Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) (19 page)

His harsh words hurt me.
I know I should be glad that he wanted to move on but it hurts nonetheless.

“That first night Roman hosted a dinner for Metea. I met his daughter, Celia.”

He looks up at me for my reaction. Again, I am completely shell-shocked. I probably shouldn’t be surprised that Celia is Roman’s daughter but I am. The plot thickens as they say.

I swim over and rest on my fin in front of him on the floor.

He looks scared now.

“The journey here with Metea was painful. She kept talking about how her promised was dead and she should be too. I learned then what it meant, to be promised.”

He lets out a deep breath and sits silent for a moment before continuing.

“Ever, from the moment I met Celia I wanted to run away and go back to the city but knew I could never leave. I would never
be able
to leave.”

I frown and ask, “But I thought your promised is who you are supposed to love and be with forever. Why did you want to come back if she is that person for you?”

He shakes his head. His eyes turn to that clear, light green color or maybe it’s just the reflection in the water but his usual confidence returns and his voice sounds more assured.

“I do love her. I love her with everything and that is why I can’t leave. I want to help you. I know you have finally found your place but I can’t leave. Do you understand?”

Oh boy do I understand. The words he didn’t utter speak volumes. I get it now and I know why he didn’t want to tell me. Oh the predicaments we put ourselves in.

I grab his hand and squeeze it.

“Alex, I do get it. You can’t leave her but you don’t really believe in this fight.”

He nods looking ashamed.

“Hey, I don’t like it one bit but I can’t fault you for this. Jack is who I think about when I wake up in the morning and who I think about when I fall asleep at night. It’s an amazing thing and I’m glad I can experience it. I’m glad you get to experience it now.”

I take a deep breath and continue with the number one question that keeps popping up in my thoughts “If you found Celia when you came here then why were you so hopeful when I came here. You had me convinced that you still thought we had a chance.”

He smiles and his adorable dimple shows itself.

“I wanted to have a little bit of fun with you. I knew about the promised thing and I was pretty sure you didn’t, so I played along. You are really a terrible actress, you know. But tonight I think you redeemed yourself. Ramous couldn’t stop talking about you.”

I stifle a chuckle, “And how is Celia honight I tokay with all of this? She must be furious with you.”

He runs his hand through his hair and his smile disappears.

“That is a bit complicated. I asked her not to tell anyone about us.”

I don’t think I heard him right. How can Alex hold back? I know he can’t. When he wants someone or something, he goes after it. I know this first hand.

“I didn’t want Roman to find out. At first it was because he was so intimidating and she is his daughter. Then as I learned their plans, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be a part of them. I had almost convinced Celia to come away with me. Then… you showed up.”

My mouth hangs open. What? How did I come into this?

“Ever, close your mouth. It’s okay. She is not happy about you being here but I told her we could stay as long as she kept us a secret for a little while longer. She agreed to play along with this too.” He gestures between us.

I argue, “’No Alex, do you know what you are saying? You can’t stay here if you…. I am so sorry.”

I lower my head to my hands.
Such an idiot. There you go ruining someone’s life again, Ever.

I feel his palm on my shoulder.

“Ever, this is not your fault. I am tied to her. If this is where we are to be, then we will stay. I’ve accepted this. Which is why, I am going to help you in any way I can. Then it will be best if you go back home and help get ready in any way you can. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

I glance up and see that genuine smile of Alex’s, my friend. It gives me a tiny bit of hope but only a tiny bit.

Chapter 30

James

When we enter the meeting room it is vastly different than the last time I was here. This time every bench is filled and some people are standing around. All the faces staring back at us look grief stricken but I notice pride there too. Somehow, through this, they have retained that and I am glad for it because what Alody and I are about to tell them is going to require they have that pride and hope too.

Alody walks to the front of the room with me following, her small hand lost in mine.

She blinks a few times and takes a deep breath, “Thank you for coming on such short notice. Let me first thank you for your support and help during these hard times while my father was sick.”

She looks away, I knond w, to gather her courage. This must be so hard. I squeeze her hand and step closer so that I am beside her.

She looks back out over the crowd of people. Her voice takes on a fierce air, “We are Erebus, we didn’t choose this, as my father always said, but we sure as hell will fight for it. Because we are Erebus and we
can
choose. The most important thing is the gift of choice. Roman wants to take that away from us. He wants to send us back because we don’t fit in his perfect little world. We can’t let him. Too many of us have found our place here under the waves; we have to fight for that.”

She looks over to me at this point. I am in awe of her and love her all the more. I didn’t know her father but I can tell he instilled in her, his beliefs and she is so strong. I know this next part is going to be the hardest, convincing these innocent people, even though the odds are hugely against them, that they still must fight with everything they have.

I step up, release her hand and clear my throat, “I know my face is new around here. You don’t know much about me except that I will stand by Alody for the rest of my life until I take my last breath. I want you to know that I too need this choice. The sea is new for me. I haven’t been here very long but I’ve come to realize through this new world what is important and worth fighting for. This is worth it, the right to choose, who to love and where to exist. When I came here, to your caves, I learned things about myself I never would have dreamed. So with this I must tell you what I know. The city I have come from was ruled by Seamus for over a thousand years but it was taken by Erebus fighting for choices just as you are here. Jaspen, Roman’s brother led this fight and he won. The odds were hugely against him but he was able to take over the city and now everyone there is free to choose. They are free to live on land or in the water. And they are free to love who they want and find their promised.

I pause letting everything I’ve said sink in. This is where I have to sell them.

“Roman is going to Jaspen’s city. He plans to take the choice they so recently won, away. We can’t let that happen. We must join with Jaspen and fight for what is right.”

At this point the chatter spreads through the room. I expected this to happen. It’s going to be hard to convince them, but Jasepn won’t have a chance if he doesn’t get more support.

One man shouts out, “We’ve already lost so many with Roman’s recent attack and Derek is gone. Why should we help a city that has nothing to do with us?”

I’m about to answer but I feel Alody’s hand on my arm so I take a step back.

Her voice softens, “I know this is hard for all of us. My dad isn’t here to lead us but I know we will be fine if we remember all that we stand for. I admit this will be very hard and we have already lost so much. If we don’t do this though, we will always be looking over our shoulders wondering when Roman will strike again. We won’t have our family as we have for so long.”

She looks up at me and I’m falling deeper for her. Never would I have imagined so many days ago when I saw this tiny girl and she jabbed me with that spear, telling me she was the
leader, th0">leadeat she was telling the truth. But I stand here staring into those bright green eyes and see it. She is the leader of these people and I will follow her wherever she goes. I am completely and intricately woven to this girl forever.

I glance back over the crowd. They are still whispering and discussing things but I see some people nodding among them. I also see that look on their faces, the look of hope and fight. I know right then and there that Jaspen might have a chance, albeit a small one.

Jenna walks up and asks Alody quietly, “May I?” Gesturing to the crowd before us, Alody steps back giving Jenna the floor.

She starts, “Alody has now lost her mother and her father but still she holds strong to their beliefs. You ask who will lead us. She will, of course. She was born to lead us and I for one will follow her to the ends of the earth if that means fighting for what is right.”

I see nods around the room and not one person speaks up to disagree.

Alody steps up again thanking Jenna quietly. She turns to look out to everyone.

“We will leave tomorrow night. We can’t let Roman know we are joining in the fight. Tomorrow we will gather all the weapons we can and stock up for the journey. The caves are far, off the coast of California. It will be a long journey. So rest up tonight. I know some of you will need to stay back. At this point, I doubt Roman will bother with you. He obviously has bigger things in mind.”

Everyone gets up and disperses as she finishes. She turns to me and mouths quietly, “Thank you.”

I smile at her watching as people walk up to her offering hugs and patting her on the back. Peacefulness washes over me at this point. I think I’ve finally found my place. I thought before when I first became a mer-man that I was meant for it and then I kept having second thoughts. It was always for the wrong reasons. Now though, I think I’ve finally got it right. Alody.

Thoughts of my sister pop into my head. I have to find her when we get to the city. I think a trip home in the future is going to be called for. We can’t keep this from our parents any longer. Not if we have both found a place among these people.

Chapter 31

Ever

I hear his voice quietly whisper but I can’t find him. “Ever, where are you? I can’t find you.n="ca
I frown, why is Jack here? I left him at home. Suddenly my heart has picked up it’s pace. He can’t be here, it’s not safe. I yell out, “Jack, I’m here. Why are you here? It’s not safe for you.” He answers right back but I still can’t see him. “I came to look for you, where are you?” I look around and finally realize why I can’t see anything. The water is murky reminding me of the lake back home on a rainy day. But as I look closer, it’s tinted pink, not the green I am used to. I try to move to find Jack but pain lashes through me. I stop moving and focus, it’s coming from my fin. I glance to the end of my fin and spot the culprit. I’m stuck between two huge rocks. Jack calls out again, “Ever, I still can’t see you…” and his voice fades.

I sit up suddenly and get my bearings. Realizing I’m still in Alex’s dwelling, I swim out to check and see if he’s here. This dream took a different turn. For some reason now Jack is in the dream instead of Alex.

I stop in front of his closed door, reaching out to turn the handle. But I hear muffled voices inside. I recognize Alex’s and a feminine voice. I quickly turn in the direction of my room not wanting to eavesdrop especially because it’s probably Celia. I should get as far away as possible. I wouldn’t like this situation any more than she does, if it were Jack instead of Alex. Before I can get far down the hall I hear screaming. I stop and wait. My inner voice tells me,
Ever, what are you doing? It’s not your business.
I ignore it and turn back toward his room. I hear his voice trying to soothe her, then more screaming and crying.