In the royal family wing of the Atlantis castle, a pair large magenta doors flew open. Slamming into the wall, sending a wave through her room, nearly knocking her off the coral and sponge seat in front of her vanity. Nikoli’s golden locks floated all around his head. Seeing his usually well kept hair in shambles meant she screwed up again. She rolled her eyes and went back to braiding her long golden waves before getting ready for bed. Him swimming into her room like that was nothing new, especially lately. She always felt he took his job as her personal guard a little too seriously.
“What is it this time? Father have a new, more creative way to keep me locked away in here until I’m forced to leave? Is he going to keep my sister away from me even longer now? Keeping me trapped in my room unable to even attend meals with anyone.”
“Aquaria. It’s time.”
“What? Now? But I haven’t packed anything and you never let me tell Astrid or my friends what’s going on. I haven’t said goodbye, not even to father.”
“There’s no time. We have to leave now before anyone sees us. The barrier is falling, they’re coming for you.”
He pulled her out of the room, gently closing the door behind him, avoiding making a sound. She had nothing but the small pink top she wore to bed. She didn’t even get the chance to tie off her braid. This was not how she expected this would happen.
He took her to one of the main access tunnels, the one with the portal tunnels to the other kingdoms. The portal was like looking through a window into the other kingdoms, it sparkled in the ripples from the current. There was no denying what kingdom it was. It was the bay of Biscane, her older half sister Delphine’s kingdom. Her heart pounding faster at the mere thought of Nikoli going behind her father’s back to help her escape her fate.
He pulled her through the portal, down a tunnel to another set of portal tunnels, going to the other underwater villages. Nik placed his large gold badge in a hole in the wall beside the door, a golden light beaming down on it. Certain tunnels were off limits to the royal guards and her half siblings, only her father, Nikoli, Astrid and herself had access to them. Using the badge told her that this specific tunnel was one of those.
She looked over her shoulder, no guards anywhere. This was her one chance to escape. She could hide at Delphine’s. No harm would come to her there. She would be able to get a letter to Asher, telling him to come find her, and they could swim away together.
Yes. That would work best. She plotted in her head.
She let her body float back with the current, hoping Nik wouldn’t notice. He snatched her wrist and pulled her back. He narrowed his dark gray eyes on hers.
“Good try, your highness. But you’re going to need to be more creative than that to get out of this. Come on, time to go.”
He pulled her through the portal into a long tunnel with glowing crystal tridents along the walls. Paired with interesting tile work. There were beautiful patterns that were like knots and infinity symbols as a border. It reminded her of her favorite necklace, one she had as long as she could remember, she wasn’t even sure how she got it, but she always had it. She reached for it around her neck, but it wasn’t there.
“Where is it?” She began searching the seabed for it. Swishing her aqua tail over the sand, trying to shuffle it around. “It has to be here. We have to go back and get it, I need it.”
Nik turned to see her tearing up the sand, destroying her recently brushed hair. “What in the oceans are you searching for?”
“My necklace.”
“Be more specific. You have hundreds of them.”
“You know which one.” She snapped “The one I wear every day. The last time I didn’t wear it was the accident…” shallow breaths barely escaping her lips. “I need it… It keeps me safe. Please we have to go back and get it.” She grasped his shoulders nails digging into his skin. Her eyes wide, as her lip trembled.
Nik sighed rubbing his temples. “We don’t have time to go back to get it. I’ll try to find it and bring it to you another day. You will be safe for a few days.”
“But what if I’m not?”
“You’ll be safe for a few days. I’ll do my best to find it. They’ll protect you, probably better than the other guards did that day. Now we need to get there immediately. You have to get your legs and adjust to being on them before they show up.”
She dropped her head in defeat. That necklace was the only thing that made her feel safe anymore. She only took it off when brushing her hair. She felt his hand grasp hers and pull her through the tunnel. They reached the end of the tunnel and the door opened. They swam out and straight to the surface. There was a small boat anchored to the side of a dock. He helped her up into the boat, before pulling himself in as well. She shivered as they sat and waited for their tails to fade into legs. He was too impatient to wait, tossing her a towel to dry herself off and keep warm. Having only one towel on the little dingy, he used a dry shirt next to him to dry off the cuff on his wrist. Tossing the shirt on his lap to cover himself. Once it was dry, his steel gray tail faded and separated into his legs. After putting on a pair of trousers, he threw a shirt over his muscular torso.
She had never seen a human up close before. Legs were foreign to her. Her legs began to slowly appear. She watched the odd transformation. She tried to flick her tail, but her feet just moved, and toes wiggled. Toes, such an odd-looking thing. Like fingers, but small and unable to pick things up. She pulled her long skinny legs apart, trying to grasp what they could do. She had read a book about human physiology before, but never fully understood it until now. It was fascinating to her. She had so many questions. She wanted to ask Nik everything she could think of. He tossed her a small bag while she was seeing her human form for the first time.
“Put these on. The small thing is your undergarments. The other is a dress. Put the undergarment on and I will help you with the dress.”
She pulled a tiny piece of soft white fabric. She wasn’t sure what to do with it. “Umm… how do I put this on exactly? And where?”
“Sharks. Didn’t your tutor teach you anything about the human world?”
“No. She said it was a waste of time to focus on that.”
“Alright. You watched me get dressed, right?”
“Yes…” She lied, she hadn’t been paying attention, too focused on looking at the ships around them.
“Good. The first thing I put on was trousers, put it on like how I put those on. Smaller side in front.”
She followed his instructions, step by step. She pulled her knees to her chest, an awkward feeling to have to move her legs separately. Not just her single tail. Nothing about this felt right.
“This is awful. Why would anyone wear this? And why do my legs and feet hurt so much?”
“Well, your body isn’t used to having legs. Now hand me the dress and I’ll help with that.”
She threw the dress at him, narrowing her aqua eyes on his. She couldn’t believe that Nik of all merpeople would do this to her. She trusted him. She thought of him as an uncle. Yet here he was, sending her to a life she wanted nothing to do with. She loved the sea, she didn’t want to leave it for good. Sure, she enjoyed the thought of one day being allowed to see the humans up close, try her siren’s song on unsuspecting people, like her sisters did. Now that seemed like the only fun she might have.
Nik took the white silk dress, pulling it over her head. The dress was short, not even reaching her knees. It loosely hung from her shoulders, cinched at her waist with a pink ribbon. She sighed looking down at what she was wearing. It was soft and pretty, but the weight of it hung heavy on her. It was uncomfortable, the most she had ever worn before was a small top just covering her breasts, nothing more. She didn’t understand why she needed to cover herself up so much.
“You need to dry your hair. Your tail will keep coming back if the water keeps dripping on your skin.” He didn’t even look at her as he spoke, he was too busy digging through the bag that had been sitting in the boat when they arrived. It had their clothes in it, but he was searching for something else.
She rolled her eyes and scoffed at him. She blew into her hand, swirled her finger around the air in her hand. Creating a small whirlwind in her hand. She brought it up to her hair, it sucked her hair into the little whirlwind, extracting all the water out of it. Once she felt her hair get lighter, she ran her fingers through it, pushing the air out, sending a light breeze through the air. Her now dry golden waves reaching all the way to her waist. She looked down at her arms, the few scales that were normally there, were gone. She felt behind her ears, and her gills were gone now too, along with the scales that were normally on her neck. Her heart ached. She wasn’t herself anymore. She was someone else, someone she didn’t know.
She looked at her arm again, showing her gold tattoo. It was a simple wave going around her arm, most didn’t know it was a tattoo, but believed that it was a piece of jewelry. With gold embedded in her skin, it was no wonder everyone believed it was jewelry. She had her tattoo all her life, her parents had given it to her when she was a baby. It was one of their traditions and her mother had the exact same one. She looked over at Nik, his tattoo slightly showing from under the sleeve of his shirt. His was similar to hers, but his was black and words forming the wave. He never let her see what the words said no matter how much she asked.
The aqua highlights within her hair, turned cobalt. Magical highlights that changed color according to her mood. They constantly changed to cobalt since her mother’s death. Her father’s hair hadn’t turned from any shade other than black since that day. A moment that crushed their entire kingdom. She was the first Queen they had in centuries. Her father had stopped getting married, he hated the ceremonies, and not having the freedom to be with who he wanted. Making all her half siblings technically illegitimate bastards.
“Niky?”
“Hmm?” He was sifting through the bags and trunks in the boat making sure it had everything she needed.
She knew her mother was the only one to ever call him that. Her mother was extremely close with him. All they would ever say about it was that they grew up together. Doing whatever they could to squash the nasty rumors that her mother was having an affair with him. She knew the rumors were fake because her father never once questioned their relationship. He trusted Nikoli more than anyone else. Which was why he had many secret duties that her father only trusted with him.
“I don’t want to do this… I want to go home. Can we just lie to father and send someone in my place?”
He looked up at her, his heart breaking at the thought of her going away. He had been there since her birth. He loved her like she was his own. This whole arrangement was killing him inside as much as it was her. He let out a sigh, hating that he couldn’t tell her everything. Ready for it to be her wedding so she could know everything they had been hiding from her all these years.
“You know we can’t, it has to be you. This specific marriage was set for you. No one else could replace you in this arrangement.”
“What about Astrid? She’s a princess too.”
“Astrid has a different fate than you. She’s already lined up for what she has to do as well. You know none of us get a choice in what your father decides. His word is law, on land and sea. Always.”
“I know… its just… Why now? Why couldn’t we wait a little longer? Its too soon… I haven’t- how am I supposed to- I just… I can’t do this.” Her voice cracked, holding back from crying.
Nik wrapped her in his arms, she pulled herself onto his lap, holding him tight. Trying everything she could to keep from crying. She wasn’t allowed to cry in front of anyone, it was forbidden for the royal family. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.
“I wish it could be different too. I don’t understand why it has to be right now, but your father insists. I’ll always be here for you, I promise. If you need anything ever, I will be here for you. Patrick, the man taking care of you, he knows how to contact me if you ever need me.”
“What if they hate me? What if I hate them? Its four years stuck with these humans I’ve never seen or met before.”
“I know them, I’ve known them longer than you’ve been alive. Trust me when I tell you, you’ll love them like they are your own family. They have kids around your age. Their son Kelley, is a little older than you. Their daughter Lucy, is a few months younger than you. She reminds me a little of Astrid and Asteria combined. You’ll be happy with them. Peggy is Patrick’s wife, she’s a lot like your mother. She always treats the girls that stay with them like her own daughters. You’ll love them, I promise.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will.”
“But if I’m not happy?”
“Aquaria, I would never allow your father to send you to a family I didn’t personally trust. I know you’ll be happy here. Just do me a favor and try to find the good in all this. You’ll be much happier here than back at the palace. Don’t forget the freedom that you’ll finally have.”
“What freedom? I’m still trapped somewhere.”
He gave her a sly smirk. “You won’t have the royal guard following your every move, or anywhere here. You’ll only have Patrick and his family. You will get a chance to see what its like to be normal for once. No one will know you here… and you know what?”
“What.”
“Most humans think we are a myth.”
“What?! That’s absurd! What do they think my father is? A myth too?”
“They think Poseidon is just a god in the heavens. That he doesn’t actually exist in their world.”
She stood up quickly, nearly falling off the boat. “Oh, that’s about to change if I have anything to do with it.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. “No, it’s not. At least not until your married. No one can know you’re a mermaid or Poseidon’s daughter.”
“Why not? And what about this family I’m supposed to be staying with?”
“They all know what you are, they will probably figure out who you are quickly by your hair and temper.”
She frowned, her highlights turning red with rage. “There is nothing wrong with my temper.”
He shook his head, a slight chuckle slipping from his lips. “Don’t even try, we both know you get that from your father. Did you forget that I’m close with both of you?”
Thunder began to rumble as the clouds filled the clear night sky. “I’m in no mood to be tested Nikoli.”
He let out a sigh as he stood up. “I wouldn’t even think of testing you tonight of all nights.” He picked up the trunk putting it on the dock. “You know I don’t try to test you. I’m the one that usually helps you calm down after any conversation you have with your father.”
“Yeah… I know.” She muttered softly as her hair began to fade back to blue.
He tossed the bag on the trunk that was now sitting on the dock. Extended his hand to her, helping her to her feet. Her knees wobbled as she got to her feet. He helped her to the ladder, telling her how to climb it. She began climbing, not sure what to do when she got to the top. She felt Nik’s hand on her rear end, pushing her up and onto the dock.
“Damn it, Nikoli! I can figure it out for myself!”
“Ha! I’d like to see that debacle.”
“Shut it!” She crawled onto the dock. Nik right behind her, nudging her over so he could get on the dock. “You could be a little nicer.”
“With you? Ha. You’re family, I can mess with you all I want. Its what we do.”
“You don’t have any family. Unless you have a secret life I don’t know about. Secret love affair with mysterious children?”
“Nope, just you, Astrid, Tove and your parents. That’s all the family I need. Besides, you know you’re my favorite out of your siblings.”
“Even Astrid?”
“Astrid is a whole lot of crazy, but I basically take care of her as if she’s my own. You know that.”
“You should’ve adopted her.”
“Your parents beat me to it, otherwise I would have.”
“She acts like she could be yours.”
“I know. Sometimes I wonder.”
He laughed at the thought of her adopted sister being his kid. Personality wise, she was a lot like him, but her identical twin Tove was nothing like him. Astrid always said she was like her mother and Tove was like their father. He protected those girls the best he could. When Tove vanished one night, Astrid became inseparable from Aquaria. Even stayed in her room with her for nearly three months.
He noticed her staring at her feet, a tear slipping from her eye. “She’ll be fine, don’t worry about her too much. She has Angus, and the rest of your trouble making friends.”
“They won’t get into anymore trouble now that I’m gone.”
“Oh, I know, we all know. You’re the ringleader of that little whirlpool of chaos.”
She rolled her eyes as she sat on the trunk. She knew she was the instigator for all they did, but Astrid was the one always up for the trouble with her. Asher just did what she wanted because he was in love with her, and the others didn’t want to go against two princesses. Aquaria’s only way out of the palace gates was to escape. The thrill was too exhilarating for her not to want it constantly.
“How long till they’re here?”
Nik looked up at the large pirate ship tied to the dock. The words Crimson Cutlass painted on the side in a blood red. Two tall pirates watched the two of them, from the ship. One gave him a small nod, while the other didn’t take his eyes off her. His dark hair blowing in the wind, while his sky blue eyes locked on her.
“Maybe ten minutes. They should be here soon. Just try to relax a bit.”
“I would rather just go home. I don’t want to be here. Whats even in these things?” She kicked the trunk she was sitting on with the heel of her bare foot, leaving a stinging sensation in her heel.
“Stuff to help you as you first arrive, and money to pay for things.”
Her eyes widened, and brows rose high. “Father gave me money?”
“Yes, you need to be able to purchase clothes and other things. So you have money.”
“How much?”
“About a thousand pieces.”
“Sharks! Are you serious? Do you know how much I can buy with a thousand pieces?”
“Not as much as you think. We’re on land now, things are priced differently here than back home. But it’s still quite a bit. You’re not used to having to purchase clothes or food for yourself. This is what it’s for. You’ll get more weekly. Try to be smart with it. Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you have to spend it on everything you see. Buy things that you need or really want. Not everything imaginable. And not every piece of jewelry has to be gold… like your father thinks.”
“Alright, I’ll be smart with it… one more question.”
“What’s that?”
“Do I always have to wear this type of stuff? Can I just not?” She picked at her dress.
“No, you need clothes. Humans wear clothes at all times unless they are bathing.”
“Bathing?”
“Cleaning themselves. They’re not in the water at all times like we are. So they have to take baths to clean themselves. You need to take a salt bath every night and drink salt water every day until your birthday.”
“Ugh, really?” She groaned.
“Yep, sorry. You need the salt water to keep you from getting sick.”
“So many rules and restrictions. I wouldn’t have this problem if I wasn’t being forced into this accord.”
“Not my choice.”
“I know” She sighed, resting her head in her hands. “This is the worst arranged marriage he could possibly come up with.”
He rubbed her shoulder and sat next to her on the trunk. “It could’ve been Macsen.”
“Don’t even joke about that. The only merman worse than him would be Silas.”
“I’ll tell you a secret, that I’m not supposed to tell you yet.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” She muttered.
“I know who he is. He isn’t terrifying at all. I have a feeling you’ll like him and be happy when you meet.”
“What makes you so sure about that.”
He gave her a soft smile. “Call it my gut instinct. Or maybe because I know both of you very well. You’re in great hands, I promise.”
“You better be right. I’ll kill him if I hate him.”
He wasn’t that surprised with that answer. He had personally trained her with a spear since she was five. He knew she was a deadly force. “And I won’t stop you, but I doubt you’ll want to. He’s your perfect match. You won’t find anyone more perfect for you. I promise.”