by Hannah Reed
“Ethan just reminded me about the dance, how am I supposed to dance in these?” April stuck her legs up in the air. She resumed her previous activity of angrily glaring at the shoes.
“Oh my,” exclaimed Setha as she glanced at the shoes in the mirror. She turned around to admire them. “They must be at least 12 shells high, and so pointy!” she said as she grabbed April’s leg. “How the legged come up with these things I don’t know.”
“It’s because they want to break their legs.” April swung her legs down and stood back up.
Setha looked her up and down and her smile took on a sarcastic glimmer. “Ethan will be there to catch you at least.”
“Oh, ha ha Setha, you know nothing is going on between us.”
“But maybe, whilst signing the World’s Peace Treaty, your eyes will meet as you both reach for the same pen,” Setha sighed dramatically.
“You do realise that I won’t actually be signing the Peace Treaty, right?” April asked to change the subject as she sat up and hugged a pillow. “I’m merely there to look “‘pretty and harmless.’”
“Your Mum’s words?”
“How did you guess?” April said with mock shock.
“Well, as soon as we figure out this dress, we can work on making you look so stunning that the legged men and women will be dying to live in a world at peace with you.”
April stood up and spun around, flinging her pillow behind her. She caught her heel on the bedspread and collapsed in a heap on the floor, she looked up laughing.
“This might take longer than you thought.”
Setha stifled a laugh. She pulled April up saying, “Why don’t you practice walking?”
“Not spinning?”
“No. If you break your ankle on my watch your Mum will feed me to the sharks.”
“This is true,” April nodded “but only baby ones.” She set about walking up and down her room. She took tentative steps on the plush carpet; it was certainly not the best terrain to be learning to walk in the devil shoes. She manoeuvred herself back to her balcony, hoping that the wooden decking would be more manageable. April couldn’t help feel that these shoes were a test. It was as if the legged wanted her to slip up and reveal herself as the uncivilised ‘mermaid’ they thought she was. This thought caused her to wobble fractionally. She straightened herself up and determinedly stepped forward, April would represent the mer flawlessly tonight. She would not let the mer down.
Setha was applying the finishing touches to April’s make-up. It had taken April several hours but she was now able to walk in her shoes. She looked at the flat surface of her Iris bracelet. The timer was counting down, only twenty minutes left until a helicopter would pick up the mer entourage. Not that April knew what a helicopter was. She was pretty sure that one of her Dad’s advisors had tried to compare it to a hummingbird that they’d seen in the Hasani Palace garden in the Indian ocean. The noise from downstairs drifted up to April’s suite. April knew she was supposed to be mingling with the mer attendees of the Peace Treaty but Setha wouldn’t let her go until she was perfect. Setha stepped back to take a look at her handiwork.
“Can I see yet?” April implored while trying to look as cute as possible to win Setha over. Setha was not easily won over.
“No,” Setha shook her head and walked out of the dressing room and into the bedroom. April reached up to itch her face then scowled as she remembered she couldn’t. She took off her Iris bracelet and replaced it with the bracelet the legged President sent her.
“We have one final piece to put into place,” Setha walked back with the bejewelled hair ornament that had baffled April earlier. Setha skilfully pinned it into April’s hair allowing the jewels to cascade down her neck and fall gently over her shoulder.
“Done,” Setha pronounced with a flourish and stepped back to admire her handiwork once more. “You can look now,” Setha said smiling.
April stood up and walked slowly and carefully to the mirror. Setha followed behind her and she beamed with pride. April’s golden wavy hair was now braided into an elegant chignon. The dress’ blues and pinks reflected against each other, as she swished the dress from side to side. It glimmered the same diamond colour as her tail. April watched the delicate ruffles move with her as she did. It reminded her of the surface weed swaying in the water. April smoothed her hands over the bodice and reached up to adjust her pearls, each one glowed warmly against her skin. They were behaving now and their persistent hum of energy quietened.
~
Ethan ran up the hallway taking the stairs two at a time. He swung himself around the bannister and strode towards April’s room.
“Wow,” Ethan exclaimed as he walked through the door. “You look beautiful.”
April turned to smile at him, “Thank you.”
“Well... I mean wow; it took you all day to look like this. No wonder you look so awful on a daily basis.”
Ethan laughed and walked over to give April a hug. April rolled her eyes.
“Thanks Ethan.”
“And what about me?” he said with a flourish as he turned suavely on the spot. “Don’t you think I look rather dashing tonight?”
“You look wonderful Ethan,” Setha said sarcastically from her position in the corner of the room.
“Oh Setha, I didn’t see you there, pleasure as always,” Ethan turned and gave her a mock bow. Setha blushed slightly but managed to roll her eyes.
“Are you ready?” Ethan asked moving over to the bed and picking up pieces of packaging.
“I’ll be ready soon,” April said. “Can you take a photo of me Setha?”
“Sure,” Setha said. She moved to April’s bed and, avoiding Ethan’s gaze picked up April’s Iris pad.
April moved over to the balcony.
Setha held up the Iris Pad and started laughing, “April relax.”
“Okay,” April said shifting. She tried a new position, looked down at her feet, and then looked up again smiling.
“You’re the most awkward person I’ve ever seen,” Ethan said striding over. “Come on.”
“Thanks for the motivational speech,” April said dropping her gaze, “Let’s just forget it.” She made a move back to her bedroom.
“No, come on.”
Ethan grabbed her arm and dragged her back to the balcony. He held April’s hand and raised it above her head twirling her. April tripped and fell into his arms and pushed herself back laughing.
“Much better,” Setha said quietly. April walked over and looked at the photos.
“Thank you so much Setha, they look great. I will tell everyone I meet tonight that I was styled by Setha Moretta,” April said empathically as she hugged her friend.
“Don’t worry about it. Enjoy yourself tonight, you’re making history and you’ll do us proud,” Setha said.
“Umm April, we’d better be going,” Ethan said looking at his watch to avoid Setha’s gaze.
Setha squeezed April’s hand before letting her walk towards the door.
“Bye Setha, say hi to your Dad for me,” April said as she and Ethan left the room.
“Will do, break a leg April,” Setha laughed.
The door shut, leaving Setha alone in the plush room. In the absence of April’s kinetic energy, an eerie stillness fell over her. Without it, the air felt flat. Setha walked over to the dressing room and started tidying up. She had spent many a night here during the summer holidays with April but the room always had the impersonal feeling of a hotel suite. Watching April and Ethan walk off together into their own private world, Setha couldn’t help but feel a little lonely. She sighed as she pulled out her Iris pad and checked to see if there was a message from her Dad. She smiled and her shoulders relaxed as she read his message, ‘Can’t wait to see you tonight!’
Setha gathered her things and made her way through to April’s private staircase. The stairs led out into Setha’s favourite part of the Summerland palace. The garden Setha stepped into was immaculate. Whenever April sta
yed she wielded her Assurgere powers to help the gardeners. The colour scheme at the moment was white and yellow. Arches had been decorated with tiny flowers that grew in delicate patterns. She inhaled as she walked, her shoulders relaxing at the scent. Setha reached the water’s edge and prepared to enter the transformation bubble. When suddenly she heard a loud whirring. She looked up and was pushed backwards by an unexpected wind. She tripped and thudded to the ground. The helicopters had arrived.
Setha groaned as she stood up, she was not looking forward to the bruise that would no doubt appear on her tail. She brushed the dust off herself and frowned at the monstrosity that was slowly lowering itself onto the beach in front of the palace. Her tranquillity ruined, Setha walked into the sea and slipped down to the guest transformation bubble. In front of her were neat piles of legged clothing and a selection of lockers. Setha quickly unlocked her locker and took out her clothes. She swapped from the borrowed legged clothing into her outfit and put her borrowed clothing in the laundry basket. She adjusted herself in the mirror and then tapped the release button to let the bubble fill itself with water. With a glow of violet Commutavi power, she transformed.
She swam towards the ray stop a little way away from the Summerland Palace Island. The island was a hub for tropical fish and corals. Swimming slowly, she took in the vibrancy of the surrounding ocean until she reached the open sea. She waited for a school of yellowfin tuna to pass, then continued on her way to the ray bus. Setha waited patiently at her stop. The ray bus, painted a lurid green to promote the Peace Treaty, glided towards her. Setha swiped her Iris card and settled herself into a seat by the window.
CHAPTER 3
“Your Royal Majesties,” the guard made a low bow to King Nathaniel and Queen Freya before turning to the rest of the hall. “Will you please step this way now that the whole company is gathered.” The guard’s eyes flickered to April and Ethan who were making their way down the stairs. April was still not 100% convinced that the shoes were actually intended for moving in. She held firmly onto Ethan with one hand and held her train in the other. Walking slowly, she tried not to look down at the staircase. Everyone started to exit the sumptuously decorated ballroom and moved into the entrance foyer.
April looked around in awe. The decorators had outdone themselves for this event. Sand dollars seemed to be the overriding theme of the evening. They were the snowflakes of the sea April had heard her Mum explain to a legged decorator. Each one was unique and very delicate. Sand dollar lanterns hung from the ballroom ceiling casting rays of soft light onto the crowd below. The bar tables were made out of creamy marble columns of stacked sand dollars and the glasses were blown with the dollars delicate markings imprinted around them. The whole effect was calming. April suspected her Mum chose this theme specifically for its tranquillity. She tripped and grabbed onto the railings with both hands.
April shooed Ethan’s help as she righted herself and followed the gathering through to the entrance foyer. The large double doors, which were double Ethan’s height and twice as wide, were opened fully for the occasion. The party walked out onto the beach to wait for the helicopters. April looked around at the most influential mer of the seven seas. She smiled at the different political party leaders, waved at the invited military powers and avoided the pearl shamans. Weaving her way through the crowd she looked down at her dress and was reminded of when she and Kayla used to play dress up. April would never say she didn’t enjoy being a Princess but having to live up to the scrutiny of the world was not an easy task. April wondered if this was why her Mum always seemed in such a bad mood.
Queen Freya was the most elegant hostess. She was the beloved Queen of the seven seas who was always in control. April only got to see this side of her Mum. At home, Freya only truly relaxed when she was alone with her husband. April could remember as a merita wanting to swim into the snug to cuddle with her parents. But she had known that the second she entered the room the warmth would fade out of her Mum’s face. And so, April contented herself to watch from the doorway, before swimming upstairs to her bedroom.
“April… April,” Ethan said while waving his hand in front of April’s face. April stared into the distance, her gaze unfocused.
“Oh sorry,” April said shaking her head slightly.
“Are you okay?” Ethan looked down at her in concern.
“Yeah, I’m fine, it’s just...” April looked down and fiddled with her necklace. “It’s like a wall has broken down in my mind. I feel like the pearls are trying to communicate with me,” she said in a rush.
“The pearls. As in like pearl blackouts? Have you spoken to anyone about this?” Ethan leaned forward instinctively.
“No, not yet. It’s no big deal,” April said gesturing flippantly with her hand.
“Are you sure, pearl memories aren’t supposed to happen until your powers go through the Kallion.”
“I’m sure Ethan,” April said with force. “It’s probably just an heir thing.” She put her drink down signalling the end of the conversation. Ethan looked at her warily.
“You can always talk to me April,” Ethan said moving her away from the crowd. April stared up at him.
“I know,” she breathed deeply. Ethan was her oldest friend and apart from Setha her closest. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t like talking about her powers with anyone.
“Do you remember when I refused to take pearl wielding classes anymore?”
“Yes,” Ethan laughed. “Your Mum was furious.”
April fiddled with her glass momentarily before looking up again. “I refused because they were testing me.”
“Testing you?” Ethan said furrowing his brow.
“They would weigh me to the ocean floor and see if I could use my powers to get free, or they would throw attacks at me and I had to fight them off. Once I was abandoned in a cave and sealed in. My Mum just chatted above with Shaman Tate as I cried for them to let me out.”
Ethan stared in shock. “That’s barbaric. Are you sure?”
“Yes. All she wants is to keep my powers under control,” April said quietly. “But, the pearls they’re a part of me.” April waved her hands more as she spoke.
“April no one can control you. You need to have more confidence in yourself, take control of your life,” Ethan said.
April smiled at him. She took a sip of his drink and looked down to the bar table and traced the lines of a sand dollar. A flicker of dark light followed her finger. She gasped in shock, but it disappeared so quickly she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it. About to say something April looked back up but Ethan interrupted.
“Look!” he pointed outside.
A huge roar and a gust of wind came from behind them as the final helicopter landed.
“Come on,” Ethan smiled at April and took her hand. She followed him and tried to ignore the black light she thought she had seen. Together they walked across the sand towards the helicopters. As they reached the helicopter April couldn’t help but look back. She was suddenly filled with a sense of nostalgia for the Summerland Palace. More pearl memories she presumed and tried to push the feelings away. The guard was standing impatiently at the helicopter’s stairs as by now everyone else had made their way onto the aircraft. April was glad that her Mum’s helicopter had already taken off and she couldn’t possibly know who was causing the delay.
The helicopters were nothing like April imagined. They were big, noisy and unsightly things; they did not resemble hummingbirds. Still, a thrill of excitement shot through her, she had travelled a lot but never by air. She hastened up the steps at the thought of being able to see her home from above and, to the guard’s great approval, finally made it on board the helicopter. A guard helped them into their seats and with great difficulty, because of the many accoutrements to April’s dress, fastened them in. She smiled apologetically at the guard as he walked off the helicopter shaking his head and gave the pilot the all clear.
“This is exciting!”
“What is?” Ethan replied distractedly looking in the other direction.
“Flying! I’ve never been up in the air before.”
“Oh... yeah.” Ethan pulled his gaze back to April. “It’s kind of nauseating.”
“You’ve flown before?” April said incredulously but she had lost Ethan’s attention again. “Ethan.” April tapped him on the arm. While doing so she leaned forward and strained against the straps to try and see what Ethan was staring at. The object of her friend’s attention soon became clear.
April tapped Ethan on the shoulder.
“So, do you think he’s cute?” she said with a smirk.
“Well, I did when we were dating,” Ethan said with a wry smile. “Am I that unsubtle? It’s amazing no one else has cottoned on yet.”
“You two dated! Is this the mystery guy?”
“Shhhh, yes,” Ethan said sagging slightly in his seat. “The guy up there is William. We just went on a couple of dates when I went to help my Dad draft the order of ceremony.”
“Ohhhh,” April said leaning over, it wasn’t often Ethan was forthcoming with information about his love life.
“Yeah, he was really nice. I didn’t realise he was even flirting with me at first. I never thought that a legged would look my way,” Ethan said.
“I would look at you,” April widened her eyes at Ethan jokingly, “You’re a catch.”
“Thanks, but it turns out I was right. He hadn’t realised I was a mer. On our third date he figured it out.”
“Had the blue tongue not tipped him off already?” April said raising her eyebrows.
“Apparently not, turns out old William is colour blind. Anyway, we were taking a walk along the beach and he suggested that we go for a swim…”