Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“ C alm down, Lori! Breathe, girl,” said Tiara, rubbing Lori’s back. “We won’t get you in trouble with Jaxx!”

“Why did he single me out, then? He knows the two of you are the troublemakers!” Lori shook. “Did you see his face?”

Tiara gulped, looking at Maya, who feigned innocence. “What? Don’t look at me! I haven’t pissed Jaxxon off nearly as much as you have. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Really, Maya?” Tiara rolled her eyes. Drumming her fingers on the table, she looked around. She had no idea when Jaxxon would return, and his men around the table were engrossed in conversation.

After calming Lori, they sampled more of the foods. The mer waitress dropped off a few more platters and pints of juice.

“Did you try this one?” asked Maya, eating a mouthful of breaded fish drizzled with a white sauce.

“Yes, it’s my favorite,” said Tiara, savoring the spicy flavors. They rarely had seafood at home since their mining colony was far from a large body of water. Seafood was very expensive there, and they didn’t have the money to indulge. Now I know why people paid a fortune for seafood on Mineva. This is quite delicious .

But she missed the spices from her home. They had a lot of vegetables and fruits that grew wild around the hills of the mining colony. She never thought she’d miss the food she once believed to be simple and boring.

Leaning back, she felt homesick. She missed Ms. Hazel waking them up to make breakfast in the canteen. And she missed their Sunday meals—rich dishes filled with meats and potatoes and made with motherly love. And desserts! She was thankful they had introduced some of their foods to Jaxxon and his men, at least before the rationing.

Looking around the restaurant and bar, the poverty was noticeable on the haggard faces of the patrons. The place was the pits, yet people still laughed and danced. The mer were the perfect blend of danger and beauty. Their skin shimmered like watching a rainbow through raindrops, and their teeth were angled backward like hooks poised to strike. She shivered at the very idea of being caught in their jaws and dragged away below the water. From the looks periodically turned in their direction, she knew this place definitely wasn’t safe.

Sitting up, she saw a group of mer males staring at their table. They were squinting, clearly trying to see through the shadows that dampened their view of the women. They finally turned around, resuming their drinking and loud talking.

She sighed, digging into more of her food. The soupy concoction was nearly as tasteless as what the men had served them when they arrived on Crelentia. She saw Jaxxon’s men devouring the soup, but they hadn’t touched one of the colorful platters.

One platter had raw shellfish, eel, and who knew what else. Lori was digging into it. Tiara laughed. Despite Lori’s small size, she could outeat them all. The sushi was delicious. Lori pulled the entire platter over to their side of the table, thankful the men didn’t pull it back.

Maya tapped Tiara on the shoulder, pointing to the door where Jaxxon and Zade had disappeared. A group of mer females were entering the room, escorted by a man they saw with Seafangs earlier. The mer were shapely, wearing sheer outfits and spike heels. Tiara heard the men whistling and clapping as the door opened and closed. She could see the backroom had a dance floor.

“Umph, I wonder what that’s all about?” murmured Maya, taking a big bite of her swordfish. Tiara swallowed, an uneasy feeling settling in her gut. Those women looked like entertainment, and she hoped Jaxxon wasn’t the one being entertained. Though she had no right to feel possessive, she was angry.

“This place is down and out. But everyone seems to be entertained except for us,” pointed out Maya between bites of food. “The hostess, who flirted shamelessly with Zade earlier, made it clear she knew him well.” She raised a brow.

Tiara suddenly missed home. On the mining colony, she’d always been part of the entertainment scene—dancing, singing, and gambling. What’s my place here on Crelentia? Am I destined to be a bored woman locked away in a dark fortress with no pleasure? Fuck that. I was meant to soar, not sink.

She propped her elbow on the table, leaning into her hand as her gaze drifted lazily around the room—eyes glazed with a hint of boredom, her fingers tapping idly against her cheek.

Yet, are the people here soaring? Should I be selfish and jealous of a few beautiful mer females dancing behind those closed doors? No, this isn’t right. These people deserve more.

Hearing Jaxxon and Zade describe the Port of Genihe from the past and seeing the remnants of its destruction, she felt terrible for all they had lost. All she had lost. This was her ancestral home. And she would help restore it.

“Tiara! Your amulet!” said Lori, grabbing her quickly and turning her away from the crowd.

“Oh shit! I wasn’t focusing,” said Tiara, feeling her elemental tattoos rippling with light so bright it made her clothing glow. Oh my god, I’m going to blow our cover. She prayed and prayed to calm herself. Finally, the light extinguished and the amulet turned off.

“Our light is so beautiful,” said Maya, pulling up her sleeves to reveal the glorious pattern of her elemental tattoos. “It’s a crime to force us to cover them.” Her dragon scale pattern rippled as she sent her light outward to touch Tiara’s magic. Their light combined, pulsating in shimmering symbols. They each had unique scale patterns. They enjoyed inspecting each other’s patterns and marveling at how much they had learned to call their magic forth.

Tiara realized they had a kinship to the mer. They also had scales. Instead of feeling like they were a disconnected people, they were all inhabitants of Crelentia. She knew she needed to help them. Perhaps restoring the dragons to protect Crelentia will protect the mer as well. This is what my mother wanted. She wanted me to help restore Crelentia as Protectors of the Celestial Realms.

Seeing no one looking their way and under the safety of the men’s dampening magic, they played with their elemental magic. They let their light solidify into bands of ropes and other small objects. Laughing, they wrapped their light around their forks, trying to lift them to their mouths. They failed miserably, as half of what they tried to pick up either stayed on the plate or ended up in their laps. But it was fun to try.

Growing bored, they complained about the music, wishing it was Lori playing, Tiara singing, and Maya dancing. They didn’t have to say it, but Tiara knew they were all missing the crazed night scenes of their home—a home they would never see again.

“What will happen to us here?” asked Lori, verbalizing what they feared. “On Mineva, I knew I would become the space station doctor. But here, who the heck am I?”

Tiara shook her head, wondering the same. Maya grabbed them both by the shoulder, shaking them with a silly smile.

“I know who the fuck I am—” She thrust her arm out at the girls. “I’m the bitch with tough-ass tattoos!” They laughed, oblivious to Hassan watching them. They barely got out of the way as he grabbed and twisted Maya’s arm, shoving her sleeve down.

“Draking eyes are everywhere!” He pointed at the waitress, serving food at the table beside them. “You’re not on vacation. You’re on an important mission.” His tone was dark and authoritative. Narrowing his brow, he stared each of them in the eye, holding their attention before finally releasing Maya’s arm. Maya was livid as she placed her hands on her lap.

“Crelentian females are strong. They stopped acting like children when they were eight. And like the men, they followed orders. Jaxxon ordered you to stay under the radar. And I assure you he’ll punish little Lori over there if you two don’t wise up!” He pointed at Maya and Tiara.

“Instead of using your powers to play with your food, I suggest you learn how to fight because all our lives are on the line.” Hassan’s muscles bulged on his arms as he leaned in close. “And for the record, Crelentian females were powerful. They didn’t just sit on the throne playing cards all day. They had important roles, and they knew how to have fun. And they sure as hell didn’t whine.”

“And for your record, we fought and scratched out a life on a dangerous mining colony where people always underestimated us. Until we were the last thing they saw before they took their last breath! And we did it without our elemental magic!” Tiara glared at Hassan, who gave her a dismissive look. She wanted to strangle him.

He moved back to his chair, resuming his conversation with his men. They looked at Lori. They silently mouthed they were sorry, knowing Hassan would tell Jaxxon they had broken his rules. But Lori gave them the finger. She turned her head, refusing to make any more eye contact with Tiara and Maya.

Tiara breathed deeply, looking back at Hassan and the men. No wonder Hassan and Jaxx don’t get along. He’s just as stubborn and frightening as Jaxx. And he’s fucking rude! She pouted, leaning back in her seat.

Yet, she didn’t miss the reverence she heard in Hassan’s voice when he spoke of Crelentian females having great power and vital roles. What were their roles? Am I judging their society without all the facts? She had so many questions. But one thing was clear—the men loved their women and would die for them, and so would the dragons.

The waitress came to their table, bending down lower than before to place a bowl of food that shook like gelatin or pudding. Tiara could see her trying to get a good look at them as Tiara and the women moved further back into the shadows.

“Do you want anything else?” the waitress asked Tiara. “I can bring you six, eight—how many of you need drinks?”

Tiara didn’t speak, knowing the woman was prying. Hassan told the waitress to bring a few juice pitchers and said they didn’t need anything else. Tiara was happy not to speak. She had no idea if the woman would recognize her accent, only just realizing she and her friends didn’t talk like everyone else.

“Are you going into those mountains?” The waitress’s voice was elevated as she moved closer, her question again directed at Tiara. “I could pack food for your trip if you let me know how long you’re staying.” She was pushing it.

“We have everything we need,” said Hassan, carefully watching the waitress as she swallowed, quickly retreating.

Maya waited until Hassan rejoined his conversation with his men. “Did you see that? She was frightened for us. We can’t trust Jaxxon, Hassan, or even Zade. Who knows what they do to women here?”

“Oh, come on, Maya! She was just being nosy.”

“The Goddesses of War ran from this place. Maybe this is a sign we should too? We’re out of the fortress but still in jail!”

“Look, I told you the waitress was just fishing for information about us,” said Tiara with defiance. She pointed to the far corner where the waitress huddled with a group of men. She whispered in one man’s ear, taking a few coins from him before walking off.

But Maya claimed it was likely a tip for good service. There was no convincing her that their rightful place was with the men. Maya wanted a life as a queen and didn’t think Jaxxon and his men had anything to offer. She felt they wouldn’t give it even if they had it. Tiara disagreed, but it wasn’t worth fighting over.

Where the heck is Jaxx? Tiara began getting nervous as a few more unsavory men entered the tavern. They joined the men the waitress had been talking to. Telling Hassan what she felt, he thanked her for being on top of her game. She wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a snide remark.

Thankfully, Jaxxon returned with Zade close behind him. Hassan said something to Jaxxon as they paid their bill and told the group it was time to leave. The hostess slipped Zade a note as he walked past.

Once back on the street, Tiara noticed the second group of men from the tavern had exited behind them. They were being followed. One had an eye with severe swelling that looked a few days old. And he looked like he was ready to kill.

Hassan looked back at the men and then turned to Jaxxon. “They want Zade.”

Jaxxon’s shadows unfurled as he looked at Zade, who cracked his knuckles.

“Tal-resh!” Zade snarled, his eyes narrowing as he looked ready to turn around and approach the men.

“Drak! We don’t have time for this.” Jaxxon kept walking with Hassan and Zade behind him.

Tiara was frightened. She’d been around the warlords long enough to know that Tal-resh was a curse word reserved for those they believed were worthless scum. She didn’t know what the anger was about but was glad when they cast their shadows, turning several corners and quickly losing the men following them. Then, they lifted their shadows.

Scared out of her wits, she’d never felt so out of her element. She didn’t know the politics here or the games being played. And she knew nothing about the people in her ancestral home. She was a stranger.

A few of Jaxxon’s men had departed earlier, reappearing with supplies they didn’t have before. She saw blood on them and was sure it wasn’t theirs. The shadow raiders were good at taking what they wanted and creating fear. But they also had enemies, which meant she was in danger by being with them.

“Did we do the right thing by coming here?” she asked Maya, who held her hand as they walked and talked .

“We need to figure out if we are on the right side of the war on this planet. I didn’t come here to die.” Maya squeezed Tiara’s hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lori, or anyone else.” The girls hugged, staying close to the men as the evening sky darkened.

“Earlier, this place was colorful and energetic with the mer, their magic tricks, and the food vendors. But now, it’s getting scary,” said Lori, looking about as vendors began breaking down their stalls and moving about. They saw more beggars, streetwalkers, and gangs of loud mer hanging back in the shadows smoking reeds.

Tiara saw several mer in nice clothing walk past the other mer, turning down their noses or crossing the street to avoid them. How often had people on Mineva treated me and my friends the same way? They’d considered Tiara and her friends insignificant since they believed they had little to no magic. They were subject to enslavement and worse.

Looking at her scarred hands, she was reminded of working in the mines throughout the night at less than eight years old. She remembered how the fumes burned her nose, and her feet swelled from shoes worn down to the sole from walking over mine rocks when they couldn’t afford to catch the wagons home. She understood why Maya wanted more. And so did she.

Rather than scorn those forced into their sad life, she would help them. She made eye contact with them, nodding respectfully, shocking some beggars used to people looking the other way. Though she had no money to offer, no food or clothing to share, she knew in her heart she would bring glory back to these people.

The best way to build allies was to help the mer, and not hate them for something their ancestors did long ago when they didn’t give the Crelentians shelter. She knew Jaxxon and his men would disagree with her ideals. But she would find a way, with or without him. The amulet was hers, and no one would take it from her. She would use it for good. She would use it to unite everyone on Crelentia.

Soon, they entered a bar on the rough side of the port. Here, the buildings were decrepit and in disrepair. It smelled of fish and piss .

“Don’t drink anything,” Jaxxon whispered as they sat at several bar tables, yet he knocked back the shot glass of liquid the bartender dropped off at their table. Another round was served as the rowdy crowd sang war songs. The sad melodies were led by a mer female standing on a table.

Tiara was surprised to see Jaxxon and his men singing along, walking around, and embracing several mer. She heard them telling tales of long-ago adventures and speaking fondly of the Shadow Kings of the South and North. Jaxxon told stories of their dragons, and the crowd had another round of drinks.

“Remember what I said,” said Jaxxon, pointing to Lori as he rose from the table to join Zade at the bar. “You already have one strike against you,” he said, making it clear Hassan had ratted them out.

Lori blanched. Once again, they found Hassan in charge, with Lori’s head ready to be served up if they got in more trouble. But Tiara was a born daredevil, and her mother often said her middle name might as well have been ‘trouble.’

They were bored out of their minds, not knowing any songs to join in the fun. Tiara signaled to Maya and Lori, pointing to the round of shot glasses the bartender had just placed on the table for Jaxxon and his men. Maya was game, and surprisingly, Lori nodded.

“On three—” Tiara whispered, counting quietly before they grabbed the shot glasses and knocked them back in one gulp.

Within seconds, all three bolted from their seats, heading to the bathroom. Thankful that Hassan didn’t stop them, they bent over the toilets, retching.

The drinks had gone down thick as snot and tasted bitter. Running water to rinse their mouths only made it worse. The sludgy water was filthy and salty.

“You must have tried the Siren’s Special!” said a mer female while applying some lipstick.

“Yuck! What the hell was in it?” spat Maya.

“Whale semen is an acquired taste, but it’s good for a man’s stamina!” She winked. “Though the shadow masters don’t need it from what I’ve heard.”

Tiara and her friends retched again. She didn’t think she could ever get the taste out of her mouth. The mer female handed them a minty chewing gum more to their liking. She was friendly, telling them she worked on the docks with her friends and warning them they should probably get off the streets soon. The woman headed out to rejoin her friends.

Tiara and Maya exchanged looks, and Maya said, “I told you the shadow masters are wild and horny!”

Hassan was leaning against the wall outside the bathroom, bowling over in laughter. Bastard! No wonder he didn’t stop us when we reached for the glasses!

They kept moving from establishment to establishment. Zade said it was to prevent anyone from spying on them and locking in on their location. Each time they moved about, they would pull forth their shadows, quickly disappearing back into the streets.

Close to midnight, the port city became eerie and quiet. In the last establishment, Jaxxon, Zade, and another of their men roughed up a man, forcing him to scribble something on a sheet of paper. Lori was shaking, and Tiara was also frightened. Shit! Jaxx was vicious. She saw the wild look in his eyes when he beat the hell out of the man to get what he wanted. The rest of his crew were just as bad.

When they returned outside, Tiara asked, “Where did all the people go?” As they walked, she heard splashes and screeches every few feet. They were getting closer. Jaxxon and Zade shared a look, quickening their pace.

“The mer shape-shift and return to the water at night. It’s not safe in the city. There are worse things that live here.” Jaxxon and his men pulled their shadows around them, running through the alleys.

Finally, Jaxxon directed them into a worn, vacant building. The windows on the bottom were broken, and the stairwell was treacherous. Tiara thought they would never reach the top. Entering what was likely once a beautiful penthouse, Jaxxon moved furniture against the door and pulled out their sleep packs.

“Are we spending the night here?” said Lori, wrinkling her nose.

Jaxxon told them it was safer this way. He said the dragons were perched on the roof of the building and would alert them if anyone came close. He advised them to get some sleep, noting they would leave at dawn to cross the Sea of Cadence.

Tiara and her friends lay next to the men. They huddled close together to keep warm. They didn’t dare turn the lights on for fear of drawing the attention of whatever stalked the port city in the darkness.