Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series) (37 page)

goodbye

I had thirty-six text messages when we landed in Melbourne on the day of parley.

Jaimie, Tamara, and Tammy were in a tizzy due to my absence and lack of communication. Ten minutes after I texted them that I was feeling adequate for visitors, they arrived at my house. I feigned illness in my flannel pyjamas as they talked incessantly about Mr. Porter's newest crime against fashion and how Miranda hadn't been in school either. After hours of analysing what Miranda was up to and what we could do to make winter formal the best dance ever, they reluctantly left so I could recuperate.

Even though I wasn’t sick I needed a nap. I’d slept fitfully on the plane, unable to get comfortable or still the racing thoughts in my mind. I felt like there was something I had to do, but I couldn’t work out what.

Our house had a strained air about it. Despite Charlie’s constant lame jokes and Mum’s feigned cheeriness, things were not usual in our home. Mum, Dad, Charlie and I ate dinner in unusual silence. Dad knew that I had changed and he was happy for me, but it also left our future as a family in limbo. None of us wanted to broach the topic of whether Mum and I would return to the colony or what it meant to Dad if we did. He was the only father I’d ever known and the thought of leaving him left a gaping hole in my chest that refused to stop aching.

I hadn’t been in a hurry to transform because I didn’t want everything to change. I wanted things to stay the same for a while, so I could get used to the idea of being a selkie princess. I wasn’t super psyched about running around naked either.

It wasn't just Dad I didn't want to leave behind. After five years of suffering high school, I had graduated to coolness; and being able to give my friends a bearable high school experience---even for a few months---was something I wanted to do. I didn’t want to leave everyone to Miranda’s mercy. I wanted to finish what I'd started. I was embarrassed to admit that I wanted to go to winter formal and be a debutante. I wanted to get my high school diploma and graduate with Jaimie.

All the things about high school that I'd endured were more endearing, than moving to the bottom of the sea or a crappy rock.
Perhaps it was a case of “better the devil you know.” I wasn't ready to abandon my life on land without serious thought and discussion. The funeral faces we were all wearing, was all I needed to know that now was not the time to change everything.

The time for parley crept up on us as we each wrestled with our individual concerns. Mum and I lingered in the entrance to our home with Dad, needing to go but too afraid of what morning might bring. I didn’t know how much power King Leo had, could he order us to stay? Would he keep Mum and I against our will? I shuddered at the uncertainty of my future.

Dad's eyes were moist with unshed tears as he held me close; it was so strange for him to be affectionate. He proceeded like a robot, hugging me mechanically, his words forced.

Mum had clearly coached him on what to say to me. "Mya, I love you. You are beautiful and you will always be my daughter."

I let the tears roll down my cheeks as I hugged Dad, breathing in his unique scent of Old Spice shaving cream and something akin to sauerkraut. I laughed through the tears, unable to release all the pent up emotions of the moment, let alone of the past week.

"I love you too, Dad," I cried softly, unable to hold it in. Fear and love swirled in me like a blizzard, covering my heart in floods of emotion. I rushed outside, knowing that Dad didn’t appreciate tears and drama. I wanted his last words to me, to be pleasant ones.

I waited with Charlie outside as my parents said goodbye. For once Charlie wasn't cracking jokes; he gave us the space we needed while ensuring my safety. Mum was surprisingly together as we piled into the car. I wanted to ask her what she’d said to Dad, if we were coming back tonight, if we would ever see our home again. Her ragged sigh told me that she didn’t know anymore than I did.

"Have you got it, Mya?" Mum asked.

My fingers ran across the Heart of the Sea in my jeans pocket. I nodded too distressed to speak.

"Let's do this then; let's change everything." Mum smiled bravely, covering her sorrow
.

atlantis

Unlike the first parley I’d attended, there was a tingle of excitement that thrilled through both the selkies and merfolk. The return of the Heart of the Sea had already made a change in the way the meeting was conducted; both parties met on the same beach, without the inlet separating them. Both sides waited eagerly for Daniel to deliver the verdict on the jewel's ability to reinstate light to the sunken city.

I stood regally between my mother and King Leo, as naked as the day I was born. The wind examined my unclad body in a pervy way, making me wish even more for the lights to return to Atlantis, so that clothing could be worn again. It made sense that a culture bathed in darkness wouldn’t feel the need to cover up, but it was freaking me out to be naked for the entire world to see.

Daniel had met us under Queenscliff Pier to accompany us to parley. He hadn’t said a word when I’d stripped off, though I felt his eyes wander over my body making me blush. Charlie never looked below my face, his eyes were like magnets glued to my pupils, which had surprised me after all the naked jokes he’d made during changing.

The wind blew across my body raising goose bumps; it took all my self-control to not run back to the boat for a t-shirt and underwear. I wouldn’t survive on seal rock; I hated being naked in front of other people. I tapped my fingers gently on my thigh, wishing that Daniel would return quicker and deliver the verdict that the city was up and running, so everyone could go home.

The selkie pup’s parents stood behind us, distraught due to being separated from their children. Cordulla stood in front of us, enjoying having her attributes out for the world to see. She glared at my body with disapproval, hoping to make me flinch, but I kept my chin raised stoically. Eventually she had taken to ordering around the huge contingent of finfolk that had accompanied her, to pass the time.

Finally Daniel emerged from the sea, his muscular body illuminated in the moonlight. I had kept my eyes from wandering below his chest. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to check out his junk, it just seemed weird to do so.

Miranda had brought an issue of Cosmo to school, it had
50 Shades of Penis
. It had amusing names penned under each specimen---that experience had convinced me that boys looked better with their jocks on.

“He totally looks like Thor,” Charlie whispered, teasing.

I half grinned, wondering if princesses were supposed to smile. The royal sea-folk were somber; I didn’t know if that was because we were meeting with our soon to be former enemies or if royalty were supposed to look like they’d stepped in dog poo all the time.

"It didn't work," Daniel said frustrated, trudging up the bank.

"What do you mean, it didn't work?" Dr. Conneely asked confused. He stood with the selkies, as the merfolk had hissed at him when he’d approached them. Dr. Conneely was like a shadow, appearing and disappearing at whim.

"I mean I put it in the right spot and nothing happened," Daniel replied, raking his fingers angrily through his wet hair. Charlie was right; Daniel did look like Thor. I kept my eyes resolutely above his waist to ensure that I didn’t spontaneously combust from embarrassment as much as the fear of giggling like a drunken schoolgirl.

"Did you jiggle it?" Dr. Conneely asked, seriously.

Daniel gave him a withering look.

"Its effectiveness is not our concern," King Leo voiced. "We release the lives of the prince and queen in accordance with the Heart of the Sea being returned. We demand the children you have captive."

While King Leo didn’t care about the lights returning to the city, I did. The whole purpose of our exercise was to return things to the way they had been before Adrian and Celeste had run away. In my mind that included getting the lights back up and running, and hopefully not being enemies anymore.

"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.