Edge of a Knife

By Beka Gremikova

She will not listen to you. The sea witch’s warning rings in my mind as I ride a wave up to the ship floating like an empty snail shell. They’ve dropped anchor, and the royal vessel crests wave after gentle wave. Ornate sconces cast a warm, cheery glow across the bright blue streamers that flutter from the rigging and masts above the dark navy hull. Music floats through the air.

All in celebration of Prince Iker’s new bride.

A bride who isn’t my sister. My sister, who pulled Iker from the waves during the storm that hit his ship. Who dragged him to a nearby beach, risking her own life to push him onto the sand.

Who gave up her voice to the sea witch, left her fins and her family, to join him on land—hoping he’d fall for her and turn her human forever.

Though the wedding was hours ago, some nobles continue to dance on the boat’s upper balconies as night settles in.  Another wave buoys me forward, and I spot Sulia on the lowest deck. My sister sits with her fine gown rolled up to her thighs, her long, lean legs draped over the side, her toe-tips brushing the surface of the water. A blue streamer has been braided into her thick golden hair.

She drums her fingers against the deck, as though counting down the hours to her death. When morning comes, my sweet sister will die. Such are the terms of elemental magic—to successfully transform, she needed that damn prince’s love. Now, rejected, she cannot stay human, but the sea won’t welcome her back when she’s abandoned it for land, unless…

I wrap my fingers around the dagger strapped to my waist. Unless I can convince her to do the unthinkable.

Sulia notices me. Her fingers still. Her eyes well, and she reaches out, her fingers stopping short of my shorn hair.

I force a weak smile. “Greetings, sister.” We clasp hands. She smiles, too, then juts out her chin and glares at me.

My throat closes at the familiar expression. When we were younger, she always knew when she was about to get in trouble. I brush my fingers against her cheek, sticky with sweat from dancing. “I’m not here to scold you.”

Her eyes widen, her lips pursing with sarcasm. Oh, really, Serena?

“Truly,” I reply. I cannot hear her voice, but her fingers tremble against mine. Her palms are slick with sweat. My tail curls. How could that prince not love my sweet, sardonic sister? How could he leave her to such an awful death, turned to mere seafoam?

Vibrations ripple through the water. Chills race across my skin. I must give Sulia the dagger before the king’s guards catch me. I swallow and drag it from its sheath.

Sulia flinches back, staring at the blade. Then she pins me with blazing eyes. Serena! I read her lips as she lectures me for breaking our people’s law.

After all, no Mer may handle human weapons. Such things are atrocities, promoting bloodshed that pollutes the sea and earth and the magics therein.

But the sea witch made it clear that to save my sister, I must encourage her to shed blood. To become Mer, Sulia must kill Iker. Just as only his love could keep her human, only his death can make her Mer once more.

That’s why you cut your hair. Sulia brushes her fingertips over my bare head. To pay the sea witch for the dagger.

“Yes.” I snatch the hem of her dress, tugging her toward me even as she shakes her head. “Sulia, you have to kill him! You need to come back. For our sisters, for Grandmother, for Father.” I brush my fingers across her hair. “For… me.” I press the dagger into her hands.

Stronger tremors sweep through the waves. My pursuers are close. I’ll likely be imprisoned, cut off from roaming the currents, from my fellow sea-folk. Or perhaps even worse. I shiver. Even the Sea King’s daughter is not above the law.

But it’s not unlawful for Sulia to use the dagger when she’s in human form…

“Do it,” I hiss, my fingers digging into her arms. “Kill him, sister. You deserve better than to die for him.”

Her lips pressed together, and her eyes are now wide, unsure.

She will not listen to you. Sulia’s uncertainty stabs my soul deeper than a knife. If I had legs, I’d kill Iker myself.

Three mermen burst through the surface behind me, their scales glittering fierce, shark-skin blue. Sulia grabs my hands, her lips white, her grasp tight. I press a swift kiss to her cheek, then I’m wrenched backward by one of the king’s guards. Sulia cries out, and the mermen freeze.

“Lady Sulia!” one gasps. They all bow their heads.

Their captain turns to me, his eyes dark and grave. “I understand now why you broke our laws, Lady Serena, but… we must still bring you in.”

“I know.” I pat Sulia’s hand and she slowly releases my fingers.

The guard’s grip on my arm tightens. He’s probably furious that he has to tell the king he’s arrested one of his daughters. Father might not be able to save me from punishment, but he’ll make life hellish for everyone involved. “I pray for your sake and hers that Lady Sulia heeds your advice,” he says in a low voice.

I think of Sulia saving a complete stranger from a storm, and this time my own uncertainty stabs me. I brush my fingers across my shaved head. Hopefully it was worth it. Hopefully…

I peer over my shoulder. Legs braced like a soldier, Sulia grasps the glinting dagger. The wind picks up, slapping her hair ribbon against her face as the mermen drag me below the waves.

Perhaps Sulia will not listen to me. But at least I’ve given my sister a fighting chance. What she does with it is up to her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Beka Gremikova writes and dreams from the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada. An avid explorer of folklore and myth, she loves twisting both well-known and little-known fairytales. Her writing has been included in Bingeworthy, A Kind of Death from Uncommon Universes Press and the Faces to the Sun collection edited by S.J. Blasko. When she’s not travelling, writing, drawing, or watching anime, she can be found curled up in a corner with a mystery novel.

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