“I never knew I had that ability,” said Becca. “Not until today.”
Vr?ja then swam to Ava. “You are a daughter of Nyx. He came from the shores of a great river now known as the Mississippi. Like you, he was blind. And like you, he felt the things he could not see. Just as a bat does on land, or a shark in the water. Magic strengthened his gift, so that he could not only see what it is, but what will be. It will do the same for you.”
After Vr?ja finished with Ava, there were two mermaids left—Ling and Astrid.
“Now for the big fat question: Who is Orfeo’s descendant?” Astrid said. “Let me guess…it’s not Ling.”
“Sycorax is Ling’s ancestor,” Vr?ja said. “She came from eastern China, on the shores of Qin. She was born an omnivoxa, and her magical powers strengthened her gift. She could speak not just many languages, but every language. And not only human tongues, but those of animals, birds, creatures of the sea, trees, and flowers. She was Atlantis’s supreme justice. She solved disputes between citizens and negotiated treaties between realms. She was very wise.”
Ling smiled, but it was tinged with bitterness. “When I was little, people said I was a liar because I told them I could hear anemones talking. Plankton. Even kelp. I don’t have to study a language to know it. I only have to hear it. I’ve never known why. Now I do,” she said.
Astrid sat glaring the whole time Ling was speaking. “So I’m Orfeo’s descendant. That’s just perfect. So, like, I’m the bad guy, right?” she asked angrily, after Ling had finished.
“Orfeo was a healer. His people loved him. He was a musician, too, and played the lyre to soothe the sick and suffering. He came from Greenland. Of the six mages who ruled Atlantis, Orfeo was the greatest. His powers were unsurpassed. As yours may be, child.”
Astrid laughed harshly. “You’re wrong, Vr?ja. So wrong. It’s not true. Orfeo’s not my ancestor. The whole idea is totally ridiculous. I mean, if you only knew…”
“Knew what?” Vr?ja asked.
“Never mind. Just forget it,” Astrid said. “I can’t be part of this nutty little playdate any longer. The realms are on the verge of war, in case you haven’t noticed. I’m going home to make myself useful.”
“You can’t leave,” Serafina said, in spite of the distrust she felt for Astrid. “We’re supposed to be six, just like the Six Who Ruled—not five. Vr?ja said our powers put together would be extraordinary. There’s no hope of defeating the monster without all of us.”
“I have news for you. There’s no hope of defeating it with all of us. We’re six kids! The only ones dreaming are them.” She hooked her thumb in Vr?ja’s direction. “They need to stop their bogus chanting, raise an army, and go after this thing.”
“One who does not yet believe,” Vr?ja said.
“You’re right about that,” Astrid said. “I don’t believe. I don’t believe I came here. I don’t believe I wasted my time on this. I don’t believe I’m listening to this nonsense—”
“Excuse me.” It was Becca. Her voice, unlike Sera’s and Astrid’s, was calm and unruffled. “This isn’t helping us make any progress. Where, exactly, is the Carceron?” she asked, taking a piece of kelp parchment and a squid ink pen out of her traveling case.
“All we know is that it’s somewhere in the Southern Sea,” Vr?ja replied.
“Well, that narrows it down,” Astrid said.
Becca jotted down a few notes, then asked, “What are the talismans?”
“We don’t know,” Vr?ja said. “Merrow did not reveal them to us. We believe she hid them so no one could ever use them to free Abbadon.”
“If she was so worried about the possibility, why didn’t she destroy them?”
“Because they are indestructible. They were given by the gods.”
“Any ideas where she hid them?”
“No,” Vr?ja said.
“Of course not!” Astrid said. “Why do you keep asking questions, Becca? You’re not getting any answers! Don’t you ever give up?”
Becca’s glasses had slipped down her nose. She pushed them back up. “No, Astrid, I don’t.” She turned back to Vr?ja. “And Abbadon—any ideas what it might be made of?” Becca asked.
“It looked like it was made of darkness, but how could that be?” Ling asked.
“Only Orfeo has the answer to your questions, and he’s been dead for four thousand years. Not even the five mages who fought Abbadon knew. That’s why they couldn’t kill him,” Vr?ja replied.
“The most powerful magi of all time couldn’t kill Abbadon, but we’re supposed to?” Astrid said.
“Ever hear of positive thinking, mina?” Ava asked testily.
“Ever hear of rational thinking? How are we supposed to kill it? Sneak up on it? It has like, a dozen hands! With eyes in them! We’ll never even get close to it,” Astrid said.
“So what should we do? Just go home? Go shoaling, go shopping? Pretend none of this ever happened?” Ling asked heatedly.