Page 52 of Entangled

“The main god of Mura,” Sebastian explained. “And look at that!” He pointed up into the sky.

Merrow looked upward to see Elric sitting atop a flying beast that looked to be a wildcat with black stripes and a shaggy mane. The creature had sharp talons and black wings on its back enabling it to fly like a bird.

“It’s Elric! What is he riding?” she asked.

“It’s called a Stricat. Very dangerous,” Sebastian answered. “It appears to help Murians with magic during a battle. I have no idea why it is here to help me.”

The Sricat flew with Elric on its back, over Nereus’ head. Elric kept materializing rocks, throwing them one after another at her father.

“You heard the god of Mura, now go. Scat. Leave at once,” commanded the elf in his nasally little voice. His rocks bounced off Nereus, doing nothing to hurt him. It only made Nereus even more irritated.

“Oh, no!” gasped Merrow. “Elric shouldn’t do that. He’s going to get himself killed.”

“Don’t worry. He’s too ornery to die,” answered Sebastian, actually able to grin now.

“I am Nereus, God of the Sea,” shouted her father. “I will not leave until The King of Macada is dead for what he did to my wife, and for also stealing my daughter and holding her as a prisoner.”

“That’s not what happened, Father. You don’t understand,” shouted Merrow. “Sebastian is kind. He hasn’t hurt anyone.”

“Please, explain,” came a female voice. When Merrow looked up to the sky again, she saw three apparitions now. They were airy and see-through and looked to be wearing long white gowns. One was a man and the other two were women.

“More gods?” she whispered to Sebastian.

“Yes,” he answered “Zoroct is Mura’s god of power and might. Hapsren is the goddess of home and hearth, and Cnoir is goddess of love and wealth.”

“Sebastian, my father is powerful, but he can’t fight off three gods.”

“Nay, I don’t suppose he can,” answered Sebastian. “Hopefully, it will at least cause him to go back through the portal and to leave us all alone.”

“Father!” shouted Merrow. “You must leave the people of Mura alone and go back through the portal now. You have mother back, as well as Melite and Galene.”

“Someone will pay for the wrong that’s been done. I won’t leave until that happens.”

“We fell through the portal by accident,” explained Merrow. “It never would have happened if I hadn’t taken Melite and Galene to the Mystic Reef. I’m sorry. So, you see, I am the one to blame and no one else.”

“My uncle wronged your wife, and I am sorry for that,” said Sebastian. “But I assure you, I would never harm Merrow. I love her.”

“You are a human,” Nereus growled. “Merrow is a sea nymph. She lives in the sea.”

“Not for long,” said Merrow. “Father, I am going to marry Sebastian because I love him as well. He is a good man and he makes me happy.”

“Merrow, I want to marry you but I don’t want you to have to give up being a sea nymph,” Sebastian told her. “Your father is right. You do belong in the water.”

“Nay, he’s wrong,” said Merrow. “I belong at your side. I am more than willing to give up my tail to be your wife.”

“You’d be landbound if you did that,” her father reminded her. “Besides, you are in a foreign land. You should come home with me. Let’s go through the portal, daughter. I will blow the Calling Conch and it will open the portal. Your mother, siblings, and your homeland await you. You don’t belong in this place called Mura. You belong in the Aegean Sea.”

“It’s your choice, sweetheart,” Sebastian whispered, still treading water. “I will understand if you don’t want to stay. If you want to go home to your siblings and your parents, it’s all right, even though I will miss you every day of the rest of my life.”

“Father? Can that Calling Conch open the portal to Mura from the other side, any time you want?” she asked him.

“Yes,” he answered. “Why?”

“Then I will stay and marry Sebastian. I will give up my tail but gain a soul.”

“What about your family?” Sebastian asked her.

“We will start a new family here. Me and you together,” she said, holding her arm around his waist, using her tail to keep them afloat. “When I want to see my parents or my siblings, I will reach them with my mind and call to them. Father can open the portal from the other side, and Melite and Galene and the others can come visit us in Mura. Whenever they want.”