Chapter 75 Cruel Intentions
1037words
Instead, I clammed my teeth together to keep myself from screaming.
It would be pointless, and the last thing I wanted was to aggravate Graves more.
One thing I knew for sure was that he required me alive. There was an air bubble around my head. He wouldn't have bothered if he wished the latter.
The question was—what did he want with me? Did he know our secret?
I couldn't see Kayn through the black opacity of the water, but I knew he was nearby, unconscious.
I couldn't see a way out unless he woke up.
Soon.
After a while, the water eased the soreness over my body. That was until Graves made a sharp turn toward a faint glow.
Burning pain inflicted every inch of me, and a shrill cry exploded from between my lips. If the whole ocean didn't hear me, it would be a heck of a miracle.
What were the odds there was another land walker out there, willing to help a human and another land walker in distress?
Would they hear me? Or was Graves the only one privy to my distress, as it was his air bubble I breathed through? Would the bubble remain intact if something happened to Graves?
I regretted not asking Kayn or Ember these questions. Then again, I never imagined I would be in this position. Again.
I closed my eyes, sucking back a sob—more from the pain I had to endure than fear. Or maybe it was both. I couldn't think straight at this point, and that was what I direly needed right now.
I had to figure out how to get us out of here myself. The swim back up to the surface was going to be a problem unless I got Kayn to wake up.
When I reopened my eyes, trying to see where he was in the water, Graves came to a stop underneath a massive canopy of sea plants. In the center was a violet fire pulsing from the seafloor.
It felt strange. I could feel the heat radiating from it and knew it would burn me like a fire should I touch it.
Beside it was a cage made of bone, too big to be human or merfolk. Graves yanked us toward it and shoved us inside. When he closed the small gate, he waved a hand, and roots—at least that was what it looked like—sprouted from the bone and tied the gate in place.
I dared a glance in Kayn's direction. Now that there was light, I could see he was in his merman form. There was something stuck in the fin by his hips, and by closer inspection, I realized it was his pants fused into the scales.
"That's unfortunate," Graves hummed, busying himself by a table covered with an assortment of chains. "It's quite unpleasant."
I scowled. I doubt it could be any worse than getting beaten to a pulp. Graves swam toward a barrel, reaching in at something I couldn't see. He had grown a flashy, pearl-white tail, his long ashy hair whispy behind him.
"What do you want with us?" I asked.
He didn't answer, rummaging through the barrel, his back now turned on me.
"I asked what you're going to do to us?" I hid the fear in my voice while my eyes scanned the cage for a loose spot. The bones held together with thick rope-like plants—dense to the touch but breakable if I could get hold of something sharp.
Grave's laughter wrapped around us like a prickly blanket. A chill ran up my spine, and there was no doubt he had sinister plans with us.
"My dear human girl," he clucked his tongue and swam toward the cage. "It's nothing personal. It's a convenience."
I stared at him, fighting the urge to spit in his face. Not that I could with the bubble around my head."How?"
"Well, I've been waiting for an opportunity for a land walker to mess up. I followed them everywhere, watching them. They never put a foot—or fin, out of line. But then you showed up. Madly falling over your little human feet for that merboy, and there was my opportunity."
"Opportunity?" I asked. "For what?"
"You see, the council doesn't exactly see eye to eye with me," he sighed. "They think they should punish me for taking care of a few unruly humans."
"You mean, you killed them."
"Of course," he sounded proud.
"Why?"
He looked at me like I had sprouted ten heads. "But for being human, what else?"
"You're sick."
Graves' attention got sidetracked by a guppy swimming past. "You must know they are full of it with their rules. The council, I mean. Don't meddle with humans. Don't do this. Don't do that. Don't kill humans. You see, this is where I disagree with them. All humans should die."
"And then you take over the world," I couldn't resist the snort.
"Not me. My kind," he marvelled. "Unfortunately, our council doesn't agree with that theory and want peace. They underestimate our kind."
I didn't underestimate their kind. I've seen what they could do and knowing if merfolk ever decided to take over, they would win with their eyes closed.
They could wipe us out in a single breath.
"I'm not the only one who feels like this, but I've been the only one brave enough to be vocal about it."
"I still don't see how this has anything to do with me," I glanced at Kayn. "Or him."
Graves chuckled. "Girl, you can't possibly be that vague?"
I glared at him.
"You do know I will gain favor with the council if I hand over a few rule-breakers." His brows shot up. "And you two have been breaking the rules, and then some."
"So, that's it?" I couldn't hide the bitterness in my voice. "You hand over two teenagers for something small and stupid, for what, being friends? Resulting in the deaths of more humans and land walkers. Wow."
