Chapter 17

Helena POV

Today I learned something, you can’t cry in water, but my aching eyes were evidence that I was hurt. And pain is an emotion that gives you a certain drive, but anger will make you do stupid things. I didn't know where I was going but I was swimming, as fast I could, I wanted to tour Atlantis one last time, I have decided to give up my powers, decline the council's offer, I don't even want to look for my money anymore, why? Because I was hurt. Why did have to marry her, Why did have to choose her, she has hurt me in more ways than one, I just can't remember it, and I want to remember. Cruising through the sank building, I swam up the stone map staring down at it, oh mom, I thought, I miss you so much, and I wish I could find you, you told me not to look, and I did, found your ring instead, now I just want to go home. The prince was the reason I felt this way, not only did he sent that witch mother of his to tell me he didn't want me there, he made me insult me as well, calling me a half-blood trash who wants to fit in, I have never felt more disappointed in my life, but the queen... She and Nakida did something to me, I just don't what... And why.

Feeling a presence behind me, I veered around, the fins that ran up my arm was aroused, and ready to attack,

"It's me... It is me," he threw up his arms surrendering,

"Triton— what are you doing here? Is the wedding over already?"

"No... I walked out,"

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't marry Nakida,"

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know,"

"You should leave, I got your message from the queen," I looked away,

"Whatever she told you is all lies... I swear,"

"So, did you want me there? At your wedding,"

"I didn't even want to get married in the first place," he swam up next to me, we both were staring down at the star table, "The Queen— she is blackmailing me,"

"What did you do,"

"I don't know about where you're from but treason in Meritopia is a severe crime, punishable by death, and I — betrayed my world, Helena,"

"What do you mean?" I gazed up at him, "What did you do?"

"I— released a prisoner, a maid, as we speak the ocean is filled with guards, looking for me... To arrest me,"

"Arrest you... Because you release one of the pixie mermaids?"

"Yes— I— she was just a child Helena, a little girl... Captured by us, to learn how to wash our feet, heat our milk, and that is unfair,"

"Oh, Triton—"

"Let me finish, please..." Her eyes glowed,"

"I— I was the one who released her back into the ocean so she can escape, the queen saw it, and has been using it as leverage over me. At first... Before you came, I was thinking about agreeing to marry Nakida, but when you showed up, I made the decision not to, because I felt connected to you, and I don't know how and why— but I knew I must not get married to her... Or anyone, I wanted to wait for my mate, you gave me hope Helena, you did that,"

"I am sorry Triton, I am..."

Starting at the entrance of the Depts. of the spear, I heard a calling, an urge pulling me towards it, trying to push the feelings aside, I decided that I was going to tell Triton everything,

"In my mother's room, I found a small vile, with clear fluid, I didn't know what it was but, I poured it into a goblet I saw and a recording of her began to play in the mirror..."

"Tears of a mermaid"

"What?"

"The fluid in the vile, it's your mother's tears. Helena if your mother left that for you, I think she knew wasn't coming back, that's why she sealed the door,"

"Yes— she knew she would disappear, she even told me not to look for her,"

"Well, you must look for her, I can order a search party,"

"Triton, there is another thing... I think your mother was involved, "

His eyes were filled will shock, so I could tell he knew nothing about it, as for Nakida, I don't know how far into the Queen bull shit she was,

"I have something to tell you too. I went to where you were dragged, and I found something... It's a skid mark... From a vine and I think Nakida did,"

I knew it.

"But why would Nakida take me, and the queen... Why?"

"Helena you said you went to a party, and you can't remember any after that, I think... I think they had something to do with that too,"

"I—" I heard them calling again, a beautiful angelic voice singing my name,

"Do you hear you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Something is calling me, singing my name, down there..." I pointed at the opening, "Helena... We have to leave," he grabbed my arm, but I pulled back,

"No."

"Helena what you're hearing is sorcery. We must leave now,"

"Do you remember what Elder Sarah told me when I first got here? That I should ask the ocean, Triton I think the answers we seek are down there,"

"No, down there, is no place for us, trust me we won't survive,"

"She told me to go the geysers, and I will find the mirror of validity,"

"That's even worse. The water sprouts are strong enough to carve a hole through you. Let’s go." He began to swim away.

"I am sorry, Triton." I began to swim towards the opening.

"Helena! No!" I heard him calling back, swimming behind me,

I was far into the cave, inside wasn't as dark as it appeared to be, but it was scary, the stone was red as blood, and the current was forcing me back out, whatever it is that's in here, the ocean was trying to warn me. Seeing a bright light, I was finally at the end of the cave, but caves don't have endings, it was a tunnel, leading me into darkness, with a beam of shining light in the middle of it,

"Helena," Triton finally caught up to me, we both were swimming in the beam of light,

"Does seem so scary," I looked around seeing nothing but darkness, I could even see the way back out,

"That's the thing, Helena, we are stuck here,"

"What do you mean,"

"Legend has it that once we swim into the light, the spirits of the ocean see us for who we are and will test us."

"Test us with what?"

"Our deepest fear, nightmares... Anything to drive us crazy until we can't take it anymore, and end up killing each other,"

"I am sorry I brought you into this, but something is down here, I— we will get through this, I promise,"

"Even at the brink of death, you remain optimistic, one of your many traits I like, but trust me, we won't survive, no one has, "

"But someone did, Triton... Who wrote the legend," I smiled, Seeing a glow behind Triton, I stared at it, something was coming,

"What is it?"

"I don't— know," I hoisted my hand,

Landing in my palm was a golden spear, with a stare fish carved into it,

"What's this?" I showed it to him,

"Our test,"

"Okay, maybe something is going attack, and we should it... I don't know,"

"I know what is," he muttered, turning around, on the back of his neck was a tattoo of a spear,

"I don't understand,"

"You have the starfish marking on yours,"

"Why?"

"It's marking that signifies who we are mated to, I am the prince, so I have the Trident, and my mate has it too, only my mate..."

"And what does this mean, " I held out my palm,

"It means, I have to kiss you, but I come with a consequence,"

"By kissing me?"

"Yes, my mate can die,"

"Okay, we can't do that—"

"You don't understand, if we don't do it, we are going to die down here,"

"Triton, I am not going to kiss you and feel comfortable knowing that somewhere out there, a mermaid is going to die... And it's not just any mermaid, it is your mate, I am sorry—"

Triton crashed his lips onto mine, our lips moved to synchronize melody I can hear in my head, or maybe he can it too. But something else is happening, I was... Remembering everything. The night of the party, it was Pete, we found a well in the middle of nowhere, and he thought I was easy, but when he didn't have his way and he pushed me in it. I could feel myself drowning all over again, but I didn't drown, I felt my tail, severing back and forth in the water, and someone came for me, someone I couldn't recognize in my dreams but now, I remembered. Pulling away I stared into Triton's eyes, they were bright gold, similar to a hot piece of steel, that's how bright they burn. I think he knew what I knew, or saw what I saw, but... It was him who saved me that night, he kissed me and that's when my gills... I touched them as I remembered, they began to filter the water out of my lungs, but there was someone else with him, I couldn't see their faces, and that's when I passed out.

"Triton—" I spoke, but there was someone else, a mermaid wearing a garb. I couldn't see her face, but I knew her. Why did I feel like a know her? Triton knew her too.

"Your abilities to keep secrets are beyond me, hiding in plain sight as the oracle, all this time... Do you want to tell her, or should I do the honor?" he turned to face her,

Tell me what?

Removing the hoodie from over her head, my heart began to pound out of my chest when I saw her face,

"Hello, Helena,"

"Mom?"