OVERFALLS (The Merworld Water Wars, Book 2) (47 page)

I should have created shields. I should have been terrified at the two-person war raging against my mom. I should have been dead.

Instead, something protected us, guiding my mind to another plane. I was able to block each and every deadly flash, and I did absolutely nothing on my own—it was my trident. The glowing weapon moved my hands and body like I was an ancient, mystic warrior.

Furious and confused, the queen swirled her trident overhead; boiling purple waves grew larger and larger above her wild hair.

Sweat poured off Mom’s face; her agonizing screams ripped at my heart. I had no thought in my mind except my mom…they wouldn’t take her…I wouldn’t allow it…

Queen Zale lowered her arm and aimed at my chest, the fiery mass following her trident’s every move, aching to boil its target. Mustering every ounce of strength I had left, I raised my hands and hurled two blasts at the ground around her feet. The force of the explosions killed her attack and knocked all of us backwards. Collapsing to the ground, something in my pocket bore into my thigh. Pulling it out, I found the golden button Santa had given me resting in the palm of my hand.

To secure the safety of one that is in grave danger
.

“My mom is in grave danger…help,” I whispered, staring at the button.

Nothing happened.

“You surprise me, doll. I didn’t know you had such a violent streak. But playtime’s over now.” The queen and Katrina were already floating over me. Catching a glimpse of the button in my hand, Queen Zale winced, covering her eyes.

“S-so bright,” Katrina shrieked.

But nothing was shining, at least not to me.

“Go, Katrina! Go now!” screamed Queen Zale. Katrina rocketed off. Still blocking her eyes, the queen glared at my mom. “Soon.” And she disappeared in a sudden swarm of bubbles.

“Mom! Mom!”

“Something…I need…to show you,” she wheezed. She swept her hand down my face.

Oh my God. “Mom?” Her face was drawn, her skin a sickly green and covered in bruises, and her hands cradled her swollen stomach. “I don’t under—”

“I’m pregnant.”

“That much I just figured out. How a year passed without me noticing…or you giving birth…is sort of escaping me.”

“A-as for the time…because the baby isn’t quite human, I’m the lucky gal who has the gestation period of a dolphin. And as for you not noticing, well, that’s my doing. I didn’t want you to worry. That night, in the tunnel…way back before the hearing—”

“When you stayed behind to talk to Tree and Doctor Tenly…”

“Yes. I told them about the pregnancy. They altered my aura so no one would see me…like this…so no one would know.”

“The Dealer knew—Katrina or Queen Crazy or whichever Zale…point is, they knew.”

“I-I don’t know how…” Her screams reached an unearthly decibel. “Please don’t be mad at me. Just wanted you n-not to worry.”

Holding her hands, I said, “I’m not mad.”

“You have to go…w-win.”

“I’m not leaving you alone.”

“She won’t be alone.” King Tombolo and a group of mer-healers appeared behind us. “We got your call for help. We’ll take care of her, don’t worry. Go. You can still catch Katrina,” he said, squeezing my shoulders. “Your mermobile is faster and, from what I hear, you’re a much better driver.”

“Go, baby girl.”

“I love you,” I said.

“I lov—” Her eyes turned yellow and black as her cries sounded more and more like a dying aquatic creature.

“Marina, you have to go,” said the king.

Reluctantly, I sprinted to the mermobile and powered away. In very little time, I saw the lights and cameras of eager reporters awaiting the action. As I neared, I spotted Katrina, slithering from her vehicle and booking for the shore, for the finish.

I still had a chance.

With one more blazer left in the tank, I pushed the button and slid the mermobile right up next to hers. Leaving the vehicle behind, I turned on the Savior speed.

I cut through the water, raced to the beach…and caught her with just inches before crossing the white circle. Me…Katrina…me…Katrina…

“TOO CLOSE TO CALL!” screamed Kori as Katrina and I crossed into the circle at precisely the same time. “WE HAVE A PHOTO FINISH! What an end!”

Jex and my teammates ran over to collect my puny, exhausted body from the sand.

“So proud of you, Savior!” shouted Jex.

“Okay, we have the photo!” Kori gestured the screens. “And the winner of the face-off is…”

When the black and white picture popped up on the mega-screens, the tip of one girl’s fingernail was clearly across the line first.

“KATRINA ZALE! MERPEOPLE WIN THE OVERFALLS!”

“I lost by a nail,” I said, both disgusted and deflated.

“Her nails are fake!” shouted Polly. “It’s a fake win. Disqualify her. Now.”

“Nothing in the rules about fake nails, Polls,” said Jex. “Aw, Savior, don’t look so down. You did your best. All anyone can do. Eff the jack-offs who say otherwise, yeah?”

I nodded as my teammates—my family—assured me of their pride and total lack of disappointment…in me anyway.

Luxton Vipor stepped onto the field holding Katrina’s wish jar, twelve medals, an envelope, and a trophy. “First, and foremost, congratulations to both teams on creating a historic and memorable Overfalls. You should all be very proud. Normals, your efforts were courageous and inspiring. Marina, you gave an unparalleled performance. This trophy was handcrafted from man-made gems by acclaimed prize crafter and Hoodoo Council member, Linus Raines.” He handed Jex the envelope and runner-up trophy and placed a silver sand dollar medal around each of our necks. “Congratulations!”

We bowed and waved to the crowd as they showered us in cheers.

“And now, team Merpeople. Your achievements and come-from-behind victory will motivate generations of your kind.” After giving each of them a gold sand dollar medal, he said, “Katrina, please release your wish.”

Katrina removed the lid. Into the balmy night, a beautiful, sparkling thread formed words against the navy sky. Katrina then proceeded to read her wish aloud. “Seeing atrocious violence is our regret. Merps unite, share, trust…serenity holds infinite freedom today. We simply wish for peace.”

“What a crock!” I said, rather loudly. Luckily, the crowd’s approval muffled my disgust. “This coming from the bitch who’s really The Dealer and tried to kill my mom and baby sister or brother.”

“Come again?!” yelped Jex.

“Long, long story.”

“What do you say to some root beers at Hambury?” Ophelia suggested.

“Oh, I think we definitely warrant some root beers,” I said. “Add frosted mugs, and it’ll be perfect.”

“Do I have to lug this thing around? I did all the coaching, you know,” said Jex, hoisting it over his shoulder. “You lot were a disjointed mess before me.”

“Oh, Good Christ, just give it to me,” growled Meikle.

When she grabbed it from his hands, the light from Katrina’s wish, still burning brightly in the sky, reflected off one of the jewels…a red jewel.

“WAIT!” Flipping the trophy around, a victorious grin stretched across my face. I pointed to the warm stone, and said, “Looks like we won after all.”

“It’s one of the two missing Prehendo Animus stones!” Ophelia squealed.

“Eff yeah, and eff them,” said Meikle, giving them the finger.

“HEY! CONGRATS KATRINA…YOU KNOW…ON THE WIN AND ALL,” shouted Polly while we all pointed at the stone on the trophy.

Her scrunched up, piss-y little face brought laughs to our mer-friends and pure joy to we Normals.

Never underestimate the joy of being a winning loser.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Destructed

Hambury House
. The past twenty-four hours have been an interesting mix of fear, pain, failure, worry, disappointment, triumph, and utter bliss. There was still no word on Mom, apart from Treeva repeatedly saying she was ‘fine.’ In my book, ‘fine’ was just a simple word for ‘everything sucks and I’m on the ragged edge of losing my crap.’

Sitting in the study, the sleepy Mer-Nor gang (yes, we’ve decided we need a group name, so we ripped it off of Mom and Treeva’s new university. We’re just that unimaginative) enjoyed some root beers and fielded inquiries, ideas, and your basic non-stop brain dump from an enthusiastic Doctor Tenly.

“Obviously, they didn’t know what they had,” said Doctor Tenly, tapping on the jar holding our newest soul snatching stone. “If they had, they certainly wouldn’t want you lot to have it.”

“Whatever the deal, we’re up on the count,” said Jex.

“Speaking of dealing...had any Dealer-dealt cards since the face-off?” asked Trey, stroking Airianna’s hair while she rested in his lap.

“Nope. Think The Dealer decided to stick with a game a little closer to home, like Go Fish,” I said, leaning against Troy’s chest. “Like what I did there? Or was it borderline lame? I feel like my punning power is waning.”

“Given the circumstances, I’d say it’s a half-power pun, but still rates better than most,” said Troy, kissing my forehead.

“Can’t believe Katrina was really The Dealer,” said Benji. “Middle names are like birthdays in our world…practically nonexistent.”

“I was surprised to hear the Imperia knew my middle name was Ellie,” said Airianna.

“Yeah, and it doesn’t help that the Zale’s keep all their family records locked up tighter than a nun after midnight,” added Jex.

“That’s inappropriately intellectual,” said Polly. “And I still say Katrina is too self-centered to pull off all we saw from The Dealer.”

“I dunno. She’s pretty twisted,” said Trey.

“I’m sure she wasn’t acting alone,” said Airianna. “Seems pretty clear Queen Zale was a driving force.”

“You can likely add King Zale, Kyle, Kathreena, and probably Kellan on some squat-like level,” offered Bobby.

“It’s weird, though,” I said. “She acted like she had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned The Dealer.”

“Playing dumb,” said Meikle. “Part of the game.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Whatever their game, this part is over at least.”

“Precisely,” said Doctor Tenly. “Now is the time to focus on these two time-travel notes. I pieced together a few findings, and I think, if we turn to the Books of Scofendin, we’ll find our predetermined destinations. Somewhere in the past and future, we’ll find answers. Of course, I don’t know what the answers are for, exactly. Part of the fun, though, right? So, next step…Marina? Why are all of you looking at me so strangely?”

“Because you just went incoherent on us. Our brains aren’t ready for next-step-talk,” I said.

“Ah, hmm, well, I have to talk. Quite like hearing myself ponder,” said Doctor Tenly, rocking on his heels.

“As long as you keep to the ‘See Spritz Run’ comprehension level, we should be good,” I said, watching little Spritz jump on the couch and cuddle against Airianna, who couldn’t have been happier.

“So, simple stuff, then,” said Doctor Tenly to a room full of nodding heads. “Been thinking about why your trident seemed to take on a life of its own. You said it happened after your mom pushed it across the floor, yes?”

“Big yes.”

“Well, there’s only one explanation. It was the baby,” said Doctor Tenly.

“It was the what, now?” I asked.

“Doc thinks the baby knew its mommy and sister were in trouble, so it, uh, used whatever power it has to help out,” said Jex.

“That’s surprisingly considerate for an infant,” said Polly. “Most of them are just tiny blobs of burping, crapping flesh.”

“The baby…saved us?” I said in awe. Doctor Tenly smiled and nodded.

“Maybe you’d like to meet your mini-Savior?” From a secret passage hidden within Doctor Tenly’s bookcase, my beautiful mom emerged carrying a tiny pink bundle.

“You might want to make that mini-
Saviors
,” said Mr. Gibbs, following behind Mom. His arms cradled another tiny bundle, this one blue.

“Twins?!” I trilled, hopping up, along with everyone else, except Jex, who stayed back.

“Twins,” said Mom.

They were the most adorable babies on the planet, I swear. “What are their names?”

“So far…no idea,” said Mom.

“Mom, you and Mr. Gibbs have had a year to pick at least one name, and you’ve got nothing?”

“Not exactly,” said Mr. Gibbs. “They haven’t liked the names we picked for them.”

“Say huh?”

“This little peanut sticks her tongue out at every name we mention,” said Mom.

“And this guy…spits,” said Mr. Gibbs.

“Kids after my own heart,” I said, touching each of their rosy cheeks. “Like big sis, like little sis and brother. Isn’t that right?” HOLY. “They smiled and nodded!”

“Their intelligence is superior, unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Treeva, closing the secret passage.

“Babies are freaky little crapsters,” said Jex. “Not a fan.”

Looking down into their precious faces, I said, “Thank you for saving our lives.” This time, they giggled, tooted, then giggled some more. “So, not completely un-baby after all, are ya, huh?” A strange, foreign sound consumed the room. It was on the fringe of terrifying. “Meeks…you’re cooing.”

“Shut up, and never mention it again,” she said.

“Can I hold one?” asked Airianna. “Please, please, please.”

“Looks like little girl wants to go to her Auntie Airi,” said Mom, handing my baby sister to Airianna, her tiny little arms outstretched for my surrogate mer-sister.

“We have to protect the babies. Queen Zale—” I started.

“Won’t get near them,” said Treeva. “David and I have already been safeguarding an undetectable wing of Mer-Nor University for your mom, Mr. Gibbs, and the babies. Since you’ll be living there, too, we figured it would be perfect.”

“Wow, yeah, it sounds like a good start,” I said. “Where is Mer-Nor University?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” said Mom, grinning at Treeva and Doctor Tenly.

“Yeah, well, I brought a bundle to the party.” Jex emptied the contents of his robes on the coffee table, which included the envelope that came with our trophy.

“What was in the envelope?” asked Benji.

“Huh? Oh, just a transcript of Katrina’s wish,” said Jex, still sifting about his robes. “Here we go.” He set my wish jar on the table. “Uncorking it will only cause it to evaporate, but I thought Gully might like it for a nightlight or something.” He winked at me.