by Dee J. Stone
I am at his side and place my hand on his shoulder. “The humans will never invade our home. You have no need to worry over that.” I gently squeeze his shoulder and smile. “It is not necessary for you to entertain such thoughts, for it is the duty of the king and queen to ascertain that the children of the sea are well protected.” I swallow. “It shall be my duty. And I promise you we will be safe.”
Kiander does not utter a word. He merely stares down at the sea floor. Then he swims toward the exit. Before he leaves, he looks back at me. “I do not want you to get injured.”
“I will not, Brother. I assure you I will not.”
He gives me a small smile before heading to his room. I wish he didn’t worry so. He has always behaved in this manner. Syd shares many of the same qualities as Kiander, how they burden themselves with manners they need not be bothered with, and how they easily grasp problems many do not realize. Once I become king, all the troubles will fall on my shoulders. Mine and Princess Flora’s.
The princess. My mate. Now that I am back in the sea, I have returned to the reality of my life. It causes my stomach to twist in an uncomfortable manner.
***
As my body stirs from its slumber, I feel someone in my arms. My eyes shoot open and stare down at Zarya nestled on my chest. She lies above my seaweed, clearly not comfortable. I move the seaweed aside and attempt to stretch them over her, but my actions cause her to awaken.
She blinks at me. “Dammy?”
I shift the seaweed to cover her. “Go back to sleep, Zarya. I apologize for waking you.”
“But it is morning and I have already woken.”
She is quite energetic in the mornings. Normally it does not bother me, but I am extremely exhausted. Perhaps the shift from child of the sea to human, and human to child of the sea has exhausted my body.
“You have gone exploring again without me!” She pouts.
I stroke the top of her head. “I apologize. I shall ask Father if I may take you with me tomorrow.”
She beams. “Thank you!” She leaps out of my shell and does a small somersault. “Wait until I inform Syd and Syndin! They will be so envious.” She dashes out. It is not long before I hear her announce the news to the family.
Then I hear Father’s voice, and trepidation enters me. I do not wish to meet his wrath. I am certain he is quite enraged with me. But I suppose there is no use in prolonging this. He and Mother must be aware that I have returned home.
Once I leave my room and enter the main quarters, I find Father, Mother, Doria, and Kiander seated at the table, eating fish. The little ones are playing on the floor.
Mother smiles. “Good morning, Damarian. I am pleased to see you are well.” Though her expression is cheerful, I see the concern in her eyes. And the pain. It causes me to feel nothing but guilt.
Father, on the other hand…he does not look cheerful or worried. His mouth is tight, his shoulders are rigid, and his eyes appear as though they can cut stone.
“Good morning, Father,” I greet, then nod to my siblings.
Father’s eyes move to mine in a very slow pace. “Damarian.”
I sit next to Doria and reach for fish. We eat in silence for a little while until Father says, “Would you like to inform your family of your whereabouts yesterday?”
Mother, Kiander, and Doria focus their attention on me while the little ones continue playing. I have devised an excuse on my journey home from land and as I attempted to sleep last night. I thought I was prepared, but now that I am faced with the situation, I do not feel as confident. I do not wish to lie to my family, but I do not have another choice.
“I shared my time with my friends at the Ruby colony.” I bite into my fish, even though I do not have an appetite.
“The Ruby colony?” Father asks. “I was not aware you were still acquainted with children from that clan. It was my understanding that you broke ties once you were no longer a fry.”
“Why is it so terrible to associate oneself with members of another clan?” Kiander asks. “They are children of the sea, just as you and I are.”
Father holds out his hand. “Please, this is not the appropriate time to state your views, Kiander.”
He frowns. “They are not views. It is life. Is it not the reason why Damarian is mating with Princess Flora? To unite the clans?”
I cannot help but gape at my brother. Kiander is not one to state his opinions so forcefully. He has always been the quietest sibling.
Father removes his gaze from Kiander and places it on me. “Damarian, you stated you shared your time at the Ruby colony?”
I swallow the bits of fish that have not slid down my throat. “Yes, Father. Though we were friends when we were fry and parted ways when we grew older, we recently agreed to enjoy each other’s company.” I am ashamed to admit that the lie flows quite easily from my lips.
Father reaches for a large fish and bites into it. “Then why did I not sense you when I passed the Ruby colony during my search for you?”
Fortunately, I anticipated this and am ready with a response. “My friends and I spent the night in a cave far from the colony. Perhaps that is the reason you were unable to sense us. But have no fear, for Fiske located me. I apologize I did not inform you or Mother of my plans. It was sudden.”
Father’s eyes narrow as he stares at me. He does not believe me. But he does not say anything. He merely devours his fish.
Everyone grows silent and focuses on their food.
After a few minutes, Mother says, “Syren, I am afraid we have run low on fish.”
Father nods. “Very well. Damarian and I will hunt immediately.”
“What of me, Father?” Kiander asks.
“I wish to hunt with Damarian only.”
Kiander looks at me and smiles in a sympathetic manner. It is customary for the three of us to hunt together. When Father specifically requests to hunt with one of us only, it is because he wishes to speak to him about a very important manner, or to reprimand him. I am certain Father wishes to do both with me.
“Yes, Father,” I say.
Zarya slides onto Father’s lap and bounces. “Please allow me to explore with Dammy tomorrow, Father. Please!”
He smiles and taps her nose. “What do you say, Kiandra? Do you believe our little darling is old enough to explore the sea with her eldest brother?”
Mother places her hand on her chin as though she is contemplating an extremely hard problem. “I am not certain. Perhaps if she showed she is mature…”
“Yes, I will show you,” Zarya says, bounding off Father and swarming toward Mother. “What must I do?”
Mother gestures to her toys lying on the floor. “Pick up your toys and place them neatly in your room.”
“Yes, Mother!”
She gathers every one of her toys and hurries to her room. She returns not two seconds later. “What else?”
“You may clean up our toys,” Syndin says.
She sticks out her tongue.
“You may help me clean up the fish bones,” Mother tells her.
“All right!” She grabs a small oyster shell and begins to place the fish bones inside.
Father kisses the top of her head before swimming to the oyster shells. He chooses two large ones, hands one to me, then motions for me to follow him outside. The Sapphire colony, like every day, is active, with many children of the sea swimming about. Father and I leave the colony and make way to the exit of the entire colony. We approach the Sentinels, and I find Fiske amongst them.
Once he lays eyes upon us, he hurries over and inclines his head. My greetings, Syren and Damarian.
Father slightly lowers his head. My thanks for locating my son and bringing him home safely.
Of course.
I touch Fiske’s head so that he and I can hold a private conversation.
Has your father scolded you? Fiske asks.
No, but he will shortly.
It will be all right. He was quite concerned about your
welfare.
I do not know why, but I feel a strange sensation in my stomach. Father is not one to show emotion, at least not to me. He is extremely affectionate with Zarya and Mother—and he tries to behave in the same manner with Doria—but Doria is not one to show a lot of affection. Father does not show me the same. The fact that he was concerned about my welfare yesterday touches my heart.
Are you now a member of the Sentinels? I ask Fiske.
Not yet. They still do not believe I am old enough. I am merely observing.
I rub his head. You will be a fine Sentinel, Fiske. I am sure of it.
Thank you.
I rub his head again before swimming to Father’s side. He and I leave the colony and head toward a location abundant with fish. We do not speak during our journey. Fortunately, it is not long before we reach our destination.
There are many species of fish in this area. Each member of our family is fond of a different breed, and we try to gather as many as possible to please everyone. Father and I lay our oyster shells on the sea floor and face our prey. I have hunted for fish since I was a fry and am quite skilled in this act. I relax my body and raise my arms as gently as possible so that I will not startle them. Once I locate a fish that seems weaker than the rest, I surge toward it, grab it, and bite into the left side of its head. That causes the swiftest and least painful death. I place the fish in my oyster shell and move onto the next one.
Father and I work in silence. After I have acquired enough fish from this area, I swim to another one, though not too far from Father. I admit I enjoy the solitude, for I do not feel as though Father will reprimand me at any given moment.
When my shell is half-full, Father joins me in this new location and continues hunting. It does not take him too long to say, “Were you aware of the consequences of your actions?”
The truth is that I was not aware of the consequences of my actions. All I was concerned with was swimming as far away as possible from the life I did not want.
“The mating ceremony was set to occur yesterday morning,” Father says in the most disappointed tone I have ever heard on his lips. “What do you suppose the royal family thinks?”
As I swam into the storm, the last thought on my mind was what the royal family thought. But perhaps I should have taken them into consideration. It was beyond rude of me. “I apologize, Father.”
“I had to invent excuses!” Father throws a fish into his shell. “I told them you were too ill and needed rest.”
“Father—”
“What is your wish, Damarian? That the princess choose another mate?”
Is that my wish? I do not know.
Father swims closer to me and rests his hands on my shoulders. “We have been striving for this all your moons. All your moons. One error and we may lose it all.” He removes his hands and turns toward the fish. “Please do not disappoint me.”
He continues to hunt. I merely watch him, unable to make sense of my thoughts. He has instilled in me all my moons that it is my duty and destiny to take Princess Flora as a mate and take the crown. At times, it felt as though Father cared more for the crown than he did for me. Now that I am no longer a fry, I understand why he has wished this for me. Because I am the true heir to the throne, and Father wants what is best for me. If he believes my taking the throne is what is best for me, then perhaps I need to believe him.
I swim closer and touch his arm. “Forgive me, Father. I apologize for my behavior. It is…what I mean is… I am not certain I am prepared to be king.”
Father eyes snap to mine, and they are stern. “You have nearly reached your two hundred and fortieth moon.”
“Yes, but I wish to have a little more time. Once I become king, I will no longer live in the Sapphire colony. I will live at the palace, in Eteria, a far distance from you, Mother, and the family. I will not be able to spend time with Zarya, the twins, and Kiander and Doria. I will no longer be able to spend time with my friends. I will be tied to the crown. The sea and her inhabitants will be my upmost priority. It is a grave responsibility, Father.”
For the first time in all my moons, it seems Father is contemplating my words. He floats in his place, paying no attention to some fish who hit his face. Finally, he says, “I suppose it has not occurred to me how frightening this is for you.”
“Yes.” I lower my eyes to my tail. “I am indeed frightened.” I raise my head to Father. “You were well acquainted with Mother before you mated. Why can I not have the same?”
Father lowers his hand to my shoulder. “You are correct, my son. I will speak to the king and queen later today and ask them to postpone the mating ceremony for a few days. That shall give you enough time to prepare yourself and familiarize yourself with your future mate.”
A few days is not a lot, but I suppose it will have to do. And I do not know why, but the face that enters my mind is not Princess Flora’s, but Cassie Price’s. I quickly shake my head. “Thank you, Father.”
He nods, then focuses his attention on the fish. We continue working in silence until Father says, “Do you know why I am granting you permission to take Zarya exploring with you tomorrow?”
I shake my head. In the past, Father and I have taken Zarya on small travels, though they never satisfied her. The little fry wishes to set out on a grand adventure.
“It is because I wish for you to realize how important you are to your siblings,” Father says. “It is my wish that you be an example. You are the eldest and it is your responsibility.”
I feel my eyebrows descend. “I do not understand. What example do you wish for me to be?”
He throws his hands upward. “What do you think they think when they see their eldest brother disregarding his duty? They admire you, Damarian. They look up to you. You must set a positive example.”
“What do you expect from your other fry?” I ask. It is Father’s wish that I mate with the princess and take the throne, but I have not known him having expectations of my siblings.
“It is the wish of your mother and I that every one of our fry find a mate and produce fry.”
I grunt and turn away from him. “Is that all, Father? Surely that is not all you wish for them.”
“It is a serious matter! What is your wish? That Zarya’s mind be filled with exploring the sea and other nonsense and never choose a mate? Never live a happy life?”
It feels as though seaweed has been trapped in my throat. No, certainly it is my wish that one day—in the distant, distant future—Zarya will choose a mate and live a blissful life. I do not wish for her to be constantly away from home, constantly in danger. I would rest easier knowing she was in the safety of the colonies. But if it is her desire to explore the ocean, I shall not hinder her. All I wish for her, for all my siblings, is to be happy.
I study Father. His hair is a different shade than mine and my siblings, for our coloring comes from the combination of both him and Mother. The length of it is much longer than mine—he has lived many, many moons. But he and I are so similar in appearance. He and I both wish for the same outcome—that our family be happy. Father is right, perhaps I am the one placing these thoughts in Zarya’s head. All my life I have wished to explore the sea, and that must have caused Zarya to develop a love for it as well. I cannot imagine living peacefully with the knowledge that my littlest sister is out exploring in the deepest and blackest of waters.
Father is correct—I must set a positive example for my siblings. If Zarya still chooses to explore the sea and not find a mate and have fry, that will be her decision and not due to my influence.
“You carry the utmost responsibility,” Father says. “Taking the crown—the crown that belongs to our clan. Our family, Damarian. I am the true king. You are the true heir. Mother is the true queen and your siblings are the true princes and princesses. The Violets have carried the crown for far too long. It is your duty to retrieve it.”
Yes, I am aware of this. Quite aware of this. And my taking the crown will not only return t
he kingdom to the true family, it will make peace between all the clans. For once two members of different clans unite, there will no longer be one ruling clan. And as the moons pass, the clans will merge and become one species, as it should be.
“I understand, Father.”
Chapter Eight
I sit on a stone chair outside my home, attempting to ignore Father’s words. It is not my fault I was born eldest. Why is it my duty to set an example for my siblings?
Are my thoughts selfish? I do not intend them to be. All this responsibility…I do not know if I can bear it.
The face of the lovely Cassie Price floats before me. When I was on land with her, I did not feel the weight of my responsibilities. Nothing mattered, only the conversations she and I shared. I smile as the memories enter my head. I do not remember the last time I smiled in this manner, other than when I shared my time with Zarya.
“Damarian?”
I look in the distance and notice Neren heading in my direction. His hand clutches the one of a female Violet. Pelina. She and I have met on occasion, though I do not know her well. Many of the Sapphires stare at her tail as she and Neren move closer to me. She will not be ostracized for visiting my clan, but she will be stared at in this manner until she leaves. It is not often that a Violet enters our colony.
Like all the Violets, Pelina has long, dark brown hair. It is similar to the Princess’s, but also quite dissimilar, for every child of the sea has a different shade. Though she appears somewhat apprehensive for swimming in the Sapphire colony, I cannot mistake the happiness that has overtaken both her and Neren’s faces.
“Hello,” I greet once they float before me. I motion for them to take seats on the vacant stone chairs.
“Hello.” Pelina and Neren lower themselves on the stones.
“I hear you are to be mated. I offer you my congratulations.”
Though I am extremely delighted that my dearest friend is to be mated, my voice betrays me. I do not know why. Nor am I aware of the reason why Cassie Price’s face once again enters my mind.
“Thank you,” Pelina says, her lips stretched in an exuberant smile.