When the Sea Burned Read online

  “You look wonderful, your Majesty,” a pretty, young mer woman said with a smile. “I’m Coral, and I’m here to help you shop.”

  Alicia raised a brow, uncertain she required help, but allowed Coral to lead her to shops that were obviously high end. There were no price tags, but she didn’t let it trouble her as she studied the wraps on the mannequins, discovering that yes, a sarong was cute if used as a wrap skirt with a flirty top, and jeans and shorts were not popular with people that sprouted tails. They had some cute short skirts, and she picked a couple that came to mid-thigh and a couple of pairs of pretty sandals.

  “Is there nothing else you like, your Majesty?” Coral asked, trying to interest her in more dresses.

  “Do we have a quota?” Alicia asked with amusement. Thanks to Coral’s efforts, she was now dressed in a green, midriff baring Indonesian style top with a matching short skirt and delicate sandals. She felt overdressed, but the clothes were comfortable, and the shop keeper had promised to deliver the rest of the items. She was ready to leave.

  “No, of course not. After you,” Coral followed her from the store. Alicia didn’t mind going first, as only one person could fit through the door at a time, and she didn’t mind being called “majesty”, not when everything felt like a fantasy. She didn’t care to be trailed, however, and gestured for Coral to walk at her side. “I assume you have other things to do today? I don’t want to keep you.”

  Coral smiled. “I’m to be your companion and personal assistant, my Lady, if I suit. I’m at your disposal.”

  Alicia frowned. “I’m not sure I do enough to make that worth your while.” Coral was nice enough, but she didn’t like the thought of her hanging around all day.

  “I will be available when you need me,” Coral assured her with the slightest trace of anxiety. Was her job at stake? “I’m very discreet.”

  Alicia patted her arm. “We’ll see. Meanwhile, is everything here safe to eat? That grilled fish smells great.” She stopped at a busy restaurant and tilted her head as she studied the incomprehensible script on the overhead menu. “Pity I don’t have any money.”

  Coral did a double take. “You can afford anything you like, my Lady. Your husband will pay for anything you desire, though there are other, quieter places to eat if you wish.”

  Alicia smiled and crossed her arms, shaking her head as people caught sight of her and began to move away, gesturing for her to go to the head of the line. “I’ll wait my turn, thank you. What do you recommend?” she asked an elderly lady who stood with her husband ahead of her.

  The lady stammered, incoherent at speaking to royalty. Alicia waited patiently until she recovered her tongue. The couple said the grilled fish with watercress salad was delicious, and so were the lotus root fries.

  “Sounds good. I’ll try it,” Alicia said thoughtfully, ignoring the snap of cell phones as bystanders took her photo. Technology was alive and well under the sea. She wondered if the phones were waterproof and resolved to ask Surge privately. She didn’t want to advertise her ignorance publicly if she could help it.

  The proprietor was overjoyed she’d patronized his cafe and tried to make her meal free, but Alicia insisted Coral pay and include a generous tip, assuring her quietly that she’d pay her back. Coral waved that away, embarrassed Alicia brought it up. “I have an expense account on your behalf,” she murmured. She refused a meal, claiming she’d already eaten.

  Alicia insisted she order a drink. “I prefer not to eat alone.”

  She didn’t object to the swiftly cleared table they were offered, however. There were some perks of royalty she would happily keep.

  The meal was delightful, and she debated whether Surge buying her new clothes outweighed the fact that she’d lived on seawater for days. If it hadn’t been for Kira’s gift basket, she might have thought she’d never have solid food again. “I think I might kill him,” she said aloud, munching happily on a fried lotus slice. Coral looked alarmed, so she clarified, “I can’t believe he made me wait so long before I could come here.”

  Coral relaxed. “I’m sure his reasons were sound.”

  Alicia grunted, but let it go. “Tell me about yourself. Do you have family?” She listened as she studied the odd characters in the mall. They looked different than humans, but the mer behaved like the shoppers she was familiar with. Mothers herded children through the crowds, net shopping bags hooked over their shoulders. Youths hung around the food court chatting, while young women shopped and gossiped. Some of the men loitering around the mall disturbed her. They might have been waiting for wives or daughters, but something about them didn’t fit the pattern.

  Coral noticed her rapt attention and asked, “What is it?”

  Alicia nodded to a man outside a pet shop, apparently engrossed in his cell phone. “He’s been there since we sat down. He moves from time to time, but never leaves the area.”

  Coral laughed uncomfortably. “Oh. Well. He might be part of your security detail. You’re protected at all times.”

  So she was watched. Alicia noticed the water bubbling in every surrounding cup and set hers down, tamping down her temper. She didn’t mind being ogled by innocent bystanders, but she resented being watched.

  “They are also to help if you seem dehydrated or uncomfortable in any way,” Coral said in a comforting tone, politely ignoring her hissing tea. “His Majesty was very clear that your health was a priority.”

  Alicia’s nostrils flared as she drew in a deep breath. The disclosure helped a little, but she needed another outlet for her frustration. The feeling of being trapped had returned, and she was desperate to dispel it. “Let’s walk.”

  Surge wasn’t surprised to see Alicia was in a bad mood when he joined her that evening. He’d been apprised of the disastrous shooting range incident. Thankfully, the elementals on site had held back the water before it could completely flood the room via the gaping breach in the wall, but both Alicia and the bystanders had been shaken by the sheer force she’d generated with her practice water projectile.

  She apologized profusely, but Cayman had politely insisted she abandon the mall for the safety of the other shoppers. She’d grimly complied, her upset causing the water to boil furiously wherever she went. It was for that very reason he’d kept the old palace mostly dry. Seeing the water churn only reinforced her unhappiness.

  Really, someone should have seen that one coming. A young elemental of her power had no business practicing dangerous sports until she’d learned control, and his security team had been reprimanded accordingly. If she so much as tried to raise a mist, she’d be politely but firmly squelched.

  It was handled, so he hadn’t rushed to her side, but he knew she was worried. When he entered the room, she looked at him as if she expected a lecture.

  He offered a distraction instead. “Would you like to join me for a walk on the beach? The moon is full tonight.”

  “You’re not mad?” she asked cautiously, rising to meet him.

  “Not at you. Your handlers should have known better. It won’t happen again.”

  She blew out a breath. “I’m so dangerous I need handlers. Great.”

  “If I had a teenage daughter or a young son, they would also have security teams. Even a combat trained son would require at least one bodyguard at all times.” He took her hand and phased to mist before she could say anything else, taking the solid water elemental form when they reached the ocean. He steadied her as the ocean lit up around them, a carnival of pastel wonders. He made sure the surrounding water was warm as she looked fearfully around.

  “I thought we were going to the beach,” she said unhappily.

  “We are.” He guided them toward Maui on a gentle current, allowing her plenty of time to look around. Thankfully, she’d calmed a bit by the time they stepped out on the beach, but only when her feet touched earth did she fully relax. He winced, unhappy that his bride was more comfortable with that element than her own. Perhaps it was to be expected for a former human
. Surely she would adapt. He didn’t like the Fates, but he had high expectations of their competence.

  “Are we on Maui?” Alicia asked, noting that the island wasn’t big. The moonlight revealed a larger island across a short expanse of water.

  “That’s Maui,” he said, gesturing to the larger landmass. “This is an outlying island I recently acquired. I thought we would like privacy, especially as you adapt.” As they rounded the island, she saw a house light up, facing the open ocean. Made of stone and glass, it seemed to have been built into the rocky hill and it had a magnificent view of the small wooded bay. The lower story had steps that were partially submerged in a narrow stream that flowed straight to the sea. The lower half was partially enclosed, the pillared porch vaguely reminiscent of the palace.

  “In the event of a storm, a force field will simulate glass,” Surge said, watching her.

  She frowned at him. “This was custom built, wasn’t it? When did you acquire this?”

  He considered her thoughtfully. “Have you ever seen that home makeover show that builds a home in days? I was inspired.”

  “You did this for me?” she whispered.

  He smiled ironically. “I did it for us. I value my sleep. I thought if you had better dreams, I would, too.”

  She stopped at the porch and stared at the sand, her vision misty. He built her a home so she’d sleep better at night. There were no words, but she tried anyway. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I never thought…” She choked on emotion, unable to go on.

  “It was my pleasure,” he soothed, placing an arm around her. “Does this mean I’m a good husband now?”

  She laughed, gasping with the effort. “You did all this...?”

  He just grinned and led her inside, watching closely as she took in the mosaic tiles and sea colored walls. He’d done his best to bring the ocean in, building on the sea theme Kira had used in Alicia’s room. Driftwood furniture, sea grass and blue and green ceramic pots held palms and plants, and the entire wall facing the sea was mostly glass. He’d wanted open and light, hoping Alicia wouldn’t feel trapped.

  “You’ll have a choice of sleeping rooms, but I thought you might like the one on the ground floor,” he said, leading her past a kitchen with counters made of honey brown stone with a matching sink and floating glass shelving. He paused to let her examine the custom table and canvas upholstered whalebone chairs.

  “This is real whalebone?” she asked in surprise, trailing a finger over a bit of glossy white surface.

  He nodded. “The table is a housewarming gift from Raze and Kira; she’s been practicing glass work.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she murmured, smoothing a hand over the swirling aquamarine glass. The bathrooms held sinks of the same material set into glossy white countertops, but she was surprised at the size of the bathtubs. Sure, they were big enough for two, but this was a water elemental’s home.

  Surge smiled. “Wait until you see the sleeping room.” He led her to an airy, pillared glass room with a roomy pool surrounded with potted palms and flowers. Couches were placed around the room for easy conversing. He gestured to the glass ceiling. “I thought you’d like to see the stars.” The pool glowed with soft pink and green light and the water was warm to the touch. There was a comfortable built in lounge, so she could recline in comfort without fully submerging.

  Alicia blinked at him, overwhelmed. “You did this for me?”

  “I don’t want you to be afraid,” he said seriously. “I want you to be comfortable with the sea.”

  She sent a doubtful look out the window at the restless ocean, but the gesture was touching. “Thank you.”

  He smiled and entered the pool, holding out a hand invitingly. “Try it out.”

  He waited until she was settled on the lounge, watching the stars before bringing up their new routine. “Coral will stay here during the day, and you’ll see your guard, of course. They’ll accompany you anytime you wish to see the palace, or if you’re visiting Kira or the market.”

  She looked down, disappointed that he’d brought up business. She nodded.

  “Feel free to explore Maui or the nearby ocean; it’s patrolled and your guard will keep you safe. I’ll be at the palace most days attending to business, but I’ll come home at night if I can.”

  She sent him a fearful glance, but quickly looked away. She didn’t need his presence to keep the nightmares at bay; they’d happened even when he was with her.

  “On the nights I can’t be here, I’ve arranged for company,” he said gently, noting her distress. He raised his voice. “Ollie! Hyah!”

  She frowned at him, then her eyes widened as two otters trundled into the room and slid happily into the pool down a small slide. She started to get up, startled at the strange creatures in her pool, but Surge stopped her, smiling. “It’s okay. Think of them as puppies of the sea. They’re your pets.”

  “Pets?” she said doubtfully as the otters played in the opposite end of the pool. Suddenly they surfaced and looked at her.

  “Yes. They’re a mated pair. Ollie, the brown one, is the male. The white one is called Hyah.”

  “I’m um, not used to playing with animals in the water,” she said, sitting on the edge. She felt unequal in the water, as if the otters could drown her.

  “They won’t hurt you,” Surge said reassuringly, summoning the otters with a gesture. They came eagerly, rubbing against him, diving and surfacing playfully. “If you focus, you can communicate with them.”

  She looked at him uncertainly, but concentrated, saying carefully, “Hello.” She almost fell over when the animals sent back impressions of happiness and joy at meeting her.

  She gaped at Surge.

  He grinned. “You can do that with any sea creature. Cool, huh?”

  “Very cool.” She tentatively reached out a hand, and Ollie bumped it with his head. Alicia reflexively scratched, and Hyah crowded in for a scratch, too. “What do they eat?”

  “Shellfish, urchins, that sort of thing. Don’t worry, they’ll feed themselves.”

  “They don’t turn into anything, do they?” she asked suspiciously.

  He grinned. “No, they’re just otters, but clever otters, yes?” he crooned, rubbing Ollie’s belly as the little one floated on his back.

  She watched Ollie for a moment, then asked, “So…I can practice working with water on the beach, right? There’s nothing to damage out there.”

  He sent her a sharp look and considered. “Small things only. I’ll show you some basics and review your progress, but it will require constant supervision. You must promise to be very careful; I want to come home to an intact island.”

  “Very funny. Of course, I’ll be careful! I want this under control, too.”

  She slept in the lounge chair that night, so soundly that she barely stirred when Surge told her goodbye shortly after dawn. She didn’t wake until late morning, blinking until she remembered where she was. Thank God, she wasn’t under the ocean in a damp cave! She rolled over and came nose to nose with an otter.

  Alicia sat up with a screech, one hand on her heart. Argh!

  Chittering, the otters informed her that they were off to enjoy breakfast, inviting her to join them.

  “Maybe later,” she said, exiting the pool to explore the house. The fridge and pantry were stocked with food suitable for water elementals, plus some items that were clearly marked, “Earth” and “Fire”. She wondered if that was meant for visitors. She sent a text to Kira, inviting her to the see the new house. Armed with a cup of kelp tea, she investigated the living room, home office and four guest rooms on the upper level, wondering absently if they would ever entertain. It wasn’t as if they had any kids.

  She blinked, wondering if they were even able to have kids. She assumed it was possible (why transform her otherwise?) but unlikely. She shrugged it off. She wasn’t a kid person anyway, which was just as well, as she wasn’t likely to be allowed around children in her present condition.

&nbs
p; The point was rammed home later that day as her new tutor studied the hole she’d blasted in the boulder.

  “Well, it’s round,” Yui said, arms crossed as he considered the tunnel a man could crawl through. They could see sky on the other side.

  Alicia grit her teeth. “At least it’s straight. My aim is good.”

  “Let’s try blasting over open water. Do a continuous stream and focus on keeping it small,” he advised.

  Alicia tried, but the best she could manage looked like the blast of a water cannon. After struggling for nearly a quarter hour, she threw up her hands and paced. “Monster,” she muttered angrily. If she ever lost her temper, she’d take out Maui. “What was Surge thinking? We should have moved to the middle of the ocean.” The waves surged, tossing angrily with her temper. The sight only made things worse, and she closed her eyes as she tried to get control.

  “Hi,” someone called, and she opened her eyes in relief as Kira settled on the beach in a shower of sparks. Kira glanced at the water and grinned. “You look frustrated.”

  A cloud of dust drifted to the sand next to her and materialized into a tall Hispanic woman with long glossy hair. She was dressed in shorts and a glittery t-shirt adorned with butterflies. A gold and emerald armband circled her left bicep, and matching earrings winked in her ears. “Hi! You must be Alicia. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “This is Cara Earth,” Kira said with a smile. “She wanted to meet you.”

  “It’s long overdue,” Cara said firmly, shaking Alicia’s hand. “I’d say welcome to the club, but it’s not the kind of thing we signed up for. It does get better.”

  Alicia raked a hand through her hair, but was halted by the beads. She scowled. “It’ll have to. I’m a walking disaster right now.”

  Kira grinned when she saw the hole in the rock. “Wow! That’s pretty cool.” She took a closer look. “Hot dang, girl.”

  “No, it sucks. I can’t form a small jet to save my life. I’ve been at it all morning, and I keep destroying stuff.” Alicia crossed her arms in disgust.