by Erin Johnson
I grinned wider, though my teeth chattered together.
Amelia glanced at her white opalescent wrist watch. "All right, we're on schedule but just barely, so let's get to it, shall we?" She pulled her watch off and handed it to her assistant. Sam, Annie, Yann, K'ree, and Wiley bent over to remove their shoes. I glanced over at Hank and felt surprise as he pulled a leather shoe off also. "Are you coming with?"
He nodded. "Something came up, and Francis and Rhonda had to leave, so I'm escorting you today."
I grinned. "What an honor." A seagull cawed overhead. "But is everything okay?"
He nodded. "Hopefully, Francis will join us tonight or tomorrow. But I wanted to make sure all the safety measures are in place, anyway."
I straightened and raised a brow. "Safety measures?"
He glanced at his shoes, then back at me. "I know you're worried about Horace, and honestly, I'm concerned also. So, I made it a condition of your temporary stay with the merpeople that they use the gates at the entrances to the protective bubble around their city."
Hank's eyes reflected the shimmering gray light of the sea, handsome even though he'd been up all night.
My eyes widened. "That's got to be one huge bubble."
He chuckled. "It is."
"Isn't that a hassle for them—all those gates?"
He shrugged. "They want you, those were my terms. It's worth it if it keeps you safe and gives us both peace of mind."
My heart warmed at his concern for me. "Thank you."
He nodded, and I opened my mouth, not even sure what I was about to say, just eager to keep speaking with him, when his fiancée, Princess Shaday of the Fire Kingdom, glided up to the pier. I jumped away from Hank and dropped into a low bow, along with everyone else.
After staying folded in half for ages, I slowly rose, though I kept my eyes away from her stupidly perfect face. Ah shoot, I couldn't help but look. She glided up to Hank, a few handmaidens and guards in tow, and I moved further away to stand beside Maple and Iggy again. I fiddled with removing my sandals, while eavesdropping.
She looked composed and placid as always—impossible to read. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, beautiful against her deep golden skin. Her full, deep red lips matched the color of her flowing silk gown, and her glossy black locks wound round her head in a thick braid.
She curtsied to Hank, and he gave a slight bow back. I didn't know whether to admire the chivalry and romance of the gestures, or to feel for Hank and the coldness and formality between him and the woman he was to marry. Her gown fluttered behind her in the breeze.
"I've come to bid you farewell, Prince." She bowed her head. "I am off to visit my own kingdom—strong storms have created situations that I am needed in order to deal with."
Hank bowed his head in response. "I am sorry to hear that, Princess Shaday." He raised his brows in concern. "I hope your people are well? Is there any assistance my kingdom might provide?"
She pressed her eyes shut and curtsied again. "I am much honored by your offer, and I thank you, but I shall take care of my own."
Was that a subtle burn? But Hank had just been being nice. I nearly toppled over when I forgot to pay attention to balancing. I crouched down and continued to fiddle with my shoe buckle, though I kept my eyes on Hank and Shaday.
"I bid you safe travels then." Hank smiled, though his eyes seemed tired and sad. "Until we meet again."
I raised my brows in surprise. Did he actually care about her? Was he sad that she was leaving? Maybe he only looked that way because we'd been out all night and he was exhausted?
Shaday dipped into a curtsy again, then rose and retreated a few steps. "I shall see you off."
To my surprise, she darted a glance my way and caught me staring. With hot cheeks, I looked back down and finally pulled my sandals off.
"I've seen four-year-olds accomplish that faster." Iggy grinned at me.
I scoffed. "Psh. You don't know any four-year-olds."
"If I did they'd be faster."
I rolled my eyes, but my head ached from the beer and the late night and I couldn't come up with any sort of comeback. I stood as Maple's parents and a couple of her younger siblings rushed up.
"We made it—you haven't left yet." Her father doubled over, his hands on his thighs, and breathed heavily.
Maple's eight-year-old sister hugged her around the waist, while her youngest brother hugged her leg.
"Look, a four-year-old I know." Iggy looked smug.
"Yeah, I'll give you that one if you can remember his name."
Iggy frowned and thought it over. Finally, he rolled his eyes. "I don't know, Wormwood or Pecan or something."
I grinned. Maple, and all her siblings, had been named after trees.
The little girl, Olive, smashed her face into Maple's side. "I want to go, too."
Maple stroked her blond hair. "I know, Ollie, but you can't this time. It's for work."
The little girl pulled away and crossed her arms, her face smashed into a deep frown. "It's not fair."
The little boy lifted his round face. "Maple? Maple? Bring me back shark teeth, okay?"
Maple laughed. "Shark teeth? How many?"
He let go of her leg to spread his arms wide. "Buckets!"
She shook her head, still smiling. "How about just a few?"
He nodded and smiled, one of his front teeth missing. "I'll put it in my mouth where my tooth's missing, and then I'll be a shark and can bite everyone." He latched onto Maple's leg and chomped on it. Her mother and I rushed forward to pull him off as Maple yelped.
"Hi, Imogen.”
I shook my head at him, but smiled all the same. “Hi, Pine."
"Pine!" Iggy smoldered. "I was close."
Olive tugged at Maple's shirt. "If you're getting Pine shark teeth, I want a mermaid's comb for my hair."
Maple hugged them both to her sides. "I'll do my best, all right?"
I smiled. Maple was such a natural with kids. I caught Wiley watching her, a dopey look on his face. Guess that wasn't lost on him, either. He came forward and handed Maple's father a writhing, snarling flour sack.
Her dad eyed it warily, holding it at arm's length while the kids pawed at it. "This is a cat?"
"No," all of us bakers chorused as one.
"Its name is Cat." Maple cooed at it through the bag. "We don't know what it is."
Iggy scoffed. "Oh yes we do. It's a demon."
"Can't disagree," I muttered.
"Thanks for watching it while we're gone." Maple lowered her voice as she hugged her mom goodbye. "Just keep it away from your eyes… your whole face, really."
With our shoes removed, we lined up along the pier, moving forward to where the water was quickly ebbing. I glanced to my right, where white waterfalls cascaded off the streets and ledges that had just been submerged. We didn't have long before the tide completely ebbed.
"Your family's so sweet." I grinned at Maple, then at her family waving goodbye.
Maple shifted beside me. "They're pretty great. But they still treat me like a child sometimes. My mother just reminded me to brush my teeth! It's not like I'm the royal baker, or anything, for sea goddess's sake."
I nudged her with my shoulder. "Hey, you know they're proud of you."
Maple's face fell. "I'm sorry. Stupid of me to complain about my family when you're here without yours. Do you miss them?"
I shrugged, and tried to quell the chattering of my teeth as the gray sea lapped at my toes and chilled them to the bone. "You know I've never been close to my adopted parents or sister, but… I can't help wondering lately what they'd make of all this. I should probably call or email them and give them an update so they don't worry, but—well, I wonder if they even do, you know?"
Maple put an arm around me. "I'm sure they care about you. People just show it in different ways. And if for some bizarre reason they don't, then forget them. They don't know what they're missing."
I patted her hand. "Thanks, friend." I sighed.
"I just wish I knew more about my birth parents—where they were from, where they are now. Why they gave me up."
Maple quirked her lips to the side and gave a thoughtful nod. "I'd want to know, too, if it were me." She gave my shoulder a squeeze. "It's been so hectic since you got to Bijou Mer, but when things calm down, why don't we do some research together? Try to find them?"
I nodded and smiled, though it quickly fell. I wanted to learn more, didn't I? Then why did my stomach clench at the thought? Maybe it was the fear of what I'd find.
"Eek!" Annie, standing beside Maple, shrieked. "That's cold. I'm too old for this."
"Eee!" I glanced past her, expecting the high-pitched squeal to have come from K'ree, but it was Yann who danced back, pulling his toes from the cold water. He rolled up his pants, exposing thick, hairy calves. "Ya. Dat is—" He grimaced and shook his head.
"Once the spell takes effect, the temperature will feel fine." Amelia widened her gray eyes. "Come on, now. We don't want to keep the queen waiting, do we?"
I hefted up Iggy's lantern and opened the glass door. I held him up to the large, hovering bubble.
He eyed the drifting bubble warily. "You sure this is safe?"
I nodded, though a flurry of worry made me watch him carefully. We'd left a bit of Iggy burning in the royal kitchens, just in case anything happened under the sea. With a huff, he slid into the bubble, and I lowered the lantern to the ground. I took the bubble in both hands, the rubber-like surface warming my cold hands.
I smiled. "That's not too bad now, huh?"
Iggy let his flames grow larger. "I have more room." He nodded. "Not bad at all."
Maple, Wiley, and K'ree plucked the smaller floating bubbles from the air and popped them into their mouths.
"What's it taste like?" I plucked mine but waited before swallowing it.
Maple pulled her lips to the side and looked up, mulling it over. "Like seawater."
I grinned. "Shocking."
Her eyes shot wide open. "Oh."
I stepped toward her. "Oh what? Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I haven't done this before. It's… strange. I can feel the things changing."
I eyed the little bubble I held between my index finger and thumb with doubt. I wasn’t sure I wanted magic changing "things."
Little shimmering scales popped up on her neck and the back of her hands. I gasped. Maple held up her hands and turned them this way and that. The growing light of dawn reflected from the little sequin-like scales and glowed purple, then red, then a deep blue.
"You look beautiful."
Maple grinned. "Oh my. Time to go!" She waved at her family, then turned to me and nodded at the bubble in my hand. "Eat up." She ran toward the end of the dock, alongside Wiley and K'ree, their steps sending up white sprays of water. Wiley tackled her at the end and she squealed. They all dove into the water at the end of the dock, shimmering fish tails popping out of the water right behind them and then disappearing below the surface.
My mouth fell. "Holy sea salt—we really do become mermaids."
"Not the quickest, this one."
I rolled my eyes at Iggy. "Come on—Maple has a tail now! That's pretty incredible."
The little flame just chuckled. "All right, fish lips, your turn."
Maple's family, having seen her off, moved away down the pier. Hank smiled at me and popped the bubble into his mouth, then nodded a goodbye to Shaday one last time. He followed Yann, Annie, and Amelia into the water.
Sam waved the bubble away and gave me a shy smile. "In my other form, I can hold my breath for hours." I blinked and Sam disappeared—or rather, transformed. Where he'd stood, a long snake now undulated its way toward the end of the pier and then slipped below the sea. Oh shoot, I needed to hurry. I popped the bubble into my mouth and it burst on my tongue, flooding my mouth with a fishy, salty taste. I blinked, waiting for something to happen.
I startled when a light, warm hand came to rest on my shoulder. I turned, and nearly jumped out of my skin to find the beautiful—and intimidating—Princess Shaday beside me.
The shock must have been written all over my face, because hers softened into a mild smile. "Sorry to have startled you."
Was she? Or was this some kind of mind game? What could she possibly have to say to me? I looked around for backup, but everyone had already dived into the waves. Maple's family were small figures down the cobblestone road into town, and even Shaday's entourage hung back.
"I know you have to go, but I've been trying to get a word in with you for some time now." Her dark eyes sparkled in the rising sun. "You seem always to be with Prince Harry though. It's difficult to get you alone."
I froze. Was she hinting at my feelings for Hank? I'd never acted on them—I mean, I'd wanted to. But I hadn't. And I couldn't help how I felt—even though I tried, really hard, not to feel that way. It'd be wrong to run away by diving into the sea—right?
"First, I wanted to thank you."
I lifted my brows high and her smile deepened.
"For saving me, and my family, at the Summer Solstice Festival. If you hadn't caused such a scene, we would have eaten that poisoned cake and would likely be dead."
She curtsied low and took my hand in both of hers, pressing mine to her forehead.
It was too much. I pulled her to her feet. "Oh no." I waved my hand. "It was nothing."
She dipped her chin. "I disagree. In the Fire Kingdom we take such things quite seriously."
I gulped. My guess was she took everything quite seriously.
"I owe you a great debt. And I won't forget it."
I shook my head and opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a slender, tattooed finger and silenced me. I pressed my lips together. Something strange stirred in my stomach, like ice water sloshing around.
Shaday drew closer and lowered her voice. "As a beginning to repaying you, I'd like to offer some advice."
Oh no. Was this going to be, stay away from my man or I'll cut you, kind of advice?
"You're about to visit the mermaid court. You have not been, correct?"
I shook my head, never peeling my eyes from her face.
She sighed. "You'll find it very different from the Water Kingdom, I believe. You see—all courts are unique in some ways, and in others, they are quite similar."
I nodded, though I didn't follow.
"Life at court, every court, is complicated. Each one has its unspoken rules, intrigues… loves."
My heart pounded.
She lifted a slender shoulder. "Life at court is not for everyone, but some of us, like me and Hank—we are born into it. There is no choice. Our lives are politics, and we know that a political marriage is different than a normal one. It's more like a business deal—nothing to do with love."
She took my chilled hand in both of her warm ones and looked me straight in the eyes. "But everyone must have love—what is the point of life without it? I know that I, for one, am anxious to get back to my home, and the special people there that I love… one special person, in particular."
My heart stopped. Was she saying what I thought she was saying?
"Even at court, there is room for love. It may not look like it does outside of the palace, but it can still bloom. I am grateful that I am betrothed to someone kind, like Hank."
Maybe not.
"He and I may not share love, but we share respect. And because I respect him, I want him to be happy. And one cannot be happy without love." She blinked at me. "He has many good qualities, though, and I would understand why another young woman might fall deeply for him." She squeezed my hands, gave me another nod, and then stepped away, the sea breeze tossing her long skirt around her legs.
I stood there, numb. Had Shaday just told me to go for it with Hank?
"It's going to be even more awkward if you turn into a mermaid right here and beach yourself."
Iggy's voice made me jump. I'd forgotten he hovered right by my head.
"But seriously, you're sp
routing scales. Let's go."
I grabbed Iggy's bubble with both hands and dashed down the pier toward the retreating waterline. My legs buzzed and tingled. I turned one last time. Shaday stood with her attendants and lifted her hand in a wave. I nodded back, and then holding Iggy in both hands, dove into the sea.
6
The Shipwreck
The cold water of the sea washed over me and took my breath away. I plunged deeper. Iggy, and weak beams of sunlight, lit my way. I glanced over my shoulder. My legs tingled, turned warm, and then melded into a shimmering green mermaid tail. I gasped with delight. Then I gasped again when my gasp didn't flood my lungs.
"I can breathe underwater!" I giggled and a stream of bubbles poured out my mouth. "And my tail!" I let loose a high-pitched squeal.
"I think you just said something quite vulgar in dolphin."
I couldn't wipe the huge grin off my face. "It's so pretty." I kicked, and my long fins rippled behind me. I shot forward, faster and farther than I would have guessed. "Oh!"
Iggy chuckled.
I took stock of the rest of me. My yellow sundress had transformed into a bandeau top, and scales dotted the backs of my hands like shimmering freckles.
"Where's Maple?" I squinted into the dark, little particles catching the light as they floated past. "I want to see her tail."
"They got a head start." Iggy pointed a little flame arm down. "Keep swimming and we'll catch up. You could use the practice."
I held tight to his bubble, then kicked and shot down. I expected the pressure to clamp down on my head and ears, but something about being a mermaid must've prevented it. I glanced back at the surface. Light glowed behind me, while darkness loomed ahead. Goose bumps crawled up my arms.
Fins came into view down below. "Maple?"
I kicked down beside my friend, who paused to wait with Hank and Wiley. I gulped when I spotted Hank and tried not to stare. His bare, lean torso tapered to a cobalt-blue tail and pointy fins.
I smiled. "Everyone looks great!"
Maple had a sky-blue tail that matched her eyes, and the white blouse she'd been wearing had transformed into a high-necked halter top. She hugged her arms around her midsection.
