Then, like some underwater flash mob, more merfolk pop out of the water, all gawking at us like we're the latest aquatic attraction. I gape at them as they keep their distance, probably afraid I'll contaminate their precious ocean with my human cooties.
"Mirella, what is the meaning of this?" A merman with long blue hair asks, looking like he's got a fish bone stuck sideways.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Kaelan." Mirella snaps, rolling her eyes.
"You know the rules, Mirella. This place is forbidden to outsiders. The Queen—"
"The Queen sent them, Kaelan." Mirella counters, her voice dripping with 'duh.'
Kaelan scrunches his face like he's trying to solve a complicated math problem. "No, Mirella. She would not send anyone here.Ever."
Well, shit. Now we're screwed. This Kaelan is about to blow my cover.
"So, how'd you get your hands on that sparkly little number?" Mirella asks, her eyes glued to my tiara like it's the most fascinating thing since the invention of the clamshell bra.
I stand there, gaping at her and the other merfolk. "Oh, you know, it was sort of gifted to me," I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Like a mystical hand-me-down from the universe."
That's the best I can pull out of my ass without resorting to blatant lies or diving headfirst into the whole spiel. I mean, how do you break it to a mermaid whose biggest concerns are probably swimming and seaweed macramé that you're the Savior destined to rescue the world from certain doom? It's not exactly small talk material.
She glances over her shoulder at the other merfolk, bobbing in the water like a bunch of curious buoys.
"Very well," she says, her voice smooth. "Only because theQueencommands it—follow me," she says with a wink.
"Mirella, this is suicide! You cannot go against the Queen." Kaelan snaps, his voice tighter than a clam with lockjaw.
"Mirella, you are making a mistake." A female mermaid with long purple hair chimes in, probably the underwater equivalent of a Karen.
"What's your problem? They said they were sent by the Queen herself. Do you all really want to take the chance of exiling them when it was her command in the first place?" Mirella counters, sounding about as convincing as a shark trying to sell life insurance to a school of fish. "You want to test that theory and possibly lose your fins?"
Oh, shit on a seashell. Cordelia sounds just delightful—in a morbid, 'might-just-ruin-your-day' kind of way. Looks like the underwater kingdom's got its very own Aquatic Attila. And here I thought mermaids were all about singing with crabs and collecting dinglehoppers.
"It's your funeral." Kalean snaps, then dives under.
Purple-haired Karen shakes her head and follows Kaelan.
With that, Mirella dives back beneath the surface, leaving us to scramble after her like a bunch of landlubbers trying to keep up with a seasoned sailor. I exchange a look with Rhyland, a silent 'here goes nothing' passing between us.
Damnit, I just got my leathers cleaned, too.
Suddenly, my bracelet starts vibrating and glowing like it's auditioning for a rave. I raise an eyebrow at it, wondering what in the magical hell it's doing now.
Rhyland sees it and asks, "What's it doing?"
I shake my head, "Haven't got a clue. Maybe it's trying to communicate with its home planet." I motion toward the water, "Shall we follow the yellow brick road?"
As we wade into the water, I can't help but feel like we're walking into the lion's den—or, in this case, the mermaid's lagoon. But hey, at least the water's nice and warm. And who knows, maybe Mirella will be the helpful, friendly type who wants to braid our hair and swap sea shanties.
...Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly out of my ass and start singing show tunes.
I take a deep breath, fill my lungs with as much air as they can hold, and dive down after Mirella. The moment I open my eyes beneath the surface, I'm blown away by the crystal-clear water. It's like someone turned up the resolution on reality, every detail sharp and vivid in a way that almost hurts to look at.
The saltwater stings my eyes for a second, but the sensation quickly fades, leaving me free to take in the underwater wonderland around me—and holy shit, what a wonderland it is.
I spot Mirella's shimmering tail ahead, cutting through the water like a turquoise blade. She's swimming towards what looks like an underwater cave, a hidden oasis ofcoral and rock formations that takes my breath away (or it would, if I had any breath to spare).
As I swim closer, I can see the intricate patterns and colors of the coral, a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and oranges that seem to glow with an inner light. Schools of tropical fish dart in and out of the nooks and crannies, their scales flashing like jewels in the filtered sunlight.
It's like something out of a dream—a beautiful hidden world beneath the waves. I feel a sense of peace wash over me, a tranquility that seems to seep into my bones and quiet the constant chatter of my mind.
