The Sea Witch (The Era of Villains Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Actually, I do.” When the
redhead lifted her head from his shoulder and scowled, he added,
“With friends. Disappointing, I know. Mermaids make far better
company than mermen, but what’s a prince to do? I made a
promise to be there, and surely you all must know I never break a
promise.”
    The
mermaids all giggled, the redhead rested her head on him again, and
there was a chorus of “Oh, of course you do,” and “We
know you do.” Serena let out a long breath.
    “ But
you know,” said Triton, “there’s a dinner party
tomorrow night, and I still don’t have a date.”
    The
answering squeals of ecstasy made Serena flinch and rub her ear. She
sighed resignedly. He would pick the petite redhead under his arm
and maybe date her for a week or two and then forget about her. She
turned back to her scrubbing, wishing she could plug her ears and
forget the whole thing.
    “ Who
do you think I should take with me?”
    Looking
back, replaying it over and over, Serena was never sure what it was
about the question that made her do what she did. Perhaps it was
because he hadn’t expressly chosen the redhead as she had
assumed he would. Perhaps it was the memory of the flirtatious smile
and sweet words of the day before. Perhaps it was both, because they
both suggested that she had a chance. He didn’t always have to
choose the redhead. He thought she was pretty. He could want her.
And why shouldn’t he? She was his perfect match.
    “ Me!”
she said, before any of the bubbleheads could do much more than gasp
in delight at his question and start another round of giggles. She
pumped her tail so that she rose from the floor as she turned to
face him with her head held high and her heart beating so hard she
feared it might burst. “You should take me.”
    Complete
silence. Triton raised his eyes from the mermaids all around him and
looked to the far end of the atrium. His deep blue eyes locked with
her dark brown ones. There was a glimmer of recognition in those
ocean-colored eyes, and Serena’s heart pitter-pattered its way
up to her throat in excitement. His mouth curved in a smile that
showed off his perfect teeth. Serena felt her own face begin to
mimic his, and then it happened. His eyebrows arched in comic
surprise, and he laughed. It was a brisk, happy laugh—a short,
“Ha!” There was no cruelty in it, only amusement.
    Serena
crumbled. She felt the unpleasant sting in her eyes that meant tears
were forming. He thought she was joking. The idea of taking her to a
dinner party was so absurd to him that he had automatically assumed
she couldn’t possibly be serious. She told herself not to sob;
whatever she did, she must not sob. Her tears would mix with the
ocean and no one would be the wiser, but if she made a noise they
would know…he would know. She bit down on her tongue to help
hold it all in. But even though she kept silent and kept her head
high with her eyes straight ahead, her face betrayed her hurt. Her
lips pulled down at the corners, her eyelids drooped bashfully, and
her forehead creased.
    The other
mermaids sensed her pain, her vulnerability, and attacked like
sharks in a feeding frenzy. They all began to laugh as one—a
cacophony of shrill cackles, tinkling giggles, and cruel snickers.
    “ Prince
Triton take you to
the party?”
    “ Just
who exactly do you think you are, little maid?”
    “ Little?
There’s nothing little about her. Cut back on the clams,
honey.”
    “ Keep
your eyes where they belong and go back to your scrubbing. You
missed a spot.”
    “ You
really think he’d be interested in you?”
    “ He
wouldn’t be able to show his face again if he showed up with
you on his arm.”
    Serena’s
tears were flowing freely now. She could feel them, hot against her
lids, and she hoped her eyes weren’t getting red. She kept her
chin jutted out defiantly, but she clenched her hands into fists.
She didn’t look at the jeering mermaids. She kept her eyes on
Triton, silently begging