By then, Serena had snuck around the grotto to work on Finalin and Medora.
No matter, Dame Council sneered, still focused on Renata as the rest of the Mermish Council looked on. You, dear sister, do not get to vote on the matter.
She may not, but I do, the old mermaid with the seashell necklaces spoke up.
Mother! Dame Council rang in a warning tone. Need I remind you—you relinquished the bell to me and not her.
I looked from Renata to Dame Council, then to their mother in the seashell necklace. All of them were related? And all of them were heirs to Folly Porthouse? This was getting more dramatic than Gran’s afternoon soap operas.
And that was a grave mistake, Mother Necklace rang. I know that now. Especially since I’ve learned of your murderous plot.
It had to be done, Dame Council replied. Control of the Council should never have left our family’s hands. And now that I’ve harnessed the power of the bell, it never will again.
Your grandmother would not have wanted this, Mother Necklace rang.
Enough! Dame Council rang.
No, the elderly mermaid insisted, her shell necklaces swooshing in the water, that’s not what Folly Porthouse stood for.
Alert! Alert! Dame Council’s minion swam into the grotto. The vessel overhead has dropped a length of rope attached to a large object into the village. I fear we are under attack!
The Mermish Council members seemed to lose their minds as they dashed back and forth and in and out of the Council Chambers.
Delegates! Dame Council proclaimed. Calm yourselves! Please!
A vessel? Luke finally clicked into what was going on. Like a boat?
Trey and Cori, I rang to Luke and signaled for Mr. Chamberlain across the grotto, then Serena and her parents, so they could get set to act.
It sounds like they dropped their anchor, Luke rang.
Yeah, and perfect timing, too, I replied over the mayhem as the Mermish Council members scattered in panic.
Let’s go! I rang to Serena, pulling Luke’s hand.
Take the bell, Mother Necklace mouthed from the other end of the room.
Serena, Luke, and I swam to the middle of the room to snag the heavy bell, then hightailed it to the tunnel while Mr. Chamberlain untied Finalin and Medora from their stakes.
Renata? I called out, trying to find her in the confusion.
Go, go! Renata called out. One of the sentries had her by the arm, but Mr. Chamberlain, Finalin, and Medora were headed over to help her.
By the time we’d made it through the darkened tunnel back out into the mer village with the bell, Coach Laurena, Reese, and the others had assembled about thirty mers in the square. The Mermish Council must have sent word of what was happening because an army of sentries was heading our way from every direction, despite the looming danger of the boat overhead.
Reese rang out for everyone from his earplugged group to block the sentries. They pulled out sticks and ropes and anything they could find from the surrounding stalls of the market to help arm themselves.
We need to get this bell out of here! I tried to hold the gong so it wouldn’t ring but it kept ramming against my knuckles.
Like up to the boat, you mean? Luke asked.
I don’t know how we’re going to get it up there, Serena added, repositioning her hands around the bell as it shifted its weight in the current while we swam.
I looked up at the hull of The Lady Sea Dragon high above us. Serena was right. There was no way we could swim the bell all the way up there. It was so heavy and awkward; we were barely skimming the bottom of the ocean with it as it was.
But getting the bell out of the hands of the Mermish Council was the only way to make sure they would never again try to control mers with its mesmerizing ring.
To the anchor! I rang to Serena and Luke as I spotted the anchor’s line off in the distance.
We swam with all our might toward the anchor about half a mile from the square, but by the time we got there, several sentries had broken free from the scrimmage and were chasing after us.
You guys get it attached! Luke yelled as he swam overhead toward the surface. I’ll let Trey and Cori know to turn on the winch when you give the signal!
It took a few minutes for Serena and me to hook the iron ring of the bell over one of the prongs of the anchor while Luke swam to the surface. Finally, we muscled it into place and I gave the anchor’s line a massive tug. Nothing happened at first.
Come on, come on! I looked over my shoulder at the approaching sentries.
Something whooshed past me.
Watch out! Serena yelled as a sentry’s spear nearly missed my head.
I tugged the anchor line again with all my might just as the other sentry took aim with his spear.
Swissshhh…
All of a sudden, the anchor line tightened and I felt myself, Serena, and the bell being snatched from the bottom of the ocean, away from the grasping hands of the Mermish Council’s sentries as the winch pulled us up, up, and away.
Once the clanging of the bell finally released its hold on all the mers, the Council members scattered like a school of nervous minnows.
Trey and Cori headed back to Port Toulouse with The Lady Sea Dragon to let Dad know to get the Merlin 3000 ready for all the Webbed Ones. Apparently, the tidal pool behind the mall was still too muddy from the construction site for anyone to sprout legs safely. With Mom, Luke, Coach Laurena, and now Mr. Chamberlain in line for the Merlin 3000, it was going to take some time to get everyone back on two feet again.
Once the boat was gone, mers started emerging from their grottos. They gathered in the town square in droves, reuniting with their long-lost Freshie and Webbed One friends and family.
Word spread quickly about the Mermish Council’s evil ways, and everyone agreed that the bell of Fortune’s Folly should be kept up on land so it would never be used against mers again.
Mom! I rang. I spotted her bringing Petra back to her parents, but Petra made a beeline for Luke.
Mom looked my way and smiled. I could tell her eyesight had improved, but she and all the other Webbed Ones were still having trouble breathing.
You did it, kiddo, Mom rang as she swam up to me and pulled me into a hug.
It was kind of a team effort, I replied, looking around at all the happy reunions. Finalin and Medora introduced Serena to some of their long-lost family; Coach Laurena laughed with her brother and sister; and Petra giggled as Luke kept throwing her upward through the water and catching her as she floated back down.
Mom, I asked. Whatever happened to your family?
What do you mean? she asked, brushing a floating strand of hair from my face. You and Dad are my family.
No, that’s not what I mean, I rang. All the other Freshies and Webbed Ones are meeting up with their families. What about you? Who did you leave behind?
Nobody. Mom laced her fingers together and shook her head slightly. Nobody I care to reunite with, anyway.
I hope that’s not entirely true, a voice rang through the crowd. A familiar woman approached, pulling a lunch cart decorated with flip-flops. Maybe you can find it in your heart to forgive at least one of us for turning our backs on you.
Tanti Renata? Mom brought a hand to her mouth.
Renata swam to Mom and held out her hand. Mom took it in hers, and her face crumpled in a look I’d never seen before. Was it regret? Relief?
Nuh-nuh-nuh. Wait just a second, here. I waved my hand in the water, trying to get things straight. You mean to tell me Renata’s your aunt and my great-aunt? Which makes Dame Council my…
Grandmother? Mom rang, but it wasn’t really a question. Mom’s face screwed up in a look of distaste. Yeah. I know—it’s bad. I kind of hate to admit she’s my mother.
And my sister, Renata agreed.
No wonder Mom had said Serena could do worse for parents than Finalin and Medora! Mom definitely took the prize in the “dysfunctional family” department.
Well, I turned to Mom, thinki
ng of the mermaid with the seashell necklaces. At least they’re not all completely bad. Plus, that means Folly Porthouse was my…great-great-grandmother?
Yes! Renata looked up as though doing a mental calculation. I suppose so! And for that, you can be proud. I know she would have been proud of you!
Thanks, Renata. I gave her a hug, then corrected myself. Tanti Renata.
Will you stay? Renata asked us. We’re preparing a feast.
Feast? I thought of all the possibilities. Seaweed soup, mackerel sandwiches, eel stew. My eyes must have bugged out of my head because Mom came to my rescue.
Oh no, Mom rang. I don’t think that would be a very good idea. We’ll stay for a little while, but it’s a long swim back and we really aren’t very well-suited to staying underwater for long.
I understand. Tanti Renata reached out and touched Mom’s arm. But you’ll visit sometime?
Definitely, Mom answered.
That’s when I spotted Mr. Chamberlain swimming by himself at the edge of the festivities. For someone who was a “captain of industry” on land, he looked about as out of place as a crab at a lobster convention. I excused myself and swam to him.
Mr. Chamberlain? I rang.
Oh! Jade, is it? His face took on an anxious look, so different from the confident, smug man I first met when he stepped out of his helicopter at our Butterflies vs. Boutiques rally. I was talking to your friend Luke earlier. He explained everything to me about you and your mother and the tidal pool behind the mall.
Yeah, about that…
Please… Mr. Chamberlain put his hand up to stop me. I owe you a huge apology. As you may have surmised, I’m not from around here. I really had no idea you were all mers.
Likewise! I joked. Mrs. Chamberlain said you had a “rare genetic disorder,” which was why you adopted Lainey, but I never would have guessed this.
It’s not that we didn’t want kids of our own, Mr. Chamberlain said. We just weren’t sure what that all would entail, if you’ll pardon the expression. Don’t misunderstand. We love Lainey with all our hearts, but seeing how you turned out—I guess Mrs. Chamberlain and I needn’t have worried.
I blushed.
Your wife also said you’re from Europe. How are you able to travel and everything if you’re a mer?
Money can open a lot of doors, Mr. Chamberlain rang. He blinked a few times and a look of regret crossed his face. It can close a few, too.
Then something occurred to me. Did Lainey know anything about her dad? Does anyone else know you’re a mer? On land, I mean.
Well… Mr. Chamberlain drew his chin to his chest. My wife knows, of course. In fact, she must be beside herself wondering where I am since I never made it home from the office last night before getting drawn into the ocean.
And Lainey? I asked.
As far as Lainey knows, mermen and mermaids live in Disneyland.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that, I began, then explained how Lainey had found Serena and me in the pool after we’d rescued her.
You—you both saved her life, Mr. Chamberlain rang quietly. Yet another thing for which I’m in your debt. I don’t know how to repay you.
Well, let’s just hope your daughter hasn’t signed a book deal about what happened at the pool before we make it back to dry land, I joked.
That would certainly complicate matters, wouldn’t it? Mr. Chamberlain laughed.
A few other mers came over to introduce themselves, and soon Mr. Chamberlain was entertaining them with tales of Mermish life across the ocean.
Have you heard? Serena pulled me away from the group, sporting a huge grin after catching up with her parents. They’ve captured all the Mermish Council members and Uncle Alzear has been nominated interim Master Council until they can organize a proper election where everyone can vote. Just like at school!
That’s awesome, Serena, I rang. Who knows, maybe you’ll be Dame Council someday. Which reminds me—they’re announcing the election results at the Fall Folly dance tomorrow night. Do you think your mom and dad can spare you for the weekend?
I’ll ask, Serena rang, grasping my arm excitedly before she swam away.
The Fall Folly. Right. I spotted Luke and Reese trying to put Renata’s stall back in order while Petra attached her pink flip-flop to one of the shelves.
Need some help? I asked, swimming over.
Sure, Reese rang. I just need to get more of these floop-flops from my grotto. I’ll be right back.
Luke looked up from arranging a pile of twine and smiled his curvy-lipped smile.
Sorry I totally spaced out on you guys, Luke rang. I’d been so gung-ho to help but ended up making things worse.
I thought back to how I’d tried to do the same thing by going to talk to Mrs. Chamberlain about Cori’s mentorship.
I know the feeling, I said with a laugh. My first order of business when I got back to dry land was to fix things with Cori and maybe get a grip on what I was going to do for my mentorship, too. Surely I had a wider skill set than just bringing down underwater empires. I just hadn’t figured out what that was yet.
So, I keep meaning to ask you…I continued. There was another thing I needed to fix. It was now or never. If I didn’t ask Luke to go to the Fall Folly dance now, I knew I’d chicken out once we got back on two feet and I remembered what an awkward dancer I was.
Uh-huh? Luke replied. He swept his sister Petra into his arms and nuzzled her neck playfully, then looked back at me with a smile.
Sooo… I said again like an iPod set on “repeat.” I stalled for time and turned to Petra. Did you have a nice talk with my mother?
Yes! I like her short hair. Yours is long except for this part. Petra reached out and touched my bangs. Your hair is pretty. Don’t you think it’s pretty, Luke?
Very pretty, Luke agreed. He reached out and touched my bangs, too, pushing them away from my face. My heart fluttered like the school of passing fish I caught in the corner of my eye. Did you want to ask me something?
Okay. I had just helped overthrow an underwater empire. Surely I could ask a guy out on a date.
Well, remember when I mentioned the Fall Folly dance when we were walking to school last week? I asked.
Yeah. Luke hesitated for a second. That was weird, right? I wasn’t exactly sure if you had asked me, then I didn’t want to bring it up in case you hadn’t—
Oh, I exclaimed. Because when I told you it was on September nineteenth, not October nineteenth, and you got that weird look on your face, I wasn’t sure if you wanted to go.
And I only got the weird look on my face because October nineteenth is my birthday and I wasn’t sure if you knew that, Luke replied.
I stared at him for a full ten seconds before I sorted out all that had happened.
Fluke1019, I murmured. Like the code Trey used to track Luke underwater and the name he used for his cell. October nineteenth. Your birthday. The day your grandfather found you when you washed up on shore.
Only, I guess that’s not really my birthday, Luke reminded me, since Pollinia said I was about a month old by then.
Which means…I waited for him to make the mental leap.
That my actual birthday is somewhere around the nineteenth of September. Wait—Luke seemed to be adding something in his head—is that tomorrow?
Yup, I replied.
I remembered how Luke’s mom said he could find his mer family once he turned fifteen, and here he was, surrounded by all of them.
So, I said again. I was going to ask you to the Fall Folly, but since it’s kinda actually your fifteenth birthday tomorrow, why don’t you go to the back of the line for the Merlin 3000 and hang out and celebrate with your new family in the meantime?
Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! Petra cried.
Well, it seems like one of us likes that idea. Luke laughed and nuzzled Petra’s nose, then turned to me. But are you sure? I’ll do my best to get there on time.
Don’t rush. A snort bubble escaped as I laughed. Trust me, I dance w
orse than I swim.
Same here! Luke leaned past Petra and kissed me on the cheek amid the ring of little mer-girl giggles.
“I can’t wait to collapse into my warm, cozy bed,” I mumbled, leaning heavily against the passenger-side window as Dad weaved the car through the streets of Port Toulouse late Friday night.
Eddie had the Merlin 3000 all set up at his house along the coast, and he’d started the transformations with Coach Laurena since she was having the hardest time breathing. It would take a while before Laurena, Mom, Serena, Mr. Chamberlain, and Luke all got their turns in the tub, but hopefully Dad’s new “upgrades” would speed things up.
“I call it the Merlin 3001,” Dad had exclaimed earlier when he told me about the refinements he’d made on the hot tub. “It’s got new high-speed jets, titanium valves, and five cup holders.”
“Cup holders? Seriously, Dad?” I rolled my eyes at him.
“And an iPod docking station,” he replied.
“But is it fast?” I asked.
“What do you think the extra ‘1’ stands for?” he replied with a grin.
I surprised myself—hoping it would be fast enough to get Luke home in time for the Fall Folly dance. But that was kind of ridiculous since I didn’t have a dress and I hated to dance. Still, after being underwater far too much in the past few months, “awkward dancing” sounded like the perfect thing for a fourteen-year-old girl—a human girl—to obsess over.
We pulled into our neighborhood, hoping we wouldn’t be mobbed by camera crews trying to get the scoop on the two mer-girls discovered at the local pool, but the streets were eerily quiet. When Dad turned onto our street, though, we were greeted by the same black sedan that had met us there a few weeks before.
From what I could see by the light of the streetlight, the car held Mr. Chamberlain’s two enforcers, the one with the glasses and the other one with the moustache. Last time we’d run into them, they were hot on our tails trying to get evidence away from me to save Mr. Chamberlain’s construction project. Why were they back?
“It’s those guys again.” I nudged Dad and pointed. “They work for Lainey’s dad.”
“I called Mrs. Chamberlain to tell her about her husband earlier. What could they want?” Dad asked.
Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels Page 15
