Chapter 12

Twelve

M errow awoke during the night, hearing her sisters calling to her in her mind. Still wrapped in Sebastian’s arms after their lovemaking, she hated to go.

Merrow? Merrow, we’re here. Where are you? She heard her sister, Galene calling to her.

I will be right there, she told her sisters in the language of the sea nymphs. She gently removed herself from Sebastian’s protective hold, donning her gown and shoes. Then with one last look at her lover, she turned and headed out to the lake from their secluded spot behind the waterfall.

Merrow heard giggling and splashing as soon as she walked out into the open area. Her attention was drawn to the pool of water at the foot of the falls. She saw one tail and then two break the surface. Splashing continued as her sisters played in nymph form diving under the water and breaking the surface again.

“Melite, Galene, what are you doing?” This, she said aloud. The sun was just rising on the horizon and it was the beginning of a new day.

The girls’ heads poked up one after the other and they called out to her in true undine fashion.

“Come, sister,” begged Melite. “Join us. This water is fine. Let’s all play and go for a swim together.”

“I’ve already done that,” she told them, memories of yesterday with Sebastian flitting through her mind. “Come out of the water at once. You are wasting precious time. We need to get back to the sea and wait for Nerites.”

“Let us play for a while longer,” said Melite, sounding sad. “We haven’t swum in days now and need to do this. I missed it.”

“Did you really?” she asked. “By the look of the two of you sewing gowns in the ladies solar at Evandorm, I’d guess that you didn’t miss anything at all about being a sea nymph. Matter of fact, it seemed to me that you liked living like humans.”

“The Blackseeds and their family and friends are so nice,” Galene told her. “I wish you would have had the chance to get to know them the way we have.”

“Don’t let every kind human sway your decisions,” she warned them, half-wondering if she was really saying this to herself as well.

“How did you get away from the king?” Galene asked her. “I thought he took you back to the castle to imprison you.”

“Nay. Sebastian is kind. He didn’t do that.”

“So he is nice like the Blackseeds?” asked Melite, squirting water from her mouth and holding up a frog as she giggled.

“Yes. I suppose so,” she said, not sure how to answer. Merrow realized that the Blackseeds and King Ravenwolf were mortal enemies.

“Then what happened? How did you escape him?” asked Melite.

Merrow couldn’t stop herself from thinking about making love with Sebastian. As soon as she thought about it, both her sisters read her mind and knew exactly what had happened between them.

“You made love with a man!” gasped Galene.

“A human man,” said Melite looking and sounding so disappointed.

“So what if I did?” she asked. “I am old enough to make that decision for myself.”

“Sister, is he controlling you?” asked Melite. “Is he using your charm to make you like him?”

“Nay. Or, not anymore, I should say. He did use it against me at first. However, he gave it back to me. Sebastian didn’t control me to convince me to make love with him, I swear. That was all my own decision. See, I have my shell charm back.” She picked up the lock of hair that had her personal charm attached to it, showing them that what she said was true.

“Then he won’t stop you from leaving with us either,” said Galene. “Right?”

“I–I don’t think so.” She suddenly realized she wasn’t sure. He had given her freedom back, but she was still confused as to if he wanted her to leave or stay with him. “I’m actually not sure how he will feel if I leave.” Merrow glanced back at the waterfall and her heart ached. Part of her wanted Sebastian to try to stop her from going. To stay with him because he enjoyed her presence in his life. Then again, if he dared try keeping her here and wouldn’t let her leave with her sisters, that would make her angry too. Confusion muddled her mind.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t wait to find out.” Galene hoisted herself up and out of the water. “Come, Melite. We need to dry off so we can gain our legs. There will be no way for us to travel in our sea nymph forms.”

“Speaking of that,” said Merrow curiously. “How did you two get here by yourselves? Did you manage to escape and find your way to the falls by luck alone?”

“They’re not by themselves. They had a little help.”

Merrow turned to see Medea standing there with her husband, Rhys. “You two helped them?” asked Merrow.

“Yes,” answered Medea. “Your sisters told us what they wanted to do and I helped them get here. Of course, I could only use my magic to transport them one at a time.”

“My brothers and I want to see you and your sisters get back home through the portal,” said Rhys.

“Thank you.” Merrow smiled and nodded. “However, transporting us one at a time will take too long.” She started to feel suddenly panicked. “Sebastian will be awake at any moment. I am not sure he’s going to just let us all leave. That might make trouble for him. His men may not respect him and think of him as weak if we just disappear.”

“Sister, you are starting to sound like you’re making up excuses to stay here,” Galene told her.

Mayhap she was, she sadly realized. Everything was happening so fast that she needed time to stop and think things over regarding what happened between her and Sebastian. Mayhap leaving right now wasn’t the answer after all.

Someone cleared their throat and everyone turned around to see Elric sitting in a horse-drawn wagon. He was on the driver’s seat with the reins in his hand.

“Elric?” asked Merrow. “What are you doing here?”

“I overheard the plan and knew it wouldn’t work. That’s why I brought the wagon. Get in. Hurry. I will take all of you directly to the sea. Anything to get Mura back to the way it was.”

“We can’t go anywhere until my sisters have their legs,” Merrow told him. They need to dry off some more first in order for that to happen.”

“Well, that’s gratitude for you,” said the elf with a scowl, mumbling to himself.

“Someone’s coming!” Medea looked over at the waterfall.

“It’s Sebastian,” said Merrow. “He’s coming to find me.”

“Merrow? Is that you?” Sebastian called out, appearing from behind the falls.

“Sisters, we need to get you into the wagon. Quickly,” warned Merrow, seeing Sebastian stop, taking in the situation.

“What’s going on here?” he asked. Sebastian was fully dressed and his hand wavered above the hilt of his sword strapped to him.

“We can’t leave!” cried Melite. “We still have our tails.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring you to the wagon.” Medea took Melite’s hand and transported her. They disappeared and then reappeared in the back of the wagon.

“Now me,” cried Galene. “Please, hurry. I don’t want to be trapped here.”

“Merrow, as those your sisters? What are they doing here?” Sebastian started toward them at a quick pace. “Wait! Don’t leave. You can’t.”

“Go!” Merrow commanded Medea. Medea took Galene’s hand next and transported her to the wagon as well.

“Merrow, hurry!” cried Galene from the cart.

Merrow stood still, not able to move. Part of her wanted to go home with her sisters. Another part of her wanted to stay with Sebastian. She hadn’t had time to think things over yet. After last night, nothing was the same. Merrow hadn’t even had the chance to tell Sebastian goodbye.

“Merrow, stop! Please. And keep your sisters from leaving,” yelled Sebastian, hurrying toward her. “You can’t go.”

When Merrow heard those words, she realized it was exactly what she had to do. If she didn’t try to get her sisters back through the portal now, she might never be able to do it again. She was sure by now her brother would be waiting, and she wasn’t sure how long he could keep the portal open.

Merrow turned and ran for the wagon, jumping on the back just as Elric pulled away in a hurry. Medea was with them in the back and Rhys rode up front with the elf.

“Merrow! Merrow, come back.” Sebastian shouted, but Merrow didn’t answer because she wasn’t sure what to say. All she could do was to stare at the man who had been her lover. Her protector. Someone whom she wished she’d had the chance to get to know even better.

“Get to the sea quickly and don’t stop, no matter what,” Merrow ordered Elric over her shoulder.

Sebastian’s image got smaller and smaller as they traveled down the road, leaving him behind. Merrow’s heart felt heavier than it ever had before. In her haste, she hadn’t thought this through. By going, she wasn’t only leaving Sebastian behind, but she’d also just abandoned her mother.

Sebastian never expected this! He wasn’t sure what happened. When they went to sleep last night, he and Merrow were getting along fine. More than fine. They’d held each other and kissed and made love. They’d spent the night together in each other’s arms, laughing and talking. They’d been intimate in not only the physical way but also with their thoughts, words and actions. They even shared stories, fears and wants. He had never talked like this and opened himself up this way with any woman before. Then again, Merrow was so much more than just any woman. She was special. Caring. Kind. She was a sea nymph. A true, unique beautiful, loving woman.

And now, this girl who had made him so happy, without even a simple goodbye just rode out of his life. Forever.