A Sea of Golden Chains by Thomas Callie

Author:Thomas, Callie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Callie Thomas
Published: 2023-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Touch Her, and You’ll Lose a Hand

Mashing her pointed teeth together, the mermaid growled, approaching at an alarming speed. Hunger reflected in her glassy eyes.

I couldn’t watch another second and spun away. My scream shifted, dropping an octave to form my song. Haunting notes tore from me, burning my throat. Fear twisted in my chest as I braced myself, the oily water swirling around me.

Clicking sounded, followed by a long hum.

The mermaid hovered beneath me, the cage too tight for the two of us to be side by side. Her features relaxed, the time spent in captivity hollowing her once-beautiful face. Up close, she was wasting away. Her head tilted as she communicated in a language I didn’t understand.

I shook my head and shrugged. Body language was the best I could do.

The mermaid mimicked me, shaking her head and whipping her long white hair around her face. A ghost of a smile pulled at her lips. She flicked her tail and leaned forward, inhaling my scent.

Unable to stop myself, I did the same on instinct. Basic facts filled my mind. She was a female about my age, curious, and a tart aftertaste of her nervousness coated my tongue.

My scent must have revealed something because her eyes widened. Excited, she chittered noises and hums, her hands flailing about as if she were telling a grand story. Not that I minded since a story was better than her trying to eat me.

Pointing to my ear, I grimaced and shrugged.

Her tail sagged. She glanced down and became distracted by my dress. She grabbed the material, lifting it closer to sniff the ripped hemline. Catching sight of my feet, she made a high-pitched squeal and crowded in closer to investigate.

Wedged between her and the glass, I reached for the grate above me and lifted my face out into the tiny sliver of air. Voices echoed in the room, loud compared to the muted sounds I heard in the water. The baritone of Prince Vian’s voice rose above the others as he barked commands and threats.

Looping my fingers through the metal holes, I shook the grate. It rattled but didn’t open. “Help,” I screamed.

Glass shattered from somewhere in the room. Liquid splattered on the floor, sloshing, followed by a frenzied roar. Ryken?

The mermaid grabbed my ankle, dragging me back under. Eyes narrowed, she reprimanded me in clicks as she yanked me farther down to the bottom of the cage. She appeared disinterested in the ruckus on the other side of the glass, but when another roar vibrated through the water, she froze and threw a protective hand across my legs.

I wiped the filth from the glass, searching for Ryken in the fray. I didn’t see him among the others. A swell of relief coursed through me. Not only for him, but for Prince Vian too. Somewhere along the way, the charming prince had worn me down. I didn’t blame him for what Vella had done. Those were her actions alone. If only I had listened when he’d tried to warn me.

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