Wrecked (34 page)

She was going to drown. She was going to drown and no one would know.

Christian
! She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to imagine where he could be.
Please help me!
She tried to yell, but the sea witch’s spell still silenced her. Somehow, maybe Christian would hear and save her.

C
HRISTIAN CLAWED THE SMOOTH HULL OF THE
Sephie
until he felt a frayed piece of rope that he used to pull himself up, hand over hand, until he reached the edge of the deck. He heaved himself over, and landed with a thud.

He tried to sit up, but immediately, a large shoe landed on the center of his chest, pinning him in place.

“I’ve got him!” the voice attached to the shoe yelled, as humans ran to stare.

“Who is he?” A man kneeled down by him. “You’re in danger! She only wants to hurt you!” Christian sputtered nonsensically, attempting to squirm away. But it was no use. More and more people were surrounding him, and Christian heard the band stop playing.

“Wait!” He heard a shrill, authoritative voice coming from the back of the crowd. As if on cue, the crowd parted and a small woman in a black suit strode through the path. It was Miranda’s grandmother. Christian sputtered, but no words came out.

“I know him,” she announced. “He’s a criminal!” she shouted in a high-pitched voice.

“Where’s Miranda?” he said breathlessly, looking up at Eleanor’s face. He was still held captive, pinned down by someone’s black leather loafer. The pressure was making it hard for him to breathe.

“That’s none of your concern. Call the police,” Eleanor said.

“Sephie . . . please. She’s evil. She’s about to kill Miranda.”

“Grab him!” Eleanor called, her face draining of color.

“Help!”

“No, please listen!” Christian begged. “She’s after Miranda.

Where’s Miranda?”

Two tuxedoed waiters roughly grabbed him and lifted him into a standing position, holding his elbows so tightly behind his back that he couldn’t move.

“We’ve got him, ma’am,” one said.

“I’m getting Coral,” the other said.

“No! She’s the one who started the storm. She wants Miranda’s soul,” Christian said, knowing that each sentence was making him sound more and more insane.

And he couldn’t allow himself to be dragged away. He didn’t
have time. He had to find Sephie. Immediately, and drawing on his strength, he knocked down the two black-vested men that surrounded him and took off into the crowd.

People screamed as he ran by, and waiters dropped their silver platters to the ground. Christian didn’t notice. He picked up speed, faster and faster, toward the front of the boat.

“Sephie!” He called as the wind whipped his face. He didn’t have a plan, and was relying purely on instinct.

And then, as if he’d summoned her, Sephie emerged, slowly, as if she had all the time in the world, from a lower deck.

“Why, Christian. What a surprise to see you on solid ground!” she said. Then she noticed the confused, angry mob of guests behind him. She smiled slowly, and Christian recoiled in horror as her eyes changed from violet to black, and then, back again, all in a split second. She grabbed a champagne glass from the waiter near her, who stopped in his tracks in confusion. Then, she tapped against the rim of the glass with her long fingernail.

“I’m so sorry for the confusion. Christian and I have been having some misunderstandings lately,” she laughed, her voice sounding like broken glass against slate. “But please do excuse him, and go back to the party.”

One by one, the group peeled off. Except for Miranda’s grandmother, who used the opportunity to march up to where Sephie and Christian stood. The moment she spoke up, Christian realized he had never been more happy to see anyone, human or mermaid, before.

“What’s going on, Coral?” Miranda’s grandmother asked, her voice an octave higher than before. Christian caught her gaze and held it, wordlessly begging her to believe what he’d told her on deck earlier.

Then Sephie stepped between them and locked eyes with Eleanor as Christian watched helplessly. “Christian’s just a troubled soul who doesn’t seem to realize when he’s done enough. But please, don’t concern yourself. I’m dealing with this directly. Your job is to only enjoy,” Sephie said as she dug her nails into Christian’s arm. He resisted the urge to yelp, even though each finger felt like a match being pressed directly against his skin.

“Have you seen Miranda?” Eleanor asked, moving around Sephie so she could see him. She kept her gaze on Christian as she waited for a response.

“Yes, I have. I bandaged her up, and she’s taking a little break. I’m sure she’ll be back soon enough. After all, it’s a boat. It’s not like she could escape, even if she wanted to,” Sephie said, offering a smile to Eleanor.

Keep looking at me. Don’t look at her. She’ll hypnotize you,
Christian thought, wishing with every fiber of his being that his thought could somehow reach Miranda’s grandmother.

She nodded and Christian almost melted with relief, until she whipped her neck over to glance into Sephie’s eyes.

No! Christian thought as Sephie laughed triumphantly, a sound that Christian knew was directed at him, a sign that she’d won.

“Miranda must be somewhere. I should be going,” Eleanor said in a high-pitched monotone as she wandered off into the crowd.

As soon as she was swept up in the crowd of guests, Sephie released Christian and shook her head as she laughed.

“Amateur. Poor, foolish boy. And you tried so hard,” she began. “Oh wait. You didn’t try at all. I gave you one assignment. One. And that was to get me that girl’s soul. You didn’t. I had to do it myself,” Sephie said, baring her teeth like a shark about to devour its prey.

“You . . . you killed her?” Christian asked. He felt like he was about to throw up.

“No. What would be the fun of that? I’m going to kill her . . . while you watch,” Sephie cackled.

“Come with me,” she commanded, grabbing Christian’s hand as she led him to a small door at the far end of the ship. The door was only a few feet tall, and both Sephie and Christian had to duck to get through it. Without looking back, Sephie led the way down a series of rickety steps.

Miranda, I’m coming,
Christian thought. But it was no use.

“Miranda?” He called, his eyes adjusting to the blackness of the cramped and filthy hold. But nothing responded except a vague hiss coming from the corner of the room.

“Looking for someone?” Sephie asked as she glanced toward the corner of the room. The light emanating from her violet eyes cast on Miranda, whose hands and legs were bound together by Sephie’s snakes. A terrified expression was in her eyes.

“You did this!” Christian yelled. “I did. And I’ll do it to you, too.”

All of a sudden, the yacht lurched.

“Fools,” she cackled. “And they’re all huddled up and panicking like the humans they are. I haven’t even begun what I plan to do. Because, of course, first, I want to make sure I pay proper attention to both of you. Now, I think, for Miranda, she’d appreciate being drowned. Just like she was supposed to be when you ruined it,” Sephie said, tossing the last sentence back cavalierly. She snapped her fingers. The hold was suddenly flooded with an eerie, bright light that was brighter than any sun he’d seen Up Above. At last he could see Miranda, doomed and terrified in the corner.

Christian stepped in front of Miranda. “Please. Take me. Like what our bargain was. I want to sacrifice myself,” he said. He turned toward Miranda.

Miranda shook her head desperately back and forth.

“Yes,” Christian said. “Please, Sephie. Do what you have to do. I’m yours. My soul is yours for the taking, in exchange for Miranda.”

Sephie laughed her long, low terrible laugh. “The deal was off as soon as you went and fell in love, dear boy. Miranda is mine. But I’ll take you, too, don’t worry. If you’re that desperate to be a martyr.”

Suddenly, the ship lurched again, casting Christian against the side of the ship, opposite Miranda. Water was sloshing around his ankles. He reached in his pocket for the matches. It was now or never.

“I
COULD JUST SIT AND WATCH YOU ALL DAY
. I’
VE GOT YOU BOTH,
fish in a net,” Sephie mused, glancing from Miranda to Christian. Miranda shivered, trying not to move her limbs. She finally understood what the phrase “paralyzed by fear” meant. It wasn’t so much the snakes that were holding her in place, it was the absolute terror that she’d lose Christian.

“And the best part is,” Sephie continued, as though they were having a casual conversation, “I still have three more souls to get. They always say that rewards are better if you’ve worked for them, and I’ve certainly worked for these souls. I deserve them,” she said. “And Christian, you’re a great example of the consequences of breaking my rules,” she said.

Miranda stopped listening, allowing Sephie’s words to fade
into the background of her consciousness. Instead, the only thing she focused on was how much she loved Christian. She experimentally pulled on the tie that circled her wrist. The snake gave before seizing.

“Trying to escape?” Sephie asked, moving ominously toward her. “That will not be possible.”

Miranda forced herself to stay as still as possible, staring at a spot a few feet away on the floor, willing herself to not stare into Sephie’s eyes. The next time the ship lurched, she’d pull against the snakes, using the moment of looseness to wiggle out. It was like going for a break in soccer, no thought, all confidence.

Sephie took another step toward her, and Miranda remained still, slumping against the wall as if she’d fallen into a half-faint. If she had to die, if Christian had to die, she didn’t want to watch.

All of a sudden, she heard an unearthly shriek and saw a flash of light through her closed eyelids. Her eyes flew open.

In the half-darkness, she saw Christian, desperately flicking a match against the box she recognized from the beach.

“You’ll pay for your treachery!” Sephie shrieked as she lurched toward Christian. “I will destroy you.” She pushed him roughly and the box of matches fell out of his hand.

Sephie laughed. “You think you’re so powerful, do you? You had your whole plan. But an agreement is an agreement, Christian. You broke it.” She smiled and Miranda willed herself
to stay still. The less she struggled, the more the snakes relaxed.

“Sephie, kill me. Just don’t take Miranda,” Christian repeated, holding his hands up until he was backed against the wall.

“I will kill you,” Sephie said, in a voice so low that Miranda had to strain to hear. “But should I kill you while Miranda watches, or vice versa? Which one will cause more pain?” She asked, as she took her finger and circled his hands. Just like before, a snake sprang from her finger to form handcuffs.

“See? I’m much more powerful than your human matches,” Sephie laughed scornfully.

Miranda steeled her courage. It was now or never. The snakes had relaxed enough that all it would take was one tug to pull herself away from the wall. She focused on Christian, even though she doubted he could see her, and pulled.

The momentum caused her to land with a thud on her stomach.