He stopped pacing and sat on the ground, eye to eye with Mina. His hands crumpled into tight fists. Mina could tell this was a difficult conversation for him.
His bright green eyes looked deeply into hers, pleading with her to understand. “I turned seventeen last month, and, like Raina did, I’ve lost my ability to hear the creatures of the water. And I can no longer control the currents. I can feel myself getting older, becoming weaker. It won’t be long now…I’m dying, Mina. ”
Mina stared at the passionate Nix with utter shock. She could tell from the way he spoke that he was serious.
He swallowed cautiously and didn’t stutter one word when he valiantly said, “I would rather die now helping you in whatever quest you’re on than to live as a monster without her.
She repeated his own words back to him. “You’re either crazy stupid, or crazy brave.”
“Either way, I’m just crazy.” He chuckled softly.
“Well, crazy always likes company. So, do you think you’re up for a dangerous quest that will probably get us both killed?”
Nix got up, only to kneel before Mina. His green hair still mysteriously swayed, but now that they were farther away from the water, it moved less. His piercing green eyes were filled with determination as he grasped her hand and muttered, “I don’t fear death—death should fear me.”
Chapter 22
Mina couldn’t believe her luck. After she told Nix her story and about her quest to save her brother Charlie, he was actually even more gung-ho to help her. Probably because it was a life-saving mission. What was even more unbelievable was that Nix knew how to get to the Fates’ palace. It seemed too easy, too simple. So she knew better than to take it for granted. But first they had to make it to the palace, which, according to Nix was at least two days’ journey on foot.
“I really wish we had a faster mode of transportation,” Mina said, after she tripped over another tree root and fell face down in a pile of leaves. That was the third time she’d tripped in the last two hours.
“What’s a mode of transportation?” Nix asked, and helped her back up.
“Um, an automobile, a car…you know, vroom vroom.” She made a driving and sitting motion. Goodness, she sounded stupid.
Nix just looked at her in confusion, and then his face brightened. “Oh, I get it. This way.” He motioned for her to follow him, and he walked back toward the river they had very carefully been skirting. They’d been careful to follow it so they wouldn’t lose their way, but he always carefully kept a wary distance. He paused at the river and hesitated.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I don’t know if they’ll answer me. I haven’t been able to talk with them. They may not even come, so don’t get your hopes up.” He walked along the riverbed amongst the tall grass until he found a blue speckled reed. Using a sharp rock, he quickly carved out three holes and another toward the top.
Mina watched in fascination, and once his whistle was done, Nix waded out to the middle of the river and began to play a silent song. His hair began to come to life again and flow widely with the rushing water. His mouth blew, his fingers moved, but Mina didn’t hear a single note from the flute. On and on he played his silent flute, but nothing happened. After two more songs, he walked out of the river and sat on the bank solemnly.
“I couldn’t hear anything,” Mina said.
“That’s because you’re human. You can’t hear the beautiful music I played for them. It would have paid for our passage, but I don’t know. I couldn’t hear the music, either. I had to play from memory.” He flopped onto his back and stared at the sky.
“They’ve never before taken so long to come. I’m sorry. I failed you,” Nix groaned.
“Who, Nix? Who were you trying to call?”
“The kelpies. But I should have known it wouldn’t work.” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration and let out a really long sigh. “I haven’t been able to hear them in a while.”
Mina knew he was thinking about the consequences of staying a nixie, and everything he had lost.
“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind the walking.”
“No, it’s not fine. I think we’re being followed, and I can’t stray too far from water without weakening further. We need the kelpies if we want to outrun her.”
“Who…you mean the sea witch is still after us?” Mina asked, balking.
“Yes, it’s because I helped you escape. She’s tracking us. I keep crossing the streams, following along different paths, but she knows and I know that I can’t stray far from a water source.”
“Why is she so set on getting us?”