Rising

  From within a dry, air-filled dungeon deep under Triton’s palace, a voice was pleading for mercy. “Please, I just want to go home,” the human woman cried. Her sobs caused her nose to drip mucus and her makeup-smudged eyes to swell red—definitely not becoming on her.

  “Now Danielle,” Triton said. “We’ve gone over this. You and your friends are responsible for killing over three thousand Dagonians. If I let you go, where is the justice in that?”

  “But I didn’t even know that Dagonians existed,” she shouted, grating on his nerves. If the human couldn’t show him more respect, he’d forget his intention of leaving her alive and turn her into sea foam, so help him.

  Triton marched over and bent down, staring at her nose to nose. “I warned you. Do not raise your voice to me.”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I was upset.”

  “I know you were. You’re not the only one upset about this situation. Here, let me show you another example of what you’ve done.”

  “Please, no.”

  Triton raised his trident and manifested the body of a Dagonian infant lying pale against the sand, his black, glassy eyes open. Triton ignored Danielle’s wails.

  “This child was the firstborn son of a married couple named Ata and Hera. They had waited years for a child and were finally rewarded for their patience with his birth. They’d smothered him with love and affection for only two weeks. When he was merely fifteen days old, they were in their home enjoying a peaceful evening, unsuspecting that danger lurked from above. Hera had the babe at her breast when the poison descended on their home. The effects of the poison were felt immediately. It burned like acid, eating away at them, as they breathed it through their gills. They suffered for over an hour, clinging to one another until they finally died.”

  “I didn’t know. Don’t you think I would do things differently if only I’d known?” Danielle collapsed on the sandy floor and sobbed.

  Without warning, several feet away, the floor swelled. It continued to grow until the sand vomited a large form covered in Heitach. “Well, it looks like your good friend, Xanthus, has sent me another guilty party. Shall we see who it is? Perhaps it’s a friend of yours.”

  Triton raised his trident and the Heitach slithered off the body, which collapsed onto the ground. Triton recognized him at once.

  “What is this?” He slammed his trident against the floor. “Xanthus Dimitriou, what is the meaning of this?”

  Xanthus groaned and pushed his aching body away from the sandy ground. “Majesty,” he said, his voice raspy. “I have important news for you, Sire.”

  Triton glared. His mouth twitched, almost smiling as he thought about the pain Xanthus had voluntarily endured. The Dagonian was a glutton for punishment. “And you couldn’t come to me in the normal way? You know there are better ways to travel than by Heitach.”

  “Yes sir, but it was the only way I could think to get out of Panthon Prison.”

  Triton was dumbfounded. “And just what were you doing in Panthon Prison? I was under the impression you were still on land.”

  “I was imprisoned, along with Sara, my intended wife.”

  “I was not aware you were engaged. So you came down here to save your bride from prison? You know once she is in Panthon, there is no hope for her.”

  “That is usually true, but I was hoping you could help me,” Xanthus said.

  Triton was annoyed. Anytime a mortal got close to a god, it was only a matter of time before they start asking for favors. “What crime did she commit?”

  “Her only crime was being born, Majesty. She was born on the surface. She has hidden among the humans since her birth twenty years ago.”

  A lump formed in Triton’s throat and he felt as if a stone had been placed on his chest. He knew that there was only one likely answer to his next question. Still, he hoped beyond hope that he was wrong. “And pray tell me, who is this prisoner’s mother?”

  “Her name is Nicole.”