Chapter 18

Triton POV

"Triton do you mind giving us some privacy, I need to speak with my daughter,"

Looking around, I realized the place was still dark, I was not going to step off the light,

"High council Selene, I am sorry, but we are in the Depts. of the spear, and I don't think our tests are over,"

"They are," she snapped her fingers, illuminating wherever we are, eliminating the darkness around us, below us was still dark, and I think it's for the best, but around us, the walls were lined with lost treasures from ancient pirate battles, rubies, and pearl, it was beautiful,

"How do you know that it's over,"

"Because I was the one who called Helena here, I am the one who tested you,"

I remembered everything from that night, and now I know why I couldn't remember, why Helena felt so familiar, now I know everything.

Flashback Tonight was a night of the full moon, usually, I would go out to the full moon, searching moon pools after moon pools, hoping I find my mate. But tonight didn't, and its reasons beyond my control why I didn't go on my mission. According to the queen, the ocean will be scurrying with sirens tonight, how she got this information, I don't know, she refuses to say but according to her, the enemies know, I search the ocean on full moons for my mate. I needed to find her, I must find her because if I don't, that means I will have to get married to Nakida, something my mother propose many centuries ago but... I don't want to marry her, she was like a best friend to me, and I just couldn't see her in that way. At first, she was understanding, even claimed that she didn't see me in that light will decline the queen's wishes. I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden, she changed. Our friendly swims turned into romantic cruises, she no longer wore her armor, but 'V' cut dresses, exposing her perky breast. And then I started to realize what was happening, the queen... She somehow got into Nakida's head, mine and I don't where it all started from, or how... But, a wedding was being planned, one I didn't be a part of even though I am the groom.

Lying flat on my back, I stared at the ceiling, a chandelier made of sea glass, hanging high, right over my bed. It was beautiful, the different colors stunned in the dimmed room, creating the perfect heavens. It's funny how humans go crazy over such an ornament, only if they know how it's formed probably they won't be so excited anymore. Every sea glass was evidence of a mermaid's suffering. While it's difficult to cry underwater, for some of us, tears do run from our eyes. But it's the salt from the ocean that crystalized our tears, making something so beautiful from another's pain.

"Weird seeing you here tonight," someone spoke, causing me to shift my gaze to across the room,

"What," I bolted upright in the bed, "How did you—"

"You do know I am witch right," the oracle spoke, she wasn't in my room, but she was in my mirror, I haven't seen her in a long time, probably about two years, if not longer, but something was different about her,

"Last time we spoke you had a yellow tail, now it's blue,"

"True, but that was a long time ago, our kind keeps evolving Prince Triton,"

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be out looking for your mate?"

"The queens says I should I stay in, plus... I don't even think she exists, all you left me with was a crumb trail that carries me in circles and false hope,"

"Come with me, in the ocean... I want you to meet someone,"

"Didn't you hear me before? I can't leave Meritopia,"

"Says who," she held out her hand,

What is she implying, I thought?

"The mirror is a portal, I can get you in and her out, in no time,"

Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath, stripped out of my clothes, and dove into my mirror, splashing out into the ocean.

"How did you—"

"I am witch, come on I need to get you there on time," she swam ahead.

"No, wait, the ocean is probably filled with guards from Meritopia—"

"You worry too much, we both are incognito to anyone from Meritopia,"

Swimming closing between her, my heart came to my mouth when I saw Nakida, what was she doing out here?

Hiding behind corals, we had a full view of the moon pool,

"What are we doing—"

"Be quiet,"

I could hear two humans inquiring about their findings, but they were also in a heated argument,

"Pete, let's go back. Pete, let's do this... Pete, do that," the human male teased the human girl, he sounded like a whale belly, I believe in human terms, he is a jerk,

"Pete," she glanced down into the moon pool, she was afraid,

Looking across at Nakida, she was well invested, curious about what was going to happen next,

The humans exchanged a few more words before the male got angry I think, I didn't understand why he was so angry at this girl, but she pushed her, and she was falling in. Out of panicked, he ran as she falls to her death, and I found myself wanting to intervene, but I was stopped by the oracle hand,

"Watch,"

Hoisted her snap her fingers the very moment the girl touched the water, and we both watch her legs merged into a beautiful blue tail, she was a mermaid, but she was having difficulties, I think this may be her first transformation... Wait a minute I thought, looking over at Nakida again, this girl, she was my mate,

"What we are seeing and what she is seeing," the oracle nudge her head towards Nakida, "Are two different things, I have clouded her eyes, so he is seeing a poor human girl drowning, at least that's what she wants to see."

But I didn't care what Nakida saw, I wanted to save the half breed, I need to. Swimming past the oracle, I swam fast, but it dark down there, and that's when I saw I orb of light, following me, until it caught up, leading the way, must be another trick by the oracle. Swimming faster, I finally reached where the girl was, and without a second thought, I kissed her, I had no doubts because I knew, I knew she was the one. Her gills began to move, and she was alive, she was going to be okay. Carrying her back to where the oracle was, Nakida swam away, smirking.

"And where is she going now?" My eyes followed her "For a swim, you girlfriend is trouble, evil is within her," she stared down at the human girl, who has passed out, "She isn't my girlfriend." I noticed the oracle and the half breed share similar scales on their tail... the same pattern,

Before I could ask her any questions, the oracle pulled down her garb, exposing her identity to me,

"High council Selene," I stared at her in shock,

"This is my daughter Helena, and she is your mate,"

"I don't understand... It's been four years..."

"Your mother betrayed Meritopia, by orchestrated my kidnapping. Because she thought that could end the war behind us and the sirens,"

"The queen did this, she sold you out,"

"Yes. I am dead... But my soul will never cross over because I owe Poseidon, and now I am the oracle, servant of the sea,"

"What about the oracle before,"

"She finally paid her debt I suppose,"

"And what about her," I looked down on Helena, "What are we going do with her,"

"I will take care of my daughter," she smiled taking the girl from my hands,

"I suggest you give her one last kiss because when I send you back, you won't remember this... Any of it,"

"Why? She's my mate."

"But she’s my daughter, I will send her to you I promise. And the next time you kiss her, you will remember when the trident and the starfish become one,"

"What—"

"You will understand when the time comes,"

Pulling me back, my eyes began to close slowly until I passed out.

Present Day "Triton," High council Selene, called out to me, wanting me to join in their conversation, Helena was burning with anger, and I knew why the queen had her mother killed.

"Helena give us a minute," she added as I saw closer,

"You told me the other day she isn't my mate, why? I almost got married to Nakida,"

"The oracle before told you that your mate wore the rarest oracle of the sea, you knew from what you saw Helena's necklace and her mark, and still you had doubts,"

"Sorry,"

"That's fine, it's okay to be angry."

"Yeah," I looked over my shoulders,

"Where is Helena?"

"Oh no," High council Selene gave out,

"Triton, you must stop her, what she is about to do is not reversible,"

"Wh-what is about to do? What did you tell her?"

"I told her everything... Now she is going to kill the Queen."