Her mind finally quieted enough to allow her to drift off when she felt someone sidle up next to her. Her mouth opened, intending to cry for help, when a hand clamped over her lips.
“Shh! You’ll wake Mom and Dad,” Jovie whispered beside her.
Swallowing her scream, she sat up and ran a hand through her messed up hair, frustrated her mental escape had been thwarted.
“What do you want, Jovie? I was trying to go to sleep. I’ve had a bad day.” Instantly, she regretted her sharp words. She was clueless to the day Meriya endured.
“I… I’m sorry. We didn’t get to spend the day together and I came to check on you.” Jovie laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I heard Mom gushing to Dad. She wasn’t quiet about it either, which woke me up. To her, your day went as planned.”
She ticked off the reasons on her fingers. “She told Dad all about how you and Cayson are getting along, the food you ate, and the plans for the future you’ve made.”
Her arms snaked around Meriya and pulled her close, whispering in her hair, “Please, tell me you aren’t falling for him. Tell me everything Mom said is a lie.”
Meriya’s arms encircled her as well, pulling the one person she could trust close to her in comfort. Comfort she desperately needed at that moment. Jovie knew her better than she knew herself. Jovie waking her up and holding her close was exactly what she needed.
“It’s a lie. All a lie. I still can’t stand him.” Meriya made a sour face. “He looked at me like I was a piece of meat. I covered myself with my hair and wished I could disappear.”
They didn’t pull away from each other for a long while, needing the love each of them could provide. Together they would help her get through this or die trying.
Jovie pulled away first, gazing down at Meriya with mischief dancing in her eyes. “Let’s go out to the Mary Celestia or the Minnie Breslauer shipwreck.”
“Tomorrow?” Meriya questioned with a frown.
“Tonight!” She quickly covered her mouth to muffle her excitement, giggling behind her hand.
Meriya shot out of bed and backed away. “We can’t go out tonight. It’s dark and if we’re caught, Dad will have our tails!” It was one thing to go during the day when they might not be missed and could explain away their absence, but if their parents came to check on them, they’d be dead. Sometimes, Dad woke up in the middle of the night for a snack. During those times, his kitchen adventures would wake her enough to hear him open her door to check on her.
“Why not? Mom, Dad, and Tandy are all asleep. I can hear Dad snoring through his door. We’ll be fine,” she assured her.
“I don’t know.” Worry gnawed at her insides. “Can’t we go tomorrow? We’ll be able to see more.”
“It’s a quarter moon and the ocean's glowing. We’ll be able to see perfectly!” She bounced in place on Meriya’s bed, her excitement infectious.
“Well…” Meriya dragged out the word, still hesitant to go out and run the risk of getting caught.
“We won’t get caught. I promise!” She sounded awfully sure of herself.
“Okay. Fine.” Crossing her arms, Meriya gave her a stern look. “If we’re caught, you get to tell Mom and Dad this was all your fault. I was taken against my will.”
“Deal.” Meriya’s hand was instantly in a death grip with Jovie’s as she yanked her out of her room. “But only if Adrielle can come, too!” she squeaked out.
“Fine, we’ll grab her on the way,” Jovie whispered conspiratorially as they slipped outside.
Meriya’s nail made a tiny tink tink tink as she tapped on the window. Soon, Adrielle’s heart-shaped face appeared, her hand rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She squinted a moment, then held up a finger, disappearing from her room.
She grumbled to herself as she came around the corner of her house. “What are you doing out here so late?”
“Shh!” Jovie and Meriya hushed her in unison.
“We’re heading out to the shipwrecks. Wanna come?” Meriya asked.
“Why can’t you two do anything during the day, like normal people?” Crossing her arms, Adrielle leaned against the window, fighting to keep her eyes open.
Meriya’s head dipped in agreement. “That’s what I told Jovie, but she insisted.” Why had she agreed to come out in the middle of the night? If caught, she'd only dig herself deeper into an already monstrous hole.
“No one’s going to notice we’re gone at this hour.” Jovie scowled. “You two are such chickens. I thought for sure you’d be okay with this, Meriya.”
“Yeah, well, I’m tired of getting in trouble. Look where it’s gotten me!” She snapped, her face reddening.
“Keep your voices down,” Adrielle chided in barely a whisper.
“Sorry,” Meriya breathed.
Jovie lowered her voice as well as she continued her argument. “If you all don’t want to go, I’ll go by myself.”
Adrielle pushed away from the window, her hands on her hips. “The last time I went out to the wrecks with you all, I was grounded for a whole month and Mom made me do all of my brother’s chores during that time.”
“That was during the day. C’mon,” Jovie coaxed. “Just for a little bit?”
Adrielle yanked her fingers through her jet-black hair, pausing as she questioned her sanity. “Whatever. Let’s get this over with.”
They decided on visiting the ruins of the Mary Celestia. Shipwrecks fascinated her more than Jovie, but this one was Jovie’s favorite. If she was being honest, it was her favorite, too, but its proximity to the island scared her, even at night.
Sure, the boy she’d rescued was nice while he was unconscious, but what would he have done to her if he’d been awake?
The feel of the water sliding over her tail as she propelled herself forward at top speed was exhilarating, especially at night. Danger lurked in the deep recesses of the sea, but they paid it no mind, and sped ahead unabashed.
The sliver of moon only filtered so much light through the water before its glow was eaten up by the inky darkness below. They had to be careful of the jagged coral haphazardly littering the bottom. When it ripped into scale and skin, it hurt something fierce.
Jovie signaled for them to slow down as they approached the wreckage. Most of the fish had taken to hiding because of predators who prowled the waters. During the day it would have been teeming with schools of fish darting around them in a whirlpool of color.
The area wasn’t as dark as it normally would be thanks to the bioluminescent algae glowing on the surface.
The cool blue radiance cast a glow downward, lighting their path, and making this venture feel like a fairy tale.
Wanting to keep quiet so as not to alert any nearby dangers, Meriya spoke to Jovie through her mind. Telepathy was considered an intimate thing. Most only did it with family or their significant other. When one spoke telepathically to another, it opened the recipient to the emotions and thoughts of the speaker.
It’s beautiful, Jovie. I shouldn’t have argued with you about coming. Swimming up next to her, she bumped her shoulder against Jovie’s. Let’s sift through the sand and see if we can find any treasures.
Jovie nodded in agreement and they dove deeper, hovering over the sandy bottom of the wreckage to look around. This site was picked clean long ago, by both human and mermaid alike, but they still held hope of finding something of worth, at least to them.
Adrielle grinned next to Meriya. “I’ve not been to this one before…”
A dark shadow blotted out the phosphorous glow, bringing Adrielle up short on her statement, and causing Meriya to startle.
Is that a boat? What's it doing out here this late? Meriya whispered to Jovie and Adrielle’s mind, her fear leaking through the connection they now shared.
They all looked up to take in the boat bobbing on the surface of the ocean. The humans had come out to see the glowing water.
“It’s the humans,” Jovie said aloud, her body shivering at the thought.
“Maybe we should leave.” Meriya wearily drifted over to a piece of the wreckage to hide behind. Jovie stayed where she was, looking up at the boat with fascination with Adrielle next to her.
Jovie completely ignored her idea of leaving. “What if humans aren’t bad?”
The question caught her off guard. Her sister had always been adamant about how horrible humans were, spewing the same propaganda society fed them since birth. They all knew the dangers and were too scared to cross the line to find out if they were the truth.
“Jovie! You know they’re hateful creatures who would harm us if they knew about us.” Even as she said it, she knew deep down it was a lie. Something within her told her that, like mer-kind, not all of them were bad. Perhaps they’d only encountered the bad humans in their history and there were good humans out there.
“I mean, I know what we’ve been told about them, but we’ve never actually met them to know from experience. Maybe they’re misunderstood,” Adrielle stated as she lazily glided over to where Meriya hid.
“Shh! They’re going to hear us up there.” Meriya pointed toward the surface where the boat still floated as she sank down deeper behind the barnacle-covered debris.
Jovie joined them, peeking around the crumbling edge, her face illuminated in the light blue tones cast down from the surface. “Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
Uncertain, she glanced up at the vessel swaying above them, astounded at her sister’s bravado.
She took Meriya’s silence as acceptance. “Let’s go up and take a glimpse. It’s dark and they’ll never see us.”
Adrielle gasped, cowering behind Meriya.
Meriya’s lavender eyes widened in shock. “You can’t truly mean that. You know the rules and what happens to those who break them.” Even as she said it, she remembered the rules she broke by rescuing that boy years ago. Not only had she saved him, but she’d touched, carried, and swam him to shore. She’d gone up onto the beach risking exposure, or worse, capture.
Jovie threw her hands up in a wide arc, a simmering bubble enveloping all three of them. Meriya knew from experience her wards were soundproof.
“There, now we can talk more openly.” She sidled up closer to Adrielle and Meriya, her blond hair fanning out in the water around her head. “I’ve followed the rules all of my life and it’s gotten me nowhere. I’m tired of it.” A sigh escaped her, shoulders slumped. “Just once, I want to feel alive, like I’ve at least lived a little. Dared a little.”
Meriya nodded as she tugged her into her embrace, resting her head on her shoulder. “I know, I am, too.” Her confession whispered through Jovie’s hair.
Jovie’s arms tightened around her, offering the comfort Meriya sought. They were both too young to have such a skewed opinion of the world.
Above their heads, more vessels glided overhead.
"What in the world?" Adrielle nudged Meriya. "Look!"
They all shrunk back in fear. With more humans appearing, the risk was too great, even for their curiosity.
Meriya bobbed her head in the direction of home. “You all ready to go?”
“Sure, it’s getting a little too crowded around here for my liking,” Jovie said flippantly, her ward dissolving within seconds. She slipped her hand into Meriya’s, gently towing her toward home, Adrielle not far behind.
Meriya’s heart yearned to leave it all behind, while the rational side of her brain told her that logically she was better off staying in Obsidia.
6
Rowan stood on the dock, staring at the waves in the distance, remembering how the ocean tossed him and his father around like ragdolls five years ago. The sun mocked him from a cloudless sky, so unlike that fateful day. Today marked the anniversary of his father’s death.
After pulling the boat away from the dock, he headed out toward the open sea. Visiting his father’s place of death was his yearly ritual. He still swept his gaze over the crystal-clear waters in hopes of finding his dad. His body was never recovered.
Rowan’s phone chimed, indicating he had a voicemail. The phone didn’t ring, but it didn’t surprise him considering he was out to sea. Could he still listen to the voicemail this far from shore?
He pressed the phone to his ear, his eyes going wide when it actually played back his message.
“Row, it’s Nick. Just calling to see how you’re doing and well… if you need a First Mate today, I’m your man.” The message ended, and Rowan shoved his phone in his pocket. His Uncle Terrance also offered to come with him this year, but Rowan declined, preferring solitude.
Rowan told himself he was only going out there to honor his father, but that was a lie. He also went to look for her. She haunted his dreams. In his mind’s retelling, she was in the process of turning around, but he woke before he saw her face, disappointment coating his skin in a thin layer of sweat.
He’d find her.
She was out there somewhere, and he planned to prove everyone wrong. Everyone who laughed at him. Mocked him. Whispered behind his back.
Mermaids existed.
By the time he reached his destination, the day started to wane. He searched the choppy waves as his boat sailed over them without effort. There were no signs of the two people he wanted to find the most in his life.
Cutting the engine, the boat drifted as he claimed the bench seat near the stern. The wind rustled through his dirty blonde hair, tiny strands tickling his ear. He closed his eyes and rolled his shoulders, trying to get the anger and tension to release. The past five years had yielded no results when it came to proving mermaids existed.
Breathing in the salty air, he let the calm wash over him. Soon, dusk would fall and the stars would shine down, twinkling in their brilliance as if they held some secret.
He’d bet money the stars knew where she was. Or perhaps his dad was one of those stars now, gracing the heavens, looking down upon him with a smile. Would he be proud of Rowan? Of what he’d become? He’d like to think so.
He opened his eyes to see other vessels had arrived, barely visible from the soft, golden glow on the edge of the horizon. The sun set, putting a close to another day, and another year without his father. Usually, no one bothered him while he was out there.
Suddenly, the water came alive and he realized why there were so many visitors. The ocean’s surface teemed with life. Bioluminescent plankton floated around the hull, lighting up the ocean like a sea of stars, a universe all its own. Rowan leaned over the starboard side skimming his fingers along the water, creating a bright trail in their wake. Describing the scene before him as beautiful was an understatement. Words at that moment failed him.
He tried to use the light to his advantage as he peered into the depths of the ocean. It was hard to tell if what he saw were fish scales or mermaid tails. They all looked the same to him in the dim glow.
His chest tightened. He was never going to find her. Looking through the ocean was worse than looking for a needle in a haystack.
The ocean was getting too crowded and he wanted to be alone, away from all this. It was time to head back. Even the plankton no longer held any interest for him.
Sitting back at the controls, he started her up and weaved through the other boats until he greeted open water and a clear shot home.
7
The weeks flew by, school continued, and her chaperoned dates happened sporadically, but Meriya sensed they were strategic. Slowly, she began to fall into a rhythm with Cayson.
He’d tell her how beautiful she was, she’d shove a sea biscuit in her mouth, and they’d then chat about inconsequential things. Thankfully, the leers and insinuated comments came to a halt.
She sat on a cushioned window seat in the sitting room of Cayson’s house, her tail tucked beneath her. She stared wistfully out the window as she ignored his incessant chatter. She had no interest in whatever he wanted to say until he spoke one key phrase.
“Sea glass?” Her ears perked up and she turned to give him her full attention.
> A sly smile smeared across his face as he nodded. “Yup, don’t tell Father, but I sometimes go near the beach to collect them.”
She felt like the tables were turned. She held information that could get him in trouble and he hadn’t batted an eye telling her. Each visit they shared taught her something new that eroded her defenses a little more, but she couldn't bring herself to fully trust him. What if he was lying?
He no longer mocked her at school, but neither of them went out of their way to make it known they were betrothed. She wasn't sure if she felt relief or anger every time he’d pass her in the corridors and barely acknowledge her existence.
Proceeding with caution, she held her excitement in check, asking, “Can I see your collection?” Her expression remained impassive as she unfolded her tail, she sat up straighter and placed her hands in her lap.
“That’s why I told you about it. C’mon, I’ll take you to see it.” He startled her when he grabbed her hand, yanking her toward his destination.
His home wasn’t as big as the palace, but it ran a close second and she still felt lost in it whenever they’d wander around.
He guided her to the second floor where she’d yet to visit. Veering left, they entered a darkened hallway where polished shell walls still gleamed despite the lack of light. They must contain an enchantment.
"Um, Cayson?" Her mom and the Chancellor periodically left them unchaperoned. She was on the second floor which appeared to be all of the bedrooms.
Cayson halted inside the doorway to a room and she barely managed to avoid colliding with his backside. He released her hand after guiding her into the room, his aquamarine gaze traveling from head to tail once the door clicked shut.
She squirmed beneath his heated appraisal, choosing to back away slowly, but her efforts halted as she bumped into a wall.
She spotted a desk to her left realizing it would make a lovely barrier between them. Her tail fin gave a lazy flick, sending her slowly coasting behind its protection.
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