Everblue

Chapter 4 - Fin

FIN

 

With a pop, gills opened behind my ears, allowing me to breathe as water rippled across my scale-covered skin. With a final exhale, I pushed out the last of the oxygen, lessening the resistance as we leisurely dove further into the inky depths towards the secret tunnel 1,600 feet down. Gel lenses slipped down over my eyes like goggles, enhancing my night vision and clarity. Our dive—easy for us to traverse—would be impossible for humans without some expensive equipment. Our mer bodies were unaffected by the glacial water and tremendous pressure.

Tatch swam alongside me; her worried thoughts met mine. "Are we getting relocated?"

I smirked, trying to keep our internal conversation from gaining mom's attention. Mer twins often had mind-talking abilities. "Stop overreacting. If whatever Azor asks is going to move us away from here, Dad will decline like last time. Maybe he has to go somewhere and I'll get to guard Tahoe in his place."

"You? Why would they pick you?" She clutched her charm bracelet that held her most prized possession—a tiny vial filled with a blue colored liquid—the essence of our life.

"I'd be the most logical choice," I said indignantly.

"Yeah, right. First of all you're not old enough and second, you're single."

"Nothing but technicalities."

Though the prospect of a bigger assignment when I got older was tempting, following in my father's footsteps and freedom apart from the colony appealed to me more. I just needed a chance to prove myself.

Tatch turned towards me, tilting her head. "You could come with me and Ash to college you know."

Tatch's response bitterly sliced through my excitement; I spouted out with internal laughter. "Ridiculous."

She looked downward towards our destination. "No. What's ridiculous is how they make it seem like you control your destiny when you don't. This huge honor is just a disguise for a huge crap sandwich. Your life will always belong to the King and the rest of the Council. Luckily, Dad has groomed you specifically for this territory by setting up Captain Jack's, giving you some sort of freedom. But you'll still be owned by them and at any time, like now, they could take it from you. You know it and so do I."

"Have you forgotten Dad is actually on the Council? He'd never let that happen."

We looked at each other for a moment—my twin, my little sister by five minutes. If she actually chose to leave us, to go to college and live "normally," the consequences meant erasing her memories and starting afresh as a human. People killed for our secrets and she was throwing it all away to be normal. No one in their right mind ever chose to leave.

I clenched my jaw. "I doubt you'll be able to go through with it."

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

I gulped down my emotion and shook my head. How could she act as if our family didn't mean anything to her? That our memories deserved to be heaved into a dumpster bin? The thought of losing her forever tore me apart the day she'd mentioned the prospect of college. Of course the decision would be easy for her to make—not having to feel the pain of losing the ones she loved. But I'd never do that to Mom and Dad, or to her.

I gritted my teeth. "You get the good end of the bargain."

"We've talked about this before. With the colony, there's no certainty. Dad's protection only goes so far. The King still has expectations. Leaving is my only choice," she said matter-of-factly.