Double Life - Book 1 of the Vaiya Series

by Vaiya Books

  Like it or not, whatever change was happening inside him, his only choice was to fight against it until he was back to the surface again and could then safely remove the necklace without any unintended consequences.

  Accepting his fate grudgingly and blocking out his anxious thoughts, Ian opened his weary eyes and glanced around him, finally becoming aware of his surroundings. The gigantic room was only filled with four feet of water, just enough to swim in, while the rest of the room was filled with air.

  A heavy wooden table draped with a silver tablecloth stood right above the water line; a foamy crystal glass of creamy blue punch sat in front of him; clusters of yellow translucent citrus fruits filled a handcrafted basket to his left side. To his right side were luscious-looking crisp golden circular rolls stacked precariously on a bronze platter, and a bowl of something resembling creamy bluish yogurt. Several inches in front of the glass of blue punch stood a raspberry whipped cream pudding dessert that hinted of vanilla, coconut, and cocoa.

  As he stared at everything, his mouth watering, Ian felt a tail slap him gently on the arm. It was Taeria.

  Feeling strangely bitter against her for not warning him of the necklace’s effects, he grew somewhat consoled as he remembered that its power had saved him from the Forest Scourge. Besides, could he honestly blame her that the necklace was changing him? It wasn’t her fault; more than likely, she knew nothing of its repercussions.

  Besides all that, she’d also been generous enough to let him into the palace and allow him to share in this royal feast. The least he could do was forgive her and move on.

  His anger pacified, as he actually felt a twinge of guilt for his hasty temper, he looked at her with sudden glad relief. She was not only the first friend he’d made here in Vaiya, but was also a remarkably beautiful princess--her violet tail didn’t make her any less pretty in his eyes. Perhaps he’d been a little too dramatic about his changed temperament. Who was to say that he hadn’t just imagined the whole thing? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d jumped to conclusions. His sister had often told him that--

  “So how’d you like Arval, Ian?” The princess broke into his thoughts with an attentive smile, as Ian glanced at other mermen and mermaids sliding into dozens of couches set around various banquet tables in the enormous room, several faces of whom he recognized. “I would’ve played but I had to practice my song for the Mandian Festival.”

  “It was great, Princess,” he replied, startled by her question, and even more surprised that she hadn’t missed out on the game as some sort of punishment, as he’d previously assumed. “I ended up coming in sixth place out of nine with 185 points.”

  Her smile brightened. She was clearly impressed. “Did you collect any purple flowers?” she asked, curiosity in her voice.

  “No, but Rai and Jala did, Your Highness.”

  Taeria swished her violet fish tail back and forth, laughing knowingly, seeming to enjoy the royal title he gave her. “I don’t know how but they’re always able to find them.”

  Jealousy started to creep into his heart, but then it quickly went away. “They’re good--that’s for sure. Rai came in first with 510 points, Jala, a close second with 485.”

  Chatting with her about the game awhile longer, while a merman named Veram, who’d gotten last place on Arval, sat down on the other side of him, Ian felt completely at home, something he hadn’t expected in the world because of his bad encounter with the elven king. Yet, here he was, among royal blood and an entirely different race, and he actually seemed to fit in perfectly.

  As their conversation about Arval faded away and Rai took a seat next to Veram, Ian popped a few of the smooth tiny citrus fruits into his mouth, when his mind suddenly drifted back to the buffet at Shadowcrest Manor. Reality immediately kicked in. It was as if he’d awoken from a dream. The necklace was the least of his problems.

  Immediately, his brief cheerfulness vanished. He sank into depression and bit his lip in frustration, grieved with his terrible luck. Of all the times to come to this world, why’d it always have to happen when he was out in public having fun? Why couldn’t it happen when he was sleeping, playing darts, or running on the country roads?

  Sure, the Kingdom of Yavara was awesome and he loved everything about it: everyone was exceptionally friendly, the magical necklace--despite his negative thoughts about it--was actually very interesting, the food was amazing, and the scenery was lovely. However, how could he enjoy all of this when his friends at home were probably in a panic?

  By now, more than likely Tianna had sent Eddy or Jimmy into the men’s restroom to check on him to see if he was alright. Or, if not that, they were then murmuring to themselves about why he was taking so ridiculously long and when he was finally going to come out.

  Either way, though, he felt sickened.

  Stomach curling, Ian struggled to push those thoughts from his mind, but as soon as he did new ones replaced them. What if he remained trapped as a merman forever? What would happen if he returned to Shadowcrest as a half-fish? What if his sister saw him like this?

  After several moments of acute agony, he succeeded in shoving all of these bitter thoughts away, while shaking himself out of his uneasiness, as he realized that he wasn’t alone, and that the merfolk around him were undoubtedly watching him, alarmed by his depressed countenance.

  However, he wasn’t quick enough. The eyes of Taeria and the olive green-haired merman beside him, Veram, stared at him curiously, their faces unsettled. Being so lighthearted, they could probably detect anxiety a mile away.

  “What’s wrong, Ian?” asked Taeria softly, as Jala, Rhena, and a merman he didn’t recognize, arrived and swam casually onto the equally long couch in front of him. “You don’t like the food? the drink?”

  “No, I love them,” he murmured, reaching for the crystal glass full of what looked like thick blue punch, as he absentmindedly noticed that the room was packed now with roughly three hundred merfolk. “I’m fine.” He put on a fake smile and grinned.

  It didn’t convince her. Pulling out a small clear flask half full of peach-colored liquid, she twisted off the cap and set it on the table, worry beaming in her eyes. Before he knew what was happening, she poured a few drops of the liquid into his blue punch and then smiled joyfully as if she’d done him a favor.

  But he wasn’t a bit happy at her action and was actually quite terrified. Gazing at her, troubled thoughts racing through his mind like a speedboat, he instinctively released his grip on the glass. What’d she do to his punch? What was with all this secretive stuff?

  Just as he was about to voice his concern, Rhena, who’d been watching him closely ever since she’d arrived a short while ago, spoke up, amusement in her voice, “Drink it, Ian. It won’t hurt.”

  At her innocent-sounding tone, Ian grew more disturbed, not knowing what to think, as the princess exchanged a knowing look with her. “What happened, Rhena?” He stared at her, both bewildered and fearful.

  She just smiled, warmth radiating from her eyes. “You’ll find out when you drink it.”

  But he cocked his head to the side, taken aback by her vague response. “I’m not sure I want to.”

  Her voice grew more serious, even as light still danced in her eyes: “Don’t let the dolphins frighten you, Ian. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

  Still uncertain, Ian glanced at her expectant face and forced himself to indulge her request. After all, how bad could it be? What kind of mischief were the mermaids really capable of anyway? With their culture that thrived on kindness, surely they wouldn’t go too far.

  Releasing some of his paranoia with those thoughts, though still not bringing himself to trust her completely, Ian put the crystal glass up to his lips unsteadily and took a tiny sip. Immediately, the sweet flavors of vanilla cream and almond powder burst onto his taste buds, as Rhena and Taeria grinned at him playfully.

  His eyes widening at the strong, yet surprisingly wonderful flavor, he felt a strange wind-like sensation go str
aight through his body that only lasted a second before fading away. Not knowing what had happened, he went back to eating without asking any further questions about it. He’d probably find out soon enough though.

  Later that evening, much of the supper spent conversing with Taeria, Rhena, and Rai, he eventually finished the delicious meal, and King Jayan and Queen Osenia led him upstairs to his bedroom. He was more than a bit surprised though when he saw it; there were four kelp-like beds sprawled out in each corner of the splendidly decorated room, which, unfortunately, probably meant that he’d have to share his room with three others. His assumption was correct.

  A second later, Veram, Sardin, and Rai, three of the mermen he’d played Arval with, swam into the room, slapping him gently with their tails--a gesture that Ian had grown all too familiar with, though he hadn’t the heart to try it out himself--their eyes gleaming with mirth and excitement. He didn’t feel at all like laughing though.

  Negative thoughts doused his mind, like water dousing a fire: How was he going to get out of here with everyone watching him? If his hypothesis were correct, he could only transport to and from this world when nobody was around him. With all these merfolk around though, and so near to him, he’d be lucky to ever make it out. And even if he could, would he wish that upon himself?

  If he were to teleport out of here right now, even with their trusting culture, they’d probably still grow suspicious of him and begin to wonder what his true intentions for rescuing the princess were, and that perhaps he’d only saved her so that he could take their gifts. Or, a worse way to look at it, perhaps they’d believe that he’d only freed her so that he could spy out their kingdom and report it to their enemies.

  No, he couldn’t risk that … no matter what. It would be too much of a loss to have this kingdom turned against him as well.

  Seeing his only option then, he turned to look at King Jayan’s beaming face, and tried to appear relaxed and sophisticated in his rejection of his offer. “King Jayan,” he murmured, his voice quickly wavering from casualness. “I’m very grateful for your hospitality, but I have somewhere I need to be tonight.”

  As if ascertaining if he were serious, the king keenly observed him, trying to penetrate through his stern face and find some hint of sarcasm or jesting. He got nowhere. But it didn’t matter.

  King Jayan merely smiled at him, disregarding his agenda as if it couldn’t possibly be true. “Enjoy your stay here, Ian,” he said kindly, before cupping his hands and blowing on them, adding a bizarre farewell, “The tide is waning,” before swimming away with the queen, leaving Ian little choice but to head into his bedroom.

  Disheartened, stress rising in him, Ian painfully shut the door behind him, imagining Eddy storming out of the bathroom at Shadowcrest Manor and telling Tianna that he hadn’t seen Ian anywhere in there, causing terror to invade her face. Then he saw Hazel’s face grow icy cold, dark worry emanating from it, as she anxiously asked Eddy what could’ve possibly happened to...

  “Why so dark, Ian?” Rai swam near him and put a hand firmly on his shoulder, his cheerful countenance diminished somewhat.

  Annoyed and startled, Ian tried to keep a friendly face. “I’m just thinking about a few things--that’s all.”

  Acknowledging Ian’s words, Rai reached inside his tunic and pulled out a small circular stone container, full of a cream-colored lotion, handing it to Ian. “Princess Taeria gave this to me for my birthday. I don’t need it anymore,” he said matter-of-factly, a touch of humor in his voice.

  Ian eyed it with interest. “What does it do?” he asked.

  Winking at him, Rai swam around him in a circle, and then whispered into his ear, “Give it to a girl you like and see what happens.”

  Ian just laughed at this implication. “So if this is for girls, then why were you even using it in the first place?”

  With an embarrassed smile, Rai replied, “The princess and her friends tricked me. I won’t say anymore.” He paused. “So, you’ll give it to someone, right?”

  Laughing again, Ian pondered over this unique culture that thrived on gifts, happiness, and bizarre pranks. It seemed that if anyone were sad, dejected, or depressed, everyone went out of their way to cheer up that person. An interesting concept indeed, and one that perhaps he should try out at home, if he ever managed to get back there. “I’ll consider it,” he said, amused, as he took the lotion container and slipped it into a pocket in his dark black tunic. “Thank you, Rai.”

  Unknown to Rai though, Ian did not intend to actually ever give it to Hazel, or any other girl for that matter. Not only did he not know the effects of the cream, which, knowing the merfolk culture, could either be some sort of love potion, beauty ointment, or strange concoction that transformed her into a mermaid, but even the very process of giving it to Hazel would be extremely awkward. How would he even begin to go about explaining this gift to her?

  Before he’d dwelt any longer on it though, Rai suddenly interrupted his thoughts with a blunt assumption. “There’s a girl at home that you like, Ian, and you want to go back and meet her. Is that why you want to leave?”

  These perceptive words halted Ian’s thoughts. Although he had far more reasons for wanting to go home than to see Hazel, he couldn’t deny that this was one of them, and if this explanation could get him out of this palace, he’d not hesitate to go along with it. “Yes, that’s definitely part of the reason,” he replied, “though I also need to see my friends and family, as I’m sure they’re terribly worried about me by now.”

  Rai paused for a second. “I understand,” he said, his voice reflective rather than sad. “Just stay a little longer, Ian, and then you may go.”

  As if he’d uttered a magic word, the other two mermen, Veram and Sardin, suddenly finished their conversation and swam over to Ian, hovering around him and barraging him with a host of different questions, some relating to his thoughts about being a merman, others relating to how life was like for a human on land.

  Once he’d satisfied their curiosity in these areas, they then rambled on about which mermaids they liked and which ones liked them, before putting the focus on him, mentioning how Rhena, who’d not only hugged him, but had also expressed a great interest in him, seemed to be deeply in love with him.

  Not believing them, he, nonetheless, blushed at their words and desperately tried to change the subject. After what seemed like several hours of burning embarrassment, though it were probably only five minutes, he eventually succeeded and they discussed the game of Arval instead, praising Ian for how great he’d done, as it was his first try and he’d only been a merman for a short time and so hadn’t yet mastered the art of swimming.

  Fifty minutes later, after chatting with them about their school life, their hobbies, their unusual underwater games, and their swimming records, Ian had had enough and just wanted to leave. Swimming off his bed, he opened up the door and glanced back at them.

  Rai’s face immediately darkened.

  “So you truly are leaving us,” he said, grave disappointment in his tone, as Veram and Sardin looked at Ian with surprised sadness. “Where will you go?”

  “Back to my home.”

  Expecting him to put up an argument, Ian was surprised when he gave in so quickly.

  “That is understandable,” he said.

  Before Ian could try to further justify his reasoning, Sardin broke into the conversation. “You’ll be back soon, won’t you?” he asked, a wisp of sorrow wafting into his voice.

  “I hope so, Sardin,” he muttered, feeling sad himself, yet also greatly relieved that they’d finally given him the chance to leave. If only he weren’t too late. By now, Eddy could’ve very well called 911 and gotten the waitress to start looking for him. Or perhaps, Tianna could’ve thought he was playing another Halloween prank and so they’d now started searching for his hiding spot.

  Then again, both these possibilities could very easily be wrong, as time seemed to work differently in this world. Though here, many
hours had passed, on earth, only several minutes might have passed. There was really no way of knowing. He had to hope for the best.

  After a rather lengthy pause, in which Ian tried to calm himself down by imagining the best possible return scenario, Sardin gazed at him, his face melancholy from Ian’s words. “Then I wish you a hearty farewell, Ian. May the ocean’s current carry you safely to your destination.” Looking Ian steadily in the eye, he then added a word of caution: “And don’t lose that necklace. Princess Taeria would be much displeased.”

  Telling him and his friends that he’d protect it at all costs, an expression that once he’d explained to them seemed to relax them greatly, Ian turned his back to them and swam away from them, anxious to get back to the surface.

  As he darted down a corridor, passing a couple of well-detailed paintings, he suddenly felt a firm hand on his shoulder and instinctively stopped, turning around sharply and gazing into the face of Sardin and his two friends.

  His lips pursed in annoyance. Were they not letting him go after all? Had they only been mocking him?

  Before he could get any angrier though, they quickly explained to him that they were going to escort him to the crystal gate and then leave him there.

  Nodding his head in agreement, surprised by their loyal friendship, as he’d only met them a few hours ago, while at the same time, feeling rather guilty over his hasty assumption, Ian followed them out of the palace, passed the elegant pastel buildings, and then left the Kingdom of Yavara through the crystal gate, which Sardin opened by whispering a few words to it.

  Standing outside the gate, Ian waved goodbye to them and gave them each a quick farewell, to which they exchanged weird glances with each other, uttering one of their many strange farewells back to him, before swimming away, glancing back every once in awhile with sorrow in their eyes.