Fight For Freedom: The Mermaid Chronicles (Book 3) by Marisa Noelle

Author:Marisa Noelle [Noelle, Marisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Soldiers swarmed toward the car as soon as Babette put it into park. Maya and I both threw our hands in the air, afraid we would be accosted, arrested, or something worse.

Babette laughed. “Relax. They’re friendlies.”

Christina raised an eyebrow. “I’m glad they’re on our side.”

Most of the soldiers were dressed in fatigues, but others wore ordinary sweatpants and T-shirts or hoodies. All of them carried dangerous looking weapons. Babette hopped out of the car and engaged in a rapid-fire conversation with a soldier in a foreign language I couldn’t understand.

The soldier turned toward me and gestured for us to climb from the jeep, instructing us in a foreign language. When we didn’t immediately follow the instructions, they attempted to speak to us in broken English.

“It’s okay. We friendly. We help nice lady.” One pointed at my mother, holstering his automatic weapon.

“They’re refugees from the war,” Babette explained. “Some of them gathered here in America after the bombs thinking this once great nation could protect them or offer shelter.” She rolled her eyes sarcastically.

One of the guards took my mother from Dylan’s arms. He walked away with her into the darkness, circumnavigating the edge of the camp.

“Hey! Wait!” Raina called after him.

“It’s okay,” Babette said. “He’s taking her to the medical tent.”

My chest squeezed painfully as I let her go. Wade was captured, my mother was injured, and I had no idea where my dad was…tears prickled. Not now, Cordelia.

We followed Babette and a second soldier along a winding path through the tents, reminding me of old-fashioned war encampments of long ago. Memories of Gal filled my head. He’d experienced wars like this before he’d become a High Council member. What I would give to have him by my side now.

“Babette?” I drew level with her. “Did you die when you were a kid? I heard a story about you drowning or something?”

She halted ever so briefly before continuing along the path. “No, but I came close. I didn’t know anyone knew that.”

No? How could it be no? Was she not to be our united third?

She shivered, even though the night was warm. “I don’t talk about it, but I remember every freaking detail.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, her shoulders high and defensive. “I think that’s why I was always a little jealous of you and Wade. How easily you both took to water. Me? I wanted nothing to do with it.”

“I get that,” I said. “Do you want to talk about it now?”

She gave me a sidelong glance. “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to pester me until I’ve told you?”

“It could be important.”

“How?”

“Something to do with a prophecy.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m serious.”

“Harry Potter is just a book.”

“I’m no Harry Potter.”

She smirked. “You got that right.”

“So?” I asked.

“Trauma sucks.”

“I’m with you there.” I’ll never forget the day my mother and Dylan were taken by Zale. Despite the miracle of them coming back to me, I’m terrified of losing them again. I glanced at Dylan as we walked through the tents. Trauma had been hard on him too.

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