both impressive and intimidating. He wasn’t wearing a crown, but neither was Naida for that matter. I briefly speculated the possibility that they had hidden their crowns because they knew we needed one to get out of here. Vortigern’s ambassadors had probably informed them.

Three of the mermaids looked very similar. All had long bluish-green hair and piercing violet eyes. Their faces shone with distaste. I supposed they didn’t like Elvina and me very much, what with the disturbance our arrival had caused. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

The last two appeared younger than the rest, their faces youthful and fresh. One, a merman with sandy-colored hair and green eyes, studied us curiously. The black-haired mermaid beside him watched with an unwavering icy blue gaze. I couldn’t tell if she was disgusted or intrigued by our presence. Maybe it was both.

Queen Naida was the first to speak. She didn’t hold the scepter, but she seemed to be the one in charge. “I have brought the two fairies the council requested.” She turned to us. “State your names, please.”

I eyed the mermaids warily, feeling exposed and uncomfortable in their presence. They wore gazes of scrutiny and judgment. I felt like I was up for auction. “Okay. I’m Ramsey and this is El –”

“Elsa,” Elvina answered quickly. “My name is Elsa.”

Feeling extremely confused, I shot her a sideways glance, which she in turn ignored completely. Why was she afraid to say her name? Yes, she was the fairy child who had started the war more or less, but I was the one destined to end it, and I had given my name. What did it matter if they knew? I wasn’t about to correct her, but I would definitely bring up the subject when we were alone.

“Very good,” Queen Naida said with an approving nod. “Questions may begin now.”

At first, I thought she meant for Elvina and I to ask questions, which I was beyond ready for. I wanted to know how this all-powerful council could allow themselves to be bullied by Element fairies. But then King Almog opened his mouth, and I was forced to keep quiet.

“Naida tells me you are related to the High Queen,” he said in his thick accent, addressing me. “Do you seek her favor?”

My initial thought was:
What a stupid question. It doesn’t even make any sense.
But I knew the mermaids wouldn’t respond kindly to any outbursts, so I chose my words carefully.

“I seek her aid,” I told him. “To protect the Magical Realms from further war and destruction. That’s why you have to let us go. You can’t let Vortigern’s empty threats stop you from doing what’s right.”

King Almog chuckled softly. “You are brave and noble for one so young. But while you know of war and destruction, you know nothing about preservation. King Vortigern’s threats are real and dangerous. We cannot and will not ignore them on your word alone.”

“You can’t ignore what’s happening, either,” I retorted. “Elves and fairies are dying because King Vortigern thirsts for power. He won’t stop with the Elf Realm. Soon he’ll be waging war on your kind.”

“How can you be so sure?” One of the three similar mermaids asked. “Your war began over a stolen fairy child. What do we have that Vortigern wants?”

I noticed Elvina cringe and I wished I could comfort her. She was never comfortable with talk of the war’s origins because of her part in its beginning.

“Council Member Mairi makes a valid point,” King Almog decreed. “There is no reason why the Element Fairy King would wage war with us, unless we allowed you and your friends to leave Atlantis, which would be against his orders.”

I couldn’t control my temper any longer. Their ignorance was just too much for me to handle. “Don’t you see what’s going on?” I cried. “This is only the beginning. First orders and then pretty soon he’ll be invading your palace and calling it his second home!”

“Why would he do that?” another of the similar mermaids inquired.

“Because he’s greedy and obsessed with power,” I insisted. “The stolen fairy child was only an excuse to start something with the Elf Realm. He has other plans, ones that don’t involve peace or harmony.”

“You do not know this for certain,” the same mermaid assumed.

I felt like pulling my hair out. “Of course not. I haven’t exactly asked Vortigern what his ulterior motive is, but I’m sure it’s fairly close to what I’m saying. Why else would he allow a pointless war continue for thirty years?”

“Why did
your
queen let it continue for thirty years?” the last of the three mermaids asked.

“She loved her sister, and her sister loved the fairy child,” I said. “She protected her family.”

“That is not the true reason. One child is not worth the lives that have been lost in your war,” the younger merman said, matching my determined gaze with his own.

“Then what is the reason?” I asked.

“Because doing so would have been weak. The only way to respond to a tyrant is through resistance and rebellion.”

“Orrin, that is quite enough,” King Almog objected angrily. “Know your place.”

I could tell that the younger merman, Orrin, was simmering beneath the surface. But he took the King’s demand without question. His eyes, however, found mine quickly. In them I saw understanding. He wasn’t the ideal ally, being on the council and all, but if persuaded, could he be the help we needed?

I nudged Elvina conspicuously, trying to convey my thoughts without alerting the council. She nodded discreetly, showing her agreement. Orrin was the one to watch.

“We will get nowhere arguing pointlessly. The council has made their decision,” Queen Naida said.

“And what’s that?” I asked, frustrated with their lack of strength.

“Your elf friends will remain below until more suitable arrangements are made,” Mairi explained.

“What about us?” Elvina wondered.

“You are daughters of Fae. You will be treated with the respect you deserve. A room has been prepared for you in the palace. Princess Teslyn will escort you,” King Almog said, indicating the younger mermaid next to Orrin.

I looked at Princess Teslyn to see if her eyes held the same promise as Orrin’s, but the dark-haired mermaid refused to meet my gaze. I wouldn’t count on her. I had to think of some way to get Orrin’s attention. At this point, he was our only hope.

“Are we prisoners here?” I asked.

“Of course not,” Queen Naida said with a bemused expression. “You cannot leave the Realm without a mermaid’s assistance, so you are free to roam as you wish. Careful outside the palace, however, because some mermaids may not find you as harmless as the council does.”

Her voice was soft and lovely, her words kind. But under that guise I saw the true meaning behind her advice. If we wanted to live peacefully among the mermaids, we would stay in the palace. I wasn’t interested in living peacefully. I wanted to get out. The fact that Queen Naida and King Almog trusted their mermaids to follow their orders and keep us here was strange but not all that surprising. These royals weren’t interested in dissent or individual thinking, only perfect harmony under their careful rule. They probably had these mermaids highly trained. Obey the commands and reap the rewards. Disobey and face punishment. Finding help wouldn’t be easy, even in Orrin, who sat silently while Princess Teslyn led us to our new room.

Dressed in pearls and undersea life, our accommodations were lavish and impressive. The room held two clamshell beds and a sitting area with a large sea sponge for a couch. A mirror hung on the wall and a stone chest was positioned between the two beds. The floor was sandy and dotted with seashells. If I were to remove my boots at all during my stay, I would have watch where I stood to avoid cutting my feet. Mermaids obviously never had this problem because their tails didn’t reach the ground.

Knowing we wouldn’t get any planning done with a shadow hanging over us, I turned to Princess Teslyn after examining our surroundings and said, “Thank you” – an obvious dismissal.

The dark-haired mermaid focused her icy gaze on me. “Dismiss me now and you will never see another Magical Realm.”

Maybe she was our ally after all.

Princess Teslyn sounded like she wanted to help us, but there was an edge to her words that concerned me. I had to be sure of her intentions before I decided to trust her. “All right, we’re listening.”

The Princess frowned. “I hope you are not expecting a detailed explanation for my presence. Aiding your efforts was not my idea.”

“Whose idea was it?” I asked.

“My brother’s,” she said. When we didn’t react, she added, “Prince Orrin.”

“The merman King Almog silenced?” Elvina wondered.

“Yes,” she answered. “He will visit you shortly to explain. I am only here to let you know…You have allies. You are not alone in this.”

I felt relief course through me for the first time since our arrival in the palace. There was still hope. We would have help. We could get out of here.

“Thank you,” I said. Elvina echoed my words.

“Do not thank me just yet,” the Princess advised. “My brother and I have influence here, but not nearly as much as the King and Queen and the rest of the council.”

With that, she departed from the room.

“What do you think?” Elvina asked once the door closed.

I sighed. “I don’t know. We might as well wait for Prince Orrin. Hear him out, decide what to do then.” I rubbed my arms anxiously.

“Nathan and the others are fine. The mermaids won’t hurt them,” Elvina said, as if reading my very thoughts.

“Not yet,” I retorted. “But how long before they need jail space and decide to…to…I don’t know….” I gripped the folds of my clothes in frustration. I hated being so powerless. I hated waiting for a merman who may or may not be our only hope of escape. I hated that I hadn’t told Nathan I loved him before I left the prison cell, because I did. I loved him even when I pushed him away. I could only hope he knew that.

“Ramsey,” Elvina said, taking my hands and holding them tight, “we’re going to get to the Flower Fairy Realm. All of us.”

The sound of our door clicking open prevented me from responding. In swam Prince Orrin, looking ruffled and crackling with energy. “We will have to make this quick.”

“Make what quick?” I asked.

He readily ignored me. “My reluctant sister and I have devised a plan for your escape. It is riddled with flaws and risks, but we have not had much time to prepare. With so many visitors lately, we have barely had enough privacy to discuss our options.”

“So you’ve had more visitors other than the Element fairies?” I assumed.

Orrin’s eyes flashed a darker shade of green. “You are very intuitive.”

I smirked. “And you are very good at avoiding direct questions.”

Elvina moved between us, preventing further witty commentary. “The plan?”

Orrin nodded. “Right. We must wait for dark water, when the city is covered in shadow. Princess Teslyn will distract the council while I take you to the border.”

“Wait,” I said, unable to believe that the merman spewing such poorly planned nonsense was actually a prince. “That’s it?”

Orrin frowned, as if he couldn’t understand why I doubted him. “Like I said, we have not had much time. But I believe this will work.”

“It won’t work,” I insisted. “Unless your mermaids are oblivious to movement.”

The Prince swam past Elvina until we faced each other. “Do not mock me.”

I placed my hands on my hips, trying to look imposing. I probably just looked foolish, but I wasn’t about to admit that by removing them. “I’m not. I’m being honest. We can’t just leave. We have to be more careful than that.”

“There is no time to be careful,” he said. “We must act before the mermaids have adjusted to your presence. The palace is in chaos because of your arrival. Furniture is being moved, mermaids relocated.”

“So shouldn’t we leave now?” I asked.

Orrin shook his head. “We must have the cover of darkness in order to succeed. Mermaids see rather poorly in the dark. We use our voices to find our way.”

“Like sonar with whales?” I guessed.

He actually smiled. “Something like that. The activity will not die down until morning, I believe. We will have enough time.”

I nodded, feeling more confident in the Prince’s abilities now that he wasn’t acting so tense. “How do we leave the palace without being noticed?”

Orrin’s eyes left me. “I believe your friend Elvina can help with that.”

I stiffened. How did he know her real name? To the mermaids, she was supposed to be Elsa.

Elvina, however, didn’t look the least bit surprised. “Your knowledge can mean only one thing,” the Woodland fairy said. “Eder has been here.”

“What now?” I asked, thoroughly confused and feeling the onset of one powerful headache.

Again, I was ignored. Wasn’t I the Chosen Daughter? I deserved some respect, right? Guess not. Brimming with frustration, I crossed my arms against my chest and sighed heavily. Still, I received no attention. Was I invisible?

“Clever of you to hide your identity,” Orrin commented to Elvina, like I wasn’t even in the room. His expression was much too admiring. Was he attracted to her? Because that would just make things…well, more complicated, to say the least.

“I was told to do so by Queen Brielle,” Elvina replied, smiling with pride. “She said if we had allies here, they would recognize the cover up.”

“It must have been difficult for you,” he said gently. “Bending your way around the truth.”

She pursed her lips, a gesture that was very fae-like and made me shiver. Elvina normally acted like such an elfen. I never thought much of her fairy heritage unless the origins of the war were discussed. Now she was acting every bit of her true nature and it unnerved me. “Living in Tarlore as the only fairy in a sea of elves capable of lying made bending the truth necessary. I’ve grown quite good at the act.”

I groaned. “Okay, not that I’m not impressed by your skills, Elvina, but can we please back up to that part about Eder?” I asked. “I would really like to know how and why he was here.”

Elvina drew her eyes from Orrin to me. Finally, some acknowledgment. “I’m sorry, Ramsey, but there isn’t time to discuss Eder’s involvement. Just know that he is doing us a great service by bringing the right creatures over to our side.”

“Now you’re really acting like a fairy,” I said bitterly.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her expression full of alarm.

I rubbed my arms and shook my head. “Never mind.”

Elvina and Orrin looked at me curiously for a moment before going back to ignoring me. “The remaining members of your party should be notified of our plan,” Orrin advised.

“Ramsey should be the one to do that,” Elvina said. “Can you get her down to the prison without being detected?”

“I will send her down with one of my guards. I would ask you to put a Glamour on her, but the prison wards off magical enchantments unless specifically allowed by the King and Queen.”

“But how will we leave the palace without using Glamour magic?” Elvina wondered.

“While Ramsey sees to her friends, we will remain here and work on how we can get past the limitations,” Orrin said.

“Fine. Does that sound all right, Ramsey?” Elvina asked. When I didn’t respond, she said, “Nathan and the others should know what’s happening.”

I had suddenly lost the will to speak. Talk of fairy Glamour had brought on flashbacks I wasn’t prepared for: Ellie’s fiery boots, the wicked gleam in her fae eyes, that sinister smile…all traces of her elfen disguise washed away….

“I don’t want a Glamour,” I said hurriedly. “I don’t want to pretend to be someone else. Not like her. I – I can’t.”

Orrin looked at me like I was insane. Hey, I probably was. “What nonsense is she referencing?”

Elvina, much more sensitive than the dashing prince, seemed to know why I was reacting so irrationally. She took my hands and held them tight. “Fairy magic isn’t evil, Ramsey. It can be used for good.”

I felt my lips tremble. “I’m sorry,” I said in a rush, so it sounded like one word instead of two. “I don’t know why I just…never mind.” I took a shaky breath. “I should go to Nathan.”

Elvina nodded slowly, still watching me with a deeply concerned gaze. Orrin just looked more convinced that I was nuts. I really didn’t like him. I preferred Princess Teslyn’s company. Sure, she was cold, but she wasn’t annoyingly condescending.

“Will you be all right?” Elvina asked.

I didn’t say anything. Saying yes would have been a lie, and I didn’t like lying to someone who couldn’t do the same to me.

“I will return with your escort,” Orrin said, swimming out of the room like his tail was on fire. Obviously he was no longer interested in my particular brand of crazy company.

Once he was gone, Elvina’s expression hardened. “Don’t trust him, Ramsey. Any of them.”

She was referring to the mermaids. “But I thought we had allies?” I asked.

“Remember what you heard from the council. Mermaids are obsessed with the concept of self-preservation. If during our escape something happens to put Orrin in danger, he will not put our lives ahead of his.”

At least I knew she wasn’t fooled by his charm. But her words had taken root in the pit of my stomach, and now the fear of betrayal was steadily blossoming. How could I ever learn to trust again if I continued to be deceived? Orrin hadn’t crossed us yet –
yet
being the key word in this situation. Would I notice the telltale signs if and when the time came, or would I succumb to the same foolishness I had experienced with Ellie?

Boots like fiery snakes. Blood red wings. Dark irises clouded with malice. A beautiful fae hand reaching out to catch my chin and burn my skin.

Images of a betrayal I had tried so hard to bury had resurfaced and with it suspicions so strong they could swallow me if I wasn’t careful.

I had to be careful.