Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

were dressed in white long-sleeved shirts and stood stiff like statues. I tried to follow their example, but felt myself sliding off my chair. Instead, I leaned back and stared at the diamond chandelier that hung from the ceiling. Sunlight disbursed off the glistening stones and rippled in the water throughout the room. I wished the room was air-filled so I could exercise my legs.
    The snake-haired lady nudged me. “Fin, it’s time.”
    I opened my eyes with a start and maneuvered myself upright. Azor had taken his place on the stage already and to my surprise, our outfits matched. Still shrouded in a cloud of drug induced apathy, I swam up to him and gave him a big high five.
    “ Finley.” He grinned smugly. “Ready for the big day?”
    “ Righty-O, dog.” I formed my fingers into a gun and clicked my tongue.
    He laughed half-heartily as snake-haired lady moved me over to the other side of the podium. Once she left the stage, the harpist, who had appeared from nowhere, began to play. The boys sang Natatoria’s anthem as a school of seahorses pulled a small pram with my sister and Lily sitting inside. They both wore very ornate head pieces and white dresses, but my sister’s head was tilted haphazardly back onto her chair and her mouth gaped open. The snake-haired lady swam over and jiggled her shoulder.
    Tatch snapped her head up and shut her mouth. She canvassed the room and found me, then gave me a half-smile. But Lily’s terror-stricken expression sobered me up. Lily’s father swam to her side of the pram and escorted her to the entrance of the aisle. Behind them, the King entered and took up Tatch’s arm.
    At the sight of the King, my heart began to pound. He never came last night as I’d summoned. I’d have to confront him in front of everyone now. The music changed to a soft ballad and the four swam down the aisle behind two merlings who tossed starfish onto the white sandy runway.
    Lily gulped hard as they came to the end and behind me, the attendant asked, “Who brings these mermaids to be promised to these mermen?”
    “ Her Godparents do,” the King said and passed my tipsy sister to Azor.
    I looked to my mom, who was horrified as Tatchi snuggled on Azor’s shoulder. Where was my courage? Why couldn’t I say anything?
    Lily took my arm, her hand shaking as the attendant began the ceremony.
    “ We are gathered in front of friends and witnesses today to join Prince Azor and Tatiana, and Sir Finley and Elizabeth—”

46
ASH

    In desperation, I decided I’d hallucinated the whole thing. Mermaids weren’t real. It was time to put the “strand of pearls” away and think rationally. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t crazy. And no guy, no matter how handsome or wonderful, would drive me to act foolishly. I had a life to live and so did Fin. For whatever reason he wasn’t with me, so I’d need to accept it and move on. Today would be day one of that journey.
    I pulled out my homework and stared at the page filled with notes from my teacher. The words blurred and jumbled around, competing with the chaos in my head. Was a little peace too much to ask for? I flung my body back into the pillows and screamed at the sudden burst of pain from my leg.
    I suddenly heard stomping and was startled when my door flew open. Dad stood in the doorway, terror splashed across his face. “What’s wrong, Ash?”
    “ Dad,” I said as the tears poured out. “I’m a mess. I can’t stop all these feelings of dread all the time. But there’s nothing I can do to fix the situation.”
    He came and sat next to me, fraught with worry. “Ash, you’re not making any sense.”
    “ I saw them, the other night. They were taken by their family to some strange place against their will. Something’s wrong, I can feel it.”
    He closed his eyes and caressed my hair. “Ash. You imagined you saw them. Remember? We’ve been through this. They haven’t been home. Mom would know. Jack hasn’t been seen for almost a month.”
    “ They weren’t with Mr. Helton. They were alone. It was their weird cousin and some others. Can you please just go over and ask?”
    Dad tightened his forehead. “If that would make you feel better.”
    I shook my head. “Yes, please.”
    As he stood, the bed squeaked, as if adding a small plea for my case. He grimaced and left me alone. I listened as he closed the front door, imagining him walking down the path and around the corner. Within minutes he returned.
    “ No one is home, Ash,”