Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

palace and then with you getting locked up. Now Uncle Alaster is saying he had to mind-wipe a whole bunch of people, stop divers who were getting too close to the gate, and deal with the press. I guess there was a news story about the waves you caused and people are frantic for answers. It’s very serious. The King may just banish you and take your fins for all the trouble you’ve caused. Then where will you be?”
    I scrubbed my hand over my head and wished for a crystal ball to see the future. Was this the way to bolt? The ink would be evaporating soon and the guards would wake up. I needed to make a decision
    “ Where will you go?” I finally asked.
    “ To Fannette Island tonight. Then tomorrow, I’ll take the Jeep and head towards the Pacific. There I can start searching for Dad. Something’s wrong. I can sense it.”
    I should have been livid she was thinking of taking my Jeep but the thought of her trying to find Dad alone didn’t sit right. Helping her sounded better than going back to my cell. Plus Dad would fight for us and stand up against our injustices. Besides, I needed to see Ash.
    “ Do you have the spare key?”
    Tatch’s lips widened into a huge grin as she nodded her head.
    “ I know I’m going to regret this, but let’s go.”
    “ Yes!” Tatiana swam ahead of me.
    Inside the meeting room between Natatoria and Lake Tahoe, we pressed the button and waited for Uncle Alaster or Colin to bust us. Tatch held a small vial of octopus ink ready to throw if they happened to come through the mouth of the cave—but no one came.
    We looked at one another with growing grins and swam through the gate to the other side. Once we figured the waters were safe, we hightailed it for Fannette Island.
    “ Yes!” Tatch squealed as she swam in circles and blew bubbles with her arms spread wide.
    “ Careful,” I said playfully. “You might create waves.”
    “ Ha-ha. Very funny big brother. And anyway, why did you have to swim so fast you absently made waves on your rock collecting trip?”
    Too mentally exhausted to share and afraid of her reaction, I stayed tight-lipped. She’d flip once she knew her friendship with Ash was forever changed. Telling the full story after we’d both had a decent night’s sleep, far away from things she could throw at me, would be better.
    “ That good?” she asked after I didn’t answer.
    “ I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. I just want to get to the island before we get caught.”
    She giggled. “Sure thing.”
    We surfaced the water together, but Tatch flipped her head back, making a huge arch of water with her hair. She laughed as the droplets rained down on her face.
    “ I’m finally home,” she squealed and I couldn’t agree with her more.

34
ASH

    I felt absolutely horrible in the morning. Whatever drugs they’d put in my IV were far better than the stuff I took every four hours during the night. After a fitful night of sleep, I finally stumbled to the kitchen to eat breakfast.
    My parents bustled around, competing for counter space as they made lunches to take to work. I ate my Mini Wheats in silence only to catch Mom’s fretful glance every once in a while—silent questioning of my stability, I assumed.
    “ You know, Ashlyn. We eventually need to talk about what happened,” she said abruptly.
    Dad stopped and shot her a puzzled look. “Karen. It was an accident. If Ashlyn doesn’t remember what happened, the doctor said there’s nothing we can do to force her.”
    “ Yes. I understand that, but the fact that she lied to stay home from church and then left the house without leaving a note bothers me.”
    I stopped eating and stared at the last few unappetizing Wheats floating in the milk. The silence weighted heavily on my guilt-torn chest. I hated living this lie. “I’m sorry. It won’t ever happen again.”
    Mom moved a little closer. “Did something happen at the dance?”
    “ No.” I forced a Wheat under the milk with my spoon. “I didn’t get picked for Queen, so I wasn’t ready to see anyone yet.”
    “ Oh.” Her eyes softened. She cast an anxious glimpse at Dad, who took pity as well.
    “ I wanted to go for a walk to clear my head. That’s all.”
    “ There’s no need to apologize again,” Dad calmly interrupted. “It all worked out and could have been much worse. Luckily, the Fire Chief recognized you when they arrived at the scene. We’re not mad at you, Ash.”
    I swallowed back my tears. “I know. But I