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There was a lot of things I didn't know when I came back to land. I didn't know it was the night of the fifth of November, well after Halloween. I didn't know a war was in progress. And most importantly, I didn't know that the beach I came ashore on was right next to the Gambino mansion.
Neither did I know that Edmund was standing sentry on the beach. So, as I lay in the shallows and let my eyes adapt to the different lighting of the Isle's neon-gilded night, I found myself grabbed by the scruff of my neck and hoisted to my feet...and a very sharp sword was being held to my neck. Edmund stared at me for a long moment, while I tried to think of a way to get away without getting my throat cut. Then, much to my surprise, he sheathed the sword and loosened his grip. "Dawna," he said quietly. It wasn't a question.
I nodded, and tried to speak. It wasn't so easy: I hadn't used my voice in months, and it felt quite rusty. "What was that about?" I demanded when I found my voice.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I thought you were a frogman assassin sneaking up here to get Johnny. That's all we need..."
I felt a nasty chill run down my spine. "What happened?" I asked nervously. "Did someone try to...the Sniper again?"
Edmund shook his head, but his face was grim. The garish lighting seemed suddenly cold. "Not yet, but that's all I can say. There's a war going on, and Gino's missing. It would be very like them to..." He broke off and looked at me. "You've been with the sea-people."
"Huh?" was all I could say.
"I'm not stupid," Edmund said, sounding annoyed. "You've been missing for months, then you come out of the sea in the middle of the night, no air tanks, hair looks like it's been soaking in salt water for months, you're covered in seaweed, and you expect me to think you ran off with a pirate or something? Not to mention those..." He ran a finger across my gills, and I flinched. "Still tender, aren't they? Well, I'm glad you haven't been here in this mess, but I'm betting your father will be happy to see you. Come on!" His voice made it very clear I had no choice, and before I could react, he was half-dragging, half-carrying me toward the mansion.
I found my voice as he laid his hand on a handprint lock on a huge metal door set into the mansion's foundation. "Why aren't we going in the front door," I asked.
"You'd drip on the carpets," he growled as the door swung open, revealing a flight of steps. "Come on, and don't act stupid!"
"I'm not," I insisted as we came to another door.
"Yes you are," he said calmly, looking into an retina scanner. "I tell you we're at war, and you expect Johnny to be above ground?"
"Who are you at war with?" I snapped as the door opened.
Edmund grinned without a trace of humor. "Why don't you ask your dad about that?"
For standing just inside the door, looking extremely angry, was Johnny K Gambino. "Edmund!" he roared, then seemed to notice me. "What is she...Dawna...what are you doing here? And what happened to your hair?"
"Looks like an odd reaction of purple dye and seawater," Edmund said casually. "I found her sneaking out of the water on your beach. Come to your own conclusions."
Gambino must have, for his face changed expression and color several times before he spoke. "You're...the queen now? Of the sea-people?" he said in so low a voice I could barely hear it.
Deciding that since I was a queen, I should act like one, I said loudly. "Yes. And don't you ever even think of harming my people, or I will make you regret it. Personally."
"I don't want to harm them." Gambino looked more sane than I'd ever seen him before. "I'm glad I didn't kill them before. I was...crazy to hate them, and you. Now that I know....well, I'm greatfull to them. It was my fault what happened to your mother...not yours, or theirs."
"Very tender, Johnny," Edmund said, rolling his eyes. "Now, how about getting her to save your other legitimate child...unless you've decided on her as a heir instead?"