Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3) (11 page)

“Such a soft little being. Your friend will be fine. If not pissed. I know of the Zargonnii, they can survive many hours under water. The Gorgano are elusive, thankfully their planet has no water.”

When Arax turned her in his arms, Bethany was amazed at the beautiful waterfall. Skyscraper in height the elegance was covered over in beautiful hunter green moss. Beneath the mountain, the water was filled with beautiful blue glowing stars of phytoplankton. With a wave of his hand the water receded to show a stunning city. Once more Bethany was caught to Arax’s broad chest as he puffed larger. The land beneath their feet gave way to a clear blue stream. Bubbles swirled around Bethany’s head, invading her nose and mouth. The clear blue of the water was stunning. They entered a cave alight with glowworms overhead and pigmented microbes. Bethany couldn’t see enough to fill her gaze it was so breathtaking, until they turned down another tunnel. It turned dark and formidable; the murky river was churning dangerously.

Bethany gasped when they surfaced. Dread washed over her as she took in the sight of many large barred wooden doors. Sounds of suffering reached her ears. She gazed up at Arax as he settled her onto a dry platform. On his command a door was unlocked and Bethany was pushed past the threshold. She was to be incarcerated for no crime. Her anger surged and she spun around to beat at Arax, but he was gone.

“Wait,” she cried out as the door slammed behind her. She heard the bar slide across trapping her.

Arax peered into a small square barred opening. “I have duties to attend. I will inform my men you need sustenance.”

“You know I’m not a threat.” Furiously Bethany slammed her open palms against the hard wood. Arax chuckled and for a moment he looked tempted to unlock the door and join her.

“Be calm, little human.”

“Let me out you damned fish on steroids.”

“When, not if, your Zargonnii comes here looking for you he will see your image inside my jail. If he wishes your return he will obey. If not, you had best get comfortable. At least until the tide comes in. Most creatures who are jailed crave the tide. I’m not so certain your species will appreciate it as much. Unless you are lying.” He winked at her.

“I’m not lying. Why would you even think that?”

“Before my father banned our people from opening Earth portals whenever we wished, I heard many stories. Humans have separate bathing rooms where they fill large portals with water. My people can see under the portals.”

Bethany was aghast. “You mean your people can see through a human’s tub? Your people watched us perform private washing rituals?”

Arax laughed. “Tubs, Jacuzzis, under their pools, water parks. Toilets—you need just lift the lid and my people can gaze through the water.” Bethany cringed, and felt the crimson blush creep up her neck over her cheeks with the thought of someone studying her ass as she defecated, gross. “I was told humans had wave pools and water parks. A few of my uncles found it amusing to suddenly appear beside a human in one of these parks. They would slip beside them in the water and poof. Admittedly, a few of my people went too far and popped their heads up through sinks when humans filled them to wash dishes, hence the dishwasher, quicker, safer, saner. A few humans questioned our appearance; after all, not all humans were considered insane, drunk or high.

“Humans name us mermaids, myths. They wrote stories about us and how we would save lives—or take them. Wouldn’t your people be surprised if they really knew the truth of our existence? It’s why father made the ban; humans were getting too close to the truth. Your kind adores the water; I grew up listening to the numerous stories. Now it’s a moot point. Earth has nothing left to amuse my people. Until I discovered you.”

Bethany growled as he strode away. She bashed her open hands on the solid wood door and screamed at him. “You had to help me breathe to get here. Those bubbles you created are why I survived. You have to know that. Why are you being such a jackass and so stubborn? Damn you, come back here and talk to me. Finn’s going to kick your ass.”

Arax was gone. She turned to look at her bleak surroundings. The grey stone walls dripped with moisture. Greenish scum hung limply in patches, as she watched dark goo slid from the wall to splat on the floor. She wrapped her arms around her with a sudden chill. Her clothes were soaked. The only air came through the small square barred hole in the door. Her breath increased as she spun and grabbed the black bars, pressing her face against them. Water lapped at the edge of the flat stone breaker only feet away. Other cells lined the sides between the flowing dank river standing a mere foot above the edge. A wave splashed up the side, the trickle of water flowed under her door to tickle her bare feet. Bethany stepped back as the teasing droplets slithered to settle in a corner before disappearing down a crack. Bethany was gasping in short calming breaths, the water was already rising.

He thinks I’m lying.

Bubbles rose where the water vanished in her cell. Moving slowly forward, Bethany crouched to peer in the brackish water below the cracks. She gasped when she saw a multitude of glowing green things swimming. All were various shapes and sizes. She screamed and dropped back on her ass when one of the creatures jumped displaying black sharp teeth. Beady, dark purple, bulbous eyes stared. It hissed, and then was gone. Bethany scampered back when the glowing green brightened as more creatures gathered beneath the crack.

She wasn’t alone.

* * * *

Finn had never moved so fast in his life. He was used to all kinds of terrain but this planet’s surface was beyond irritating. The ground squished one moment, he was underwater with his next step, then climbing over fallen logs. The air was musty; he was soaked and stunk of marsh sewage. The cobweb vines clung to his body in a sticky mess. There were a few brief moments of panic when he found himself covered in slimy moss scum but the scum here didn’t have the need to attack as it did on his planet.

“Intruder,” came a thick voice.

Finn pulled up. Before him stood a humanoid strange being. The male was shorter than Finn, broad as hell and was covered in small black stripes against grey skin. Its eyes were yellow. Silver spiked hair on his head reflected the sun. His lips were black. When he spoke, Finn saw rows of sharp-looking pointed teeth.

“Zargonnii. What are you doing on my planet?” The creature spoke passable Zargonnii and Finn understood.

“As I was falling from the sky I failed to notice your name on it,” was Finn’s sarcastic response.

“Has Arax called mercenaries to exterminate us?”

“If Arax is the bastard who stole my mate, he’s going to be exterminated. How the hell do you know I’m a Zargonnii when I have no idea who or what you are? How do you come to speak my language?”

The creature shrugged. “If there is water on a planet we know all about their kind—your kind, anyone’s kind. I am Crash, leader of the Tiger sharks. The guppy Arax is leader of his people. He has long been a thorn in my side. He is mine to kill.”

“Get in line.”

“You do not belong here, Zargonnii. Retrieve your mate and leave.”

“Gladly.”

Finn was on the move again until Crash shouted at him. “Zargonnii. The pond before you is a portal. It will take you to Arax.”

“How do I know it won’t just send me to a new planet?”

“If Arax has your mate it means he has a new toy. He’s miserable when his toys are taken. I prefer it when he’s miserable. Although I don’t understand him toying with a Zargonnii female, he must be insane.”

“My mate is a human female.”

“Interesting. He will be doubly pissed when you take her from him. Human females have a certain appeal, but are too fragile for this world. Let’s hope he is careful with her. Arax doesn’t always treat his prisoners well. If he hurts or kills her, you will remember it wasn’t my people who took her and it was a Tiger Shark who pointed you in the right direction.”

Crash grinned, showing off his rows of teeth. He dove into a swampy pond and was gone. From Crash’s devious tone and suggestions Finn doubted he was lying. He was definitely looking for allies. Finn looked at the open water before him. No matter what he did he was going to get his feet wet. Finn sucked in a huge amount of air and jumped.

The pounding waterfall did nothing to deter Finn. The slamming flow against his hard flesh was nothing stronger than the shower stalls on his planet. The falls flowed deep, rushing a number of feet back into a mountainside. As Finn passed halfway through, he caught movement from the corner of an eye; he saw what appeared to be a smaller version of the water-man creature outlined in the heavy flow which continued to pound against them both. The young being was hardly more than a teen if size was any indication in this species. The water teemed over both of them as Finn stopped. Finn’s red glowing gaze settled onto the features of the young fish-man.

The being was male, perhaps five foot six. His shoulders were slim. He was wearing small pants of some kind. The material was plastered to his skin outlining his smallish manhood. Tiny grey scales adorned his chest glistening silver in circular patterns. The patterns gleamed, becoming almost hypnotic. His hands and feet were webbed. The tips of his ears curled. He had the same head of white, short hair as the being who stole Bethany, Finn knew the hair would spike if dry. The grey film over his eyes barely covered the brilliant blue that blazed beneath. A dorsal fin slid in and out of his back as though it was a nervous habit. Finn smelled fear.

Finn knew he looked intimidating when the young male being gasped as he moved slowly closer. Finn chuckled feeling his hair, even saturated, dancing wildly about his body. His deep growl rumbled amidst their surroundings, the mountain acoustics adding definition. He lifted his arm to point a finger at the male. The water-creature looked ready to bolt. Finn was faster. He grabbed the young man and closed a huge hand over his mouth to silence him. The dorsal fin tried to protrude but Finn pushed it back. The scales of the being were deceptive, the young male was soft to the touch, warm and—its flexible bones breakable.

“I can see your resemblance to Arax,” Finn growled as he lifted the youth higher.

They stepped from behind the waterfall. Immediately, the male tried using his powers to call water to encircle Finn. His slight body expanded as best as he could while wrapped in Finn’s brutal embrace. Finn tightened his grip, squeezing the young male without mercy. The air expelled from the youngster as he deflated. He whimpered a pleading sound as the water he had tried to call dropped into a puddle harmlessly at Finn’s feet.

Finn allowed the youngster to crane his head to look up at him. Finn’s eyes began to heat the young male’s face. Within seconds the male was panic stricken. He attempted to shake his head no and for a moment Finn let him.

“You would be a tasty morsel if cooked,” Finn threatened. He purposely displayed his huge jagged teeth for inspection.

The young man crumpled in his arms, paralyzed with fear. Water began shooting from the male’s eyes in streams. For a moment, Finn thought it was another tactical maneuver until the male sobbed. He was crying. Tear spatters hit Finn in the chest, his face, his throat. The warm stream was endless. Realization dawned the being was younger than he had first thought.

“Enough now,” Finn chided. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

He loosened his grip and strode with the boy to a dry corner in the mountain. He set him down on a small boulder, releasing him. The boy’s arms wrapped around his bare legs as he gasped for breath.

“Tell me your name,” Finn commanded.

“Trex.”

“You understand me?”

“Yes, but I don’t speak your language well. Water warriors have some understanding of different languages because we can open portals to other planets. I have only just learned yours, but I struggle.” In fact, the boy was good.

“I don’t speak yours at all.”

“Why did you grab me? I’ve done nothing to you. This is my planet, not yours.”

“Our vessel was attacked in space by the Gorgano and rogue Tonan warriors. Our escape shuttle slipped into a black hole and crash landed on a planet. A water funnel brought my mate and me here to your homeland. We mean you no harm. Arax has my mate captive. I want her back.”

Trex shot him a surprised glance. “My brother captures first and asks questions later. It’s why the Tiger Shark people are always so annoyed with us. I know your kind are mercenaries; I was worried you were sent to eradicate us. My father died recently leaving Arax in charge. If Arax would spend as much time negotiating as he does capturing, the war would cease. The children of the planet could play together again. I could have my friend back.”

“A female Tiger Shark friend?”

“Maybe,” Trex mumbled.

“Will your brother hurt my mate?”

“A female? Never.” Trex looked appalled. “She might not like his dungeon much; in fact, I can guarantee it. When the tide comes in the water stinks but it won’t hurt her.”

“She can only hold her breath for a few moments. Like me, my mate is an air breather; unlike me, she can’t survive for a long period of time underwater.”

“Aren’t female Zargonnii like their males?”

“This female is human.”

“I would ask if Arax knows this but he no doubt feels he can play with her after the tide goes out again. He needs to work on his listening skills. He’s also distrusting. If she mentioned she would drown he will think her lying to avoid the dank water. He wouldn’t mean to be cruel enough to kill her. Arax is a bully, not a murderer. If he kills her, there would be panic among the people. Fear of being at war with your race. Especially if you were to join forces with the Tiger Sharks.”

Finn had been right, Crash was definitely in the market for an ally. If Arax was so offhand about prisoners, he wouldn’t care Bethany was helpless in water. She could be killed. Panic soared.

“I have to get to her now.”

“Yes. We have to hurry.”

Finn felt his heart rate increase as he raced after Trex. Bethany would drown if he didn’t get to her in time.