Alliance of Blackbirds Read online

  Chapter Six

  “I know I shouldn’t worry about this right now, but just look at my hair and what that witch did to it.” Claire turned to me with a small tear running down her cheek,

  I wanted to help her and talk to Gabe about his past that he locked away, but I couldn’t let Claire stand here and worry about her hair.

  “You’re right, it should be the least of your concerns,” I said rummaging through the drawers in the kitchen. “But also, a girl shouldn’t have a bad haircut as she saves her world.” Finally after five drawers, I found scissors.

  I held them up with a smile.

  Claire looked at them and then me with uncertainty. “You’ve cut hair before?”

  I put my hand to my hip. “Trust me Claire, I’ve cut a lot of doll hair before and you’ve got to be careful with that because it doesn’t grow back.” I motioned for her to sit in a chair.

  I looked at the jagged ends and decided that the remaining long strands had to go. I kept with the slightly uneven ends until her hair was a little longer than chin length that cupped around her face framing it like a picture. Her hair was beautiful and I walked around her.

  “Oh, Claire,” I said amazed at my creation.

  She still had her eyes tightly shut. “Oh no, what? What does it look like?”

  “Open your eyes and go look in the mirror.” I put the scissors down and followed Claire over to a small mirror that hung beside the cabinets.

  “Wow,” she whispered. “Oh, Emily its….it’s gorgeous!” She was pretty and lost that childish appearance. Now she looked more like a woman instead of a girl.

  She turned all different ways in the mirror and smiled at me. “Thank you Emily,” she said wrapping her arms around me.

  I’ve never had this kind of reaction from someone before and felt a sense of accomplishment that I did. “You’re very pretty.”

  “Why thank you,” said Rasmus standing behind us.

  I turned to see him crossed armed and smiling. “Everyone else is up on deck. We’re about to pass through the portal of the Alfheim Sea and it’s something to behold, come.”

  Ian, Gabe and even David, who lay covered up beside them, stood in front of the stone arch that looked almost too heavy to be on the ship.

  Gabe turned and held out his hand. I smiled, joining him as he wrapped his arm around me. I could feel my insides relax and my worries evaporate.

  “Claire?” Ian’s voice was high pitched with surprise. He cleared his throat. “I mean, Claire.”

  “Like it? Emily did it.” She smiled at me standing beside Ian.

  “Tell her she looks pretty. Because I can see that’s what you think.” I raised my eyebrows prodding Ian.

  He didn’t reply only shifted his weight and glanced away then back at Claire. He then leaned over to her and whispered. She answered with a smile.

  “That wasn’t so hard.” I didn’t look at Ian, but could hear him internally sigh.

  “Maybe I just told her the ocean looks pretty.”

  “Whatever you say, lover boy.”

  The sun was quickly fading and the sky began to mix into several colors. It reminded me of a new crayon box with all the colors organized and even in height. They swirled around the fading sun until a deep blue pushed them over the horizon.

  “Perfect,” Rasmus said coming behind us. “You lovebirds ready?”

  Suddenly, a blazing arch shot up through the water in front of us. One by one, tiny markings began to glow on the stone arch. Gabe wrapped his arm tighter around me and the ship picked up speed.

  The ship glided through the water like it was on wheels. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I clung onto Gabe. We passed through a thin veil of fog and then the ship slowed down.

  “Very smooth,” said Rasmus stepping to the bow. “The Alfheim know how to make portals.” He then looked at Ian. “Sorry, don’t mean to offend your family’s trade, but they do know how to make portals.”

  “No offense taken,” Ian replied with his arm around Claire that he quickly removed when my eyes met his.

  “It won’t be long for the Mers to greet us.” Rasmus took out a pencil length glass stick, that I know as an etch, and tried to write something on the stone arch. “We’ve better send a message or we’ll get to be greeted by their warriors.”

  He pressed the etch to the stone started to write and then backed away looking at it. He let out a huff and tried again.

  Ian stepped closer to him and watched him for a moment. “You’re not holding it right.”

  “Alright, son of a portal maker. Send this message and quickly or the Mers will be attacking us and they don’t mind collecting ships in the bottom of their sea.”

  Ian turned to the arch, flicked his wrist and pressed the etch to the stone. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Tell them The Black Ghost has arrived,” he said standing behind Ian.

  “And that won’t alert them that they should send their warriors?”

  “My reputation is much worse than the real me. Besides, the Mers know me well.”

  Ian shook his head and looked up at the arch.

  “In Mer or Standard Atlantian?” Ian asked.

  “It doesn’t matter—one or the other or you’ll be picking shells out of your rear if you don’t hurry up. The Mers have a way of using those things as deadly weapons.”

  Ian started scribbling small, tightly looped markings. He then got up and gave the etch back to Rasmus.

  “There, classic Standard Altantian.” Ian smiled at the glowing symbols with pride just as something flew through the air nearly hitting him.

  “What was that?” Ian stood back up and peered into the pale blue waters that suddenly began to swirl with different shades of blue as if someone had put food coloring into the water.

  I stepped closer with Gabe beside me watching the water ripple. “Something’s coming towards us,” I said.

  “Yes, and that would be the Mer warriors.”

  In the distance, tiny heads popped up several at a time until there were about a half of dozen of them all swimming towards us. I could see green, blue and gold flecks on their skin and remembered seeing them on the Dragon clan’s ship when David kidnapped me.

  “They’re not attacking us, are they?” Ian asked with Claire beside him.

  “No, they’re welcoming us.” Claire waved her hands in the air. “I wonder if Jasper is with them.” Jasper was Claire’s Mer boyfriend and was the one who gave her the bottle of Ambrosia and was at my questioning with the council when I first arrived in Atlantis. I remembered his strong presence and never could really put Claire and her pale skin next to tanned, muscular Jasper.

  Ian stepped back and folded his arms watching Claire jump up and down and calling Jasper’s name and letting him know it was her.

  The Mers surrounded the boat and peered up at us.

  “What business do you have here, Rasmus?” said the oldest looking one with white hair partially gone on one side with colorful scales reflecting the light in its place.

  They all looked that way except some had darker hair, but all had patches of blue, green and gold scales covering their skin. The color of their eyes was electrified in blues and greens. And if they turned just right, they could easily blend in with the ocean.

  “I bring someone inflicted with the poison.” Rasmus leaned over the side of the ship.

  The older Mer man nodded and headed back towards the island that slowly emerged in the horizon.

  “That wasn’t there before,” I said to Gabe.

  “Yes it was. Only you couldn’t see it.” The ship jolted forward and before I lost my balance, Gabe pulled me close to him.

  The wind rushed past us as we came closer to the large island. Speaking of hidden things, I wanted to ask Gabe about his mother even though I knew he didn’t. I could see the hurt in his eyes and wanted to fix it. I couldn’t stand to see him hurt and I’d
have to do it when we were alone.

  Small boats greeted us and took us the black sand shore. The colors of everything were striking. The green palm trees against the black sand and the turquoise colored water, everything looked like it vibrated with color. Even the Mers with patches of scales covering their skin looked like jewels sparkling in the sun.

  “Welcome, Rasmus and I see you brought guests with you this time. It’s about time you made companions,” said a woman with blonde hair tinged green and a small section of blue-green scales covering her sharp cheekbones. The iris of her small, blue eyes nearly filled in her whole eye leaving very little white. Her slender arms covered entirely in green and gold scales shifted in the sun. Her tall and lean body was covered in a very thin and revealing gown. I knew I was obvious at my staring, but I couldn’t stop, it was like I was gazing at some exotic creature at the zoo. “Though not the crew I expected.”

  “I didn’t seek them out, they found me,” Rasmus replied.

  Her jeweled eyes glanced over us and I couldn’t stop staring at her.

  “You bring me a poisoned one?” she asked her voice was direct and had coolness to it.

  “Yes, my Queen, I do.” Rasmus had Gabe and Ian bring David’s limp body in front of her.

  With her eyes fixed on David, she stepped closer with outstretched hands. She brushed her hands across David’s cheek just as tiny bolts of light flickered from her long webbed fingers.

  “There’s more poison rushing through him than you. I am pleased.” Her movements and voice were mechanical. “Come,” she said turning towards the swaying palm trees.

  The black sand trail curved through the forest of palm trees that had evenly spaced smaller palms growing under the canopy. The path soon changed to paved walkway of gray-green stone that made large steps heading upward.

  I walked beside Claire who smiled to herself.

  “They said Jasper will be back tonight. He’s on patrol.” She looked at me with her bright, lovesick eyes. “I can’t wait to see him and for you to meet him.”

  “So the Mers can cure David and sweep you off your feet too?” I asked glad that Claire got to see Jasper, but concerned over David.

  She smiled slightly. “They are wise, but to get them to help sometimes is hard. They are part creatures of the sea and have a cold, inhuman edge to their personality, especially as they grow older. If anyone can help David, it’s them. They are wise and know the secrets of the seas and oceans.”

  “I hope they can do something for David,” I looked at David being carried by Gabe an Ian.

  “If they can’t, no one can,” Claire said in a soft voice.

  I glanced at her, but she kept her head towards the ground and then we walked in silence.

  There were many Mers around that gazed at us with their colorful eyes with heeded curiosity. Some were working in what I would call the gardens under the palm trees, while others passed by us on the wide staircase leading upward.

  Finally, we reached a flat area with the large canopy of palms overhead and buildings scattered throughout were constructed of black sand. They looked like castles with tall spires and arched windows high above. There were no doors, only open passages leading inside. It reminded me of a sandcastle someone would make on the beach only these had round stones of greens, blues, and yellows imbedded into the sand walls.

  We walked inside where the walls were lit with veins of light that gave off a cool light. They covered the walls everywhere and looked like they were pulsating as if attached to a heart somewhere. The room was bare except for a raised table made of black sand and embellished with the same stones as outside. It was a solid block with intricate designs carved in the sand. It even looked like there was an inscription running along the upper edge, but I wasn’t sure.

  The Mer queen motioned for Gabe and Ian to put David on the table. They then stepped down and stood beside Claire and me.

  I looked up at Gabe and reached for his hand. We then watched the Queen go up the steps one by one with eyes fixed on David. She reminded me of an animal stalking its prey and I tightened my hand around Gabe’s hoping she wasn’t going to devour him instead.

  Rasmus stood at David’s feet as the Queen ran her electrified fingers over David’s body. Tiny bolts of lightning flickered between his body and her hand. Her face was emotionless and her movements fluid. Her hand glided all over his body making small circles until she concentrated her movements over his chest. Suddenly, the electricity between her hand and his body intensified. David jerked, but remained still as if pinned down by invisible hands. He screamed out with his voice echoing off the walls. It wasn’t a human yell, but the cry of him changing.

  His body shook as the Queen remained still with her eyes fixed on him. She didn’t let up until he his body went limp.

  “The poison has gone too far. I’ve taken some, but to take the rest would kill him. Tell me what you want me to do with this creature.” She looked at Rasmus then at the rest of us setting her eyes on me.

  “Leave him,” I said.

  “He will change and do you want to fight the glass people?” she asked. “They are drawn to him and your amulet that was stolen from them. This creature is their guide and the amulet is their reward. They are angry that it was stolen and vengeance is what drives them.”

  I looked at David as Gabe pulled me close to him.

  “To let him live is to allow the glass people entrance to this world which they will destroy. To let him fade will cut off their light and this world will be dark to them.” Her voice was emotionless. “The decision is yours.”

  I drew in a deep breath and turned to Gabe.

  “He was your friend and still is. He was poisoned and asked for our help. We can’t let him die.” I gazed up at Gabe searching his eyes.

  He looked up at David before looking at me. “I know, but Atlantis is at stake and so is Eutopia. If the glass people get the amulet, then they’re unstoppable to how many worlds.”

  “There has to be another way.”

  “There is another way, but as other ways go, it’s dangerous, uncertain and may end in disaster,” Rasmus said as he stepped down. “Pandora’s Lock, remember.” He smiled at us. “Pandora’s Lock may be the key.”

  “How does it work then?” I asked.

  “Well, you’ve got to make a portal first, then have the bait sitting in front of it and someone to guide the glass people to the trap,” he said rubbing his hand together with a smile.

  “A portal will just lead them somewhere else,” Ian said.

  “Not if it’s a well-constructed portal that lead them to a cell.” Rasmus tilted his head. “It’s perfectly acceptable to make one.”

  “Yeah, acceptable, but impossible. How are we going to make one like that?” Ian looked away.

  “You’re the son of an experienced, well-known portal maker, you’ll figure it out.” He patted him on the back.

  “I’ve got no experience and not to mention the fate of many worlds will rest on its construction.” He looked back at the Queen. “I think…”

  “You have until low tide to make your decision.” She said peering down at us with folded hands.

  “Em, you should eat something. Here,” Gabe said handing me a wood bowl filled with colorful fruit. “The Mers made it especially for us since they mostly eat fish and other things from the sea sometimes cooked or uncooked, here.”

  I took the bowl from him and looked at the bright fruit staring back at me. “It’s hard to think about food right now with David and what the Empress said about…” I met his grey eyes.

  “About my mother and past,” he finished my sentence and I nodded picking out a piece of fruit resembling a pineapple slice.

  He drew in a deep breath and motioned for me to sit on a bench that sat in a circle of palm trees. It had tiny holes in it and the surface was bumpy and distorted like something inside tried to hatch out of it. The top was smoo
th, probably done by the Mers to make it into a bench.

  “It’s true what the Empress of the High Alfheim said. My mother was killed by the venom of an Etal—a rock creature of Ring Island that is in the southern Sanudra Ocean. I was seven and I had let go of the leash and the puppy ran away. Father had gone to a Blackbird meeting on Kangee and that left mother to go and find him. She came back without the dog and a sting by an Etal. She died three days later.” Gabe’s words were so mechanical and distant almost like he had rehearsed it before. “There, that’s it.”

  I gazed up at Gabe with sorrow, but he looked back with empty eyes that barely held back his pain. I could see it and before it broke, he turned away from me.

  “We better get back. Now, David’s life hangs in the balance.”

  “But Gabe,” I said setting my bowl down and cutting in front of him. I wanted him to tell me more that he was keeping secret and buried. “That’s how it happened?”

  “Yes,” he said in a low voice. “That’s it and,” he gazed back at my bowl, “you should eat something because I think it will be a long ride back to Meropsis.”

  “But Gabe…” I grabbed him by the arms. “It was your mother and—”

  “I know it was my mother.” His voice trembled and eyes glossed over with controlled tears. He drew in a deep breath. “What do you want Em?” he asked in an aggravated tone.

  My mouth opened, but no words came out. I looked up at him wanting nothing more than to talk to him. I could see his pain and I wanted to make it go away.

  “I want to help you Gabe,” I said finally.

  He stepped away, ran his fingers through his hair and then looked at me with his stormy eyes. “No, you can’t,” he said flatly. “The past is the past; you can’t cover it up or change it.” His eyes suddenly hardened still focused on me. “Don’t go digging where digging doesn’t need be.” His eyes formed slits warning me I had trespassed in a sacred area to Gabe.

  I pulled myself from his warning stare and shook my head. “But Gabe, I think…”

  “No!” his shout pierced me like thousands of tiny needles nearly numbing my entire body. “You don’t think. It’s the past, now shut-up about it!”

  He turned with eyes like ice and movements as quick as a deer. I stood dropping my bowl to the ground littering the green vegetation with the colorful fruit. I had dug where I didn’t know I was digging. I was hurt myself and hurt for Gabe. I’d unburied something that he spent years slowly covering up and I’ve blown it up in a matter of minutes.

  I could easily let myself cry, but I didn’t. Gabe needed me more than ever and I wasn’t going to let him go.

  I ran towards the sandcastle to find Jasper and Claire outside talking.

  “What happened?” Claire asked jumping up. “Gabe just stormed by.” She pointed towards another garden with a stone path that faded around the corner of the castle.

  “We…uh, we had a talk,” I said glancing between the garden wanting to follow and Claire.

  “It looks more like an argument rather than a talk,” Jasper said with his deep green eyes glittering back at me. “What did you do to anger him?” I looked away from them feeling Jasper was a little too nosy.

  Claire glanced up at him. “Maybe it wasn’t her.” She stepped in front of me as Jasper shrugged his shoulders and stepped back. “Em, what happened?”

  I felt tears sting the back of my eyes and I didn’t want to cry, not with Jasper standing by watching. He folded his large arms with an amused, smug look on his face. I kept glancing between the two of them.

  “It was…we just …” I couldn’t handle this right now and pulled on my hair.

  “A woman shouldn’t talk back to her mate, so maybe you are getting what you deserve as punishment.” The small patch of green-gold scales caught the flecks of light piercing through the palms. “You need to learn your place and think of that.” I glared at him half in awe and half repulsed by his blunt comment.

  My eyes shifted to Claire whose face reddened as she glanced down at her feet. I wish I could’ve sent her a message with my Receptor abilities.

  “I’m trying to give you advice, Eutopian.” I could see the patches of scales shift in the light as he moved closer to me.

  “You don’t know me, Mer.” I stepped towards him not feeling the fear that he was ten times my size.

  He smiled. “I’m afraid I do.” The more we talked the more he seemed amused at making me all the more mad. “You’re letting your emotions get in the way of what’s important now and that is your ill companion and the threat of the glass people, not what is going on in here.” Jasper tapped on his chest with his webbed fingers.

  I sighed looking away. Jasper was right. I was letting my emotions get in the way. David’s life, Alicia and the amulet were the most important things right now, not Gabe’s past. I glanced up at him and he cocked his head to the side. But he was only right about that one thing. The rest was him being a pig.

  “I’m right and you understand your place.” I could feel my skin crawl as I tightened my fist pulling my eyes off him to Claire.

  She slightly hunched over and glanced at me before looking back down at her feet. Not only did Gabe have issues with his past that I had to deal with, but Claire had a male chauvinist pig as a boyfriend.

  I shook my head and turned away from them.

  “You should stand up straight so you look taller my flower,” Jaspers said to Claire as bile rose in my throat. “And what did you do to your hair, I don’t like it now.”

  I stopped just before the path turned around the castle.

  Jasper pinched Claire’s hair between his fingers gazing down at her with disappointment.

  “A witch did it,” she finally said lifting her eyes to me for split second.

  I would talk to her later about Jasper for right now; I had more important things to figure out. I went around the corner to another beautiful garden searching for Gabe. I didn’t have to go far. Beside a tiny pool of blue water, Gabe sat peering down at it. I quietly walked up beside him and sat next to him.

  “I’m sorry Gabe,’” I said as we both peered into the water.

  “No, I’m sorry,” he replied.

  I reached for his hand and curled my fingers around his.

  “I shouldn’t have pushed you and I won’t. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.” I met his eyes.

  “I want to tell you, but not now.” His warm smile returned.

  We sat rubbing each other’s hand and peering into the clear water with colorful stones at the bottom and the sound of the wind rustling the tall palm trees overhead.

  “Jasper is a jerk,” I said resting my head on Gabe’s shoulder.

  He chuckled as I gazed at him. “I’m serious.” I turned to him. “He told me that I should know my place with you and I shouldn’t let my emotions right now get in the way of what’s important. I felt like showing my place with him and that would be my fist in his face. He’s just…ugh!” I yelled out of frustration. “Why are you laughing?”

  “Because, I like to see the fire in your eyes when you do,” he jerked me closer to him until we were face to face. “I want to kiss you now, but I know it would only lead to the more I want of you.” His stormy eyes swirled with fragments of blue. “But, Jasper is right, everything that is going on is more important and I want us to be around together for many years to come.” He pulled himself away and stood up.

  “You’re right.” I stood up. “We need to make a decision.”