Chapter 20

Twenty

S ebastian stood looking out to sea over the sidewall of his ship, The Thunderbolt. A fitting name since Nereus could very well show up at any minute and start throwing lightning bolts at him again. It hadn’t taken even an hour to get the news back from Elric that the gods and goddesses of Mura would not help Merrow with her request.

Sebastian’s new alliance members which included all of the Blackseed brothers, Stone, and all their wives, as well as the fae queen, Alaina, were with him at his request. Merrow and her mother were there too, as well as Elric, Farrimond, Hitch, and Sebastian’s crew.

Hitch walked up next to him. “My king,” he said, still yawning since he’d never had any real time to sleep yet. “Tell me again. Why are we sailing out to sea? And with so many of our enemies?”

“They’re not our enemies anymore and don’t forget it,” Sebastian warned him. “Everyone aboard this ship is now our ally.”

“However, that might change soon.” Elric sped over and climbed atop the sidewall to sit down. “As soon as you foolishly try to conjure up the sea god, that is.”

“Who? What?” Hitch’s head moved back and forth as he looked to Sebastian and then Elric, standing between them both.

“I’ll explain.” Merrow came over to join them. “The gods of Mura won’t help me because they are afraid if they do, my father will be angry and start a war.”

“That is why she should just go right back through the portal and take all these blasted sea nymphs with her.” Elric glared down into the water and made a face at Merrow’s sisters who were swimming alongside them. So many of her sisters were still there, waiting for her to make her decision on whether she was going to stay and marry Sebastian, or come home with them.

“I’m not going anywhere, Elric,” said Merrow, slipping her hand into Sebastian’s. “I only came to bid farewell to my mother and sisters.”

“Then you’re really going to marry the oaf?” asked Elric, shaking his head.

“Yes, I’m going to marry Sebastian, and he’s not an oaf,” she said, smiling up at Sebastian. “I’m already carrying his baby and we will raise our child together.” Her hand covered her belly.

“As a human?” asked Hitch.

“Yes, that’s right,” Merrow answered.

“Nay, that’s wrong.” Sebastian released her hand and stood up straighter.

“What do you mean?” asked Merrow. “You no longer want to marry me?”

“Of course, I do. But I won’t let you give up being an undine just to be my wife. I know how much it means to you.”

“We don’t have a choice,” said Merrow. “Not if we want to be married, and not just live together while raising our child.”

“There is one more thing we can try, and I intend to do so right now.” Sebastian looked over to his captain. “Owaine, drop anchor right here.”

“You’re dropping anchor to let them off the boat, right?” asked Elric.

“Nay. I have another plan, and I only pray that it works.”

“What are you going to do, Sebastian?” asked Merrow with concern in her eyes.

“Summon your father, Merrow,” he told her, feeling nervous but knowing this was something he needed to do.

“What?” Elric, Hitch and Merrow said at the same time.

“Nay, don’t do that, my lord,” said Hitch. “It was hard enough trying to get rid of him the last time he was here.”

“He has to open the portal anyway. Now call him,” Sebastian instructed.

“My brother can open the portal,” said Merrow, shaking her head. “I agree with the others that it is a bad idea to summon my father.”

“I need him here because I am going to personally ask him to grant your request to marry me but to also stay a sea nymph.”

“Really? You’d do that for me?” asked Merrow, a blush staining her cheeks.

“Of course, I would. I love you, sweetheart and I want you to be happy.”

“Nay,” she said. “I—I don’t think my father has the kind of power to grant that request.”

“Why not? He’s a god of the sea, isn’t he?” asked Sebastian. “I thought gods could do anything.”

“Yes, but I don’t know if this is a good idea,” she said.

“Nereus can grant the request, but I can’t guarantee he will.” Dee walked up to join them. “Merrow, if Sebastian is willing to risk everything to ask your father for this favor, then you need to let him try.”

“Not if it’s going to get us all killed,” spat Elric. “Oh, you really are stupid, just like the Blackseed boys.” Elric zipped away to the other side of the ship.

“That’s why you asked so many to join us today, wasn’t it?” asked Merrow, figuring out Sebastian’s plan. “You knew you were going to do this and wanted the Blackseeds and the other men and the women with magic here to help if my father should object and attack you.”

“I was only thinking about the safety of everyone on Mura,” Sebastian admitted. “I am a king. I think ahead and take precautions.”

“My lord,” said Hitch. “Perhaps the best precaution is not to call him at all.”

“I agree,” shouted Elric, leaning back and closing his eyes.

“Nay, Sebastian’s right,” said Merrow. “I have to let him try. All right, I will call my father now.”

Sebastian watched nervously as Merrow closed her eyes and summoned her father in her mind. He swore he could hear her, but realized it was only his imagination. After all, he didn’t have this ability. He was only human.

“Sister, what are you doing?” Galene swam over to the side of the ship. Melite was with her.

“We hear you in our minds calling for Father. Is that a good idea?” asked Melite.

“Sebastian wants to talk to him,” explained Merrow. “If we’re going to be married, he can’t keep ignoring Father. It will be all right.”

“If you say so.” Melite didn’t sound at all like she agreed with this plan.

“Something’s happening,” said Hitch, his eyes opening wide. “The sky is darkening and the waters are becoming turbulent.”

“It’s the portal. It’s starting to open.” Sebastian felt his stomach clench. “Nereus is arriving.”

“Take a deep breath and try to stay calm,” Merrow told him. “And please be careful how you speak to my father. He tends to take things the wrong way a lot of times.”

“I can think of more relaxing things to do, believe me.” Frantic thoughts ran through Sebastian’s head. Was this a foolish idea after all? Was he endangering them all? Did he have a death wish? He was starting to wonder what he’d been thinking when he came up with this plan. Still, he was determined to do it for Merrow. He would do whatever he could to make this turn out right in the end, and to ensure his bride-to-be remained happy.

The waves of the sea parted, and all the sea nymphs huddled together. First, Merrow’s brother came through the underwater portal.

“Father is furious that so many of his children went through the portal,” said Nerites as soon as his head popped up from the water. “Everyone needs to get home at once.”

“Not yet,” Sebastian called out, standing tall and proud on the bow of his ship. “I need to speak to Nereus before anyone leaves.”

“Nay. Not you again,” groaned Nerites seeing Sebastian.“This won’t end well,” he warned him as the father of the sea nymphs made his presence known.

First came the prongs of his trident, then his crown upon his head rose from the water. Then the one who was referred to as the Old Man of the Sea lifted up majestically, his serpent-type tail whipping out of the water behind him.

“Why have you summoned me here, Merrow? What is this all about?” bellowed Nereus looking meaner and angrier than last time.

“It was me who summoned you, through Merrow,” Sebastian spoke up, not wanting Merrow to get in trouble.

“I have nothing to say to you, human,” said Nereus, spitting into the sea.

“Father, his name is Sebastian,” Merrow interjected. “Please, listen to what he has to say. It is important.”

“Why should I?” The sea god lifted his trident in the air and lightning bolts shot out of the prongs.

“Please, don’t do that, Your Majesty,” said Sebastian, diving out of the way of a stray bolt. His crew ran to all corners of the ship. “I did not summon you so the gods of Mura could fight you again.”

“What other reason would there be?”

“I called upon you, with only Merrow’s sake in mind. She wants to marry me but does not want to give up being a sea nymph.” Sebastian cringed, waiting for the sea god to explode with anger.

“That’s not how it works,” shouted Nereus, frowning. “If my daughter marries a human, she becomes one. She can no longer be an undine. She needs to decide, and can’t have it both ways.

“But Father, I need to stay a sea nymph. It’s important,” cried Merrow.

“Then don’t marry the human. Simple as that.” The wind blew Nereus’ long hair up into the air. His beard was down to his waist.

“You don’t understand.” Merrow looked over to Sebastian with tears in her eyes.

Sebastian took a deep breath and slowly released it. Merrow was being so brave, standing up to such a stubborn father. Sebastian had lost his parents early in life and never had to confront them in this way. He wasn’t going to let her do this on her own. There was only one thing to say that could possibly change Nereus’ mind. As reluctant as he was to have to tell him, Sebastian realized he had no choice.

“My king, I’ve prepared the men to fight,” said Farrimond from behind him.

“My brothers and I are ready as well,” said Darium who had also joined them. They all had their hands hovering over their weapons, ready to use them at a moment’s notice. “The women are also ready to use their magic if needed.”

“Nay. There will be no fighting,” Sebastian told them. “No one will draw a weapon without my knowledge. Understand?” Sebastian turned back to the sea king. “Your daughter wants to be able to raise our child as a sea nymph and cannot do that if she is human. You see, she is already pregnant by my seed.”

Nereus exploded in anger just like Sebastian expected him to do. Waves crashed up against the ship, causing it to roll to one side. The Blackseed brothers and their wives all hung on to whatever they could so as not to be thrown overboard.

“Now you did it, you fool,” he heard Elric mutter from somewhere. Sebastian looked up to see the elf pulling himself back over the sidewall. He was sopping wet.

“I love her! I want her to be happy but only you can help. Please,” begged Sebastian. “Use your magic to grant her the request. Please, let Merrow be my wife, but still be able to keep being an undine as well.”

Sebastian had no chance to hear an answer. Nereus’ anger was all directed at him. Sebastian took a blow to the chest from a firebolt from Nereus’ trident. It paralyzed him and he couldn’t move. His legs went limp, his body bending over the rail of the ship. Then, when the ship rolled back in the opposite direction, Sebastian toppled over the railing, falling into the black depths of the Masked Sea.