Of Fangs & Fins

Chapter Twenty Three

SR: Kina - I feel empty

twenty-three

marina.

I let a seven-year-old manipulate me into driving her to a party.

I was going to get s**t for this, but I couldn't help it. I had to do what was best for my people and this was it. This was me doing something.

Amelia insisted I had to dress the part and that she did indeed. We rummaged into Lance's closet and somehow found an off the shoulder blue mermaid dress. Very fitting. Very... convenient. 

A part of me thought that Ami had all this planned out already.

We followed quickly after them, awkwardly breaking from time to time. It was sometimes confusing to drive a car and the closest I knew how to ride a jet ski and that was about it. I always got the acceleration and the breaks wrong. Cars were so awkwardly bulky.

I very much preferred boats. Especially canoes or kayaks.

Mom and I used to go canoeing around Aqueria. It was nice to be above the ocean sometimes. It made me feel like I was on top of the world.

Now, I didn't feel on top of the world so much. I felt right under it. Being on land... it was so comprehensive... Sure, the ocean was big, but in its vastness was familiarity, so it didn't feel so big.

Amelia looked with awe at the building once we arrived. The car in front of us parked to the side of the building. I made sure we were a block or so behind. They were vampires if I was too close they would hear us.

"It's a... fancy office?" Ami replied, her nose scrunching up as she tilted her head.

I raised my brow and nodded. "It's a hotel building. Interesting." I parked the car haphazardly and slid out, picking up my dress with me. I sighed, trying to not get it stuck between the car door.

"One sec, Ami," I called, bending down and yanking the fabric out. I stood up straight, my heart sinking as I saw who was in front of me.

Eryn's hands were on either side of Ami's shoulders. Her piercing gaze was on me, the red pooling into the grey eyes. "You got her into this?" Eryn's glare blazed, shoving Amelia beside and lunging for me. 

I squeaked, closing my eyes tightly when Eryn slammed me against the car door. I took a gasp of air as my back collided into the car door handle. My eyes whirled open meeting her gaze. She was breathing heavily through her mouth, eyes searching mine. I couldn't pull my gaze away, the vibrancy of the color left me entranced. She thumped her fists onto either side of me. I grasped her wrists, holding onto her.

"Why are you here?" she spoke, her voice hoarse. There was a desperation in her eyes that left me on the brink of tears. I shouldn't have done it, but seeing Eryn settled me down, even while she was in this state. She was angry with me, this much was true, but there seemed to be something more.

I peered over at the air around her, grateful that I was my father's daughter. My royal bloodline was able to let me use my powers on land. I could see her aura materializing in front of me and I let out a breath I didn't think I was holding. Her aura was a splice between red and pink, the colors swirling together. They were almost blinding, leaving me in awe.

"I can see your emotions," I breathed out, hating the hope that was blooming into my chest. Yeah, she was angry at me, but she cared for me more than she showed. I didn't like to use my abilities on others, but I couldn't help it. I needed to see. An icky part of me wishes I had done it earlier. 

Chris's meaty hand clamped itself on Eryn's shoulder, yanking her back. She was thrown upwards a couple of feet, landing onto the grass. I stalked forward, but Chris hissed, leaving me against the car. His face was horrifying, his eyes pulsating red and the veins around his eyes and mouth turning black.

"Eryn," Sagan called, heading towards where she was laying, "you didn't have to be so rough with her!"

"I'm tired of this," Chris snapped, turning to me. He calmed down a bit, his chest heaving up and down, "you are going to stay in the car with Amelia." Chris grabbed my arm and led us towards their car, shoving me into the SUV. He was surprisingly gentle, given that he had just flung Eryn feet away.

Lance stepped out of the car and raised his brow. 

Amelia was dragged in after me, getting placed in the passenger's seat. Chris glared at me, "you will not endanger my family ever again, you hear me?"

I nodded, gulping down nervously. "I didn't mean-"

"I know that you must've been dragged into it because Amelia wanted to go to this. However, to risk her life to be here and for Eryn to react like that is unacceptable," Chris turned around and watched as Eryn and Sagan headed towards us. 

"What the f**k, mate!?" Eryn shouted, motioning towards the grass. Sagan's eyes were thin slits as she looked at me in the car.

"Whatever problem you're dealing with you need to get it under wraps right now. I know you're capable of restraint and it needs to be done. I do not need anyone risking her life!" Chris shouted and pointed to Amelia. She shrank in response and looked more like a child than she already did. 

I was delusional letting Amelia get me into bringing us here. I should've known better, but I couldn't just sit around not doing anything.

"She wanted to be here for her friends," Lance defended, "Marina, come here." He held out his red nailed hand and I hesitantly got out the car. 

Eryn's eyes slid into my line of sight and I held her gaze for a moment. She had a bewildered expression on her face.

"I'm going to take Amelia and Marina back with me," Chris declared, taking his phone out of his slacks, "Sagan will stay here with you and Eryn."

"Marina will stay with me. Mermaids are pack creatures, we're just like the vampires in there if we take her free will away," Lance snapped, facing Chris head on. 

Sagan rolled her eyes. "It's for her own good."

Eryn folded her arms, not saying anything. I wanted her to say something, anything. Her silence was agonizing.

"You are in no position to be talking," Lance glowered at Sagan, causing her to straighten up. He turned his gaze to Eryn, "keep your emotions in check, do you hear me?

"You don't need to tell me twice," she gritted out. "Do what you want. If she gets killed, that's all on you." Eryn turned and stalked off towards the building, taking Sagan with her.

Chris cursed, glared at Lance, "I'll be right back." He headed into the car.

Lance looped his arm with mine. "What he doesn't understand is that I have a finesse for these kinds of things more than him."

"How so?" I asked.

"You'll see."