“I’ll end up getting in trouble again. Those are too close to the island.”
“Shh!” Jovie bent around, putting a finger against Meriya’s lips for a moment, then whispered, “I’ll cover for you. It’ll be our little secret.”
“But Dad is one of the guards and knows everybody. Surely, someone will see and tattle on us.” Meriya’s nerves were getting the best of her. Breaking the rules was a once in a while occurrence for her nowadays. She needed to swim under the radar for a while since she’d just been caught.
Jovie wove her fingers deftly through Meriya’s hair, gathering the strands and separating them into sections as she began to braid the glossy brown locks. She was always one for keeping busy during stressful times. Her nervous habit was why she was their mother’s favorite. She always cleaned the house when she was worried.
Meriya’s contented sigh came out in a cloud of bubbles which tickled her nose. Jovie’s nimble digits running through her hair was what Meriya needed to soothe her frazzled nerves.
“Let’s not worry about it right now. We’ll play it by ear.” Jovie finished plaiting Meriya’s hair, the long braid going well past her waist. She snatched Meriya’s hand and tugged her toward the door. “C’mon.”
Meriya’s lips clamped shut to hold in a screech. “Where are we going?” she whispered.
“You’ll see,” Jovie promised as she pulled her through the house and into the kitchen. “Late night snack. Mom and Dad have already gone to bed. I know you were at the surface for quite a while and I was too nervous for you to eat.”
“Did you know about the betrothal before me?” Why else would she be nervous?
“Somewhat.” Jovie shrugged, opening up a glass jar to retrieve two clam cakes. “I overheard Dad talking to Mom about it yesterday, but I didn’t know it was about you until Dad asked me where you were.” She handed one cake to Meriya. The other she shoved halfway into her mouth before taking a bite.
“Hungry?” Meriya giggle-snorted.
“Rav’nous,” Jovie mumbled around a mouth full of food.
They both burst out laughing, but then quickly covered their mouths to muffle the sound, eyes wide as they looked at each other.
“Oops,” Jovie whispered. What would she do without Jovie in her life? She was always looking out for her, taking care of her, and making sure she got away with most of the stuff she did. Without her, she’d be lost.
4
Meriya told Adrielle, her best friend, about it the next day, swearing her to secrecy. No one at school could know what was going on.
Adrielle’s stormy gray eyes widened to the size of stingrays, so much so, Meriya thought her eyes were going to fall out of their sockets.
Two weeks passed without incident. No one mentioned the betrothal again. Meriya secretly hoped if she ignored it long enough, the whole thing would go away.
Waking up earlier than usual, Meriya unbraided her hair and combed it out, letting it flow down her back in soft, russet waves.
After playing it cool for the past couple weeks, Meriya itched to do something adventurous. A defiant trip close to the island was what she needed.
Gliding toward the kitchen, she intended to look for a quick bite to eat. They were on a break from school, so she had the whole day to herself. Maybe she’d finally take Jovie up on her offer to go out to the shipwrecks and perhaps Adrielle could tag along again.
When she entered the kitchen, she found Mom and Dad deep in conversation at the kitchen table. Her smile fell and she gritted her teeth before heading over to the cabinet to pull out a snack for the road. If they didn’t notice her, she could get her food, head to Jovie’s room, and sneak out the back way.
Their chatter ceased abruptly as soon as they noticed her presence. Her dad relaxed into his seat. “Meriya, you’re up early!” He enthusiastically waved her over, but her instincts glued her in place.
Oh no.
He was in a good mood, which was bad for her. The only reason he was ever nice to her was when he wanted something.
Giggling nervously, she replied, “Hi, Dad.” Giving a finger wave as she turned to escape.
“Hold on, now. I have some good news for you.” His words slick as squid ink and sounding just as dark.
She froze in place and suddenly he was right next to her, hand on her shoulder, spinning her to face him. She found her mom’s smiling face peeking over his broad shoulder.
“G-good news?” Her appetite fled, leaving behind a swarm of nervous eels slithering in a knot in her stomach.
“Yes, yes!” He led her to the kitchen table, pushing her down onto the stone bench on one side. “Sit, we’ll eat and discuss the news I have.” They resumed their seats on the other side of the table.
Tandy and Jovie chose that moment to dive into the kitchen, talking animatedly about their plans for the day. Jovie stopped mid-sentence, both of her sisters turning to look at her, Mom, and Dad.
“Good morning,” Tandy chimed in. Her oldest sister was a morning person.
Meriya, on the other hand, was not. She should have gone with her baser instincts and slept in this morning. Instead, her treacherous stomach woke her up way before a respectable hour. On top of that, she was now bombarded by her parents, which put her in a sour mood, meaning she didn’t appreciate Tandy’s cheerfulness.
Crossing her arms, Meriya watched as her two sisters sat down on either side of her on the bench. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Jovie exude worry toward her, lines etched on her forehead. She was too young to show such signs of stress.
Her parents smiled brightly at their three children and Meriya paused to wonder if there would be any more spectators to this wonderful news her parents had. Maybe she should invite Adrielle over for backup.
“I’m glad we’re all here now. I spoke with the Chancellor yesterday. Meriya, you and his son will start the courting process.” He paused for dramatic effect and Meriya held back the eye roll she felt straining her features. She didn’t need to anger him this early in the morning, but she hated when he did that. “You are to meet with the Chancellor this afternoon. Your mother will escort you over there and be your chaperone.”
Meriya’s heart sank in her chest, mingling with those crazy eels that were still present. She opened her mouth, prepared to argue, but her Dad held up his hand to silence any rebuttal.
“Get to know the boy and figure out what he likes. Maybe the time you two spend together will bring you closer.” Did her father forget how much Cayson terrorized her in school?
His hand waved through the air, flippantly adding, “I have no doubt you’ll make him a great wife once you are joined.” But his words didn’t hold any truth. How could she be a good wife if she never came into her magic? He was only trying to placate her.
“But, but—” Meriya stuttered before being cut off again.
“I am your father and as such, you will listen to me. There will be no more objections to this. Cayson is a good match for you. He will elevate your rank, which in turn will provide you things in life I’m not able to.” The stern look that crossed his face was meant to deter any further argument from her.
She glanced at Jovie who still stared at her, unshed tears in her eyes. She dared not look at Tandy and see the disappointment she knew would be reflected there. Her older sister never approved of her defiant nature.
Worry festered deep inside her until she finally could hold back no more, blurting out, “But I don’t love him!”
Joining never crossed her mind, but now confronted with a betrothal, she realized she always thought being the youngest child of a middle-class guard that she’d get a choice, that she’d get to choose love, not obligation. Having this decision thrust at her stung.
His face turned red, the coloring spreading down his neck and shoulders, but then he took a slow, calming breath. “Lots of people do not join for love,” he admonished. “Your mother and I didn’t, but we’ve grown closer over the years, developing our love slowly, and loo
k at us now!”
Her dad stretched his arms out wide, then settled one arm lazily around her mom, pulling her close. Her mother leaned into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder.
Meriya’s stomach roiled, twisted, and churned. The eels within nervously twisting as if trapped in a whirlpool. The contents gave a lurch and she bolted from the table, nearly pushing Jovie over in her haste to swim outside to empty the contents of her stomach in the sand. There wasn’t much in there since she hadn’t eaten breakfast.
Her life was ruined.
Mom dragged, rather escorted, her over to Cayson’s house. There was no use fighting her. She would bide her time for the moment and figure out a plan of escape before the joining ceremony. She only hoped she could come up with an idea that would work. If not, she wasn’t sure what she would resort to. Death at this point would be a kinder escape.
The butler greeted them at the door, leading them to the den to await Chancellor Gillseth.
The far wall of the den housed shelves upon shelves full of sharkskin-covered books of varying colors; some new, some old. To the left, she found portraits of past Gillseth’s, all a striking resemblance to Cayson himself, with long black hair and teal colored eyes.
Creepy.
Sitting on the edge of a cushioned chair in the corner near the shelves, her tailfins twitched uneasily. She and Cayson saw each other at school almost every day. To be in his house, meeting his parents, the Chancellor no less, was anxiety-inducing. She didn’t even like the boy.
Cayson’s father sauntered into the room, followed by Cayson himself. Gone was the venomous smile he always wore whenever around her, replaced by a blinding white grin that was too perfect to be genuine. She wondered if it hurt his face to smile that hard after having frowned and sneered constantly.
Her mom rose next to her, pulling Meriya up with her.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Finley. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your husband has said such wonderful things about you.” Chancellor Gillseth extended his hand, taking Mom’s fingers delicately and raising it to his lips. He placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand and then released her.
“Oh my, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Chancellor.” Mom seemed flustered. Once her hand was free, she fingered her shell necklace. If she rubbed the pendant any harder, it was going to disintegrate into a pile of dust.
“Call me Oscar, please. Sit.” He swept a hand out. “We don’t need to stand on ceremony. Just think, in the next year or so, we’ll be family!”
Meriya sank back into her seat as everyone else around her grabbed a spot. Those nasty eels were back with a vengeance, swimming through her stomach, causing her to become lightheaded. She grabbed for the arm of the chair to steady herself.
“Are you ill, Meriya?” Cayson’s concerned expression pinned her to where she sat, stunned. Never in her life had Cayson ever concerned himself with how she was doing. He was the main perpetrator in the torture she received at school.
Nerd.
Freak.
Teacher’s pet.
Bottom feeder.
She’d heard worse because of her station in life.
Brushing off his concerns, she released the armrest from her death grip. “I’m fine,” she retorted. Her mom eyed her sternly and she relaxed the muscles in her face, trying to pull off a calmer demeanor. There was no need to elaborate on the reason she was in this state. Talking usually only got her into more trouble.
Oscar stood and smiled warmly at her mom. “Why don’t we give these two lovebirds some space?” He made to leave.
“We’re supposed to chaperone them, though.” Her mother stayed rooted to her chair, indecision flashing across her face. She knew what etiquette dictated but she didn’t want to cross the Chancellor.
“They’re not going to hurt each other. Sometimes love needs privacy to bloom. Come on,” he coaxed, waving her mother toward the door. “Give them a moment.”
They slipped out and Oscar shut the door behind him gently, giving Meriya a wink, which made her want to vomit.
No sooner had the door closed; Cayson stood up and claimed the chair her mother recently vacated. “What a pleasant surprise.” He leaned on the armrest, bringing his face closer to hers, aquamarine eyes twinkling with mischief.
Meriya’s body instinctively leaned away. “Why are we doing this?”
“To get to know each other.” He trailed a single finger from her shoulder down to her wrist eliciting goosebumps in its wake before she swatted at his hand. “That’s what we’re supposed to do during the courting process.”
“You don’t even like me. You taunt me at school, ridicule me in front of my friends, and now you want to live the rest of your life with me. I don’t get it.” She rubbed a hand up and down her arm trying to remove the taint his touch left behind.
“Only because I liked you. You’re a beautiful girl.” Meriya snorted in disbelief. “Haven’t you ever heard of boys picking on girls because they have a crush on them? I just didn’t realize the feelings I had for you.” His eyes lit up, with what emotion she wasn’t sure, but it creeped her out.
“You expect me to believe you like me. You’re two years older than I am, your father is the Chancellor for goodness sakes, and you want me, a poor little daughter of a guardsman.” Her voice rose and grew faster as her anger welled to the surface. She crossed her arms over her chest, settled back in the chair, and gave him a scathing stare.
“Your station in life shouldn’t matter when feelings are involved. You want to join for love, right?” He'd hit the nail on the head and it scared her that he could read her so easily.
He tilted his head, pouted his lips out with eyes drawn, and the most pitiful expression she’d ever seen crossed his face. She began to doubt her resolve. Maybe he had changed and really did like her.
His fingers wrapped around hers, coaxing her arm away from her chest so he could intertwine their hands. “Together, we could be great.”
“You really think that?” She hesitated, her pulse thundering in her ears. Maybe Cayson had shed his scales and became a new fish. He very well could be toying with her and that thought didn't settle well.
Just as she was about to yank her hand out from his and tell him what she really thought of him, the door flew open.
“Aww! Look at how sweet they are on each other,” her mom cooed.
This time she did yank her hand away, crossing her arms once again. She watched as Cayson’s eyes lingered over the contours of her face, neck, too long on her chest, and then moved farther down. His gaze burned a path, leaving her uncomfortable. The mer-world did not believe in clothes as the humans did. Some liked to dress up like humans for fun, but clothing wasn’t required. She’d never been ashamed of her body, but as she sat there next to Cayson, she wanted to curl up and never let him look at her again.
His father noticed the look as well. He patted Cayson on the back. “All in due time, son. All in due time.”
Her mother chose to ignore Oscar’s comment and pulled her up from the chair, embracing her in a warm hug. “You two are going to be the talk of the Kingdom!”
She pushed out of her mom’s arms and made it to the door before anyone noticed.
“Where are you going?” Her mother questioned. “We just got here.”
“Um, I thought we were done.” If she could get home in time, she and Jovie could still swim out to the shipwrecks and explore.
“Nonsense. Oscar had the kitchen prepare a light lunch and snacks for us.” Meriya’s mother eagerly followed Oscar as he ushered them into the coral garden where Meriya sat, numb to the world, as servants brought them food and drink.
She couldn’t even manage to enjoy the view of the garden. Beautiful soft and hard corals surrounded them on all sides as they sat in the center of the garden with a long, polished stone table and bench. The colors of the coral ranged from soft pinks to vibrant purples and the occasional green. Different types of fish and other species flitted about like they d
idn’t have a care in the world.
She envied them.
This day was never going to end.
5
Meriya's eyes took in the overabundance of food as a slight gasp escaped her lips. A light lunch, her hind scales!
Every food known to mer-kind paraded in front of them. She endured the leering stares and wanton looks from the jerk as he ogled her breasts. Her face burned with shame and humiliation through the whole ordeal. Shame for what she’d be subjected to once they were joined. Humiliation for what everyone at school would think of this idea.
The contract drawn up stated she needed to be eighteen before they could go through with the joining ceremony. Which gave her a few months to figure a way out of this. She could always run away and join a faraway mer-kingdom. Maybe the Pacific Coast mer-folk would welcome her. No way was she going to live the rest of her days as Cayson’s wife.
Shivers ran down her spine at the mere thought of him touching her.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Her mother pulled her into a side hug as they swam toward home.
“Fine. Just a cold chill.” Her arms wrapped around her midsection, trying to protect her body in vain. Who was she kidding? There was no way out of this. If she fled to another kingdom, it would only disgrace her family in the eyes of the king. They’d be shunned and she needed to think of her sister’s well-being. Not to mention, the sick, twisted pleasure Cayson felt at the idea of their joining. He’d never stop until he found her.
She was doomed.
Once they reached home, she feigned a stomachache from all the food she ate and retired to her bedroom. Darkness enveloped her at this late hour. She should probably get ready for bed, but all she wanted to do all day long was spend time with her sister, Jovie.
Jovie was more than likely safely tucked in bed, oblivious to the stress Meriya had encountered at the hands of Cayson. She burrowed deeper into her blanket and pillow, ready to escape her life through a landscape of dreams.
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