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“I knew you couldn’t be doing this out of your own good nature. Why do you want to meet her? Like you want to meet a human because you never have? Because there’s a mermaid in the Koralli who’s mated to a shifter and human she rescued from a sinking boat. Go have a chat with them.”
“You know that’s not why.”
“I’m not letting you meet Belle, Eros. So go sink in the chasm.”
“I know things about the chasm, Holter. I can help Nico. Let me meet Nico’sBelle. And I’ll get him off.” That’s metaphorical. He’s saying he’s got friends who are available for a price.
I laugh. “You don’t have that much pull, Eros.” But my stomach churns. I don’t like hearing her name from his lips.
“You haven’t been around for the last few years, Holter. Things have changed. There’s more going on than the war with the Viking nation and the council foolishly going after the Skyrats females. And Nico has set off a tidal wave. You’re going to need more than a sad old man with poor connections to get Nico out of this one.”
I want to punch Eros in the neck. But he’s not wrong. The chance of Nico being released is slim. I’m not going to lie. Having more connections isn’t a bad idea. “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
“I want to meet her soon. Before the Vividaria Festival Ball.”
Fuck the ball. “When is it?”
“You really haven’t been here in a long time. The Vividaria, it doesn’t change.”
“I haven’t been to a ball in years. We’re always out.” It’s a week-long event that celebrates the domes’ individual cultures and ways. The whole city shuts down in favor of drinking, balls, parties, parades. What we don’t need is Eros. Castor, as much as I don’t like him, has enough power. Well, Castor and his family.
“Exactly, that’s why you need me.” He leans against hissolo. “I see you thinking. But you have your golden boy and his mommy. They like to do things a different way than I do. You should ask around and then make a decision. But I’d make it quick. Things are going to heat up quickly. Nico’s a decisive kind of guy. You’re either rooting for him or he killed someone you love. It’s an even split in the city.”
I walk away from him. But he’s following me. “Eros, is there something I can help you with?” It’s a dumb question.
“Just let me meet her for a minute, and I’ll get the Zaffiro governor to vote in favor of Nico.”
“Go home, Eros. I’ll message you.” I walk into the visitor atrium. Home. The smell of our dome always hits me the hardest the first time coming off the sub. It’s honey and crisp. This is the area set to impress. And impress, our great atrium does. The golden ribs of the dome arch around all sides, holding the glass in place.
There are ten great domes, each with many smaller offshoots. Each with our own way, small cities unto themselves. And protecting all the domes is a giant force field. A dome in itself. Water passes through, and some animal life, but only what the force field is set to let through comes through. People, large animals, ships––they’re all relegated to following the government’s permission on who gets through. The force field is what has the humans out. Keeps them from knowing we exist.
Or at least it did. The battle in Boston is going to change that. No doubt. There’s no hiding that amount of damage unless they have access to a massive number of witches. They’re not going to keep us from the humans for long. Nico has changed more about our society than any other merman or mermaid since we settled here four thousand years ago.
“I’m not going to wait that long. I’ll visit Belle, with or without your help.”
“That sounds like a threat, Eros. And while I’m ageminae, I’m also lifelong friends, brothers, with Nico. I don’t take threats well.” I step closer to him.
A few otherGlyden mermen are milling about. They clearly didn’t go to the docking, but they stand from where they are having their morning coffee and walk closer to us.
“I’m going. Just know I’m a male of my word. It’s not a threat, just the truth. I will meet her. With or without your help,” Eros grunts.
“And I’m not going to let Annabelle anywhere near you.”
“We’ll see.” He tosses his cocky chin at me and hops back into hissolo.
3
Nico
The thing with bureaucracy is its bureaucracy. It’s the other half of what I do. And as much as I want it to not exist, that’s simply not possible. Laws and regulations are there to maintain society. And when they’re wrong, they need a rebel to show them that.
We’ve needed a rebel for a long time. I started the hurricane, and it’s now thrashing along on its own. We’ve got no jails in the Veiled City. There’s no rehabilitation—innocent, exile, or death are the three outcomes. And since exile is the same as death, I’d rather they just get right to it if that’s the answer.
The raised platform I sit on is big enough for my chair. Nothing else. This is the first step in our jet stream of justice. First the magistrate, then the panel of judges, and if warranted, it will go to the governors.
The magistrate stands on his dais, his toga draped over his shoulder. He’s Koralli, as a lot of magistrates and judges are. They’re the most impartial of the domes, a scholarly lot who smile excessively. The fellow hasn’t said anything to me yet. I don’t know him. But from the grimace on his face, he knows me, and I’m sure he’s wishing he didn’t have to work today.
He taps his lips. There are lots of other people here, but we might as well be alone. Guards and so forth. I don’t have any representation in the room with me. It’s not permitted for this phase. Just him and me, and the silent witnesses off on the edge of the round room. No one but the magistrate and I can speak at this, anyway.
