The silence that followed was deafening, filled with the distant hush of the quiet depths. Delmar sat on the stool, his fingers trembling.
Mr. Ocean bowed his head. "I know, my love."
Melusine took his hand, squeezing it tightly.
"It was hard on us, " Mrs. Ocean whispered, her voice thick with tears. "Coral...this merchild was a survivor. She lost parents that she'll never know."
"They're not dead," Delmar snapped, pulling his hands free.
Melusine glanced to the floor. Her eyes flitted to the glass dolphins. "There's no chance in heaven that they survived."
Delmar gritted his teeth, but said nothing.
Upstairs, Coral sat on the edge of her bed. She looked at her hands. They looked like normal hands. Ten fingers, nails painted in peach polish.
I'm an Atlantean.
I'm...a mermaid.
Coral flopped on the mattress, grunting as she scrambled towards the nightstand. She grabbed the ceramic shard and stared at it. Her fingers traced the markings.
She needed to find Caspian.
He's seventeen, a year older than her. Surely, he can tell her about her heritage, about her parents.
Maybe...he can teach her how to be a proper mermaid.
Confidence swirled within her, abating the storm that's represented her torment and crisis for so long. Now, she could finally embrace her destiny.
She could swim, surf the waves of her new life.
Her lips curled into a smile.
Yes, that's what she'd do.
She'd walk into a new life, step by step.
Baby steps.
It was 6:00 a.m.
Coral hurriedly slipped on a black crop top with pink long sleeves. She adjusted the black shorts, resting her hands on her hips. Tying her ginger hair into a high ponytail, she clicked her tongue.
She looked good.
Donning her sandals, she exited her room and slowly walked down the steps.
She'd checked earlier, they were asleep like stingrays on the seafloor.
She skipped toward the door and glanced back at the items in the shop with a smile.
For once, she wasn't sad.
She opened and slipped out.
Arriving at the pier, Coral grinned brightly. Her hands provided shade as she looked out over the sea. It was a brilliant Monday morning, the surface reflecting the sun's light.
Kind of like how the truth illuminated her sea of thoughts.
She liked the metaphors.
She looked around, checking to see if anyone would spot her. She took off her sandals.
Seeing no one, she sat at the edge, feet dangling. She huffed, taking a breath. Her bare feet swung as she built confidence.
Finally, she pushed off into the calm waves.
Bubbles surrounded her, clouding her sight. She closed them shut, trying to breathe. Hoping to.
She felt his presence, warm despite the chill of the sea. Coral opened them. Her blue eyes locked with his grey ones.
"Caspian," she muttered.
Caspian drew closer, eyes narrowed.
"Coral Ocean," he said. "What are you doing? You'll expose yourself, me. Do you ever think?"
Her hands reached up, cupping his face. He cocked an eyebrow, wondering what was wrong with her.
"Teach me how to be a mermaid," she whispered.
Caspian grasped her wrists, his gaze focused on her, searching to see if she's pulling his tail.
She was not.
"To be a mermaid," he began. "You'll have to give up being human."
Coral looked away. Thoughts swirled in her head like roaring waves. Her brows furrowed, as her hair billowed in the water.
No more surfing.
No more school.
She'd be a mermaid forever.
To never explore her passions.
What of her parents, Delmar and Melusine?
Would she have to abandon them too?
She didn't want to think about it, to jump that far ahead.
Baby steps.
Coral said carefully, "I don't understand how I can breathe but I got...well legs."
"The water must've disrupted the spell somewhat," Caspian observed. "Whenever this occurred."
Coral glanced at him. "So what's the limit on how long I can breathe?"
Caspian smiled. "Let's find out."
Coral sat down on the solid base, her body swaying. The sea anemones swayed in the current, and clown fish swam between their stinging tentacles. She bumped against the coral, eyes glued on the merboy in front of her.
"Need a breath yet?" Caspian swam around her, watching intently.
Coral glanced behind her, her heart thumping in her chest like a drum.
She shook her head no.
Caspian drew closer, his face inches from her. "Anything yet?"
She smiled. "What happens if I pass out?"
"I'll take you to the surface of course," he replied, shrugging.
"Those guys who chased you..."
"Servants of Merqueen Delta," he replied.
Coral nodded. "Oh...her."
"Yeah..." he continued. "I was causing trouble."
"What kind of trouble?" Coral asked.
Caspian sighed. "I didn't acknowledge the queen's birthday."
Coral blinked. "Those guards chased you...because you didn't acknowledge her birthday?"
"The merwoman's a narcissist," he snapped, folding his arms. "She and her advisor, Calder."
"Who's Calder?" Coral asked, worried.
He frowned somberly, eyebrows furrowed. "He's worse than Delta."
Coral felt a shiver, suspecting it's from the cold current. Her voice lowered to a whisper.
"What makes him so bad? Calder...I mean."
Caspian stopped his slow circle around her. He looked at the way her orange-tinted hair floated like a halo. "He's a dogfish—vicious like his mistress. He will pursue those who wound the pride of her "majesty". And I mean anyone."
Coral's heart skipped a beat. She thought of her parents, Delmar and Melusine, and hesitantly asked, "And of the princess?"
"Oh, the missing merchild?" Caspian folded his arms. "Delta thinks she's dead. Devoured by sharks...at least that's what he told her."
Coral sighed, floating back. She let herself sink into the soft silt of the seabed, weightless in the sand. She watched the sunlight dance like ribbons far above. Delta believed she and her parents were dead. As she long as that was the Merqueen's truth, she was still...Coral Ocean.
"Looks like this wasn't so challenging," Caspian noted, drifting over her like a silver shadow. "Still breathing I see?"
"Yeah. I'm just built different," Coral quipped, her voice bubbling into a giggle.
Caspian swam low, landing right next to her. He tossed up silt, hands propping up his chin. "If it's not 'changeling' enough for you," Caspian said, eyes flashing, "let's up the ante—as your people say."
Coral gripped his hand tightly as they swam down to the Twilight Zone. She looked up occasionally, noting how far the surface actually was.
Her head began to hurt. She rubbed her forehead, feeling queasy in her stomach. Caspian glanced at her.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah..." she mumbled.
"I should take you back up," he said.
"I went into a sunken ship remember?" She said, laughing it off.
"Not the same," he remarked.
Coral rolled her eyes, then took in water. However, she gurgled, drawing Caspian's attention. She gasped, hands clamped around her throat. Crystal blue eyes wide in terror.
She can't...breathe.
Caspian released her hand, wrapping his arms around her waist. He shot upward like a torpedo, so fast that bubbles swirled around them. They broke the surface, Coral sputtering and coughing, orange-tinted hair stuck to her cheeks.
Caspian stroked some of the strands from her eyes. "You okay?"
"At least we know my limit," she said, breathlessly laughing.
"I don't believe you," he shook his head.
He loosened his grip, allowing her to float from him. She effortlessly floated onto her back, arms flailing to make a water angel. Caspian watched, a brow raised.
"How do you do that?" He asked genuinely.
"You relax," she answered. "Like how my parents taught me."
"Sure," he said.
"Can't do it."
He shook his head. "Only time we float on our backs is when we're dead."
"Wow," she said, brow furrowed. "That got dark."
Caspian nodded. "Yeah."
Coral fell quiet, eyes squinted from the light. Caspian swam closer, eyes trained on her. "What's on your mind?"
Coral smiled. "Where do I begin? My entire life is a lie. My parents aren't my parents, I'm not even human—heck, not even American."
"Who cares?" Caspian replied. "You're still Coral. That won't change."
Coral glanced over, a smile crept over. "Thanks."
Caspian cleared his throat, cheeks flushed. "Whatever."
Coral wanted to say something, something urgent, but she said nothing. Her heart thumped slowly as she gazed at the merboy. She closed her eyes.
"I think I want to be a mermaid," she murmured.
Caspian drifted back. "Are you sure?"
"I can't be taught to be a mermaid," she replied. "So I have to be one."
Caspian fell quiet, the waves carrying the two from the beach. Caspian attempted to float on his back, but gave up after he couldn't. He resigned to simply drawing closer, nervousness hidden, and pressed his nose to hers.
Her cheeks heated up, she subconsciously held her breath.
"If that's what you wish," Caspian said softly.
Coral puffed her cheeks, panic swelling in her throat. His warmth was comforting contrasted with the chill of the ocean. Caspian pulled away, raising his hand.
"Let me take you home."
She reached out, hesitant, then grasped it tightly.