Lapidary

For so long I wanted to feel anything other than the numbness, and now my wish has come true. I was angry. My blood was boiling because Ace hadn’t told me the truth about Ryker’s death. And he had the nerve to call me a selfish bitch. He was the selfish bitch!

I had every right to know.

But somewhere inside me, I understand that he was trying to protect me. He knew how broken I was and didn’t want to break me even further. Ace was pretty much the only friend I had left, so I’d forgive him, but not right away.

I reached his sports car and paced around before I climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door. The idea of riding to Vesea with Ace was off-putting. Where were the car keys?

I leaned over and found them in the ignition. A naughty smile played on my lips as I scooted over and locked the car doors. I had to adjust the seat because Ace’s wings took up more space than my body. I twisted the key, the engine roared to life immediately, and I began the drive down the mountain. My heart was beating frantically the whole time, not because I was stealing Ace’s car, but because of my ever-growing fear of heights. I tried to tell myself that everything was okay and would stay that way.

Your wheels are on the ground. All is good.

By the time I reached the bottom of the mountain, I was shaking and sweating badly enough so that I had to pull over and close my eyes for a few minutes. I had never liked heights, but after Ryker’s death, it had turned into a phobia.

Fear was not a stranger to me, or any human who grew up in the world of Testatha. We were by far some of the weakest beings on the planet, and everyone made sure we knew that. I had grown used to fear, and it had kept me awake and alive when I was homeless. Fear was okay, but the voices were not. At the bottom of the mountain, where many angels had fallen to their deaths, the whispering started again. I turned up the radio, but it didn’t drown out the voices in my head. I gritted my teeth and continued driving. I tried to focus on the road, to distract myself. The last thing I wanted to do was cry. My life had purpose again: I had to find out what had really happened to Ryker.

It was a long drive from the Infernal Peaks to Vesea – a drive I couldn’t do in one day. I stopped three quarters of the way and spent the night in a cheap inn, paying with money I found in Ace’s car. I forced myself to eat because I needed the energy. I had a feeling Ace could have caught up with me by now, if he wanted to, but he was choosing to give me space. Just thinking about him pissed me off all over again.

It was around 3pm when I reached the Saltcoast and parked Ace’s car on the sand. I went closer to Deftones Deep and halted at the water’s edge. I had arrived. For a moment, I just stood there, thinking.

Vesea was the first city, and thus the oldest, the fae had built on Testatha. Vesea consisted of five islands, ruled by Rhinsel Grosstreet. The first, closest to shore, was called Bareband. It had been given the nickname “the boot” because of its shape. This island was closest to shore, which would make it the most vulnerable to attack. I found it ironic, but not surprising, that the most humans live there. Humans, in general, were poor and couldn’t afford anything better. I pitied those who lived on Bareband, especially because Vesea was known for its gangs and high crime rate.

The second island was north-east from Bareband. It was round, making it look like a ball that was kicked by The Boot. This island was called Stormorb, and was known for various activities such as diving, snorkeling, and surfing.

The third island was the main, biggest one of them all. It was called Ocelos and floated on the water like a boat. As a kid, I had thought it was magic, but it had pillars beneath it that kept it above the water. It was by far one of the fae’s most magnificent creations. Ocelos resembled a fish; it had a watery mouth and the Centre Canal flowed through the city. Plenty of arches and bridges allowed one to cross from the one side to the other. On the one side of Centre Canal lay Main Street and on the other was Rimetide Street. Heaven’s Window was located beneath the ‘mouth’ of Ocelos and next to Rimetide. Rumor had it that the White Crystal had fallen into Centre Canal and was lost to the ocean. Ocelos had two fins, and my family lived in the lower one, as it was cheaper to live there. Ocelos was mainly inhabited by fae, and my family could only afford to live there because my father had helped to design and build Shark Bay Prison. This prison was located northeast of Ocelos, and some the most dangerous murderers, rapists, and criminals were kept there. I’d heard some of The Insurgents, the human rebels, remained there, as well as The Risen, the Nether creatures gang. Somewhere, deep beneath the ocean, south of Shark Bay Prison, was Arameer, the city of merfolk.

West of Shark Bay were two identical islands called Butterfish Chain and Swordfish Chain. They had been nicknamed “the twins” and were known for their bars and casinos. They were dangerous islands, and The Risen were known to hang around there. I had a feeling that a lot of illegal activity happened there and for a long time the head of Vesea, Rhinsel, had turned a blind eye. But then he had Shark Bay built, which suggested he really was trying to improve the city.

As I stood at the edge of the Saltcoast, I wondered how I would get from the coast to the city. Although there were boats in Testatha, the common and best mode of transport were taxis. And, of course, these weren’t normal taxis…

Suddenly, the water began to part, and two black ears appeared, then a horse’s head as black as the night. The horse’s mane was flowing water, like the waves. I didn’t have to see its body to know that it was like that of a seal. This was a kelpie. Once they had been known for leading humans astray and drowning them. They had also drowned the fae, when the fae dared to build Ocelos so close to Arameer without asking permission from the sea queen. But now-a-days, they pulled carts and carriages driven by the merfolk. They were used as taxis.

The mermaid was sitting on an elevated seat at the front of the carriage. Her webbed fingers held the sea-weed reins, and her silver tail dangled down from her seat. She wore two big white shells to cover her breasts, and her long, wet hair hung in her eyes.

“Hello,” I said.

She didn’t return my greeting, and I assumed it was because I was human, and she didn’t respect me. “How much will it cost me to go to the Lower Fin of Ocelos?”

“Five coppers,” she answered curtly. Evidently, she was not above taking my money.

I nodded and headed to the car to collect my things, as well as Ace’s money. She made no attempt to shift into a human form and help me move my belongings, which I didn’t take personally. Luckily, I didn’t have many things. I stuffed my pills and the envelopes with the gold coins into my handbag. Then I carried my suitcase to the carriage and loaded it into the back. It was much warmer here, and I removed my coat, but kept my gloves on to conceal the scars on my wrists.

I abandoned the car but locked it and stuffed the key in my handbag. Ace would find me and collect the key and his vehicle. Was he already rehearsing his apology?

I got into the carriage and wished that I was wearing shorts and sandals instead of jeans and boots. The carriage was dry despite it having just emerged from the depths. The mermaid clicked her tongue, and the kelpie began to swim toward Ocelos. I was nervous, and the idea of seeing my family overwhelmed me. I hadn’t come here for them, however, and was here to talk to Lakelyn Shelby about the letter she had written to Ryker. She had been smart to write a letter, because if she had sent a text, someone could have hacked the cell phone, thereby revealing her secret. I had to know if she had sent the crystal or kept it. I wasn’t sure if she would talk to me, or anyone about it, and I wasn’t sure where to find her, either. Obviously, she lived in Arameer, but as a human who couldn’t breathe under water, I couldn’t travel there.

“Do you know where I can find Princess Lakelyn?” I asked the mermaid steering the carriage.

“She often hangs out at The Twins,” the mermaid responded.

Several angels were flying above Ocelos, and I wondered if they were all part of Sky Watch. “There are many angels here,” I remarked. She ignored my comment, so I asked, “Are they all part of the Sky Watch?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t know there were so many,” I said.

“Security has improved immensely this past year,” she said.

They had only improved security a year ago, after Ryker died, after the letter revealing that the White Crystal had been found had been read. These were angels no doubt sent by Artemis to look for the White Crystal. Everyone else thought they were here simply to stop crime, no doubt including Rhinsel Grosstreet. What would I find that they couldn’t?

The kelpie passed Bareband, and someone cried out. A human was on his knees, between the fishing-shacks in the harbor, blood dripping from his chin, and towering over him was a wraith. She wore a white, transparent cape with a hood, and her face was white as death, her eyes a sickly yellow. In a frightening way she was beautiful. The human man was much bigger than me, but he could do nothing to defend himself. He clasped his hands together, and I assumed he was begging. Would the wraith kill him?

“Stop,” I told the mermaid. “Stop here.”

“You’ll be a fool to interfere,” she said.

“Pull over.”

She stopped the carriage next to Bareband, and I paid her, with Ace’s money, before I jumped off. Moments later, the mermaid tossed my bag on shore, and I knew she wouldn’t wait for me. I heard her sink away beneath the waves, but I didn’t look back. My eyes were fixed on the man, who was now crying.

I hated how magical beings thought they could bully, hurt, and humiliate humans just because we were weaker than they were. My whole life I had practiced pretending to be strong and hiding my fear.

“Hey!” I cried. “Leave him alone!”

The wraith turned her yellow eyes to me as I continued to approach her. No other people were outdoors, though several peeked through their windows. They were most likely hiding because they feared this wraith. I balled my fists at my sides.

“This does not concern you,” said someone with a modulated voice.

I looked to my right where a man was leaning against the wall. A cigarette dangled between his fingers, and he placed most of his weight on his right leg as his left foot was pressed against the wall. His other arm hung by his side, with his hand on his black pants. He wore a belt and a loosely fitted T-shirt that revealed a tattoo-covered left arm. His ash-blond hair was shoulder length, and his eyes were so blue I thought he might belong in the ocean instead of on land. His lips were full and tempting, and he had the sharpest jaw line I had ever seen. He looked human, but from his confident manner, I knew he was something else.

“What concerns me doesn’t concern you,” I snapped.

The man raised his eyebrows before he tossed his cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. What was he?

I looked back at the wraith, who had grabbed her victim by the collar to prevent him from running away. He clawed futilely at her hand, and I searched for ways to defend myself, should I have to.

Here, in the harbor, there were plenty of fishing nets, as well as abandoned fishing rods. The houses were built of brick, and it would be easy enough to jump from the barrels onto the roofs. I didn’t see any weapons.

“Leave him alone,” I warned the wraith. “He doesn’t deserve to be tormented just because he is human.”

“Fuck off,” the wraith responded.

The blond man straightened. “Do you not know who I am?”

I widened my eyes and stepped back, pretending to have a moment of epiphany. “Oh, Ayana. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”

He bobbed his head, as if accepting my apology. I turned toward the houses. “Excuse me. This man has forgotten who he is! Can anyone help me with a name?”

The wraith turned her cold eyes on me, and the man appeared to be at a loss for words.

I shrugged. “No one seems to wanna help you, asshole.”

“That is Devton Embers,” the wraith’s victim croaked.

Oh. Fuck.

Oh. Fuck.

“He is feared, and he is fearless. He is death and danger and doom. He is a part of The Risen,” the wraith elaborated, although she didn’t need to. I knew his name.

What had I gotten myself into? Here I was, insulting a member of the most dangerous gang in Vesea. I kept my face placid, thankful that I had so many years to practice. I acted as if I had known all along who he was. The wraith was no doubt with him and was probably also a member of The Risen.

“Do you practice that speech before you go to bed every night?” I asked her.

Devton managed a smile that reached his eyes. He must be unused to anyone speaking to him like this, and he possibly admired my attitude. But was that enough for him to spare my life?

I resisted the urge to run away. I’d acted though all along, there was no point in caving now.

“Why? Is there room for improvement?” he asked me.

He probably didn’t expect me to answer, but I did. “Hell, yes. Try adding asshole and dimwit to the list.”

I’d always had a sharp tongue, but when I was younger, I had been good at biting it. These days, I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind, and maybe that was because nothing mattered to me – until Lakelyn’s letter.

Devton cocked his perfect head. I certainly hadn’t expected a member of The Risen to be a pretty boy. Rather, I had expected them all to be ugly, scruffy, and carrying guns or sniffing drugs.

The wraith let go of the man and straightened. “Who are you?”

“I am known but unknown. I am deep but shallow. I am part of the humans,” I mimicked to taunt her about what the wraith had said about Devton.

This pushed the wraith over the edge, and she sent a wave of shadows my way. I ducked in time, and once I was upright again, I realized the man has fled. I had saved him, but now I had to find a way to save myself.

The wraith collected another fistful of shadows and sent them my way. I had no idea what would happen if they touched me, but I was not about to find out. I leapt forward, instead of retreating, like the wraith had expected me to. I knocked her off her feet in one swift motion and saw this as my chance to run.

Devton didn’t look like he was planning to fight, but he was blocking my way into town. I swerved past him and jumped onto a barrel and then onto the roof. The enraged wraith sent another wave of shadows. This time, they collided with the tin roof and blew plates toward me. I dodged several before I jumped to the next roof. My heavy handbag slammed against my side as I grabbed the edge of the roof. I struggled to pull myself up and realized how weak I’d become from not eating this past year. I just made it onto the roof when the wraith sent more shadows, and more plates took off. I kicked them, trying to angle them so that they struck the wraith. One narrowly missed her.

Devton was grinning. Was he enjoying seeing me fighting for my life? Fucking sadist.

I jumped up and grabbed one of the plates before I tossed it, like a frisbee. It collided with the wraith’s chest and sent her backward – into a barrel of fish. I couldn’t hide my grin. Fuming, the wraith got to her feet. She used her shadows to dislodge the part of the roof that I was standing on, so that I lost my balance and fell. Although it was not high, I couldn’t help but scream. I hit the water and swam upwards. I gulped in air then realized I had nowhere to go other than back to shore. But the wraith was waiting for me there, like death.

Behind her were several fishing rods and a shed with an open door. I swam to shore, despite my handbag weighing me down. Once I climbed out, she grabbed me by the hair and yanked me to my feet. I kicked, and from her smile, I could tell she thought I’d missed – but I hadn’t. I had kicked the fishing rod behind her…

“Worthless human,” she sneered.

Before she could continue to insult me, I stuck my fingers into those yellow eyes. She cried out, released me, and stepped back. My plan worked as she tripped over a fishing rod and fell into the shed. Quickly, I closed the door and jammed the fishing rod in front of it. It only needed to hold her long enough for me to get away. A taxi was close to shore and I would make a run for it. I could totally jump from the harbor to the taxi. I was going to make it.

But then someone grabbed my arm and spun me around. I was not sure where Devton had appeared from nor did I have time to think about it. I tried to hit him, but he caught my hand and forced me against the wall. He was much stronger than I was, and I couldn’t break free.

I trembled and my imagination ran wild with the terrible things he could do to me.