One of the winged fey. He had magics we didn’t. After all, we were only half fish. And so with his queen and our king, we agreed to trade. Magic for eternal life. Years went by and soon the fey wanted more and more. They bred quickly and in multitudes, unlike us. When the king put a stop to them coming to the springs, we went to war. It devastated our numbers, but we pushed them out and barred the entrance. Only the King of the Sea can unseal it.”
“That’s a great story, Lady Kai,” Kurt says stubbornly.
I laugh. “Will you two listen to yourselves? Let’s say Kai is right. That still doesn’t mean you’re wrong, Kurt. We’re still Sea People with massive life spans.”
And then I want to throw up. The realization creeps up like bile in my throat. “Since the king’s powers are weakening—”
“Then the seal is broken,” Kurt catches on. “Open for anyone.”
“In my dreams, Nieve is weak and fragile,” I say. “Imagine how strong she’ll be if she drinks from the springs. If anyone can bring death to Eternity, Nieve can.” I repeat the line of the prophecy, “And the daughter of the sea weeps darkness. That’s Nieve right there.”
“That could explain where Gregorious got the water,” Mom says. “You said he knew of the championship before it happened. He could’ve realized what it would do to the seas and seized the opportunity to restore himself.”
“But how would Nieve find out about Greg?” I stand in front of the kitchen window. Between the twinkling buildings, there is a patch of darkness where, for the first time this summer, Coney Island is completely turned off.
“I’m sure the sea witch would find a way,” Kurt says. “Though I wonder—only the guard has access to combat fire.”
“Kai,” Gwen presses. “Is there a map to the Springs of Aurora?”
I snap my fingers, trying to pull a memory from my exhausted mess of thoughts. “Oh. Oh. I’m having a thought.”
“Speaking of myths,” Kurt mumbles.
“Shut up. I have thoughts.” I shove him and he shoves me back. Gwen stands between us, and I turn around and walk to the other end of the table. “There was a map of a tree. It had stars and a river. It was in Greg’s giant stack of mermaid porn.”
“My father could be in danger, Tristan.” Kai rubs the chill off her arms. “If Greg was a target, any of the elders could be next. My father’s collection is extensive. I think we should go to the Hall of Records. It’s ten leagues south of this shore.”
I take Kai by her shoulders. “Does he have a map?”
She clenches her hand over her heart and nods. “We have to go now.”
I point to Kurt. “I need you to stay here.”
“You need me,” Kurt says.
“Someone has to stay here and make sure everyone is safe.” Then I add, “I trust you.”
“Take Gwenivere, at least,” Kurt says painfully.
Gwen is almost as startled as I am. She reaches out a hand and strokes his bicep. “I knew we’d start getting along sooner or later.”
Kurt shakes his head, fighting a smile. “That has nothing to do with it. Just get Tristan there and back.”
I load up my weapons and Kai takes one of Thalia’s swords. Kurt grips my forearm and squeezes. “May the seas bend to your journey.”
Kai and Gwen slink into the baby waves.
I turn around once to look at the dark boardwalk, the yellow tape around the closed park, and I promise myself I’m going to make this right.
The slits of my scales itch when water hits them. I pull tight on the straps of my backpack and the holster around my hip. When the water is up to my waist, I dive.
The water is dark, hard to see through. Sand gets kicked up. My neck tickles where the cold water rushes in and out. My breathing feels tight as my lungs expand in anticipation of my shift. The numbness starts at my hips and races down to my ankles. If I had toes right now, I’d be wiggling them. Ahead of me, the girls have already shifted and I follow the gleam of their sparkling tails.
For miles, there is nothing. No fish, no stones, no boulders. No shadows of ships drifting above us. For miles, it’s just swimming.
Kai leads the way. Her scales are a powdery green. The tips of her tail look like bursts of chiffon trailing along. Everything about her is grand and slender. Like watching