Lore… My head was spinning. Father spoke of his “dear Lore,” who he missed everyday…
“It’s my…” A lump formed in my throat and Aulani grabbed my hand.
Is she your mother, Ezra?
I nodded, putting all the pieces together. Somehow, this mermaid came to our world before. Walked among our people.Saved the birds. Married my father. Had me. And then she disappeared.
Because she returned to her world.Unlike Aulani…
“Ezra?” Her voice was the same one my father had described, soft yet unyielding.
I nodded, words failing me. My mother—my mother—stood before me. The woman who had walked through legends and gossip, the one who had saved the birds in the past, was here.
“My son…” Lorelei rose, eyes glistening, like she wanted to hug me but also hesitated. That hesitation caused my chest to squeeze. Did she not approve of me? Instead, she said, “We will reunite later, Ezra. For now… time is of the essence.” She turned to Aulani, and that made me even more anxious. Was the mermaid’s month up? Would she turn to sea foam?
“Oh, my dear…” The queen’s expression softened. “You aresoclose to breaking the spell and remaining a human forever.”
Aulani frowned, as if to ask, “How?”
Lorelei moved her triton, and light seemed to shimmer from the ends of it. She wove it in the air and again, there was a large gaping hole where once was nothing. Yet, inside of that hole shone a beautiful sea, and, in the distance, a castle with red shingles and white walls.
A portal.I stared, unable to process all of this.
Prince Ryker’s castle…I blinked.
Aulani seemed confused, looking from the portal to her aunt. And then it dawned on me: this was Aulani’s chance to go home. She could go to that castlerightnow, meet Prince Ryker, and possibly fall in love, which would allow her to live on as a human.
Because if not…I glanced at the sea foam floating on the distant waves.
“You may return home,”Lorelei said, adding, “When you fled that night, your father and I pursued you. He drew on the magic of the triton, and I drew on ancient, unstable magic. It has beenyears since I drew on that well of magic, but I opened the portal, hoping it would be your escape. When your father couldn’t find you, he turned to me for help.” She held out the triton. “You will recognize this as an old triton, which your father gifted to me. It stabilizes ancient magic and has allowed me to create this portal.” She tipped her head. “Your father could not come, in case our magic mixed and something terrible could result. This was the only way to ensure your safe passage back home.”
Home… Aulani’s home. My breath hitched.
Aulani froze in place. I wanted to reach out to her with my mind, but what was I to say?
Lorelei held the triton out for us to see. “Only I have the power to open the portals between worlds. Your father’s triton cannot draw on the same magic that I can. He has allowed me my use of magic… in exchange for an offer to bring you home.” She smiled.
The mermaid princess was still stuck in place, speechless.
Aulani?I finally reached out and she replied almost instantly.
My father… allowed Aunt Lorelei her magic… for me?
Yes, he did it for you,I confirmed. A tear slowly trickled down her cheek.
He did love me… albeit in his own complicated way.
And he wants you home,I said, though it pained me to do so… I didn’t want her to leave. Didn’t want any of this… but she had a chance to survive. She would meet Prince Ryker and follow the plan and story that had been prepared for her all along.
“Will you come home now, Aulani?” Aunty Lorelei asked, pointing to the portal.
All attention turned to the mermaid-turned-human. I could sense her thoughts racing, like leaves in a typhoon.
Then she looked at me, and a calm filled her mind.
Peace.
Aulani took my hand and squeezed it.
