by Dee J. Stone
Kiander lays a soft kiss on her forehead. “As soon as you left home, I arrived at the palace with a proposition. I offered to assume the role of the king.”
Queen Flora laughs softly. “You can imagine my father’s reaction.”
Kiander laughs as well. “You can imagine Father’s reaction.”
“But there was something in his eyes,” the queen says. “A desire. Not for me, but for the children of the sea. For every creature in the sea. Against my father’s advice, I asked to speak to him privately.” She lays her head on his shoulder. “He was pleasant to speak to, and not bad on the eyes.” She laughs again when he gently jabs her shoulder. “He shared with me his views on the sea, the changes he saw fit, how we could make our home a better place for every creature. We were both passionate about the same issues. Though I did not love him, I did have a sensation. I cannot describe it, but I did not feel it with you, Damarian.”
I nod. I believe I am aware of what she is referring to.
“For reasons I did not understand at the time, I agreed to accept Kiander’s proposition. We held the mating ceremony shortly after.”
“It did not take long for our feelings to grow.” Kiander kisses the back of her hands. “Hours.”
“Minutes,” the queen says.
He nods. “Yes, minutes.”
Queen Flora turns to me. “This was all due to you. I did not think I could ever have the kind of love you sought, for I was heir to the throne and could not think of my own happiness. But because you did not surrender your hope, I was able to receive the greatest gift of all. Kiander.”
“We knew we could not fully embrace our happiness while you were banished on land, Brother. We could not deny you happiness. The queen and I decided to grant you permission to travel to and from land as often as you desire, though we must emphasize how careful you must be.”
“And we also decided not to banish a single child of the sea. Unless, of course, he or she has committed a very serious crime. I asked my mate to gather Kyler of the Emerald clan and allow him to return home. We do not wish to cause anyone any heartache.” She looks at him. “We are still discussing this, but we believe we will grant any child of the sea permission to travel to land, as long as he or she very much wishes it and comes to speak to us first. Though, it is unlikely many will do so, for it is our nature and will to remain in the sea and it is rare to find a human we can relate to. Still, the option is always available, if one truly wishes it.”
I merely stare at them, my heart beating with so many emotions. Finally, when I manage to gather my thoughts, I say, “This is very kind of you. Thank you.”
They incline their heads.
“I have already noticed the changes occurring here in the palace. There are sharks other than hammerheads patrolling the sea.”
Queen Flora nods. “And it will not be long before children of all the clans join the Guard. And we hope many will no longer be shamed or too concerned about mating with a member from another clan. We hope it will not be too long before the clans are truly united.”
Kiander kisses her hand again. “That is all we wish, to provide a better home for every creature of the sea. And in past moons, the Violets and Sapphires have been placed high above the others, receiving more sharks than the other clans, and their issues were always resolved quicker than the others. We wish to change that and treat every clan equally. And we hope to enlist more tiger, blue, and bull sharks to patrol the sea and keep us safe from the humans.”
I smile to my brother. “Father has misunderstood all these moons. It was not my destiny to take the throne. It was yours.”
Kiander bows his head. “I only hope I am worthy of it.”
“You are, my love.” The queen kisses his cheek. “Very much so.”
“I agree,” I say.
They stare into each other’s eyes as though they are in their own secluded cave. I shift in my chair. “Perhaps it best I journey home and make peace with Father.”
Kiander rises off his chair and places his hand on my shoulder. “All will be well.”
I nod, though my stomach is unstable.
Morteran nods to me as I leave the room and head for the exit to the palace. I examine my surroundings, noticing how beautiful it looks to see all the species of sharks swimming together in harmony. As I swim home, I am once again stared at by many children of the sea. I am relieved to discover that most do not seem hostile or upset. Merely curious. Although I do not wish to acknowledge it, a few seem a bit betrayed, as though I have disappointed them. Naturally I feel guilty, but that is short lived because Kiander will be a far more competent ruler than I could ever be. I am quite certain many of them already understand this, and I know it will not be long before the others see it as well.
As I approach my home, my stomach once again is unstable. For the first time in a while, it appears different. Perhaps because I know it will no longer serve to be my only home, for I shall share the one on land with Cassie. My home in the sea will now be more special to me, and time spent with my family will feel more sacred. That is, if Father forgives me and welcomes me in his life. I still feel greatly upset and hurt by his banishment, and I am not certain whether I can ever fully forgive him, if he asks for it. I hope I shall, because I do not wish for there to be a rift between us.
Once I enter the cave, I am bombarded by the little ones, who ask me too many questions and pull on my arms.
“Is it true you have met a female human?” Zarya demands. “Will she be my news sister, just as princess Flora—no, Queen Flora!—is my sister?”
“Why a human?” Syndin asks with a slightly horrified expression. “They are vile.”
“Have you learned the ways of the humans?” Syd asks. “Is it intriguing?”
“What of that delectable treat? I know it is a food from land. Am I not correct, Dammy?”
“Zarya, Syd, and Syndin,” Mother says with a laugh. “Any more questions and your brother will grow unconscious.”
I cannot help but smile at them. They are not upset with me but seem quite excited by my arrival. “Do not fret. I will tell you all you wish to know. But first, I must speak to Father and Mother.”
“Father is hunting for food!” Zarya does a small somersault. “He will return shortly.”
“Please play in your rooms,” Mother asks the fry. They do not seem happy, but they leave nonetheless. Mother wraps her tail around me. “Thank you for returning home. I worried…” A look of sadness passes over her face. “I worried you would never return.”
My eyes move from her face. “You worry I am upset with Father for banishing me.”
She touches my cheek, causing me to look into her face. “Please listen to his words and try to understand why he behaved in the manner in which he did.”
I nod, though I feel myself frowning.
Her hands slide to rest on my shoulders. “I wish to apologize to you, for not listening to your feelings. I did not understand how unhappy you were. I thought…” She sighs. “I thought, perhaps, you were behaving like a fry, out of spite. But now I understand it all, and I want you to know that I sincerely apologize.”
“It is all right, and I accept your apology.”
“All I wish is for you to be happy. I am not very thrilled that you have chosen a human, but I will embrace her as though she is my own daughter. For you have chosen her, and that means she must be very special.”
“She is,” I say, surprised by the emotion in my voice. “Very special. And I love her with all my heart.”
She kisses my cheek. “I know. I see it in your eyes. I only ask that you be careful when you travel to land. I will worry about you, for that is the manner in which a mother behaves. And please visit as often as possible. I shall hate to see you only once or twice in twelve moons.”
“I promise I will.”
We sit at the table, where I begin to tell Mother about Cassie. The more I talk, the more it seems Mother develops a fondness for her, especially when sh
e learns how she nearly perished trying to keep me from land when she worried Kyler would expose my true identity.
“I am glad the Emerald has returned home,” she says. “I heard his family and colony are very pleased to see him after all these moons.”
“I have always known that Kiander had strong beliefs when it involved the sea and her creatures. He will be a great king.”
She smiles. “I think so as well.”
I hear movement at the entryway and turn to see Father floating there, a large oyster shell filled with fish in his arms. When his eyes land on me, they do not fill with disappointed like in the past. I see relief, as though he is glad to see me here.
I rise off my chair. “Father.”
He nods slightly. “Damarian.”
Mother rises as well. “I will check on the little ones.”
Father and I face each other. After a few moments, he swims to the table and lays down the shell. My back faces him, but I do not turn around. Even though we are in the sea where the water is of a cool temperature, it seems to be cooler than usual. Finally, Father says, “You are upset with me.”
I do not answer, for I do not know what to say.
“I am not surprised,” he continues.
“I am not upset,” I say. “Not as much as I should be.”
“Because I am your father and you have great love and respect for me.”
Again, I have no words.
“I do not deserve it,” he mutters. “Not your love or your respect.”
I slowly turn to face him. He is seated at the table, his face haggard, as though he has not slept in a while.
“Please join me.” He pats the chair next to him.
I do.
He stares at the shell with fish. “It was not my intention to banish you for long. Only for…” He shakes his head like he has too much guilt to continue. “I only wanted you to see what it would be like if you were stranded on land. Away from your family and the life you love. I wanted you to miss being a child of the sea. It was not my intention to hurt you in the manner in which I did, but I did not know how else to tell you…” He swallows. “…how much I would miss you if you were to build a life on land.” He hesitantly lays his hand on mine. “I love you very much, Damarian. You have been my pride and joy the moment you entered this world, just like your brothers and sisters. It hurt me that you wanted to abandon your family, that you chose a human over us.”
“But I did not choose her over you. It was always my wish to have both. It was you who caused me to choose her over you.”
He nods. “Yes, I understand that now. I suppose I was too consumed with the thought of losing you. But it is my wish for you to be happy. I am not happy that you have chosen a human—and I admit it will take me quite some time to grow accustomed to it—but I do not want to lose you.”
Now I stare at the shell with fish. “Would you have the same feelings if Kiander did not take the throne?”
“Pardon?”
“You wish to amend our relationship. You do not want to cause a rift between us. Perhaps now it is more convenient and easier because Kiander took the throne. You received what you wished, for our family to take the throne.”
“Damarian, please look at me.”
It takes a few seconds for me to comply.
“Yes, you are correct that the situation might be different if Kiander did not take the throne. I do not know if I would have been able to watch someone else take it. Perhaps an Emerald or a Ruby. You do not understand what it has been like for me all these moons, the pain I felt in my heart when I saw Palaemon on the throne. It was as though a large piece of stone was lodged in my chest. I do not understand why you do not feel it now that Kiander has taken the crown from you.”
“Perhaps because I am not destined to be the king.”
Father is quiet for a moment. “Perhaps.”
“My heart is filled when I am on land with Cassie. That assures me that it was the correct decision to choose her over kingship.”
“I only hope you are correct, my son.”
We both grow quiet.
“Will you accept my forgiveness, Damarian? I truly wished I had been more sympathetic to your plight. Particularly because I have experienced something quite similar.”
My eyebrows rise. “You have?”
“Yes. You are aware Mother and I grew up with our homes side by side and that it took a while for me to admit my feelings for her. But you are not aware that Grandfather suggested another male for her. One he thought more suitable for his daughter.” He smiles. “I did not yield until he agreed to grant me permission to have me as her mate.”
I feel my jaw hang open. “Indeed, I was not aware of this.”
“I allowed my selfish thoughts and feelings to surpass yours, and as a father, that was unacceptable. Please accept my forgiveness.”
I look into his eyes and see how sincere he is and how much love he has for me. I truly wish to forgive him, but I am certain it will take a while. I do not wish to carry around my anger and betrayal for too long because it will only cause me more heartache and further distance me from him. I lower my hand over his. “I will try, Father.”
Once again, I hear movement by the doorway and turn to see Doria. “You have returned! The entire colony is speaking of this.”
Father rises. “I will see if your mother requires assistance with the fry.”
Doria hurries to sit down in the chair father vacated. “Is all well with you and Father?”
“It is my hope, yes.”
She wraps the bottom of her tail around mine. “I am glad. What of the human? Has she forgiven you?”
I nod.
“I heard her,” she says.
“Pardon?”
“Yesterday, while you were banished, she called to me. She asked me to speak to Father. She said you were miserable and missed the sea and your family.”
I stare at her. I was not aware of this.
“Father was too distraught,” she says. “It was difficult to speak with him. I hurried to Kiander. He told me not to fret for he was already planning to travel to land to unbanish you. I…” She smiles. “I do not find your human quite so vile anymore.”
That causes me to smile as well.
“Will you remain on land? I shall miss you terribly. We all shall.”
“Do not fret. I promise I will travel home as often as I can. And perhaps one day, you will visit us on land again.”
She nods. “Yes, perhaps I will.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Do you promise to return with the delectable treat?” Zarya asks.
I lift her toward me and press a kiss on her nose. “Yes, I promise.”
“Do not return with their waste,” Syndin says, once again disgusted. “There is no room for it on land, therefore they throw it into the sea. Such despicable creatures.”
“They are not always despicable,” Syd says.
Syndin’s eyes roll over.
Mother wraps her tail around me. “Please return to us soon. I shall miss you very much.”
“As shall I.”
Father lays a hand on my shoulder. “Do not make any hasty decisions, Damarian. Not until you are certain she loves you as much as you love her.”
He must be referring to mating with Cassie. I know Father still clings onto the hope that my eyes will open and I will realize that I really do not love her. But I do and I will love her for all eternity. I only hope that one day Father truly accepts her and perhaps visits us on land, together with Mother.
“It grows late,” I say reluctantly. “I must go.”
“Do not forget the treat!” Zarya says. “And when you return, I will want to know even more about my new sister.”
I laugh and kiss her forehead.
Once I have said goodbye to everyone, I exit the Sapphire colony. Just as I am ready to leave the entire colony, my movement comes to a halt. I have made peace with my family, but there is still one being with whom I have
not reconciled. I do not believe I can embark on the next journey in my life if he still is upset with me.
Instead of swimming toward the Sapphire colony, I make my way toward the Violet clan. Many of them stare at me as I pass, but they do not appear too shocked. I notice a few Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, and Sapphire tails here as well, and I smile. The sea will indeed grow to be a better place to live in.
Neren and Pelina sit on stone chairs near their cave, their eyes bright as they laugh. Suddenly, Neren’s laugh disappears, and his eyes shoot to mine. He has sensed me approach. He leaps off the chair and floats before his mate, as though he is protecting her from me. His eyes hold nothing but fury.
“Do not move any further,” he says.
I am quite a few tails away, but I do as he asks. “Hello, Neren and Pelina. I have come—”
“You are not welcome here.”
“Neren, please—”
“Leave this instant.” His eyes flash with even more anger. “Do not come near my mate or my home ever again.”
I raise my hands, my voice pleading. “I ask you to please listen.”
“Word has reached the Violet colony. I am aware of where you are traveling to.”
I move a little closer. “Please do not put a rift between us, Neren. Let us make peace.”
“I will never make peace with one who associates himself with those who murdered my family.” He takes hold of Pelina’s hand. “If you do not leave my home in the next thirty seconds, I will call one of the sharks.”
As he speaks, a large hammerhead advances toward us. She must have been patrolling near here. She will not hurt me, for sharks are forbidden to harm a child of the sea, but she can force me to leave.
I slightly nod at Neren. “I will leave. But I will not give up hope that you and I will make peace.”
The hammerhead shark swims alongside me as I head for the exit of the colony, her intense eyes never leaving my face. Once I am free of her, I look back at the colony, but I am too far to see Neren. Does he not feel the ache in his chest that I feel in mine? We have been friends for so long—why does he not try to understand that all humans are not evil? Will he ever accept the life I have chosen, or will he and I forever be broken in this manner?
