Fish Out of Water

chapter Eight

Poison and Alliance


Carragheen’s Pool

The pinpricks of light hurt my eyes and I resisted opening them.

Death should be more peaceful than this.

But they persisted, and cool hands followed, trying to pry open my eyelids. I batted futilely at the disturbance, but my hands moved only inches.

Ran help me, I wasn’t dead, but I was even sicker than last time. And very, very confused. Where was I, and how did I get from there, the place I’d died, to here?

A familiar, sweet-as-honey voice laughed at my efforts but even through the laughter I could hear the sadness. “Ransha, you are back with us.” And then, sensing my futile efforts to speak, the voice switched to telepathy. It’s me, Lecanora. You are safe. At Carragheen’s Pool.

I’d forgotten that the Princess had been trained in herbs and healing.

She lay cool fingers on my aching eyes and over my screaming ears. I remembered my manners. Thank you.

That very un-Princess like snort again. It’s your own mother you should thank. I told you not to follow him.

I tried to open my eyes, but Lecanora stopped me with her cool hands. Don’t, Ransha. You are very sick. Wait a while. Don’t talk, try not to move.

Then I heard Mom’s voice, close. Rania, I’m here. Lecanora came for me, but I was already coming to find you.

My brain blinked and buzzed. How did you know where to look for me?

Mom patted my hair. I could find you anywhere.

My stomach fluttered and the question was out before I could fathom why concern about his wellbeing was so high up on the list of things torturing my injured mind. Carragheen?

Mom patted me again, even more softly this time. No-one knows, he disappeared.

Just like a man, I thought privately. A lying, cheating man.

Where was he going to when that thing struck me?

Was he responsible, for me, for this?

My heart rapped an angry drumbeat against my chest while my mind stuggled to make sense of it all. But if he wasn’t responsible, then he was probably dead, and if he was dead, it was definitely my fault. He might have been a louse, but he didn’t deserve to die because I got him caught up in this. I still wasn’t sure if this was just a dream. How did you save me, Mama?

She squeezed my hand. I sang to you. I arrived just as you were going down, it can’t have been more than a few seconds that it had you in its grasp. I was so scared. I’m sure if it had been any longer…

Get outta here. You sang to me? Now let’s get this straight. There’s this thing, right? And it’s so freaky and surreal that it knocks me down with its first squeak, some secret sonar weapon thingy. And you just sing to me, and it all goes away?

She laughed, and then I knew it for sure. I really was still alive. Well, it wasn’t quite that easy. It was a special song, a concentration of all my love and hope for you, with a dash of fear and anger thrown in. I don’t even know why I did it. The singing, I mean. It just welled out of me. I’m not sure I could do it again, honestly. But I saw you hurting, and it just came out of me. It seemed to protect me, from the sound. From the other song. And it let me get to you, help you.

My brain ached as it tried to connect. So that’s it? All we do is sing to fight this thing?

I don’t think so. I could feel the fear and uncertainty from Lecanora.

Mom agreed. No. Lecanora is right. I couldn’t have held it off long. I could feel its strength building. Growing. My song would not have been enough. It was just enough to stop it from affecting me for a little while, and to get you away.

Wow, this was some head trip. Go figure, Mom to the rescue. So what now?

Mom was in command of this little shebang. You rest.

Here?

She tutted gently. Yes, here. It was the closest safe place we could get you to.

Close, yeah. But safe? This could be the lion’s den. Or maybe the wolf’s den.

And I remembered. I had gone down near the cave thing. But what about what I had felt before that, skimming over the city? There was something here. Something was wrong here.

Very wrong.

But Mom was planning. Then we have to go home.

I almost choked. Back to Dirtwater? Seriously? I can’t move, and I need to find Imogen.

Mom’s internal voice was strong and clear. The kind she used when I was a kid to say “bedtime” or “no more Twinkies”. Rania. This thing is dangerous. I don’t know what it is. But I think the answers lie back home. With the one you call Blondie, and what she can tell us.

At Mom’s words, I suddenly felt like I was going to forget how to do the now-automatic skill of water-breathing and drown under all this ocean. Cleedaline.

Mom’s beautiful brows knitted together. What, darling?

Her name was Cleedaline. And then I was shaking. Shaking as I thought about Cleedaline and about my poor bruised brain and body. And about not knowing for sure when I was going to die. And about how I suddenly seemed to care very much. Maybe I was even shaking thinking about Carragheen too, and kicking myself for bringing everyone into something sick and dangerous. Something the visions were telling me was my baby to fix. Me, and some mysterious helpers. I groped for Mom and she held me in that Olympian’s embrace that always felt just exactly like home while I shook and shook like I had the DTs.

I cast my eyes down, trying to think it all through but crippled by the brain-ache that wouldn’t abate. As I did, I saw a tiny creature, a sand-worm, struggling in the thick sand of the ocean floor. The thing was minute, less than a quarter of an inch long, and he’d somehow fallen into a little landslide made by the suck and drag of the water. I watched him idly as I thought.

So little time left to me. Some horrible fate awaiting me.

And things I need to do, puzzles I need to solve, people I need to save before I go.

And maybe, just maybe if I could do it all right, save myself too. Save my life.

I looked at that little worm, struggling for all he was worth, pitching upwards against his inevitable fate with the meager strength of his body.

Mom saw me watching. Amazing, isn’t it? The will to survive. It’s beautiful.

Yeah, the will to survive. Is that it? Is that what I’ve suddenly, finally discovered after all this time, after all this freakin’ yoga?

I nodded toward her face, which was inscrutable as ever. What did she know?

Mom again. Sometimes we don’t even know we’ve got it ‘til we’re tested.

I watched her carefully. She was going somewhere with this.

She smiled serenely, as was her mermaid way. I’m not so serene, Ransha. Not really. You know, some people accept everything that comes their way. That stuff about having the serenity to accept the things you can’t change. But do you know what I think?

I shook my head. She touched my face gently. I think how do you know which are the things you can’t change unless you try to change them? It’s in our rage that the spark of life is found. The spark of humanity.

I reached out my finger, although the ache made it feel like I was hefting barbells, and lifted the worm out of the sucking sand. And when it was done, I was different. No more meditation. Screw embracing my fate and welcoming each moment until my end. I didn’t want to die, and I was going to do whatever it took to make sure I didn’t.

Even if I had to save the whole freakin’ world to do it.

As I was contemplating how exactly I was going to do that, I realized Mom was right about something else too. Going home. The answers would only be discovered by old-fashioned detective work. As my old boss back in the city used to say: police work ain’t rocket surgery, toots. And the only real lead I had was at home, hidden by Larry and Doug.

At the thought of Doug, I got this spreading warmth all through me.

Now there was someone who had my back.

I filled Mom in, about Cleedaline and Imogen. She already had some of it. And she told me what she knew. She’d been called by the Queen to an audience. And from the moment Imd had started speaking, Mom had known that something was wrong. Nothing specific, you know. Just a sense that things weren’ right. She was… vague. I knew she’d not been well, but…

I saw Lecanora’s hands ball into fists, and realized she must have already heard this. Mom glanced over at her before she went on, her face soft with concern. I think they’re poisoning her. The Queen. She doesn’t seem sick, or injured, but she’s not herself. So, I don’t think they’re trying to hurt her, but they’re giving her something to make her… compliant.

The Queen? What Aegiran would have the balls for that kind of treachery? My mind raced and groped, trying to make sense of Mom’s words. What? She’s been poisoned? By who?

Mom shook her head, her blonde hair swirling around her like a beautiful anemone with a life of its own. I don’t know. Whoever is responsible for Imogen, I think. And for hurting you.

I held onto my temples with the effort of thinking through the ache in my brain. It’s the Triad. It must be. They made everyone forget. Lecanora heard them talking.

Mom nodded. Yes, well, I would certainly like to know how they’re doing that. And why.

But I needed to know more. So did you help her? The Queen? Did you talk about what she wanted to discuss?

Mom shook her head sadly. She was in no state. But I called Rashind, The Healer, and explained my concerns. He checked her and confirmed it. He administered a purging alchemy. She’ll be beyond the worst of it soon, a day or two at most. I have left her in capable hands. Her handmaiden, Rila, refuses to leave her side.

Lecanora joined in. Ah, Rila. She has been a goddess-send, offering quiet vigil, trying to coax me away for some food and rest of my own.

I could not imagine how Imd must feel, and I was glad she had people close, who loved her. People she trusted. Is she okay?

Lecanora’s eyes glowed silver. She has realized the things that have been done in her name. She is bitterly angry with herself, cursing her weakness and trustfulness. She shrugged a little. Yet, still, she reminds herself that the actions of one cannot be attributed to the whole. She keeps telling me to remember that most people are good and loyal.

A sound behind me drew my eyes.

And suddenly Carragheen was there, swimming groggily beside Rick, the dolphin.

“Hello, everyone,” Carragheen drawled, making that ridiculously sexy language sound even sexier. “Next time I make a dolphin joke, someone punch me. Meet my new best friend.”

Rick took a little bow, and telepathed directly to me, on the private channel we’d always used. He’s kinda heavy, Rania, but he’s cute.

I snorted, wondering why my knees were suddenly weak with what felt suspiciously like relief. Cute, Rick, but bad news. Where did you find him?

But Carragheen was in our heads before Rick could respond. Didn’t anyone ever tell you two it’s rude to carry out a private conversation in public?

Only now that my pulse had settled did I realize there had been a wild thrumming in my blood the whole time I’d thought he was gone. A kettle drum solo. But I stomped on the inner cheerleader that was now turning cartwheels. She’d been a sap once already today.

I needed some answers.

“So, Carragheen, you’re back. Where were you headed in such a hurry?”

Carragheen squirmed deep into my brain. So I was right. You were following me? I thought I felt you.

I mentally snapped at him. Enough, Carragheen. Where were you going?

He broke off the contact with my mind, resigned to providing an explanation to all.

“Something you said, about the weapon. The silence. It triggered something for me. I used to gather herbs out by the southwestern ridges, and I came across a place, a cave. A place like nothing I’d ever experienced before.”

I finished his thought, remembering. “A place with no sound.”

“Yes. I’d always skirted it. It seemed so wrong. But when you said-”

“So you went there, today. The cave? That’s where you disappeared to?”

He rubbed his head as though trying to remember. “No. I-”

Never one to be left out of the limelight for too long, Rick started telepathing.

I don’t think he made it in. I was in the area and heard something. This crazy sound-

Carragheen interrupted at this. I don’t remember hearing anything, just the pain.

Rick again. I guess it was like a dog whistle. Higher than you guys could hear, or a different pitch. Anyway, I found this one shortly after it started. He was unconscious. I took him on my back and got the hell outta Dodge.

Amazing. How did Rick do it? Didn’t it affect you? The thing, the weapon? The noise?

Rick considered this for a moment, his beautiful head on the side. It hurt a little, but it was more an annoyance, you know. Like getting plankton in your ear. But your buddy here… He gestured to Carragheen. … seemed like he was pretty destroyed by it. He was seconds from death. I took him to DC til he came to, gave him some stuff to speed recovery.

Wow, DC. Dolphin Central. Rick must have been worried. But why so much concern about an Aegiran? Dolphins like us, sure, but I’ve never known of anyone who got taken to DC.

There was some other agenda here, and I wanted in on it. Okay, Rick, whassup?

Rick was working nonchalant. Que?

I wasn’t having it. Enough with the que, ’kay? I’ve had it up to here with your cryptic messages and now all this pretending you go around saving the ass of Aegirans every day. What’s in it for you guys? Dolphins are nothing if not self-interested. And I get that. I mean, they have a right to be, I guess, being the most evolved species on the planet. So I wanted to know why Rick was breaking the habit of a lifetime for this one, admittedly very hot, guy.

Rick did this elegant little twirly dance, stalling. Eventually he spoke into my mind again. We know there’s something going down. We didn’t like that blood in The Eye stunt. And we’re watching. We’re worried about the outcome.

Something occurred to me, an echo of the prophecy, and I telepathed the question quickly and privately to Rick. Is Carragheen one of The Three?

Rick laughed. No way, babe. I’m not giving anything away, but I can tell you that none of The Three wear pants.

Huh, so they’re all women. A lifetime of wondering about the prophecy, especially who the hell the three were, backed up inside me and led to this huge shudder of excitement. For thirteen years, I’d had a personal interest in the issue. And now this.

They know, the damned dolphins know.

I was trying to work out how to coax more detail out of Rick, figuring I’d need to corner him alone, when Carragheen interrupted. I’m just grateful to Rick at this point.

I snorted a little ungraciously as Rick made to leave, and heaved myself up to try to follow him, to drill him some more.

But Lecanora interrupted this time. Rick, one more thing. I don’t suppose you could spare any of those special healing herbs you used on Carragheen? For Rania here.

Rick looked at me then and I realized it was the first time since he’d arrived that he’d focused on me properly. That in itself was strange. We had a bond, me and Rick, but now I clocked that he had been in kind of a hurry to go the whole time he’d been there, at Carragheen’s place. He swam closer, placing one fin over my heart. How badly are you hurt?

Lecanora answered for me. She was seconds from death too. She’s still very sick.

Even from where I was lying, I could see a nerve jumping at Carragheen’s jaw.

Rick uttered a squeak that could have been fury or frustration (my dolphin lingo had never been that hot) and spat a lump of something disgusting from his mouth into Lecanora’s hand. Small portions, hourly. She’ll be fine to travel in a few hours.

I raised my head. Who says I’m going anywhere?

Rick sniggered like only a smartass dolphin can. Oh, babe, you’re talking to a dolphin. Don’t you know by now that we know things? And with that, he was gone.

Before I could say “hang on, what does it taste like?” the Princess was coming towards me with the half-masticated glob from inside Rick’s mouth.

I’m sure I’ll be just fine without it, I telepathed feebly at her, imploring with half-dead eyes. I never did like taking medicine.

She wasn’t having it. Swallow.

I considered saying that wasn’t a polite thing to say to a lady but there were a few problems. First, I’d never considered myself a lady. Second, she wouldn’t get it. And third, my Mom was in the room. So I did as I was told. There was a first time for everything, and I was too weak to argue. It tasted dreadful, worse than I would ever have imagined some half-regurgitated piece of who-knows-what from the inside of a dolphin’s mouth could taste.

And believe me, I’ve got a pretty good imagination.

But almost instantly I felt the mire of aches and bruises start to lift. I felt suddenly very sleepy. I would never have imagined that I could take a nap with all this psycho stuff whizzing about my brain, but I was just being pulled gently into the most enticing of sleeps when I heard Lecanora, Mom and Carragheen talking about who was going to stay with me.

“Lecanora, I’m sorry. You need to go to your mother. Rania will understand. The Queen cannot be alone right now, you must be her constant companion. Remember what I said. Prepare all her food and drink for her. And look for anyone who seems worried by that.”

Lecanora sighed. “I know you’re right. But I’m scared to leave Rania. Will you stay?”

“For a little while,” Mom replied. “Then I have some things I need to do.”

Something in my almost-asleep brain triggered an alarm bell. No way did I want my Mom turning over rocks solo. I heard Carragheen growl out a contribution. “Those herbs Rick gave me were amazing. I’m feeling better all the time. I’ll stay here. You must go.”

I knew Mom well enough to read the hesitation in her. “What about your other responsibilities, Carragheen?”

His voice was clear and deep. “I can take care of her, Lunia. And I will.”

She agreed so quickly I wondered if he did to her whatever the hell he did to that Treppalow a few hours ago. “Yes. Okay then. I’ll be back in the morning, a few hours. We’ll leave then, if she can hydroport.”

The last thing I remembered before dropping off the edge into the most satisfying of sleeps was being picked up and carried by strong, strangely comforting arms. I snuggled like a child into a chest too warm for a merman. And then I was bumping against that hard chest as I was carried away. My last thought was that this wouldn’t be such a bad place to go to sleep.


Day Four: Five Hours Later

Carragheen’s Quarters

I didn’t know how long I’d slept, but I felt delicious as I stretched awake. It seemed impossible that I had ever been ever blasted half to death by some creepy sound weapon. The last time I felt this good was after six months of yoga classes.

My mind was sharp and focused, and my body felt like I could run a marathon.

Man, what the humans would give for some of those dolphin drugs. I started to mentally calculate the street value of the glob of spit-encased weed I’d taken from Rick, and fantasized about getting into a new line of work. ‘Course I’d need to work on the packaging…

And then, even before I opened my eyes, I heard them.

“Of course I knew of her, from the choir. Who didn’t know of her? Rania, daughter of Lunia, child of both land and sea. But we hadn’t met. Until recently.”

I was roused by the sound of his voice drifting in from somewhere close by. It was more than just its erotic edge, how the gravel raked my spine and sent little shivers infinitely lower.

The voice was familiar to me, like the slippery edge of a moment of déjà vu. Like a half-remembered memory from a dream. The thought made me frown. I thought about white stallions and orange sunsets.

Don’t go there.

His voice awakened something else in me too. Something beyond the memories of a crazy dream. I thought about The Eye, his instinctive protection of us and the Leigon child. I thought about how he had tried to keep the choirgirls out of trouble. And how he had risked everything blindporting to Dirtwater to learn the truth about Cleedaline.

He protects people. And he’s a loner.

Like me.

I tried to work out how long I had known this man, tried to count the hours. I’m not one for all that love-at-first-sight crap, and if I was, I certainly wouldn’t be buying into it with some cheating liar. But this guy sure was one confusing cheating liar.

And this was certainly something-at-first-sight.

I strained to catch more of the conversation, as the other voice answered him.

“I remember her too. Fierce and fast. Full of bad language and new ideas.” This second voice was familiar to me. It was soft and pretty. I wanted to protest the harsh denunciation of me, but then the voice sighed and went on. “I liked her very much.”

He laughed, deep and sweet. “I hadn’t seen her for… ten years? Longer? But then, the last decade has been kind of a blur.”

He laughed again, but this time in a way that was too bitter and I sensed rather than heard her reach for him. “What is it, what is happening between the two of you?”

A heartbeat’s pause before he responded. “Nothing.”

“Oh, my son, I know that you are unusual among us, in that you can lie, when you need to. But do not think I am a fool. You cannot lie to me.”

And then it hit me. Ran help me, it was Shighsa. His Mom.

He spoke softly, but with a quiet fury. “She sets me alight.”

My legs turned to jelly at his words, and an echoing burn began at the centre of me.

“Oh.” His Mom sounded sad.

He laughed that bitter laugh again. “But I have enough on my conscience.”

I sensed her reach out to him again. “What is on your conscience, my love? Is it Leisen?”

“Some things are hard to explain. Even to you. But things are happening, Mama. There are some things I need to do. And I need to do them alone.”

“I heard about what happened here today. The mob. I worry for you.”

“Did he send you?” Carragheen’s voice was tight and strained.

“No.” She answered swiftly and I heard her anger. And then something infinitely softer, born of a lifetime of devotion. “But he is your father. He–”

Huh, she loves that SOB Kraken. She loves him very much.

His voice was soft. “You love him very much, don’t you?” Snap. Wow, that was weird.

“Of course.” The sweet voice sounded infinitely vulnerable. “I know you two have not always been as one, but he is very concerned right now. The settlers are very anxious. The… blood… has terrified them. Spare a thought for him as he tries to keep us on the path of right.”

Then something strange happened. Something that happens very rarely, and only when someone is trying hard to hide a thought from another. A thin portal opened up into Carragheen’s mind. He was working so hard to shield his thoughts from his mother that he wasn’t guarding them carefully enough from others. It surprised me so much I almost squeaked as I tried to understand. And then I got it. He thought I was deep in sleep, and that no-one else was around. He thought he was safe.

I shouldn’t have listened in, of course, but I’m just not noble enough to stop myself.

I could hear with absolute clarity what he was thinking as he spoke to his mother:

Imagine, to be loved like that. A man like my father. She understands him. Who could ever understand my choices?

And then I drifted off again.

My eyes fluttered open again and I recognised the melody, different underwater, different in the Aegiran language, yet unmistakeable.

My stomach clenched, somewhere between fascination and dread as the love song worked its magic. It was being sung slower than the original, more like a lullaby, but there was no mistaking the tenderness wrapped around each note.

And no mistaking the voice. Soft, slow and infinitely sexy.

I was up instantly, following the sound, my cop sense telling me this wasn’t going to be good. As I weaved between golden arches into the sleeping space close by, I almost forgot the delicate skill of water breathing again and choked on my own breath as those deep, dark vocals caressed the next line.

Sweet Jesus. Or, more accurately Sweet Child O’ Mine. Axel Rose at his dreamy best.

I saw the child reclining against his chest, gazing up at Carragheen as he sang her to sleep. His face was so open as he gazed down at her that once again I caught a glimpse of how he must have been as a child. Less wolf, more trusting cub. I watched for a few minutes, conscious of my invasion but caught off guard by the private moment.

Then the golden wolf’s head snapped up, his arm drawing around the tiny blonde slip protectively. It made my heart thump wildly in my chest and emptied the bottom from my stomach. I couldn’t help thinking that somehow he was more Bon Jovi than Axel Rose, but that wasn’t my main problem with the performance. So tender. And yet such a liar.

How did I make sense of this man?

I fled, swimming like a tsunami, my head filled with plans of escape before I collapsed, spent, back on the bed I had made for myself and closed my eyes.

It was less than a second before I felt him join me.

My brain willed me not to open my eyes but I did it anyway. And there he was, sitting beside the bed and watching me with an inscrutable expression on his sensual face.

“How do you feel?” His indigo eyes were looking right into me.

I return his query. “How do you feel?” After all, he apparently got hit with the thing too, maybe not as bad as me, but he still got a blast. Not bad enough to stop him serenading his daughter, I reminded myself.

“Incredible,” he said, shaking his head, perplexed.

“That’s dolphin medicine for you,” I laughed, feeling a million miles from cheerful.

He moved over to sit next to me on the low, wide bed. It was laid with a mattress of lamonola, these buoyant, fragrant weeds that ruin you for land beds forever. As he came to sit next to me, his eyes held mine and I know where all this was going to lead. And this time it wasn’t some vision. It was just that girl intuition you get just before a guy kisses you. It sits thick and real in the air between you. And I couldn’t wait. I felt like I’d wanted it forever.

Since the shower.

Since I saw him standing at the buffet with his wolf’s smile.

I tried to stop it. “Where’s your wife, and child?”

“Tila lives here, Rania, but not Leisen. And I told you before, I can explain.”

I knew it was wrong. Goddamit I knew it was wrong, but I put my hand on his arm and didn’t let him finish. I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. I had no idea what it meant, but just for now I wanted to taste him. I knew I’d regret it, thinking about it later. I am, at heart, a good girl. And there were too many unanswered questions about him now. I’m Sicilian. Suspicion was burned into my cells at conception. And I’m a cop too. Trusting’s never been a great help in the field. Especially when someone lies to you from the start.

I felt myself shiver, like my skin was trying to shake off all threat and doubt.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, dark and close. He traced one finger around the curve of my face, starting at the place where my hair meets my forehead, then sliding down the outside of one cheek, rubbing my chin with his thumb. “I will protect you.”

I knew it was true, somehow I knew it was true. But I had no idea who was going to protect me from him. Because right now he could do anything to me he wanted.

When he kissed me, it was like my whole body rolled over and said: Well, finally, that’s what we’ve been after all this time. It was hot and fierce, but endlessly comforting at once. His tongue was warm behind the cool of his lips, and his hands traced slow, deliberate circles across my back and through my hair. He laid me down beside him and ran the flat of his hands all over me, like he was trying to imprint the very image of me onto them. The sensation was like nothing I’ve ever felt. The rough rasp of his warm palms through the cold press of the water.

There was a low, slow ache in my breasts and my nipples were tight and tingly as my stomach slid into a jittery dance, the very center of me on slow burn. I watched, mesmerized, as the finger that had caressed my face slid down my neck, across my chest and towards my belly, circling my navel in long, slow loops that had my hips starting to buck a little in impatience.

“Rania, Carragheen, it’s time.” We jumped in horrified unison at Mom’s voice. I wondered if Aegir himself kept sending people to interrupt us. And if that should make me worry. As I leapt up, he caught my arm. His hand was so strong it frightened me and I thought about what I’d heard in his head. What choices had he meant? What the hell was I doing?

I pulled away, but he cupped big, warm hands around my face. “Be careful, Rania.”

He didn’t try to hide the thought that echoed in his brain as I left. I will not lose you.