Reyna Peak

Prologue

Fear is common among my people. We had been born in the shadows of the oceans. A world no man can truly say they know. Yet, there are times when men fall in love with the waves that are homes to millions of us. They sail their ships and dive deep enough to catch a glimpse of the beauty we love. There are times when they accidentally see something they aren't mean to see and that's when the fear sets in.

The legends of land are not all legends. They're true. As true as I am flesh and blood. As true as the fear we feel when our home is threatened by those who wish to put us in a tank, put us on display, take us from our home for their entertainment.

I was twelve when they tore me from my home. When my two-year-old sister and I were left orphaned. Everything had happened so fast. Dozens of my people killed, reduced to foam because we fought back to protect one another. My father had taken us to the surface to meet our mother.

She wasn't like me or like my dad. I remember that. Her majestic wings were the first thing I saw when she came down like a harpy eliminating the mortals who had threatened us. She swooped down pulling my sister and me out of the water and took us away from the danger. I watched as my dad dove back into the water to help the others and that was the last time I saw him.

"Do you know who I am?" I looked up at her. Those burning blue eyes of hers sparkled as she searched my body for injuries.

"You're our mother," I answered nodding. She stopped hearing my voice for the first time. Her voice is something I have never forgotten. I may not have heard it since I was an infant but I remember the sound of it. Sound is something my kind cherish and remember, always.

"Yes," she nodded putting her hand on my cheek. "I am so sorry I haven't been there for you. I can't stay in your world for very long,"

"I know. Father says you're an angel. I don't know what that is,"

"Baby, I will answer all your questions when I see you again. I swear. Until then, you have to hide. You have to stay here with your sister. You have to protect her. I know you're scared. I am too. These people will protect you. They're my family. They'll teach you what you need to know about the surface okay? Can you be brave for me and your dad?"

"Yes," I nodded.

A woman came over to us and addressed mother in a language I didn't know. They both looked over at us and agreed on something. The woman handed my mother two weapons that lit up as soon as they were in my mother's hands. She looked at me and nodded before she went back in the direction we had come from.

"My name is Cassian," I looked up at the woman.

"You speak my language?" she nodded.

"We may be from different parts of the world, cutie but Darknessian is Darknessian no matter where we go. Rayna, your mommy isn't going to come back for a very long time. It'll be difficult for you and Rayleen at first because you are so used to the water but I promise you'll be safe here. You need to be strong for her,"

Cassian offered me her hand. I looked down at the sleeping form of my baby sister. She curled into me unaware of what was happening. I looked up at the strange woman and nodded. I placed my hand in hers and let her guide us.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"We're in Reyna Peak, sweet face. One day, you will return here and all of this will be yours. For now, we're going to England where there are others like you who prefer to be on land. They're going to teach how to control what you are up here,"

I glanced back at the way the giant orb of above gleamed down over my home. I had never been to the surface. My dad had forbidden it. He had told me stories of how dangerous it is up here. He had made it sound like a dreadful ugly place. Looking back on that night, I remember thinking how can something as beautiful as that be the horrible place he had described? Why would he send me here if it was so dangerous?

Ten years later, looking out the window of my room over the ocean of Reyna Peak I understand the contradiction of my questions. The surface is beautiful. There are so many places and things that exceed the beauty of the ocean and like the ocean. There are so many ugly and cruel things. My lists of questions change they become more complex as I grow older. All except for one. Are they alive?