Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series)

by Susan Fodor

  "Of course," Daniel agreed, agitated by the ineffectiveness of the Heart of the Sea.

  The guards released the seal cubs who eagerly bounded into their parents waiting arms. Despite the boys being on the cusp of adolescence, they fell happily into their parents’ embrace. I shed a tear at the happy reunion, a sense of accomplishment washing over me.

  "If we are to revert to our original treaty, it would be of assistance to reinstate the Heart of the Sea," Daniel entreated King Leo persuasively. I wasn’t sure what Daniel expected my biological father to do, but returning to the old law meant that we were allies rather than enemies; which meant that we were to labor for our mutual benefit.

  "I agree," King Leo nodded, thoughtfully. "There is much to discuss, not least of which is your intention toward the princess of the selkies."

  I looked at Mum who had clearly been coaching King Leo as much as Dad. She was sneakier than I gave her credit for. She may have been a flower child, but she was also effective in getting things done, and King Leo had been brought up to date on Daniel and my relationship status thoroughly.

  Daniel blushed at the mention of our relationship. "My intentions are to bring our people together; the love I feel for Mya is the love I hope our people will share one day."

  The king nodded thoughtfully. I remembered in Cornwall, Mum often ducked out to ‘call Dad’; it dawned on me that she had meant both of them. The week we had been away had given him enough time to reconsider the enemy status between the two colonies. King Leo was not a fool, he knew the shortcomings of living on a rock covered in faeces; he was keen to see his people in a safer environment.

  Daniel wanted the selkies in Atlantis because the renovations he was planning required thousands of people. The current population of Atlantis was around 1000; there were approximately the same amount of selkies. Combining our people would hasten the renaissance that Daniel was planning for Atlantis.

  Charlie had also had an extensive meeting with King Leo regarding his experience visiting Alamer and the existence of Escamonte. Selkies were capable of living in both cities, and since the treaties were being rebooted, it left room for discussion. The king’s question alluded to Charlie sharing more than tactical information; a marriage between our people would be good for relations. For centuries royal alliances had been cemented by marriage, it seemed that my relationship with Daniel had the potential to be such an alliance. I didn’t know how I felt about that.

  Despite King Leo remaining open minded, the wrinkle in his nose bore testament to the fact that he was uncomfortable. Century long feuds did not disappear overnight, but King Leo was trying his hardest to remain diplomatic.

  "What do you suggest we do to return Atlantis to its former glory?" King Leo asked.

  Daniel shrugged, the regal straightness of his shoulders dropping to look like the teenage boy I loved. "I have no idea," he admitted. Daniel Esso was the only boy on the planet who could make helplessness look attractive. I would have wrapped my arms around him in comfort, except that I was playing princess and we were both nude in front of my parents.

  “I’ll take it to Atlantis,” I said, before my brain caught up with my mouth. Being Celeste’s doppelgänger made it my duty to return the Heart of the Sea.

  “You can’t,” Mum disagreed vehemently; the panic in her voice was uncharacteristic. It should have slowed me up, but I was determined to see the mission through to its conclusion.

  “What other choice do we have?” I argued with equal passion. “I was the one fated to retrieve it; it stands to reason, that I’m the one who needs to return it.”

  “I’ll take it,” Mum offered, extending her hand to Daniel to give her the artifact. There was a wild determination in her to stop me from going to Atlantis. I knew that the treaty status transition would be difficult for everyone, but somehow I’d never imagined my Mum being so prejudiced.

  “It’s not your responsibility,” I told her stoically. “I’m Celeste’s doppelganger; I need to do this.”

  “You’ll die,” Mum blurted out. “If you take it to Atlantis, you will die. Dr. Conneely showed me in his vision; if you return the Heart of the Sea, you will die.”

  My heart began to beat in my ears; that was what Mum had been hiding. For a moment my resolve weakened. The air rushed out of me, Charlie stepped closer to protect me, eyeing the finfolk warily.

  “I’ll try and take it back again,” Daniel said quickly, putting the Heart of the Sea behind his back.

  It seemed unfair that after all I’d been through I would still die. I swallowed the fear trying to hold me back. “I have to do it,” I reasoned. “It has to be me; it was the princess and prince of the two kingdoms who took it, and we are the ones who need to return it.”

  Daniel’s arms relaxed, a battle waged behind his eyes. His desire to have Atlantis be a flourishing Mecca of development was pitted against my safety. While he loved me and wanted what was best for me, he was also a prince who needed to think of his city’s well being.

  “How will she die?” Seeing my unwavering determination, Charlie sought more information. “Maybe we can protect her?”

  “She died in Daniel’s arms,” Mum replied, her eyes misting. “I don’t know how; she was dead in Daniel’s arms in the vision. The Heart of the Sea was returned, and Mya was dead.”

  “If we all go back together,” Charlie offered, “that changes the vision; then it’s not just the two of you. If there’s an attack, we can protect Mya.”

  “Agreed,” Daniel said heavily, focusing on the good of the kingdom as well as my safety.

  Mum was unconvinced, caring for my safety over any kingdom. She was great at extolling the virtue of giving selflessly, and she was constantly providing food, clothes and finances to others; but I was more important to her than anyone else. That was the great thing about Mum, I always came first for her.

  “What if that doesn’t change anything?” Mum demanded. “What if she still dies?”

  “That’s my choice to make,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “We went through all of this to return the Heart of the Sea. Now we will.”

  Mum looked unconvinced by my bravado, but after all her encouragement to be community minded and compassionate, she wasn’t going to fight me. There was pride in her eyes despite her fear for my safety.

  I pulled on Adrian’s seal pelt, which was now mine. It was the first time I’d put on the pelt since Cornwall. As it constricted around me, I wanted to claw at it and scream, but I had to be regal. I focused on returning the Heart of the Sea. I waddled to shore with the others, I wanted to make a joke about my ‘seal legs’ but it wasn’t the time. I would have to keep it for Charlie, he’d think it was hilarious.

  The inky water lapped at the shore looking like oil. The moonless sky offered no guiding light, just more darkness. Stars occasionally peeped from behind the clouds, drizzling rain on us.

  I shivered. The constricting feeling was less frightening than plunging into the freezing black sea. Being naked under the pelt made it feel less cramped, more natural, as though I were a part of the fur. There was nothing comfortable about being in seal form; I felt like a human cramped into a seal suit. But I was the selkie princess, I had to play along and pretend that everything was ideal.

  Cordulla dove into the water a foot ahead of us, not wanting the ripples of our entering the water to touch her. Cordulla’s hatred made me feel hollow---after having to watch someone die, and now potentially going to my death for her kingdom---the least she could do was pretend to tolerate me. I determined to win Cordulla’s approval, I had no idea how, but I would. Despite my bravado I was scared, I hoped that Dr. Conneely’s vision was wrong.

  Daniel and King Leo stepped into the water, my forward guards. Mum and Charlie flanked me either side; while Dr. Conneely took up the rear. King Leo told the other selkie guards to stand down, as a show of good faith.

  I waddled into the water expecting it to be freezing, and it was. The icy blast almost made me retreat, but
pride prevented me from backing down. I dove into the water gracefully, considering it was the first time I’d ever swam as a seal.

  I was surprised at how fast I could cut through the water and the considerable distance I could see in the dark. It was easy, but foreign. Charlie and Mum would glance at me with concern burned across their feline faces. We swam swiftly through the dark making it difficult to determine the distance we were traveling. All too soon I could see Atlantis opening out in front of us. There was a dull coral based glow that illuminated the city. The two spires I’d seen in the vision were the backdrop to Atlantis. The city was arranged around the palatial spires in horseshoe fashion.

  Even from a distance, knowing that Daniel had called Atlantis home for two years made me feel affection for it. We swam through the outer suburbs that were clearly abandoned. The city was larger than I'd anticipated; more of it was unoccupied than was lived in. It was only as we drew into the palace precinct that homes were lit with glowing coral. The palace spires towered over the city two white shadows in the dark.

  It seemed Atlantis was a city that never slept as people bustled about, until I realized it was a parade to welcome home the Heart of the Sea. The excitement surrounding its return was palpable, though the five seals swimming with royalty and guards was dampening festivities considerably.

  We swam through Atlantis with the merfolk staring at us like a beetroot stain on a white angora sweater. I was suddenly grateful for all the years I was invisible in high school. Being glared at with open hatred was considerably worse than being unseen.

  The male merfolk hissed at us and mothers turned their children's faces away. I heard the words 'abomination' and 'heresy,' hissed as we passed by. I felt like a rat in a five-star-gourmet-restaurant, no one wanted me in Atlantis. I was risking my life for ungrateful people like Cordulla. It hurt. I swished my tail faster to get out of the public eye while still maintaining my poise.

  Guards were stationed outside the old fashioned fence that reminded me of the black iron gate that surrounded Buckingham palace. It seemed strange to have a fence that anyone could easily swim over, the distraction helped to quell the negative feelings that were being shot at me by the guards. I swam through the gates with my muzzle held high, hoping to convey that I was royalty and untainted by their hatred. I would never admit how much it hurt to be hated for being something I could do nothing about.

  The palace door was open, as were all the windows, in anticipation of the relic returning home. I could see phosphorescent coral dimly lighting the halls and rooms as we swam through the palace. I had been holding my breath for some time, but there was no strain on my lungs. I made a mental note to see how long I could hold my breath after our excursion, deliberately making plans for the future to push the thoughts of my potential death from my mind.

  The palace was deceptively large. From the outside it looked like a large coral with a broad base that stretched into two tall towers. I noticed a ballroom, throneroom, and various other regal rooms for receiving guests built into the lower levels. As we ascended the furtherest spire the rooms were smaller for private use; bedrooms, offices and lounge rooms were lit with glowing marine life.

  I recognized Celeste’s room immediately; it had remained unaltered since the day she had escaped her wedding. The room had seemed so tiny in the Heart of the Sea; as it stretched before me, I felt lost in its grandeur. My flipper caressed the frame of the four-poster bed; the experience was surreal.

  “What now?” Charlie asked by flapping his flipper, agitated by being enclosed and surrounded by people who were still in essence our enemies.

  “I return the Heart of the Sea,” I motioned in return. I felt proud of myself for being so adept at underwater seal communication. I could literally talk under water; there was no one who would appreciate the irony of that statement.

  Daniel placed the crystal starfish into my mouth so I could maneuver it into the empty chamber. Daniel helped me jiggle the Heart of the Sea into place, his hands careful between my canine teeth. I waited expectantly. Nothing happened. Daniel hovered beside me his disappointment obvious. The others looked confused and bewildered at the nothingness.

  In the dim coral light a plaque captured my attention: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I saw Celeste’s face imploring me to do something. Just as Charlie had predicted, I knew what to do.

  sacrifice

  The epiphany flashed through my mind, as clear as being hit with a paint ball gun. My heart began to pound with fear, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I pushed aside my rational thoughts, that I couldn’t breath under water and the pressure at such a depth would crush me before the fur even fell to the bed centimeters below.

  I subtly reached for my chest to undo my fur; my inexperience made it take longer. I grappled with my pelt, trying to find the right spot to release it. I had to work quickly before anyone realized what I was trying to do. Daniel and Charlie were looking around to ensure that I wouldn’t be attacked; they had no idea that I was the threat they feared.

  The catch finally released; I felt the cold water hit my bare skin beneath its magical shield.

  Charlie screamed audibly as the fur slid off my body. I grasped the Heart of the Sea with my fingers and jiggled it to connect where it should. Daniel desperately tried to place the pelt back over my shoulders. Charlie was on my other side glaring at me through his seal eyes, his flippers desperately trying to help Daniel replace my pelt. As the three of us connected I felt a bolt of energy surge through us into the starfish shaped crystal.

  My body began to spasm, and intense pain vibrated through me. Being crushed by the water felt like a burn covering my whole body.

  Daniel and Charlie cradled me between them. I couldn’t tell if the palace was vibrating or if it was my body shaking. Daniel was ordering me to stay with him as he tried to breathe air into my lungs, which were swiftly filling with water. The pain was so intense I disconnected my mind from my body.

  I imagined I was standing outside myself watching Daniel and Charlie try to save me. Charlie was pumping my chest with his flippers, tears mingling with the sea as he tried to get the water out of my lungs.

  Daniel was breathing his air into my lungs, but the external pressure was greater than the little air he was delivering. The misery in his eyes was heartbreaking. I ached for them, they had both been good to me. I hoped that they would comfort each other when I was gone.

  Mum was kneeling at my head stroking my hair while King Leo was locked in stone. Mum’s heartbroken sobs shook her selkie body, threatening to tear off her skin unwittingly. Her heartache filled me with sorrow. I didn’t want to leave them; I loved them, but if my death brought peace to the merfolk and selkies, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

  I wanted to comfort them, to tell them everything would be all right, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it. There were so many things that I wished I could say to all of them. I wanted to thank Daniel for the sparkle that he’d brought into my life. And hug my Mum and tell her I loved her and she’d raised me right. I wanted to say goodbye to Dad and tell Charlie to use the ‘seal legs’ joke. I hoped that Miranda would forgive Tamara and Tammy and that Jaimie would dump Tim before he stole her future. But that world was slipping away from me. The whole room was shaking around me like an earthquake, except that it wasn’t the room; it was my body shutting down.

  Cordulla looked pleased as the last air bubbles from my lungs escaped up into the pocket of space where the Heart of the Sea sat. I watched the pathetic bubbles of air, the last evidence of my life disappear behind the crystal relic. The bubbles moved the Heart of the Sea incrementally.

  The water in the room began to swirl around us like a mini-tornado; Cordulla was no longer pleased. A loud noise like rushing water filled the palace and mingled with cries of fear from the guards and palace inhabitants.

  My body was still in the fray, held by Mum, Daniel and Charlie. A consuming l
ight filled the room, and I began to move toward the light. Then there was darkness.

  the light

  The light was so bright it burned my eyes and my lungs felt like a sponge filled with water. Through the brightness I began to see shadows hovering over me, and voices echoing around me. The world of white began to focus into pictures and conversations.

  “Mya... Mya... ”

  I opened and closed my eyes, till I could make out Charlie’s face. He gave me a goofy grin. “Welcome back, sleeping beauty.”

  My mouth felt stuffed full of cotton wool as I tried to make a smart aleck comment in return. I wanted to lift my hand for a friendly slap but my extremities felt water logged.

  Mum jumped onto the bed, virtually smothering me. “Mya! You’re alive!”

  “Did I die?” I mumbled groggily, confused by the strange way Mum and Charlie were looking at me. I looked around to discover Daniel and King Leo looking at me strangely, frozen by my awakening. I focused back on Mum for an explanation of what had happened.

  “You stopped breathing,” Mum replied diplomatically.

  “Until you started breathing water like a fish,” Charlie joked. “You’re a real-life anomaly.” He was the only one who seemed unfazed by the strange events.

  “How is that any different to what I’ve been up till now?” I asked groggily.

  “Mya,” Daniel said, sweeping me up in his arms. “You turned into a mermaid.”

  “Not really,” I denied, seeing the startled look on Mum and Charlie’s faces. “I’m just a Selkie with a different set of skills.”

  I looked around the room for the first time; it looked familiar. I was sitting on a four-poster bed being held up by Daniel, and there was a familiar wooden wardrobe, but I couldn’t place where I was. My arms began to feel functional as I hugged Daniel back.