Silver Kingdom (Alexis Silver, Mermaid Detective Book 6) by J.R. Rain & Matthew S. Cox

Author:J.R. Rain & Matthew S. Cox [Rain, J.R. & Cox, Matthew S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rain Press
Published: 2023-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

Not-Lantis

I glance back at Soraya. “Okay. If you won’t go home and be safe, at least wait here until I’m done. Don’t get any closer.”

She gives me this mildly disgruntled smirk. “I recognize that you are much stronger than me, but I am no coward.”

“I know. You are certainly no coward to have led me this close to an entire city of people who would kill you before even talking to you.” I exhale. “To me, you’re still a kid. I can’t let you get hurt.”

“You do not look so old.”

“Thanks,” I mutter.

“How old are you?”

I purse my lips, then can’t help but smile. “You’re going to laugh.”

“I promise not to.”

“Not quite 100 years old… as a mer.” In total, I’m closer to 124 years of age if I include my mortal life before.

“That’s it?” Soraya blinks. “124? You’re just a child! A small child!”

“Remember, I’m not the same kind of mer as you. I was born a mortal human.”

Soraya’s surprise fades to a blank stare, then nervousness two shades short of being fear. Oh, and her eyes couldn’t get any wider. Great. She just realized I’m the mermaid equivalent of the bogeyman. “You… you’re one of… those?”

“Yes and no. Physically, yes. Mentally? I’m a lot closer to your people than those other mers. I’ve never lured sailors to their deaths and devoured them. I much prefer seafood.”

She swallows. “Really?”

“Really.” I wink.

“You’ve never eaten people?”

“Not whole.” I examine my fingernails. “Just their hearts. And they were bad people. I try to chew only in self-defense… or in defense of others.”

“I’m not sure I understand.” Soraya’s fear lessens. She nibbles on her lower lip. “Why are you different?”

“Due to an extremely fortunate set of circumstances.” I chuckle. “My personality, Licinia’s personality… it just worked.”

“Who’s Licinia?” Soraya dips down to hide behind the ravine wall, and tugs me after her. “We should take cover.”

“Licinia… many years ago, she was a human priestess of Amphitrite.”

Soraya’s whole presence lights up like an eager child about to hear a story.

I give her a brief explanation of dark masters, Barnaby causing the ship I was on to sink, and ‘turning’ me.

“You were once human?” She’s staring at me like I’m some sort of celebrity.

“Yes.”

“Wow. You look just like us... except for your tail.” She frowns, thinking. “That must mean the stories of Amphitrite are true, then.”

“What stories?”

“We’re told that Amphitrite made us to be ambassadors. We’re supposed to be among humans and serve as protectors and advisors. But… we hide in the ocean all the time now.”

“Now?”

“Well, for a long time. Before I was born.” Soraya frowns. “I’ve always wanted to go to the land and see humans, but my parents forbade it. Something happened a long, long time ago that caused my people to fear humans and want to hide from them. They said humans have become dangerous and evil and should not be trusted. And your kind are Amphitrite punishing humans for their cruelty to us.”

I cringe. “They’re not entirely wrong about humans being dangerous and evil.

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