Excerpt: Touching Surface Again!

As she struggled to emerge from the water, Umberto held her in place. Telissa found she could not move and again, her voice was weak.
“You must rest, heal,” insisted the man. “For now the children are safe, and they are easily found. But Alfredo is quite a powerful man, and he has learned how to use many of the powers of the deep to protect him. You will need to be completely healed to challenge him. You will need me to help you as well.”
“No, I will do this alone,” said Telissa. “You will let me go and then I will give you gold or heal someone you love or give you a home, whatever.” Umberto smiled a bit wider.
“I will not make my wish until I want to make it,” replied Umberto. “I am not the ignorant peasant that thinks you are some magical creature to command. I am not playing a game. This is not luck.”
“What do you want then?” asked Telissa. “You want something. I can see it in your eyes. You would not do all this for no reason.”
“You are right, I have a reason,” said Umberto. “But I do not know what the answer will be until the moment comes. Then I will know what my destiny will be. Now rest.”