Page 51 of Entangled

Sixteen

Merrow swam underwater along with her family toward the portal, hoping this plan would end her father’s wrath and also save Sebastian and all the others’ lives in Mura. Sebastian’s last kiss had seemed so final. It was hard to believe that she’d never see him, kiss him, or make love with him again. She’d truly lost her heart to him and knew it now since she felt it breaking. Although she didn’t want to leave him at a time like this, it was what he’d told her to do. He was right, she supposed. It was their only chance to end this. Once they were through the portal, mayhap her father would leave those on Mura alone, and go home with them, closing the portal behind them forever.

She was about to swim through when she distinctively heard Sebastian’s voice in her mind. Odd, since he was on shore and she was so deep underwater in the sea. I love you, Merrow, she heard loud and clear. It was enough to make her stop and turn around.

Sebastian?She saw what she thought was a figure off in the distance.

Goodbye, Merrow, she heard his words in her mind again and knew it was Sebastian this far under the water.

She gasped. He wouldn’t survive. Not being this deep. It would only be a matter of minutes before he drowned.

“Merrow, hurry,” called out her brother. “The portal is closing and Father has the Calling Conch so I won’t be able to open it again for you if it closes.”

“Go without me,” she told her brother, taking off at a fast swim, heading for the man trapped underwater. Sure enough, she approached and realized that it was Sebastian. His eyes were closed and she was sure he was slipping from consciousness. She needed to act quickly.

Pressing her mouth up against his she blew the breath of life into him, making his eyes open once again.

Merrow? Am I dead?he asked, using nonverbal communication.

Nay, but we must get you to the surface.Merrow put her arm around his waist, using her strong tail to propel them upward through the deep water. She stopped several times to give him more air. It worked! Before long, they broke the surface. Sebastian coughed and choked and fought to breathe on his own. She had thought they were safe and that the fighting was over. That is, until she heard her father’s voice and looked up to see him furious, back in his sea god form.

“Merrow, why did you save him?” bellowed her father. “I thought I killed him. Now, I’ll have to do so again.”

“Nay, don’t touch him!” She put her body in front of Sebastian’s, blocking him from her father.

“Move, daughter, before you are hurt.”

“I will not move aside just so you can kill the man I love.”

“Stop saying such ridiculous things. That man is an evil human.” Her father raised his trident in the air.

“Take a deep breath,” Merrow told Sebastian, diving down into the water and pulling him along with her. Thankfully, they’d moved fast enough. The blast of water passed by them but did not touch them. She brought Sebastian to the surface once again.

“Stop, Merrow. I can’t keep this up much longer.” Sebastian treaded water, struggling to breathe and stay afloat.

“If I stop, my father will kill you,” said Merrow.

“I refuse to fight him any longer.”

“Wise choice,” came Nereus’ booming voice. “Now, prepare to die, human.”

“I would gladly die for you, Merrow, so don’t feel bad when I’m gone.” Sebastian put his arm around her and gave her one last kiss. “Remember me always, my sweet, beautiful sea nymph. We will be married, even if it is only in our dreams.”

“Stop talking to my daughter that way. You are a human and cannot be trusted. I would never let you marry her. Swim aside, Merrow, and watch your lover die.”

“Nay, Father. Please. We want to be married.” She spoke the words aloud, but her father didn’t want to hear them. Because of what happened to her mother, her father would never trust a human man again. It seemed all he wanted was for all human men to die.

He raised his body up out of the water, only his winding serpent-like tail holding him in this position and still being under the water. Sparks flew from his trident as his eyes turned red. Merrow had never seen her father so angry. This truly frightened her. She had no idea how to help save Sebastian now.

Just as her father was about to strike down Sebastian and kill him, another voice split the air.

“You are not a god of Mura, now leave our people and the land and never return.”

“Sebastian? Who is that?” Merrow looked back and forth.

“I’m not sure,” he answered. “But it almost sounded like Zoroct.”

“Who is Zoroct?”