The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea(58)

Slowly, he moves across the room. “If you were awake, you would tease me. Namgi, you would say, how clever you are.” He pauses at my bedside, peering at my still face. “I really thought you’d wake for that one.”

Taking the blankets, he raises them to my chin, then leans down to kiss me on the brow. “Sleep well, my friend, though not for too long. Some of us are not as strong as you are.”

I frown. What does he mean? But then my mind fogs, and time seems to slip away from me. Morning sunlight pierces the room the next time I become aware of my surroundings.

I’m surprised to find Kirin at my bedside. He holds a cool cloth to my forehead, a furrow between his brows. Even when I’m asleep, he’s displeased with me. I sigh, wishing to fly away from his disappointment. But then he puts aside the cloth and stands, moving to the other side of the pallet. He hesitates, then steps into the direct path of sunlight that is shining brightly onto my face.

I float over to the side of my body to see what he was frowning at. There’s sweat on my brow.

I don’t know how long Kirin stands there, watching over me without a word, his body blocking the sunlight.

He doesn’t move until there’s a knock on the door; his head turns toward the sound.

The fog from before rises up again, darker, more menacing, and I drift into a void. It’s an inescapable nothingness. A place without time or meaning, just an aching in my heart that I’m dying, and there’s nothing I can do to save myself.

The next time I come back, it’s full night, and Shin is beside me. The room is dark, the moon hidden beneath clouds.

“I killed the assassin,” he says, his eyes in shadow. I frown at the way his voice sounds, flat, empty. “I dragged him through the streets. He was begging for me to spare his life. He was in terrible agony. Yet he hurt you, and for that, I knew no pain would be too great.”

He stops speaking. I move closer, needing to see his eyes through the shadows.

“But when I arrived at the river, I realized none of it mattered. It was raining, and you were dying…” Slowly, he reaches out and takes my limp wrist in his hand, lowering his head until his forehead rests against it. “The fox goddess said the Red String of Fate would break if one of us should die. Like a fool, I took her words plainly.” He sucks in a harsh breath. “I should rejoice that it’s gone and I’m still alive. But strange, Mina, why do I feel like this? I don’t need a Red String of Fate to tell me that if you should die, so will I.”

No! I want to tell him that the goddess must have been mistaken, but the dark fog comes for me again, a place of unconsciousness so deep it feels like the end of despair. A part of me knows this isn’t a place I should be—that if I drift too deep within it, I will be lost forever. But I don’t know how to find my way back. There is no Red String of Fate to guide me.

I drift deeper into the nothingness, my legs drawn to my chest and my head bowed over my knees. I’ve never felt so alone. Is this how the Sea God has felt for a hundred years?

Out of the darkness, I hear a voice. Strange, but it sounds like my voice, singing.

Beneath the sea, the dragon sleeps

What is he dreaming of?

Beneath the sea, the dragon sleeps

When will he wake?

On a dragon’s pearl,

your wish will leap.

On a dragon’s pearl,

your wish will leap.



Only my grandmother knew that song. Her grandmother taught it to her when she was a girl, a long time ago.

My grandmother.

A soft hand takes my own, squeezing. “Mina. You need to wake up. How can you save the Sea God, yet not save yourself?” Her voice is clear. It’s as if she’s right beside me, whispering into my ear.

It’s different, I want to say. I was badly wounded. I lost a lot of blood.

She clicks her tongue. “No excuses, Mina. Wake up. Wake up, now!”

I open my eyes.

“Mina!” A half dozen voices cry out my name. I look up to see that I’m surrounded. On one side of my pallet are Mask, Dai, and Miki. On the other side are Namgi, Nari, and Kirin.

Dai moves first, toppling over to grab me around the waist. “You scared us!” he says.

“Be careful,” Kirin scolds, pulling Dai up by the sleeve. “I closed the wound, but it’ll take time to fully heal.”

“Are you hungry?” Nari asks. “Do you want me to get you anything to eat?”

“What about a drink?” Namgi suggests. “Liquor helps with the pain.” Now it’s Namgi’s turn to get pulled away from the bed as Nari grabs him by the ear.

“I’m glad you’ve returned to us,” Mask says from where she sits beside me, Miki in her lap. Reaching out a hand, she gently brushes a few strands from my face.

I look around the room, then find my voice. “Where is Shin?”

The room goes silent as each person looks at the other.

“He was here up until a few minutes ago,” Namgi says finally. “He’s hardly left your side.”

I don’t understand. Then where is he now?

“Don’t concern yourself with him,” Mask says. “He’ll be back soon. Meanwhile, get some rest.” She turns and begins to give orders for food to be brought up and a bath prepared. Everyone scrambles to obey, each careful not to meet my eyes.