Her smile back at me is vibrant. "Thank you. We have waited many years for your birth, and now for your reign. I’m happy to report that you have exceeded all our expectations. If you do not forget us when war comes upon our shores, we have a small token of our gratitude to gift you. This token will grant you one wish."
Sophie reveals a small coin inside the palm of her hand, after seeing the look of panic that covers my face. Alisa replies."You can use it anytime, doesn't have to be now. All you need to do is throw this in a body of freshwater, and one of our kind will answer your call. Arabella, we are a peaceful people, we quarrel with no one. When trouble arises, will you protect us if we give you this gift?"
"I will protect you with my life, regardless of whether you give me a free wish or not. Just being around you makes me happy. Thank you, that is enough of a gift." I mean every word of my answer. They have made me forget the battles that lie ahead.
Alisa comes even closer to where I’m sitting. "Arabella, may we hold your necklace that Eleanor, the Governor's daughter, gave you?"Surprised by their weird request, I do as they ask. Why do they need my necklace, though? Eleanor told me never to take it off, and here I am, taking it off. Sounds smart, but surely, they can be trusted.Sophie takes my necklace from Alisa, and Francesca hands something to her. After connecting the piece, she throws it into the air and lets it fall into the water. I panic, as they remain calm and watch it as it sinks deeper into the water.
Sophie yells. "Now!" All three shoot beneath the surface, I assume to grab my necklace. The sisters come up with a shout, all I see is splashes and hair. Finally, Franchesca untangles herself from the other two. She swims over to give me my necklace while the other two continue wrestling, not knowing she has escaped. "Here, Arabella, it’s yours. Guard it with your life, for a wish to work, the token must touch the bottom of the body of water where the wish is made. Sorry for the dramatics. We had bets on who would bring the necklace back to you first. It's not always hard being the youngest, they are slow pokes andfight so much with each other that they forget about me and my mischievousness."
I chuckle, because these mermaids are sweet and fun. I look down at my necklace to see what has been added, and around my sun is now a circle. As they don't touch each other the sun is no longer attached to anything visible. I shake my necklace, and it still doesn't move.
The other two sisters are out of breath but join the conversation once again. "This necklace was a gift from my parents. How do you have a piece that fits it perfectly?”The younger sisters look at Sophie. That's odd. They don't know whether they can answer my question or not. She looks at me, I hope my eyes look pleading because I want to know.
"We’re not supposed to tell you, but what's the fun in that? Our fathers were great friends. Sometime after your birth, your father came to tell ours the great news of your birthmark. You're a legend, in our eyes, Arabella. We've been told about the Chosen since birth. He gave my father this token and asked him to give it to you one day. This next part is what was forbidden to tell you. Your father asked us for our complete silence on the matter. There are three pieces to your necklace, they fit together like a puzzle. He voiced that one day, once pieced together it would save your life. That's all we know; I also heard him say these things myself."
"Why were you forbidden to tell me what my father said?" I am slightly offended because wouldn't he want me to know that. This journey will be hard enough.
Alisa sighs. "Your father said everything needed to fold together perfectly in order for you to win the war, he said you needed to find each item at just the right time, so that your life would be spared."
Shivers run up and down my spine, none of this makes sense. Sebastian tenses up beside me. How can a necklace save my life one day? I have so many questions that have been left unanswered, but I do have the second piece to the puzzle. That's something, at least.
Sebastian interjects with lethal calmness.Arabella, we are having supper with my father in about an hour. It's time to leave.
"Thank you for everything, I'll never forget your kindness, and will protect each of you. Also, I'm done with being The Chosen, because I want to be a mermaid when I grow up." The sisters laugh, but a look of horror quickly spreads across their faces.I lift my eyes to the sky, which is where they are looking, but nothing is there. Before the Bennett sisters can make their getaway, a roar sounds off behind me. Sebastian grabs his weapons; his shadows are on high alert as he stands in front of me. The broadness of his shoulders and his height, he hides the potential danger coming.
There is a whisper of movement coming from my left where the brothers ran off to minutes before. Then in seconds a wind so strong it almost rips me to shreds comes next, and my hair shoots upward toward the chaos. The pitter-patter of my heart runs wild in anticipation, but when Sebastian visually relaxes, I peek around his shoulder.
Chapter 18
You Mean I Get a Dragon
Falkon is ornery, just like any self-respecting dragon should be. I would be extremely disappointed if she wasn't.
-Arabella The Chosen
They say seeing is believing, but I'm going to have to work really hard on the believing part. Standing before me is a massive red and gold ombré dragon. The upper half is blood red, while the bottom is gold. The creature stares at me with blatant curiosity, my face mirrors the same expression.I've been told my whole life that dragons are real, but their numbers have dwindled significantly throughout time. My cousins run back from the clearing. "Damn it, Falkon! We told you she would come to you!" Jeremiah chides.
The only answer he receives from the dragon is a series of dark grey puffs of smoke that come out of its nose. One of which is suspiciously shaped like a human hand that is shooting a bird, making Deen cackle and Jeremiah roll his eyes.Putting two and two together, I walk around Sebastian's protective shield. They have gifted me with a dragon. "May I come closer?"
The dragon turns its head to the side, sizing me up. "Yes, Arabella Chosen." The gravelly voice is feminine.
Walking to stand in front of her, I bow. "Thank you, Falkon."
She bows in turn, then looks over at the brothers with a huff. Deen laughs. "Don't start, Falkon. She's here and she's safe."
"Arabella The Chosen, why did you agree to go into the Trials? Don't you know that thousands will die that day." She admonishes.
Clearly, I didn't, but it's too late to change my mind now. The promise has been made. "What's done is done, Falkon."
She shakes her head in frustration, then narrows her eyes on Sebastian. "And YOU, tricking her into being bound to you before she knew the details of the prophecy."
Nausea rolls to the pit of my stomach. "What's she talking about, Sebastian?"
His face is an unreadable mask. "Tell her!" Falkon roars.
"Tonight." He stubbornly answers.
That's not good enough. I look toward my dragon. "Can it be undone?"
