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"But why, child?" asked Merrow, looking distressed.

"I ... they're suffering. My family on land."

Amphitrite frowned. "Your time among the humans was long. Your time here has only just begun, and there are many things for you to learn. I wish you to stay."

Lena did not move. "Thank you for the invitation. But my parents don't even know if I'm alive or dead. I have to go back."

Amphitrite's eyes became stony. "My daughter is your parent in this world. Do you not care for her feelings? She will be heartbroken. Not to mention the young man you profess to love."

Lena squeezed her mother's hand. "My mother understands. And as for Nix—" Here she stumbled over her words. "I ... I was not free to make promises to him. I ... the cloak is cursed! It doesn't just shelter someone between the worlds, it makes you forget! I didn't—"

"Enough," said Amphitrite, her expression dismissive. "The cloak is charmed to protect the wearer. Do you not realize that protection from the torment of memories is part of the charm?"

Melusina and Lena stared, absorbing this idea.

"You are free to go, Selena. Perhaps it is for the best. You are a lovely little creature, but your prolonged presence here would no doubt have led to dissension among our people. Nevertheless, you will be welcome whenever you return."

"Is that true?" asked Lena.

"Of course," said Amphitrite, her eyes narrowing. "How dare you doubt my words?"

"But what about the sharks?" she asked.

"Sharks?" All three of them looked at Lena in surprise.

"When will the sharks come for me?"

Melusina gasped.

The sleeping family in the cave had awoken and were listening to the harsh words in dismay. "Come," said the merman. His wife picked up their small drowsy mermaid, and they swam out of the cave.

"Your words are confused, Selena," said Amphitrite. "You are in no danger. No shark shall harm you while you are in the company of mer- folk."

"But Amphitrite, if you would charm the sharks to seek out my father, then you should do the same to me."

Amphitrite rose from the bed of seaweed and uncoiled her tail to its full length, her light eyes glittering. "You speak of things of which you know nothing, child of Brian."

"I heard what you said before. When I first arrived. You thought I was sleeping."

Amphitrite and Merrow exchanged a glance.

"I heard what you said about my father. You said that you would charm the sharks to seek him out if he ever set foot in the ocean again."

The expression on Amphitrite's face did not change. She did not speak. But her tail flicked slightly.

"You also told my father, long ago, that if he disobeyed your command, whenever anyone he loved set foot in the ocean, you would destroy them, too."

Silence.

"He never set foot in the ocean again. Not because he's afraid of you," Lena couldn't help saying defiantly. "But because he didn't want anything to happen to me, or anyone else he loves."

Still Amphitrite did not answer.

Lena kept her eyes locked on the mermaid. "I want to hear you take back your command," she said.

Amphitrite's eyes lit with an unearthly power. "We do not bow to the will of humans," she said.

And she swam out of the cave.

CHAPTER 47

Lena watched Amphitrite's retreating form, and her heart sank. Then she felt the gentle pressure of her mother's hand.

"She is formidable," said Melusina. "But so is her granddaughter."

Lena nodded and kissed her mother's cheek. She swam out of the cave.

By the time she caught up to her, the mermaid was near the circle of stones in the center of the village. "Grandmother," she called.

Amphitrite turned.

Keeping her fears Clouded, Lena swam up to the mermaid and said, "Please let me speak. My father has obeyed your command for so many years." Her voice quavered, and she paused to gather her courage. "It has been a terrible sacrifice for him. He loves the sea! Surely you can imagine how hard it has been to see it and smell it every single day, but never to be able to touch it. He would have moved away years ago, if not for me. He knew I needed