I gulped. Well, I guess the cat was out of the bag.
“She has a mate.” Ajax finally spoke up.
Calder scoffed. “I may care for my nephew deeply, but no one here, especially you, would be fit for mating.”
Ajax growled and took a menacing step towards Calder. The others attempted to hold him back, and Ajax’s muscles bulged as he fought against their grip.
Theseus grunted with the effort of holding Ajax. “Calder, please. I ask that we discuss the topic of Atalanta’s mating at another time.”
Was it my imagination, or did Calder actually look nervous? I was tempted to let the situation play out, but with all the airs he put on, I had a feeling that beating the crap out of him would be more trouble than it was worth.
I stifled a snicker as I put my hand on Ajax’s shoulder. “We don’t want to get blood on any of the books.”
“I’ll buy new ones.”
This time, I couldn’t hide my laughter. “Ajax.”
“Fine.” Ajax stopped trying to attack Calder and shrugged off the others.
Taking a deep breath in, I stepped around the guys and faced down Calder.
“Alight, you’ve got us. I’m a changed Mer, but I don’t care about your laws. My father is laying in a hospital bed, unconscious, with no idea about what has happened to me or that my sister is gone. I won’t just leave him.”
Calder’s face morphed into something akin to horror with a mix of disgust before his eyes snapped to Jason. “You changed her while she still had ties to the human world? What reckless…completely idiotic…foolish!” Calder spluttered, and his pale face flared red.
“There were extenuating circumstances, Uncle.”
“I don’t care for your extenuating circumstances. We have these laws for a reason!” He pointed his long, skeletal finger at me. "You have 24 hours to get your affairs in order.”
Meeting each of the guys eyes, Calder said slowly, "Tomorrow, you will bring her to the docks for transport. I shouldn't have to tell you what will happen if you don't.”
Calder spun around and stormed out of the library, the sound of the door slamming behind him echoing over the high ceilings.
There was a deadening awkward silence between all of us. And I just stood there, staring at the door, my heart beating like a jackhammer in my chest. What did Calder mean? What would happen if I didn’t go with him tomorrow? Honestly, it was easy to assume what might happen, but I didn’t want to hear them say it aloud. I didn’t really want to know, because I couldn’t leave Dad.
I wouldn’t leave him.
He could wake up any day now, and the idea of him waking up alone in that hospital bed, not knowing what happened to me or Cal…
My hands shook with the effort stay still. In. Out. Breathe, stay under control. One thing at a time.
In an attempt to distract my racing mind, I asked a different question, one that I thought might be harmless. “I understand wanting to keep the whole mermaid thing a secret, but why exactly would I need to cut all ties to the human world? I mean, half of this town is Mer, right?”
All of the boys except Theseus turned to look at me, his focus still on the door. Percy tapped his shoulder to get his attention and then signed to him what I assumed was a repeat of what I had just said.
Theseus’s jaw tightened and he took a breath before meeting my eyes. "Because eventually, they would notice that you had stopped aging.”
I blinked, trying to move the cogs in my brain to process what he had said. “Stopped? Wait…are you saying that I’m like an eternal vampire now? Wait, okay. No…what!?”
“Mer age differently than humans.” Theseus rubbed the back of his neck. “Born Mer age at a rate of their choosing—”
“Made Mer stop aging all together,” Ajax said, looking down at his feet.
My face went slack as I studied the men in front of me.
Hip, who was clearly just as surprised as I was, stared at the others, eyes wide, mouth hanging open. Jason and Percy looked guilty while Ajax looked a little haunted. Theseus just gave me a strained smile.
My hands shot up and I turned towards the door. “Alright, I’m done. My weird limit just shot through the roof, and I need a nap.”
“Atalanta,” Jason whispered, reaching for my hand.
I pulled away from his touch. “I’m sorry, today has been…hard. I would really like to go home and rest. Process everything.”
He nodded, looking a little hurt by my rejection.
Hugging myself, I left the library, the guys following behind me. The sky was gloomy and the ground was wet. The perpetual drizzle of Washington was the perfect reflection of my mood. That sadness that always lingered in the back of my mind. Today had honestly sucked.
I wished Cal was here. Her smile was infectious.
“Atalanta, before we go, I have one final question for you,” Percy said, giving everyone in the group pause.
“What’s that?”
“Your real name, what is it?”
I blinked and gave him a slow smile. “Every girl has a right to her secrets. I think I’ll keep this one for now.”
***
“This isn't the way to the house,” I mumbled as I stared out the window.
“I thought we could make one stop before heading back.”
“Jason, please. I just want to rest.” I curled up in the seat, hugging my knees to my chest.
I saw him look at me out of the corner of my eye. “I think you need this.”
I sighed and closed my eyes.
My head was pounding and my stomach churned. I hoped this little side trip was quick and painless.
The car pulled to a slow stop. “We’re here.”
Cracking an eye open, I saw that we had pulled up in front of the hospital. I sat up and looked at Jason. He gazed back at me with a soft smile before hopping out to rush around and open my door. Taking my hand, he led me into the hospital.
Dad looked exactly like how I had left him. Small and quiet on the uncomfortable looking hospital bed.
“Hi, Daddy. I missed you.”
Slowly, I trudged into the room and ever so carefully laid down next to my father. Curled up and careful to avoid the wires and his I.V., I listened to the sound of his heart.
“I went back to school today.” I whispered as I laid my head on his chest. "Hopefully I’ll finally be able to get that stupid piece of paper you were so determined for me to get.”
BaBump…BaBump…
I inhaled slowly, the sound of my father’s beating heart lulling me to sleep. “Listen…the boys that were here with me last time? They know.”
“We can trust them,” I yawned. "All they want is to protect us.”
BaBump…BaBump…
“I know what you would say. ‘My baby girl, the only ones you should trust in this life are the ones you know are willing to let down their lives for you’. Well—”
“We would,” Jason whispered confidently.
I looked over my shoulder at Jason, who had been sitting quietly in the guest chair.
“Yeah, what he said. So you don’t need to worry, Dad. I’m okay.”
I laid my head back down on his chest. I knew I was probably imagining it, but my father’s heartbeat felt stronger than before.
Chapter Twenty
Percy
Thunk-thwack!
I clearly needed a new lock on my door.