And all your sorrow drifts away.
The melody rippledthrough the water, as if telling it to calm down. I’d always been aware of the way my song could calm the world around me.
As if in response, the storm ended. Songbirds tweeted from the nearby forest. The melody echoed in the wind and it ignited a frequency. The prince’s breathing steadied.
I smiled softly, and that is when his eyes opened. It was so unexpected, so sudden, I gasped, dropped the telescope, and splashed into the water without a word. Humu dashed after me. When we were a safe distance, we watched.
The sea-washed prince rubbed his head and looked around.
Prince Ryker.I said his name in my mind, thinking about the telescope, and conjuring up a plan…
I have to walk on land,I thought. There was no other way. No other escape from my impending marriage. I would do whatever it took.
With that, I swam straight to the sea witch’s lair.
Before I reachedthe deepest part of the cave, my aunt appeared, a glowing jellyfish lighting the lair.
“The answer is no,” she said, her arms folded.
“You’ve felt it though, haven’t you?” I asked. “The ache. The pull. I don’t belong down here. Imustlearn. I have more to give up there.”
“Curiosity is not the same as calling, child.”
“But what if it is? What if Akua gave me this curiosity on purpose? What if I’mmeantto be up there?”
Silence.
My aunt looked at me, her eyes full of sorrow I could not explain. My heart squeezed in my chest. What if she said no? Where would I go? Would I have to run away, far,farfrom herein order to escape? Was there another sea witch or sorcerer who might help me?
But Aunt Lorelei was all I knew, and I sometimes wondered if her use of magic–something no other mermaids used besides my father–was underestimated.
The woman stared into my eyes, and I silently pleaded, hoping she would understand.
“There is a potion,” she finally said. “It won’t last forever. You will need to win the right prince’s heart to stay.”
“I don’t want a prince,” I said, but then I immediately regretted it. I had to take any options.
The sea witch began turning her back and I quickly shot back. “Wait! I mean…” I thought about Ryker. What if… What if I gothimto fall in love with me? I could be a princess intheirworld, and, as princess, learn and travel and doeverythingI could ever want!
Yes!This solution was more perfect than a dolphin catching a wave.
“I will win the right prince’s heart,” I said. “I just met him tonight.”
She raised an eyebrow, but nodded. “These things are risky, Aulani,” she said. “But this is how the potion works.” She motioned for me to follow her deeper in her lair, her green-tinted hair floating behind her. “The potion gives you legs for one month. If, within that month you win the heart of the right prince for you, you will stay a human forever.”
The thought thrilled me, and I gasped. “Yes–”
“Wait.” She moved towards her driftwood shelves and began picking out items. “There is a price.”
“What is it? I’ll pay for it.”
“Your voice or your past.”
I frowned. My past? No. I couldn’t give up everything I learned, loved, and all the memories with my family. No. I couldn’t do that.
But my voice? How would I communicate with the prince? What about singing to the birds and life of the land and sea? I would deeply miss being able to communicate with them!
I can do it though.Through actions, especially because I could not read or write, I was sure I could get the prince to fall in love with me!
