The Shadow Elf Read online

  Her comment about returning home both pleased and perplexed him though. Had she no home of her own? She hadn’t said they would return to his home. He was pleased she’d think of the elf kingdom as home, but he was even more confused as to why he found her all alone in a world so strange to her. Again he wondered if she’d suffered a memory loss. Was she afraid to admit she didn’t know anything about her past?

  “Maybe we could solicit a water sprite’s help,” Dracolin suggested, hoping he could change Persephonice’s mind.

  “I’ve promised the roc I would do this.”

  “Take me with you then. I’m your guard. You have even said so on a number of occasions.”

  She smiled at him. Instantly he was annoyed. Did she think he couldn’t protect her?

  “You can’t swim. I’d end up drowning you if I tried to dive down to get the amulet.” She tilted her chin up to him. “Kiss me and your magic will keep me safe.”

  He frowned at her.

  “All right.” She rose on the tips of her toes and kissed his lips instead. “I kiss you and share my magic with you.”

  He groaned. She was the most aggravatingly stubborn creature he’d ever met. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to his chest. “Don’t stay under too long. Come up at short intervals if you don’t see the amulet to let us know your progress.” She nodded. And then he kissed her.

  He figured every roc, griffon, elf, and dragon watched them, and inwardly he smiled. Let the two princes know who the magic mermaid favored. Persephonice was all his, no matter that the shadow elf or high elf princes wanted her.

  “Hmm,” she murmured against his mouth. “So how many girls have you kissed like that?”

  Balon offered, “He kisses all the girls.”

  Dracolin’s ears burned. “None like that.”

  “Good. You wouldn’t want to see me when I’m jealous.” She winked, then pulled away. “Hopefully, this won’t take long.”

  She dove into the lake, then reappeared. The way she looked in the water with her red hair floating across the surface of the lake and her green eyes watching them, no one would mistake her for being anything other than a mermaid.

  She dove under and Dracolin’s heart sank. What was the point of being a fearsome warrior, if he couldn’t protect the girl that had grown on him every waking moment and had given him the most pleasant of dreams, too?

  “She’ll be all right,” Balon said, patting Dracolin’s shoulder with reassurance.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” Prince Cronus said, folding his arms.

  Dracolin knew it wasn’t a good idea. But the stubborn mermaid wouldn’t have heeded his words in a million years. And after seeing how she could free herself from cells, he didn’t figure locking her up to keep her safe would ever work.

  After several minutes, Prince Zorak asked, “Why hasn’t she resurfaced?”

  Tal hissed, but Dracolin had no idea what the fairy dragon said until Zorak shook his head and responded to her. “No, it hasn’t gotten her, Tal. Think positive.”

  They all peered into the lake. She swam deeper into the colorful clear water, but the deeper she dove, the smaller she became and the darker the water. Then a shadow moved toward her even deeper still and Dracolin’s heart stopped as he plunged, without thinking, into the lake.

  ***

  Persephonice saw the amulet resting down below. With it in plain sight, she chose not to resurface until she had it in her grasp. Just a little further. Normally the deeper she dove, the more her ears would hurt from the pressure. But she had no difficulty this time, thank the heavens. She continued to swim deeper, wondering about the mystical quality of the water. Could even a shadow elf have swum here after all?

  Swimming this deep should have been more difficult as the density of the water increased. But instead, she swam with as little resistance as she would if she’d remained near the surface of the lake.

  She concentrated again on reaching the amulet. Water made objects appear closer than they were, she reminded herself as she became exasperated with the distance she had gone, but still had several more yards to go as the amulet seemed never within reach. Yet she felt no need to resurface for air. She assumed she hadn’t been under as long as she thought she had as she continued swimming toward the amulet.

  Then from the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a shadow moving toward her. Or was it a cloud passing over the sun above, or the reflection of the crystals? She looked around for any sign of the shadow, but it had disappeared.

  She turned her attention back to the amulet and where it rested. Colorful crystals covered the bottom of the lake in shimmering towers. The rose gold amulet had caught on one of the shorter green crystals. Just a little farther and she’d reach it.

  Suddenly a rush of water bubbles brushed her legs. She turned to see a water sprite with purple hair, a wispy purple gown flowing about her. Blue-green eyes smiled at Persephonice. She nearly had a stroke as she gasped in surprise and swallowed the sweet water. But instead of choking and having to bolt for the surface to get her breath, she felt no need. The water was truly magical.

  The sprite motioned to Persephonice to follow her.

  Persephonice pointed to the amulet and then to the surface of the water, but the sprite shook her head.

  In the mythology books Persephonice had read, sprites could be spiteful. Though she longed to return to Dracolin to let him know she remained safe, she also desired to return the amulet to the roc post haste. But what if the sprite believed the amulet belonged to her now?

  Chapter 19

  Dracolin, without thinking, ran into the lake to rescue Persephonice. He barely heard the shouts of his friends as he splashed into the deepening water. Then his heart leapt into his throat as he stepped off the rock crystal shelf and went under. Panic-stricken, he clawed his way to the surface.

  Before he could swallow a mouth full of water, a dragon’s claws grabbed hold of him and pulled him from the lake.

  “What in Talon’s name do you think you’re doing?” Prince Cronus scolded, like a worried mother.

  The dragon deposited Dracolin on the crystal shore. Soaking wet, Dracolin coughed and hacked, attempting to catch his breath as he sat on the shore.

  Balon crouched at his side. “The mermaid’s enchanted him, don’t you think?”

  Prince Zorak scoffed. “She has charmed all of us. Where is she from?”

  “Not here,” Dracolin choked out. “What creature do we know can speak the language of so many, who is good of heart, and has courage—”

  “And is stubborn,” Balon added.

  “Only the mermaid,” Cronus said. “Where do you think her kind are from?”

  Dracolin shook his head and looked at the lake. “What if we have lost her for good?”

  Zorak frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “We cannot. She will be of great service to our people.”

  Balon stared at the water. “She didn’t drown before. Maybe she is immortal.”

  Dracolin felt mixed relief. If she was immortal, she couldn’t die. This was a good thing of course. But what would an immortal want with a shadow elf?

  He groaned and ran his hands through his wet hair. He’d made it his mission to protect her at all times. And now he’d failed. “Persephonice,” he said under his breath.

  Zorak studied the water more closely then pointed. “There! Oh…oh. Not good.” He motioned to his dragon and spoke to him in high elf language that only the dragon and other high elves could understand.

  Dracolin struggled to get to his feet, and Balon gave him a hand.

  “What’s wrong?” Dracolin asked, his voice still raspy. He studied the water. Deep down, Persephonice swam after a purple-haired water sprite.

  The dragon Zorak had spoken to took flight, then dove into the water. But when it shot out of the lake, its claws remained empty. The water grew still and Dracolin could see no sign of either Persephonice or the sprite.

  “Now what?” Prince Cro
nus asked.

  Dracolin glanced at Balon, who loved to study the geography of the lands. “Are there underground caves near here?”

  “Yes, yes, to the southwest of the lake.”

  “Persephonice can’t vanish unless she’s disappeared into an underwater cave. Maybe one of the caves leads to this one. Are they far from here?”

  “Only a hundred or so yards from here.”

  “Who will stay to watch for Persephonice should she return before we do?” Dracolin asked.

  “I will,” Prince Cronus said.

  “If anything hostile lives in the caves, you might have need of my magic,” Zorak said. “I’ll go with you.”

  “I know the way,” Balon said.

  “Lead on, my friend. Prince Cronus, we will return.” Dracolin, Zorak, and Balon hurried toward the closest cave beyond the crystal tower ring.

  ***

  Persephonice figured if she had to fight the water sprite for the amulet, she would lose against the sprite swimming in her own element.

  Again the sprite motioned for her to follow. For now, Persephonice felt she had no choice. Though she assumed if what the woodland nymph had told her was true, the water sprite probably wouldn’t try to harm her. But maybe she hadn’t received word Persephonice was a sister to the merfolk. Certainly the sprite’s lake appeared isolated from the river elves’ water sources.

  The water sprite led, and Persephonice followed. After a few minutes, they reached a cave, and Persephonice finally could surface for air. Though she was surprised as long as she’d been under she hadn’t felt the burning need to fill her lungs with air.

  Persephonice breathed in the cool damp air, then shivered. “My name is Persephonice, and I came to get the amulet for the roc.” She pulled herself up to sit on top of a smooth blue crystal shelf ledge that rested inches above the water. Torches lit the interior of the crystal cave, shimmering in the same colors as the towers that ringed the lake on the surface.

  “Yes,” the sprite said. “I am Kai. And you are the one of many tongues.”

  Had Prince Aquarian, the merman, sent the sprite word somehow that he wanted Persephonice for his bride? Would the sprite try to keep her here for him?

  “Will you allow me to retrieve the amulet?”

  The sprite smiled. “Everything in this lake is mine.”

  “But it’s a symbol of the rocs’ leadership. Surely you can see how important it is for them to have it back.”

  “Why do you care?” The sprite rolled onto her back and floated.

  “The griffons and rocs are fighting each other because of it. If the rocs have their amulet, they’ll leave in peace.”

  “It seems,” the sprite said, splashing her fingers one at a time into the water, “a silly thing to fight over.”

  “Maybe to you and maybe to me. But to the rocs, it’s important. Do you not have anything you cherish above all else?”

  The sprite rolled onto her stomach and tilted her chin up. “What about you, mermaid? What is it that you treasure above all else?”

  Having a lifemate, that Persephonice could no longer have. And being an overseer that her people denied she could be.

  “Serving others to aid them in their time of need.”

  “I’m such a creature…as far as having a need.”

  Persephonice raised her brows as she leaned closer to the clear water. “Indeed. What troubles you, Kai?”

  “I have taken a companion, but he is not wholly suited to me.” The sprite twisted a strand of purple hair around her finger. “He is a river elf, and though he can swim and he enjoys my company, he seems homesick.”

  “Gavin,” Persephonice said under her breath.

  The sprite’s blue-green eyes sparkled as her lips twitched into a smile. “Yes, Gavin. Take him home to the river elves, but I must have a replacement. Find me a suitable companion, and you shall have the amulet for the rocs.”

  Jeez, how did Persephonice ever get rooked into the business of matchmaking? Computers did it on her world.

  “But what if I can’t find someone who wishes to live here?”

  “You already know the answer to your question.”

  Voices echoed off the cave walls from some distance. Boots crunched on crushed crystal that lined the cave floor.

  “Visitors. Elves. They search for you. How sweet. Take Gavin. He’s sleeping in a chamber off this one. And return soon. The amulet for my companion. That’s the deal.”

  “You wish a water sprite?”

  The sprite smiled. “Or a merman. I never leave my home here. So you will have to convince someone to come to me. Go. I will be waiting.”

  “Can I have something of yours?”

  “What have you in mind? Certainly not the amulet.”

  “No. Give me a lock of your hair. Maybe a male will be overcome with your beautiful hair and wish to join you here.”

  “You think it beautiful?”

  “The prettiest color I’ve ever seen.”

  The sprite slipped her hair over a sharp crystal, then handed a lock of it to Persephonice. “You are cleverer than I imagined.”

  “I’ll return as soon as I can.” But Persephonice couldn’t see how she could possibly succeed.

  She rose from the shelf and walked into another cave. Inside, a river elf slept. His unbound blue hair flowed over the edge of the bedroll and nearly blended with the blue crystal floor. He wrinkled his bulbous nose and his blue brows lifted as if he was dreaming.

  “Gavin,” Persephonice said softly, not wanting to startle him. “Gavin,” she repeated louder when he didn’t stir.

  His blue eyes popped open, and he gasped.

  “I’m to take you home. Will you go with me?”

  He glanced down at her legs and fainted dead away.

  “Persephonice,” Dracolin hollered from another tunnel.

  “Here, Dracolin!” she called out to him, thrilled he had found her safe and sound.

  After several minutes, Dracolin, Balon, and Zorak stalked into the cave with Tal beating her small golden wings about Zorak’s head.

  Persephonice said, “It’s Gavin and—”

  Dracolin crossed the cave and pulled Persephonice into his arms. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  She hugged him back, deeply warmed by his concern and affectionate manner. “I’m sorry I worried you, but—”

  “I thought you had drowned.”

  “No. One time is enough for me.”

  Balon said, “Dracolin nearly drowned himself, trying to go after you.”

  Persephonice looked up at Dracolin. An ache sliced through her heart at once. “I couldn’t live with knowing I’d lost my lifemate and then you. Promise me you won’t take unnecessary risk—”

  “For you, Persephonice, I would do anything to keep you safe.”

  He kissed her lips and Balon chuckled.

  Balon said, “He kisses all the girls, but not as much as he’s kissed this one.”

  Prince Zorak frowned. “Maybe we ought to let Cronus know you’re safe.”

  She smiled, noting a distinct tone of disapproval in Zorak’s voice. “Well, if someone can help revive Gavin, we could be on our way.”

  “You don’t have the amulet,” Dracolin said.

  “No, I’m afraid not. Seems we have more to do first.”

  Dracolin gave her a look like he would say his usual no. She smiled. Soon he’d learn that was not the magic word to get her not to do things.

  “Don’t tell me it’s something worse than this.”

  “I won’t tell you then.” Again she smiled. Though she knew she’d tell him just the same. And then? She’d have to do what she’d promised, once again.

  Chapter 20

  Dracolin couldn’t believe his ears when Persephonice told him what the sprite, Kai, wanted. As before, the leggy mermaid held tightly to his waist, her head resting against his back as he envisioned she had her eyes closed while they flew back to Xern’s house. Balon glanced at her as he rode with Cron
us and smiled at Dracolin.

  The word would soon get back to Dracolin’s old girlfriend, Tslian, that she could just forget his ever coming back to her now that he had Persephonice’s company.

  He took a sobering breath as he worked over the new dilemma in his mind. “Persephonice, I know Kai said she would accept a water creature other than a water sprite to serve as her companion, but I don’t want you to go anywhere near a merman.”

  “What if we can’t find a water sprite that wants to join her?”

  “Then the roc will have to figure it out for themselves.”

  She tightened her hold on him and sighed deeply. “We will see what will happen and decide then.”

  He knew she would stubbornly resist the idea that they would leave it up to the roc to figure out. “Is this what an overseer truly does?”

  “On this…” She hesitated speaking, and at once he was on alert. “Here, yes. Other places, no.”

  “Persephonice, have you had a memory loss, and that’s why you won’t say where you are from?”

  How could Persephonice explain she was a traveler from another world, where elves and mermaids were only myth? How could she explain that her own people had abandoned her because she was of no use to them?

  Perhaps their own people did the same to their outcasts. If Dracolin and his friends knew she was an outcast, would they feel justified in casting her aside, too?

  “Persephonice, where are your people?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. Her people were worse barbarians than the elves. How could they leave a defenseless “almost” overseer on a primitive planet with nothing more than the clothes on her back? And even now she wore the garments of a shadow elf, her own clothes long since gone.

  Dracolin persisted. “Where are your people?”

  “I’m an outcast!” Persephonice said, deeply agitated.

  Dracolin wanted to hold her close and take the anguish from her, but he couldn’t pull her in front of him, not while they soared so high above Darkland Forest. If she was an outcast, had she been a danger to her people?

  “Why were you considered an outcast?” He spoke softly, trying to show understanding though his gut clenched with concern that she was dangerous despite what she said.