OVERFALLS (The Merworld Water Wars, Book 2) (36 page)

“Mer-Scrooge,” I muttered.

The wave transports gently rocked as they carried us down the beach, and I wondered if Mom was leaving a drool pool on Mr. Gibbs’s shoulder. As we neared the library, my jaw dropped at the view: a curvy white bridge led partygoers across the water to a magnificent sparkling structure in the shape of a merperson’s fin.

“Unreal,” I whispered. “Is it a building?”

“Entrance hall,” said Troy. “We’re going in, and then we’re going down.”

Here I tell him not to work the sexual innuendo at Christmastime, and my brain insists on taking his words and twisting them into a very dirty thought. I’m just so sick.

Carefully slipping out of the wave, I heard Mr. Gibbs trying to wake up my mom.

“I really dislike being woken up,” my mom snapped.

“Is your mom okay?” Troy asked.

“I think she might be a little narcoleptic,” I said. “Best to let Mr. Gibbs try and undo her mood.”

“Gonna be tough,” said Mom, walking stiffly past us. “I’ve got a reindeer up my butt, and I’m not even close to removing it. I need food.” She marched across the bridge with Mr. Gibbs walking a safe distance behind her.

“Well, you’ll be pleased to know my butt is reindeer free,” I said.

“Best news I’ve had all day.” Smiling, Troy held out his arm.

I looped my arm through his and we made our way across the bridge and into the giant fin-building.

The creamy white interior, though beautiful, was much smaller than it appeared from the outside. In fact, I started to feel a wee bit claustrophobic. Looking around the room, I couldn’t find my mom or any other familiar faces.

“Troy, where’s Mom? She came in her right before us. Is it multi-level or something? Maybe we should find an elevator and go up to the fin tip?”

“Marina, this
is
the elevator or, to be more precise, the fins-shipper. It’s only been used twice that I know of, and never for humans. Watch the walls.”

The white walls faded into the dark blue, purple, and green of the sea. As we descended, several undines circled the fins-shipper, waving and smiling; mermobiles zipped by us, honking conchs and flashing lights; some merfolk even fired friendly trident strikes around us. When the fins-shipper stopped, it opened into a glorious room overlooking a quiet sea with crystal fins and silver snowflakes dripping from the ceiling; a mermaid trio belted out Christmas tunes on a floating stage while couples danced on an elevated dance floor; and cushiony corner loveseats with refillable trays of delectable goodies lured those wishing to escape the crowd. This was where I finally spotted Mom.

“Oh…hi, sweetie,” said Mom, her mouth full of cake. “The ride down made me nauseous, but I decided I’m hungrier than I am barf-y.”

“Uh-huh. Mom, are you sure—”

“Hi Marina!” Airianna had just flitted up to me with Trey by her side. Mom may have thought I looked like an angel, but Airianna was the real deal with her long, sleek hair and white goddess gown. “Troy, are you leaving now?”

“As soon as we find Meikle and Polly,” said Troy.

“Meeks and Polly are waiting where I told them,” said Airianna, winking. “Gully’s dancing with herself again, and Maile
was
dancing with Benji, but he kept reeling over Ophelia and Irving, so she got bored.”

“Ophelia’s with Irving again?” I asked. “Airi, we need to talk to her. She can’t trust a Ravenflame, at least not one so connected to Katrina.”

“I know. I’m worried,” said Airianna.

“Agree with all that, but maybe we can let it go for tonight,” said Troy. “Besides, when I tried to talk to her after Halloween, she was having none of it.”

“Oh my sands, of course we can let it go tonight,” said Airianna. “Better go. The window of time is small.”

“Mr. Gibbs?” said Troy.

“I’ll tell Camille…when she wakes up.” Mom had fallen asleep with a doughnut in her hand.

I squeezed Mom’s hand and left with Troy, trying hard not to worry about her.

“She’s just overworked,” said Troy.

“That’s what I’ve been telling myself. It’s what I’m going to keep telling myself.”

Weaving through the many guests, we finally reached a small, empty passageway just off the main ballroom.

“Going somewhere?” Only Katrina Zale could make a Christmas dress look whorish.

“Why are you always cropping up like this? Playing follow the leader?” I said. Okay, that might have been uncalled for…after all, she hasn’t been crude and it was nearly Christmas. Maybe I should apologize. “I’m so—”

“Actually, I thought I was following some bizarrely bright Christmas creature, then I realized it was just your head,” she sneered.

Obnoxious bitch. “Don’t you have a date to annoy?”

“He…comes and goes.”

“Bet it’s more goes than comes,” I muttered to Troy.

“Speaking of goes, there’s somewhere we have to be,” said Troy.

“Naturally,” said Katrina. “Before you go, Marina, tell me…how
is
your Mom?”

“Why are you asking about my mom?”

“Oh, I don’t know…just…curious,” she said, running her fingers along her Prehendo Animus necklace.

“Leave her the hell alone, Katrina. Go near her, and there isn’t a king or queen crazy enough to save you, I promise you that.”

“My goodness, so fussy. Santa just might put you and your ornament head on the naughty side of the list. Merry Christmas.” Katrina slinked off to the ballroom.

“I hate that miserable merwhore. And I
hate
that she makes me feel
hate
, especially at Christmas. She’s a spit-wad of negative energy.”

“There’s nothing she can do to your mom, not with all of us watching each other’s backs. Please, for tonight, put the bitch and her family on a shelf, know your mom is safe with Mr. Gibbs, and…come away with me,” said Troy, holding out his hand.

Placing my hand in his, I said, “You’ve got me. All of me.”

He smiled and knocked three times on a blank wall at the end of the passageway. The wall evaporated and revealed yet another bridge; this one looked like gingerbread, half of which was obscured by an odd white mist. Standing near the middle of the bridge were Meikle and Polly. Polly was hanging over the side of the bridge, puking holly.

“Been doing this all night,” said Meikle. “Earlier today, it was candy canes.”

“That is the damnedest thing,” Troy mused. “It’s not really puke, is it?”

“Nope,” I said. “She’s the only person I know who has themed upchuck.”

“If you don’t think it’s puke, then come on over here and try barfing up some of this Christmas sh—”

“Sh-fa la la, right?” I said, being the dork that I am.

“Fa-la-lick my ass,” growled Polly, heaving while her eyes blinked a little demon.

“Meeks, you’re wearing green!”

Meikle rolled her eyes. “Maile refused to make me a black Christmas dress, so we settled on the darkest shade of green she could find. So, Prince Troy, you going to tell us why we’re here?”

Troy grinned. “Well, you and Polly were part of a little agreement I made in order to get Marina her present. And, judging by the thickness of the white mist, I do believe it’s time to go.”

“Go where, exactly?” asked Polly, yanking on her pink dress. “My demon crumbs have never been this rambunctious before.”

“For now, we go through the white mist,” said Troy, guiding us through a peppermint-scented haze. “And then…into another world.”

Once we emerged on the other side of the white mist, our gowns transformed into leather pants, faux-fur trimmed jackets, gloves, and boots; a light snow fell peacefully over chunks of ice floating in an ocean full of merry Merpeople with green, silver, gold, or candy-red hair.

“Welcome to Santa’s Sea village,” said Troy.

Wonder consumed my senses. Everywhere I looked, I saw another extraordinary sight: baby reindeer bringing smiles to a group of small mer-children; animals decorating trees, just like in the classic holiday specials; and a rainbow waterfall where mermaids spun strings of ornaments. Absolutely nothing could quash the magic in the air reminding my heart that dreams do come true.

“Hey, Troy.” A sultry, cherry-redheaded mermaid pranced up to my boyfriend and kissed him on the cheek. It was Mary Ella Tinsel, Troy’s first girlfriend. Dang it. She was gorgeous. Huh. What do you know? Magic quashed. Turning to me, she tossed her lean arms to the side and said, “Surprise!”

For a moment, my brain sort of farted. Glancing up at Troy, I muttered, “Your ex-girlfriend is my surprise?” I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. “Do you have some kinky Christmas wish you haven’t told me about? Because that’s not happening.”

“No, no,” said Troy, laughing. “Mary Ella helped me get you here. That’s why I met with her, but the tabloid caught us talking.”

“But missed the tongue-thrusting,” Meikle mumbled.

“You kissed my best friend’s boyfriend?” Polly blurted.

Mary Ella’s cheeks turned bright pink. “That was a mistake. I have no justification.”

“And no apology, apparently,” said Polly. When Mary Ella didn’t immediately offer an apology, Polly tripped out. “Mledfark Voowambfet!” Choking down holly chunks, she ran for the side of the bridge.

“Dear Santa,” said Mary Ella. “Is she okay?”

“This is par for Polly,” said Troy. “Everything ready?”

“Sure is! Just follow me.” We followed Mary Ella all the way across the bridge. Pausing by the edge of the snowy bank, she said, “Just follow the carved ice-way to Santa’s secret door. I’m not allowed in, I’m afraid.”

“Shame.” As Meikle passed Mary Ella, she stuck out her elbow and subtly shoved her into the water.

“MEEKS!” I screeched.

“What? It’s not like she’s gonna drown,” said Meikle, shrugging.

In between pine-scented belches, Polly was having an unstoppable fit of laughter. Truthfully, it was all I could do to keep from joining her; the only reason I didn’t was for Troy…and the big man in red, just in case I was still on the ‘nice’ side of the list.

Inside Santa’s secret door of the sprawling, gingerbread estate, we found ourselves in a room full of stockings shaped like fins. Darling little elves stitched, crocheted, knitted, and filled the fin-socks with pretend tridents, cuddly belugas, and model mermobiles. At the head of the room, in a large, whimsical oak chair…was Santa Claus.

“Ho, ho, Troy! Good to see you! Come forward, please. Join me by the fire,” said Santa, motioning to three empty chairs next to him. He was everything I always dreamed he would be—jolly, happy, comforting, and adorable, like my papaw. “Well, now, Troy, I believe you still have some things to do for Marina.”

“Yes, Sir, I do,” said Troy, patting Santa on the shoulder. “Thank you again for this.”

“My pleasure. Besides, I’ve wanted to meet these three for a long, long time. I’ll make sure Marina gets to you on schedule.” With a wink and a nod, Troy left through a small backdoor. Santa turned his twinkling eyes to Meikle. “Meikle Martinez. You put a pants-ripping charm on your fireplace when you were seven.”

“Uh-huh,” said Meikle, wide-eyed.

Chuckling, Santa said, “I remember it well. Had to ride around the whole state with torn pants until I could time warp and change.” Reaching into a smaller version of his toy sack, he handed Meikle a pearly orb. “For when you need to return something lost.”

Meikle stared in awe at the pretty object. “Thank you…Santa Claus.” My God. Meikle actually smiled…with teeth. And I don’t remember ever seeing her eyes sparkle.

“Polly Purdue. While in your alternate state, you spiked the chocolate chip cookies with chili pepper…and emptied the milk glass into your mom’s potted plant. You were nine.” Polly, staring at Santa with a measuring eye, suddenly popped up and yanked his beard. “Ooo, ouch!”

“It’s real,” said Polly airily.

“Good grief, Polls,” I said.

“What? I watch the movie every year. You can’t expect me not to pull it,” she said, belching.

“Yes, you are the same Polly I remember.” With a warm chortle, Santa handed Polly a mint. “It will ease your troublemaking parts.”

“Nothing eases them at Christmas,” she scoffed.

“Perhaps not. Then again, have you had any holiday bits escape your stomach since you walked in here?” he said, winking. Polly’s jaw dropped as she took the mint. “I thought not. Goodness is simple and pure. It lifts light past darkness. It’s the bad that seeks to complicate the good, and it’s the will of the good which refuses to allow it.” From his bag, he removed a pink and purple woven bracelet with a silver eye charm. “To reach the unreachable.”

Putting the bracelet on her wrist, Polly said, “I’d like to see the toy room.”

“Oh, no one goes in there, Polly. Besides, this isn’t my main hub. I came here at Troy’s request,” said Santa. “Now, Marina Jayne Valentine. You were a good kid.”

“Priss,” mumbled Meikle.

“I ate your cookies one year, felt bad—”

“And left me half a cookie with a note that said, ‘Dear Santa: I ate most of your cookies. I’m sorry. There are more in Dad’s closet behind his smelly shoes where Mom wouldn’t look.’ I kept that note,” he said, laughing. “You have quite a destiny, Marina. Never let fear chase away your fate. A person’s faith is their greatest weapon, never lose it.” Taking my hand, he placed a sizeable golden button in my palm. “To secure the safety of one that is in grave danger. All three of you, keep these tokens with you at all times. You never know when you’ll need them. Now, then, I’m going to take Meikle and Polly to meet the sea elves. Marina, if you’ll just walk straight out this door and follow the path…you’ll find your next surprise.”

“Thank you, Santa,” I said, hugging him.

“You’re welcome, Marina. And remember, when darkness tries to drown hope, faith will always be its life preserver.”

I smiled, nodded, and exited through the tiny door. Outside the door was a pathway sprinkled with chocolate Santa candies. Collecting candies along the way, I followed the path to a snow-covered fence; just beyond the fence, standing beside a silver, horse-drawn sleigh, was my merman.

Bowing to kiss my hand, he said, “Your carriage awaits.” His eyes were so full of love. I could never tire of watching his eyes watch me.