Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) (18 page)

He reaches over with his other hand barely able to lift it and looks at me. I hurry to grab it. He squeezes just barely and whispers so softy, “Take care…of…my girl.”

“I will sir, I promise you, I will.”

He lets go of both of our hands as if it took absolutely everything out of him. He closes his eyes and falls back asleep.

I wrap my arms around Alody as she cries softly into my shoulder. I glance over as Jenna walks back into the room and nod at her as she holds up the knife. I gently push an inch away from Alody and explain, “I’m going to try again, okay?”

She nods wiping her tears, backing away from me.

I take the knife from Jenna and slice my palm again. When I lift his shirt, I notice no change to the gash from
yesterday. This is not good. Ever’s injury healed on the outside first before the internal injuries were completely healed. I squeeze everything I can get from my palm, immersing the gash in my blood. I don’t even bother to wipe any excess away.

When I look back to Alody, I can see that she is bracing herself for the worst and it feels awful. I can’t imagine losing my parents. I want to take away every bit of her pain, I would like nothing more.

***

We sat by his bedside all day. Alody refused to leave so Jenna brought food to us. We both fell asleep in the same position as the night before. But when I woke up this time it wasn’t to coughing, it was quiet sobbing and I knew he had passed during the night. Alody was grasping his hand holding on for dear life as Jenna was sobbing herself, trying to console Alody. I walked over to her. As soon as I was near, she let go and grabbed me. I sunk back to the floor holding her, feeling terrible that she has to bury another parent.

***

With the death of Derek Prince, Alody became the leader of the Erebus. It is a huge responsibility especially considering their current standing with the Lior. The fact that I am her promised spread through the caves and I guess that has a lot of pull around here because they accepted me almost right away. Word spread about my grandparentage and that didn’t sit
well with many but in my defense, who gets to choose where they come from? No one. Hence the current impending battle.

I haven’t shared with anyone the information I harbor about said battle. The death of Derek is still so raw with all of them but I know that I have to tell them soon. You never know when these things will go down as I’ve found out very recently. This also brings to light that I will need to go back home, well not home, back to Jaspen’s city, very soon, to let them know what I’ve found out.

Today we are burying Derek Prince. I am bracing myself for lots of emotion. I’ve realized through this whole thing that my mom and sister and their emotional unstableness are one thing but Alody is completely different. I haven’t minded one moment of her crying. Actually, I’ve embraced it and made sure I was there each and every time she needed me. Today I know is going to be big in that department.

I’ve met many of the Erebus here. There are way too many for me to know them by name but I’ve enjoyed getting to know about their way of life. They live back in these caves like we live on land. They have a room devoted completely to gardening. They grow as many kinds of vegetables and fruits as they can that can survive with the luminescent lights they have. I am so thankful for this fact. Additionally, they sleep in close quarters, probably fifteen to a room. I guess it makes sense because they had to give up half of their normal living area
when they moved back here. The only thing I don’t get is why they are choosing to exist in air instead of water. I haven’t asked Alody but I suspect it was for her dad. When Ever was hurt we kept her in air too. Alex and Jack said it was better for healing.

Everyone gets ready to leave the caves. I look around and most of the men are clad in silver battle armor. They don’t look like they are going to a funeral. I guess they need to be ready though, just in case, jand. We walk in a procession through the tunnels. Slowly everyone ends up in the outer caves back in the water with fins. I swim with Alody in the front, constantly on the lookout for any Lior. She assures me they won’t bother us, but I met Roman and I wouldn’t put it past him.

We swim awhile finally coming to a broad cave. I guess in the sea, when you die, your final resting place is in a cave. Go figure. We make our way into the winding cave. I glance at the walls and notice names and dates written all over them. We finally make it to the back of the cave where it opens to a very large space. The floor has a long, wide hole in it. Right next to it is a rock jutting out of the ground. At first it looks like a natural part of the room but when I look closer I see that it was strategically placed there. Carved into it are the words: Kara Prince, Loving Mother and Wife, Always Free.

I look over at Alody to see how she is holding up. Not a tear has crossed her cheek. I keep watch to see if she needs me
but she is handling it all very well. Her father’s narrow casket is lowered into the open hole.

A mer-man steps up and speaks about Derek:
“Derek Prince, was genuinely that, a prince. He was our prince. The leader and guide to a population struggling with its identity, trying to fit into a smooth world with jagged pieces. He helped guide us to be a family and one in our convictions. We will miss him deeply but we will carry on with his vision that someday all of our people whether born of land or sea, will be one with each other.
Peace Derek and be with your promised.
”

At his last word every single person in that cave kissed their right hand and placed it over their heart. I was awed by the whole experience.

I keep checking on Alody but she stays strong, treading in one spot looking forward the whole time. I almost want her to show some emotion but realize from experience with the women in my family, once it starts, it’s hard to stop. A few more people speak, telling funny stories or inspiring tales about how Derek stood up for what he believed. I got a glimpse into what kind of man he was and I admire him. I grieve that I never got to actually see him in action and meet him when he was this strong leader they speak of.

We all head back after the funeral. The whole procession is somber. I grasp Alody’s hand the whole way back. When we arrive in the back caves, she surprises me and calls a
meeting. All the adults are to report to the meeting room after putting children to bed.

She pulls me down a hall and into a small room at the end. I’ve never been down this way before. As we enter, she turns around to face me and looks up into my eyes.

At that moment I know. I don’t know why it happened at this exact moment to make me realize, but I know without a doubt that I am deeply in love with this girl.

Before she can say anything to me, I ask her, “Alody, can I kiss you?”

A smile creeps across her small pink lips, “I was wondering when you wou...”

I lower my lips to hers before she can finish her snide comment.

Her lips are soft, electricity flows down through my body and I know that this is the heaven I didn’t know I was looknowspan>

Her hands wrap around my neck. I know she must be on her tip toes so I fall backwards sitting on the edge of the bunk, not breaking our connection. I wrap my hands around her back and pull her closer. I am lost but also so very found.

Chapter 29

Ever

I, of course, overanalyze the events of the dinner on my way back to Alex’s dwelling. He told me he had to meet with Roman and I should go on ahead. And here is the obvious separation between us. I have to find a way to get more information for Jaspen. Then, I need to get the hell out of here. If there are really that many cities helping Roman take his brother down, I need to get as far away as possible.

After I’ve been back for an hour, I hear Alex come in.

He peeks around the doorway to my room, “Hey, are you up for a talk?”

I sigh, that seems to be all we do lately is talk and it goes around in circles. I nod trying not to show my annoyance with him. It would be so much easier if he would just tell me the things I need to know so I can leave.

I reluctantly follow him out into the front room. He gestures for me to sit in the only chair. I settle in and ready myself for the crap he isn’t going to tell me.
Oh boy, am I in a bad mood.

He grins praising me, “Ever, you did a great job tonight. They are all convinced you are here to help. No one suspected anything else.”

I shrug my shoulders indifferent.
Yes, I came intending on doing this exact thing but I kind of feel like I’m walking uphill through a hurricane. What is all of this really going to achieve? We are a tiny city in comparison to this one. On top of that, at least seven other whole cities are going to help Roman. It’s going to be horrible. I don’t even want to think about it.

He frowns, “I’m sorry, I know I haven’t been a very good friend. You being here is kind of hard for me.”

I look up at him surprised.
Are we really going there? I thought this whole promised thing had him convinced that he needs to back away. Come on…I don’t want to have this conversation for the twentieth time.

I push myself out of the chair and tell him, “Alex, I’m tired, I’m going to bed.”

I swim past him and head to my room.

He calls after me softly, “Ever, I found my promised…”

I stop dead and hover in the water not sure if I heard him correctly.

I slowly turn around and wait to see if I am misunderstanding what he is saying.

He swims closer stopping at the end of the hallway, filling the space with his bulky frame. He rests his hands on the walls.

“It’s Celia.”

I’m speechless. This explains the death stare from her and her curt remark. But why would he be happy to see me and look hopeful for us when he had already found her? Suddenly, I’m not sure I really know Alex.

I swim back over to him and wait for more. I have a feeling there’s a shit- ton more.

“You might want to sit down for this.”

I shake my head and cross my arms across my chest.

He sighs, “Why are you always so stubborn?”

He shakes his head and starts, “When you left me during the battle, I was distraught with worry for you. I was afraid something would happen to you like it did the last time I wasn’t there to watch over you. I went to find you just to make sure you were safe. At least that’s what I told myself.”

He swims back into the big room and I follow. When he turns back around I can see fresh pain on his face, “I saw you with Jack. I knew then that I never really had a chance.”

I feel bad for his sudden hurt but I don’t regret my choices for one moment.

“I went back to the city. It wasn’t about the Lior anymore really. I was convinced that I just needed to get away and move on. I ran into Metea, she was a mess with Seamus’ death and Mersa was no help. She talked me into accompanying her to this city where she would be safe. It was the perfect way for me to get away. I agreed but planned to return to the city. I wasn’t on any side at that point, the Lior winning the battle didn’t matter to me anymore.”

He swims over to the chair and sits. His gaze meetsHisning mine. I can see the pain as if everything happened moments and not weeks ago.

“Roman took me right in and took my charity towards Metea for a desire to join him. I didn’t care at that point. I just wanted to forget about you.”