Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

to enter the ballroom. The King’s personal guard whisked him out the side door. In the hall, the King continued to bark orders to attack and rescue his wife and son.
    “ Come on, Fin,” Dad called, holding open a door located on the opposite wall of were the King just left. “We haven’t time.”
    Mom was at his side, motioning for us to come quickly. I turned to fetch Tatch, but Azor had his hand wrapped firmly around her waist.
    My head whirred, still thick with drugs, unable to concentrate. More men tried to force their way past the stronghold and the guards along the walls fought back, pressing the rebels into the center. Someone grabbed Dad from behind and pulled him through the doorway. Mom screamed.
    Lily dropped my hand and stared at me, as if I should do something. Should I rescue her too? Kiernan, the merman assigned to help me with community service, appeared from nowhere—his black hat askew and makeup smudged—and pulled her into the throng of bodies and, I hoped, towards safety. I stood, still half-dazed, trying to determine who these rebels were as mers from both sides clashed weapons together. Something seemed off with the fight, like they weren’t really in combat but performing a practice exercise on Azor’s field. Fighting was against the nature of our race, and with brother against brother the unspoken goal became “stun your opponent.”
    But with sharp weapons and the heat of battle, high pitched keening filled the room as blood clouded the water. Mermen of both sides began to drop one by one. Were they dead? A larger rebel dressed in black appeared at my side with an extra spear.
    “ Get yer sister outta here, lad,” he said while placing the weapon in my hand and pushing me toward Tatch.
    Badger.
    Azor fought a rebel mer while Tatiana stood dazed and confused, leaning against the wall behind him. Fear pounded into my veins watching him. In Azor’s eyes was the intent to kill. In the growing confusion, his attacker looked away for a moment and Azor plunged the spear into his chest. His high pitched wail changed the atmosphere of the room; one of ours had fallen at the hands of the King’s son. He fell to the ground writhing in pain, blood gushing from the wound.
    I locked eyes with the dying man momentarily and I felt fire race along my scales. This was the moment I’d been waiting for—an excuse to avenge the wrongs Azor had committed.
    I let out a battle cry and charged Azor with my weapon. He whipped my sister around to face him, putting her between us. His mouth went to hers, kissing her outright. She struggled at first, but then went limp. I yelled for her to fight him, but it was too late. Tatiana wove her hands up into his hair, fully accepting the promise.
    “ No,” I yelled, then cursed. “You’re a dead man now, Azor.”
    He laughed victoriously as Tatch floated next to him, looking lovingly into his eyes. Then she spotted my weapon.
    “ Oh, no you don’t!” she screamed and came at me, nails bared.
    One swipe caught my cheek before I could catch her hand when she tried to do it again. The spear fell from my grasp. She thumped me in the gut with her tail, then picked up the weapon and floated in front of Azor, guarding him.
    “ I should have done that a long time ago,” Azor said and placed his hands on her shoulders. She relaxed into his touch. Seeing them together washed dread over me.
    “ You’re nothing but an animal,” I said. “As long as I live, I’ll hunt you down for taking my sister’s choice away from her.”
    “ Oh, will you?” He arched an eyebrow. “What are you waiting for? Let’s do it right now.”
    “ I’ll never let you touch him,” Tatch growled. “Get out of here. I don’t want to have to hurt you again.”
    Her interference made fighting him difficult. I raised my tail anyway, my head still thick with whatever they’d used to sedate me.
    “ Fin! Tatiana!” Dad called from somewhere behind me over the horde of fighting men. “We haven’t time.”
    “ You heard him,” I said and tried to snatch her hand.
    “ No!” She pulled her arm away from my reach. “I’m staying with Azor.”
    I turned my head quickly, catching my Dad’s frantic eyes. Could he not see Tatch was guarding Azor? “She won’t come with me,” I called out.
    “ Leave her,” he said. “Just come.”
    I tried to grab her again, but she hit my hand with the spear and moved closer to Azor’s side. “ Please come with me, Tatch .”
    She looked