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“Don’t try to change this, Katrina.” Her tone with me had never been more harsh. “I’m doing it, and it’s going to be fine.”
My jaw quivered as I fought not to say something stupid or rash. All three pairs of eyes pressed their gaze onto me, until I dropped my head and uttered a single syllable, laced with my distaste for the idea. “Fine.”
“Glad we settled that,” McKenzie’s sunburnt face gleamed with pride at her win. “Now what about the goddess? Why didn’t she come with you?”
“Because I couldn’t risk Bastian seeing her and trying to kill her on sight. We have to keep her out of the way and hidden until we know for sure we have the Crown within reach.” I stood up, gesturing for the others to do the same. “So we have to go. Now. She’s left unguarded right now and I don’t think we should push our luck.” For all I knew, Bellamy and Milo were nearly here. And somehow I’d need to communicate this plan to them without alerting Bastian.
The trio followed me to the shore, a decent enough walk from town, made a touch more difficult by the sand and stone we trekked through. When we finally reached the coast where Serena awaited, I stopped, hesitating as I wondered what chaos would break loose once they saw her. But I couldn’t keep wondering forever. Mom was waiting.
“Wait here,” I told them. “I’m going to let her know what’s going on first.”
“Fair enough,” Noah uttered.
With a nod, I turned and dove into the water, tossing my clothes back up at McKenzie from the water. “Hang on to these for me!” Not waiting for the reply, I took off, gliding through the water with ease back to the rock where I left the goddess.
“Took you long enough,” Serena’s playful yet calming voice was a welcome reassurance as I emerged from the water. “Are your friends all okay?”
“Yes,” I looked up at her as water trickled down my soaked hair and neck. “And we came up with a plan to get into Bastian’s lair and get your crown. But we have to warn Bellamy and Milo so they know what we’re doing.
“Then tell them,” Serena pushed at the air with her hand. I watched her, confused, urging her to continue. “Your Milo has the mark of the sun. It dampens Bastian’s hold on him. He won’t be able to hear you if you tell him.”
“What do you mean if I tell him?”
“Your siren call. You and I in the water could communicate through the mind. It’s because we are already linked to each other by nature, as all sirens are. And a skilled siren can also do that with those who are linked by her heart.”
“So you’re saying I can call him with my mind?” I blinked, flitting my tail in curiosity.
Serena nodded. “Yes, how do you think you were able to call him home with your song? You’ve been doing it all along.”
Trying my best not to waste time, I hurried and closed my eyes, focusing on the way I sang to Milo at the Fountain’s edge to bring him home. I reached for him once more, my voice swirling in my mind as it rose beyond the corners of myself and transcended into a place neither within me nor on the outside of me. I couldn’t hold it for long, so I thought up my message as quickly as possible.
Bastian’s hideout is beneath Garita del Diablo. We’ve come up with a plan to trick Bastian into letting my mom go and then…
…then you all will get the Crown. When his voice broke through to me, I nearly jumped at the sound of him in my head. And then I settled into the sound of him, cherishing the connection between us that superseded all others.
Yes, I’ll let you know when we’re at Bastian’s lair. Maybe if he’s distracted enough he won’t have time to notice you and Bellamy coming. There is supposedly a system of tunnels leading in from the coast under the fort cliff. I wish I could tell you how to get to the hideout from there, but you’ll have to figure it out. Noah says it’s a total maze. Don’t get lost.
Don’t worry, Milo reassured with a chuckle. Navigation is somewhat of a strong point for me. I’ll tell Bellamy to sail in circles to throw the bastard off.
“I take it by that smile that it worked.” Serena’s voice snatched me from my inner dialogue with Milo.
“Were you eavesdropping?” I asked with a grin, ducking down into the water so that only my head was out of it.
“Don’t worry.” Serena splashed some water my way with a flick of her tail. “Even I can’t interfere with another siren’s song-call.”
“Hmm,” I smirked. “Good to know.” After a long pause, I pulled myself up to meet her on the rocks. “Now, you should know the plan.”
I explained everything to her, ensuring to include the part about her potential body double.
“This girl is going to pretend to be me?” she raised an eyebrow.
I eyed her dark skin and thick braided hair. It’d be a lie to say I hadn’t also wondered exactly how we would make my red-headed pale roommate look anything like her. “Well, she’s going to try. I was hoping we could get creative with it.”
Serena sighed, “Lucky for you, there are few limits on how creative magic can be.” I didn’t understand exactly what she meant, but I didn’t feel like I had time to ask. I was just glad to have some form of approval from her for the plan. With Serena’s blessing, I led her back to where the others waited. But when we neared the shore, I turned around to stop her.
“There’s something you should know.” I whirled around in the water, stopping Serena before we got too close. “Remember when you talked about Russell? You’re about to see him again, and he’s probably not going to know what to do when he sees you.”
Serena’s features tightened, her perfect lips separating to form the smallest inkling of a gasp. Then after a short moment, her look of surprise turned into a small warm smile as she glanced at the shore ahead. “You’re full of surprises, little mermaid. You truly are.” She dove forward, swimming past me toward the coast in the distance. She didn’t even turn around as she called out, “Now let’s hope you can save one for this crooked pirate lord.”
