The Lily's Splendor

Chapter 7

I stared at Henry with confused eyes.

“What is that?” I finally asked, breaking the silence and giving Amiel an odd glance when he looked like he was bowing at me. I then noticed that the sun’s light had grown faint as shadows began to appear. “I have to go.” I said with dread. Henry seemed to finally snap out of his trance and nodded. “I’ll take you back.” Turning to Amiel, Henry spoke softly before Amiel swam away.

“It’s okay. I remember the way.” I tried but Henry wouldn’t hear a word of it as he grabbed my elbow and began to steer me back into the tunnel that led out into the open sea. When we made it back to shore, Henry held on to my arm.

“Here,” he said as he handed me back my necklace. “Come tomorrow and I will help you,” he said firmly.

“Are you sure you want to help me? Why the sudden change?” I was curious. I felt my throat go dry when he swam closer until I could clearly see the pupils in his eyes.

“Are your arms tingling now?” he asked in a low, husky voice. I shook my head, baffled that I had forgotten about that or that his eyes didn’t look glazed at all. Henry’s brows knit together before he pulled himself back.“Meet me tomorrow back in the caves at around nine in the morning,” he said before ducking underneath a wave and disappearing all-together. I finished swimming back to the shore until I was treading across the sand and back to the cliffs to retrieve my shoes.

~*~~*~*~~*~*~~*~

Henry swam back but instead of going to his cave, he went to the palace.

“Prince Henry,” Many mermaids and merman he passed murmured as they bowed to him before continuing on.

“Henry! Where have you been? Why do I even ask?” Maddox shook his head as he came to Henry’s side. Maddox was exactly a year older and resembled their father most when it came to physical appearance and temper. He had a full head of bright red hair and side burns along with a scruffy beard that he insisted on keeping.

“So what have you been up to?” Henry asked his brother as they went to his room.

“Not much. Just working my charms on the mermaids here. Can’t wait for the end of this week when school starts.” Maddox said mischievously. Henry stopped in his tracks.

“Wait, are you planning to enroll? But you’re a year older than me. You look like a college student,” Henry said. His brother shrugged.

“I’ll just play the dumb card and say I fell back a grade or something.”

“Why the sudden interest?” Henry wondered. For years now, Henry had been attending the private school of Nantucket along with his sister. They enjoyed mingling with the humans until the summer when they would return back to the sea. His brother had never seen the need or interest in joining them except to only go to the parties and madly flirt with the girls.

“I honestly don’t know. Perhaps it’s because I have noticed my brother acting strangely since yesterday and I want to keep an eye on him? Or maybe I would like to see what my siblings like so much about school. Perhaps I’ll join their football team.” Maddox waggled his eyebrows as he flexed his incredible biceps.

“You’re seeing things.” Henry shook his head as he threw his bedroom door open and tossed himself onto his bed.

“Henry? Is that you?” their father’s booming voice called out from the hallway before his form appeared in front of the open door.

“Maddox, leave us.” The King commanded.

“Good luck bro.” Maddox squeezed Henry’s shoulder before saluting their father as he left.

“Where have you been? You are constantly disappearing and my soldiers have no idea where to look for you. Do you go to the land? Is that it?”

“No. I stay down here.” Henry stretched out on his bed, folding his arms behind his head in support as he gazed at his father with reluctance.

“We aren’t finished with discussing our previous argument,” King Sachiel said sternly.

“I am finished with that subject,” Henry said, seeing his father’s jaw go rigid as a visible vein pulsed on his forehead.

“Do you want our Kingdom to be weak?!” his father stormed.

“It isn’t weak,” Henry stated.

“It can be. We don’t know what the Adaros are planning.” At the mention of the Adaros, Henry’s eyes narrowed.

The Adaros were the sworn enemies of the mer-people. They did not have respect at all for human life either and would have had their way if it hadn’t been for that Great War that had taken place hundreds of years ago. The Adaros had lost and had even disappeared, lying low . . . until now.

Scouts have reported sightings of their black tails along with their most trusted companions; the sword fish which they use to hunt humans or spear the merfolk. Rumor has it that the Adaros even use sirens to get their victims; both humans and mermaids.

“If you married Princess Damita, our forces would unite and we would be even stronger,” his father persisted. At first, Maddox had been pushed to marry Princess Damita of the English waters but when she had revealed interest in Henry, the pressure had steered towards him.

“We are done talking about marriage to a complete stranger. I’ll be going to the surface now. I must air out the cottage before school starts.” Henry got up.

“I can forbid you in going,” The King warned. Henry did not stop nor did he turn around when he said, “No matter what you do, I will always escape. You can’t keep me locked up forever.”

“Would you rather I forced your sister to marry Damita’s brother?” his father stated quietly.

“Leave her out of this! Damita’s brother is twice her age!” Henry whipped his head back to give his father a disgusted look.

“It’s your choice,” The King said with finality. Henry didn’t want to hear any more of it so he quickly swam away. As he neared the exit of the palace, Henry ran into his sister.

“Lilly, just the person I’ve been looking for.”

“You okay?” she asked as she peered into his face with her hazel eyes that always reminded him of their mother.

“I’m fine. Was just heading to the surface to air out our cottage. Can you help me?” Henry lightly begged, wanting to keep his sister as far away from their father as possible. He watched as her face brightened.

“Really? Can’t believe summer is coming to an end so fast. But sure, I don’t have anything to do. And I would love to get into town for some shopping.” she said excitedly.

“What has you jumping up and down with joy sister?” Maddox appeared from the side, putting his arm around her.

“We are going to our cottage.” Lilly grinned up at him.

“Just to get things ready,” Henry added.

“Cool. Count me in.” Maddox gave Lilly’s shoulders a squeeze. Lilly looked surprised at her brother.

“He’s decided to join us in school too.” Henry filled her in.

“Really?” Lilly squealed.

“Well, somebody has to keep the boys away.” Maddox folded his arms across his chest as he gave Lilly a pointed look. She blushed.

“I don’t have any boys after me.” Lilly bowed her head as her hands clasped and unclasped.

“Then I have to pummel them for not noticing you.” Maddox made a fist.

“Maddox!” Lilly protested while Henry choked on laugher.

“Come on you two.” Henry steered them away and to the surface.

“I still don’t know why you two put up with living in such a dainty cottage when we can afford something much bigger.” Maddox griped as soon as they emerged from the walk-path and were now facing their petite two-story home for the next few months.

“Because this plot of land is very valuable and must be protected.” Lilly stated, sighing happily as she leaned in to sniff the hydrangeas poking out of the white picket fence that bordered the cottage.

“Well, if we have so many acres, why not expand?” Maddox huffed.

“Because we like it nice and cozy. This place has character. You’ll be happy to know though that we did do some remodeling on the inside. Like, we replaced the old wooden floors with cherry-wood. The old wood was beginning to rot,” said Henry wistfully.

“Why am I not surprised.” Maddox muttered. The two brothers followed Lilly as she stepped through the small white gate before waiting behind her while she unlocked their pristine white door.

“Wow, you guys have fixed up the place rather nicely.” Maddox whistled after removing the white sheets that covered the furniture, eyeing the new blue sofa with a stuffed chair on each side. The red bricks that had covered the fireplace had been removed and was now painted a starch white that matched the walls.

“This is new.” Maddox went to the 52” plasma that was nailed above the fireplace.

“Yeah, I figured it was about time.” Lilly came to stand next to him.

“So what room do I get?” Maddox looked from Lilly to Henry, who finished removing the small cloths over the paintings and was now bunching them into a ball. “There’s only two.” Henry plopped onto the sofa and gave his brother a blatant stare.

“What? Only two bedrooms?” Maddox turned to Lilly, who shrugged her shoulders. “Yup. Each room has two twin beds though, so you’re welcome to be my room-mate, though I didn’t leave much closet space for you so you’ll have to settle for the hall closet.” She went on her toes and kissed his cheek before walking away to the kitchen, but not before giving Henry a face-splitting grin. Maddox grudgingly sat on one of the stuffed chairs, eyeing Henry stingily. “Guess I’ll be your room-mate bro.”

“Yay.” Henry said unenthusiastically before getting to his feet. “Come on, I’ll show you to our humble abode.” He stalked up the narrow stairs with Maddox close behind him.

“Here we are.” Henry opened the door and stepped in, letting his brother take a look around in the medium-sized room with two matching beds, one next to the window while the other was flipped horizontally against the wall.

“You can have this—” Henry was about to say ‘bed’, pointing to the one against the wall since he used the one by the window, but Maddox had already thrown himself backward on the blue comforter, arms folded beneath his head as he said, “I’ll take this bed.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed.

“What? Don’t tell me you had this bed already?” Maddox asked, sitting up. Henry sighed. “Whatever. Have what you will.” he muttered, walking out of the room to see if Lilly needed help.

“Thanks!” Maddox called out as Henry was skipping down the stairs.

“No problem.” Henry sighed.