Before we reached the surface, I could see the waves breaking against the water, the entire world a swirling white chaos. The current pulled stronger than I’d ever felt it.
When I broke the surface, a storm surged above. Thunder clapped across the sky. Lightning ripped through.
A ship creaked and groaned as merciless waves pounded it. Its sails ripped like dry seaweed and the mast crumbled like brittle coral. Splintered wood sank into the deep. I could makeout several dinghies full of men, and my heart relaxed a little. Yet, they were calling out for someone.
“Prince Ryker! Prince Ryker!”
A prince?
Oh no.My heart stammered. Where was their beloved prince? They sounded so sad as they called out for him.
Before I could even nose around for the prince, the ship exploded. It was so loud and frightening; I darted beneath the waves like a scared fish.
Humu screamed as he dodged the falling wreckage. I moved aside from a beam and swam through the debris like a maze, hoping I might help find their prince.
And that is when I saw him. The man was not much older than me, barely clinging to a broken beam. Fire and smoke filled the surrounding area, and I hesitated.
He’s human.
But I can’t just let him die!The dinghies were already heading towards the lighthouse shining in the distance. They still called out for their prince, but it became more and more distant.
He would die if I left him here on this beam. The beam could sink, or he would lose his grip, or… a million other things.
I made up my mind and ignored Humu, who screamed we should probably go. I grabbed the prince just as he slipped from the beam. With my hands under his arms, his weight suddenly dragged me down.
I broke through the surface, allowing the back of his head to rest on my shoulder as I kicked towards shore.
I avoided the dinghies because I wouldn’t be so reckless to reveal myself to them. Saving this man’s life was going to get me in enough trouble if anyone found out.
Dragging his heavy, muscular frame through the water labored my breaths and made my whole body ache by the time Ireached shore. When I got him onto the sand, I took a moment to catch my breath, then rested my head on his chest to check for a heartbeat.
He’s alive!Rain continued to pour, and lightning lit up the scene: a lonely beach with a mermaid and human prince.
I looked down at his face, wiping dripping rainwater from it. He was handsome, with dark hair and tanned skin. His frame showed he was familiar with hard labor and physical work, an attribute that I admired.
The prince wore a jacket, but the ordeal had torn it up yet… something caught my eye. It poked out of his pocket, and I could barely make out the golden gleam in the darkness.
My heart skipped a beat as I examined it.
A telescope.I’d seen the sailors hold this up to their eyes, and I could only imagine what they saw because of it. I’d also seen some people on top of the castle using it to study the stars. Exhilaration pulsed through me.
I have to see the stars through the telescope.I decided to take a look, but the prince’s breathing slowed, and I sensed he was fading away.
No…Raising my voice, I sang.
E hiamoe, e hiamoe,
The tide has found you, soft and slow.
The stars above still know your name,
Even when you’ve lost your way.
E ho’omalie,no need to fear,
The sea carries you home from here.
I’ll sing until breath returns to stay,
