Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

ARTEMIS

“You could have sent her body to the Mist. To be buried with our people.”

I barely move when Prince Kian steps to my side, his words barely an echo to my ears as I picture the woman who cared for me my entire life being killed. Again. I see her in my nightmares, in daydreams…whenever I close my eyes. I was powerless, weak, and useless to stop my mother from murdering her. I tuck my wavy locks behind my ear.

“She did not want that.” I keep my voice quiet, like the dead need my whispers, and I never look away from my nanny’s grave. The grave is simple yet elegant, her body laid within the earth, a headstone with small water droplets from the rain running down it. Her name etched in the stone for time to keep. There are water lilies spread across the small circular pond above her grave. Her favourite flowers. I used to get them for her as a child because I loved how she smiled at me. I blow out a breath, trying to force myself to talk about her like it doesn’t gut me. “She was from Earth and spoke often about wanting to go back. Tara told me once, when she died, to bury her body in the ground, with water lilies above. Beauty hiding away death, she said.”

He touches my hand with his, warmth spreading between us. The handsome prince meets my eyes with his green emeralds, his so bright and full of hope. Prince Kian’s scent reminds me of raindrops, but musky and dark, and I breathe it in. I love how it wraps around me, protecting me, settling my nerves. I don’t deserve to feel safe around him. I don’t deserve his friendship, either. The prince of the Water Court looks down at the grave of a woman he didn’t know yet helped make possible. Kian found this small green garden, hidden in the castle, and he gave it to me to make her grave.

When he came back with his mother, he found me alone with her body, crying so hard the blood vessels in my eyes burst. I didn’t want to move. I wanted to die with her at that moment. Kian was the one who picked me up off the floor, helped me heal, and gave me strength. He carried her body to the temple for the priests to wrap her, and then he helped me dig this grave. I wanted to dig it on my own, but he stayed. He helped me find the flowers, and he made the pond with his magic so the water will never change. The headstone was from him; he ordered it, and it was delivered the next morning. I guess there are perks to being a prince.

I’m glad he likes me, if I’m being honest. He’s the only one in the Water Court who does. I don’t know where I’m going to go next. Staying in the Water Court can’t be a permanent solution to my life, but…I don’t think I’m safe anywhere else.

“Arty, tell me what’s going on in your mind.” I turn to him, my eyes filled with tears that I won’t let fall. He never falters as he looks at me. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

“And why do you want to help me?” I softly ask. “You don’t owe me anything. I know you might feel that way because I got you out of the prisons, but you don’t.”

“Arty,” he breathes my name gently. Like my name holds a million secrets between us. He runs a hand through his short red locks of hair, his jaw tightening. “That’s not⁠—”

“All of your people hate me because of what my parents did, and you should be one of them. I’m not good, not like you.” My words are bitter, sharp. “Some might think if you spend time with me, you might end up just as terrible.”

“You’re not them,” he firmly replies. “And if you are terrible, then so am I.” He’s shaking his head at me as he steps closer. I can barely breathe when he’s this close, when his body’s pressed against mine, and when there’s nothing between us. This, this is what it’s like to fall in love. I know it, and it’s terrifying. I will ruin him. “Come, let’s go and walk down by the beach. I know it’s your favourite place. The sun will be setting soon, and it will be quiet. We can talk more.”

He offers me his arm and I sigh. “You’re like a valiant prince from a fairy tale. Endlessly trying to save the day.”

Kian’s laugh vibrates around me as I take his arm. “I’ll take that. I am a prince, and saving you is something I’m invested in. Even from yourself.”

I lower my head, looking away. Looking at him for too long is dangerous, and listening to him is too. Sometimes, he makes me dream of a wonderful future, of peace and happiness, things I have never once thought I would be allowed to have. Because he’s right, hurting myself with insults is normal. Whispers follow us as we walk through the court, through the long corridors and the sweeping pathways that lead out to the beach at nearly every edge of the castle.

The whispers haunt me, echoing so loud they chase at my feet like mice: she shouldn’t be here; why has our king not killed her; they should use the girl to get back at her parents; she’s evil; she should not be in our court.” So many whispers, so many death threats…it doesn’t stop here. Prince Kian keeps his head high throughout it, like he can’t hear them, like their whispers aren’t real. I wish I could do that, but I can’t. Each whisper is pounding into my head with every moment, making my heart leach of colour.

Kian sighs when we are out of the castle, patting my hand. “My people are stubborn, but give them time and they will give you a chance. A real chance.”

“I don’t think they will ever give me a chance. They will ever only see me as the person who is the daughter of them, who betrayed your king, essentially,” I remind him.

“You have a choice in everything, and we are not our parents,” he reminds me. “If they knew you like I did, they’d know that you did not have a choice back then and you’re trying to make it better. We all make mistakes. Trying to fix them is what makes us better people.” I don’t answer him about that. Mostly because I don’t know what to say to him. Can you ever be forgiven for what you’ve done? I killed people, innocent people. I lied to and betrayed someone who’s my friend. I let him out, my father calling back my mother with him. The pair of them are lashing out havoc on the world as only gods can do. I might not be my parents, but I’m as terrible as they are with my past actions.

We stroll along the beach for a while, and Kian is right about one thing. The gentle beach here is one of my favourite places. The golden sands, the crystal green water, and the peace here lures me in. The sun shines down brightly on us as we walk, and people at the court are in the water themselves, playing, swimming, ignoring us while they enjoy their families. I suck in a breath of the salty air as we walk until it’s just me and him on an empty beach. I can finally breathe a little without the prying eyes of the court. “Arty, can you⁠—”

“Help!” a panicked young voice screams. We both stop, looking around, but there’s nothing but sandy beaches, a few palm trees, and the sea. That’s it. I hear the splashing first before Kian sharply looks across the water. He lets go of my hand, and in seconds he’s running, jumping into the sea, the water moving around him, almost propelling him through the green, almost blue waves. He is so fast in the water, the water prince indeed, and he heads right towards the small dot of what I think is a floating child. Kian swims faster and faster before diving under, and for seconds, there is nothing but the waves brushing against my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I ready myself to swim in after them, having no idea if I can move fast enough to even help them.

I watch the shoreline like time itself has stood still, until quickly Kian breaks out of the water nearby, holding a boy that can be only about eight or nine. Water pours off them both, and the boy is floppy, hanging off Kian’s arms. He is completely unconscious…maybe not even breathing. Kian carefully drops him on the beach next to me and puts his fingers on his neck to check his pulse. “He’s not breathing. Fuck.”

The pale, blond-haired boy is very still as my hand cups my mouth. “Oh god. Do something, Kian!”

Kian places his hands over the boy’s chest and closes his eyes. Powerful blue healing magic swirls around him and the boy, water pouring out of his hands and from the very sea behind him, covering the boy from head to toe except for his mouth and nose, willing him to breathe.

This has to work. Kian is a powerful healer. He can—“I’m not strong enough to start his heart again. He’s been out too long. I’m not my brother.”

Kian doesn’t give up, even when he sounds defeated. My heart races as I look down at the boy, and I reach over and put my hand on Kian’s shoulder to comfort him, tears falling down my face. Suddenly his magic amplifies, exploding out of him, rays of blue light shining in every direction. The boy gasps, coughing, choking on air in the middle of us, and Kian’s magic snaps away like a switch just turned off.

I quickly turn the boy onto his side, patting his back firmly as he coughs out water for a good few minutes, my heart racing with him. When he stops, we both help the boy sit up. Kian looks right at me in shock. “How did you do that, Arty? I’ve never felt anything so strong, not even from Lysander…”

“I-I didn’t do anything,” I splutter, shaking my head. “I don’t even understand how this happened. It was your power.”

“It was mine but—” Kian is cut off by the sound of a woman shouting. We both look over to see a woman in a silver dress rushing down the beach towards us. No, towards the boy. She flings herself at the boy, pulling him on her lap and kissing his head. Kian softly tells her what happened, finishing with a suggestion to see the healers just in case.

“Thank you,” the woman cries, cupping her son’s face. “What are you doing here? You ran off.” She’s obviously not from the Water Court. I would guess Air Court from just the look of her and the silver clothes she wears.

The boy hiccups. “I wanted to see the sea, and then I was paddling, but it pulled me in. I was scared…”

“Are you from the Air Court?” Kian asks. “I heard refugees had been taken in yesterday.”

“Oh, you’re the prince!” the woman exclaims. “And yes, we are.”

Kian looks at the shocked boy. “You should be careful near the oceans. The sea is alive and playful. It pulls you in, thinking you are a Water Court child who can breathe underwater. It didn’t mean to hurt you.” The boy nods, looking fearfully at the water. “Why don’t I teach you how to swim another time? It is safe, with the right tips.”

“I’d like that.” The boy nods and his mother smiles brightly at them.

After many more thanks and expressions of her gratitude, she leaves us, and I lie back on the sand. Kian lies next to me. “Do you really not know what happened there? It was likely all your power.”

Kian takes my hand, linking our fingers. “It wasn’t my power. You’re the child of two gods, Artemis. You’ve been told that you’re powerless your entire life, but you did something then. One day, your power is going to break free, and I will be here for you when it does.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve Kian. “I was born powerless; that doesn’t just change.”

He tightens his grip on my hand. “Something has changed. Everything can change. You are not powerless.”

Maybe he is right.