Chapter 6

Helena POV

A few weeks later.

This room was nicer than the one before. While the other had no post or a bedhead, this one did. Taking a deep breath, I looked around. Everything here mimicked the natural things you could find in the ocean. For example, the beds look oversized clams, the walls were medium-sized stones packed in between each other, the mirrors were water, and I could go on but... It was truly breathtaking.

I wondered what my father was doing at this very moment, the beach won't be the first place to look, though they will look anyway, and whatever that dragged me here was sly enough to make it seem like I was the one who showed up here to cause trouble, I am sure they cleaned up the evidence of me even coming near the ocean. One thing I have learned so far is that the Queen didn't like me, she doesn't know me yet still she is so bitter at the thought of me being a mermaid, I didn't want... I still don’t want this, and I wish I could make it all go away. The second thing is that not only mother's capability to keep secrets beyond unbelievable, but she was also a great liar, she lied to me... She lied to Dad, and— we hired P.I's one after the next to look into her disappearance, and they found nothing. I remember My father cursing them out for being useless when all this time, you didn't just disappear, Mom, you were living a whole other secret life that we never knew about, a mermaid... My mother is a mermaid.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, I looked around, there must be something I can do to entertain myself, I thought. Standing up I went up to the wall, touching the fine jewels that hung to it. Reaching for it, the stones began to disappear, the apathy from fresh air filled the room, stinging my skin with its frigid arrival.

"What the—" I stuttered, shocked to see what I have discovered, it the entire kingdom of Meritopia, and it was beautiful. It shared similar features of the surface, I know we were in the middle of the ocean, but it was bright, like on a summer day back at the home. Trees blessed with blossom, the thriving green grass, the different types of flowers of every color, beatifying every small corner, and there is a small pond, right in the middle of it the lawn.

I should go down there I thought, the prince didn't say I should stay locked in this room, but he didn't say I couldn't explore either. This world is a part of my mother, and it's only fair I learn more about it. Touching the coarse edge of the corner of the opening, it closed up, filling the void that was once opened with rocks. Swallowing hard, I reached out for the doorknob, but again the door opened for me, who knows, maybe it's an automatic system they have put in place.

Ambling out in the halls, I folded my arms across my chest, looking to the floor each time I walked by a guard or one of those girls with tiny, damage wings, I needed to blend in, but their whispers made me aware of how horrible I was at it. After getting lost for the fifth time, I finally found my way out of the palace, outside was nothing compared to the inside be glamour, it was a large castle with statues at the front, one of them I recognize to be my mom.

It seems like she was an important person here, part of a council, well respected and cherished, it's sad she isn't here to see it, that I have discovered who I am and if I didn't go into the ocean, I… Wait. The ocean—that’s what made me change. But what about Mom? I have seen her swim plenty of times, and fins and a tail are hard to miss, so how did you do it, Mom? I smiled, gaining a few glances as I walked around.

The pond I spoke about earlier wasn't a pond. It was more like a self-made mini pool with stones packed around it, a few stems growing from within as well, the water was clear, but it couldn't see the bottom of it,

"Hi," I heard a squeaky voice behind me, it sounded like a child,

"Hi," I stared down at her, she had shoulder-length dark brown hair and old green eyes. She was at least seven to nine years old, but I wasn't sure. I hope I can find out, though.

"You're new... I have never seen you before,"

"Y-yes I am,"

"Which pod are you from?"

"I-I don't know." She was child, and seeing how they reacted to me being part human, I didn't want to create any more enemies, especially not with a sweet child like her.

"What kind of a mermaid are you?"

My lips parted again, I didn't understand her question and I didn't want to hit her with 'I don't know again.

"Do control water? The fishes? Plants?"

"Plant?"

"Yeah..." She walked over to the pool, holding her hand over it.

My jaws dropped when I saw a vine wiggled its way from the water, touching the tip of her fingers. And like that wasn't enough, it bloomed a rosy, pink flower at the end.

"Wow," I breathed out,

"I am Suzie, Friends call me Sue. You can call me Sue... If you like," the vine retreated under the water as she gestured for a handshake,

"I am Helena, nice to meet you, Sue," I shook her hand, smiling at the fact that she said friends call her 'Sue' and I should too, did I earn myself a new friend, or did she know who I am and is just being nice.

"I am afraid I have to go, Helena, My teacher has summoned for me..."

"I didn't anything Sue, are you sure she called,"

"Yes, mind link silly," she giggled, a few snorts followed it,

"I hope to see you around Helena," she added, before hurrying away,

Smiling, I sat at the edge of the pool, thinking about well that went, I didn't say anything totally embarrassing, and that's good.

Feeling the tight wrap around my waist, I didn't get time to think before I was pulled under. Holding my breath, I looked around, and below me, it was like a neverending well, up top I could see my dress, it must have slipped off when I crashed in, I thought, soon it began to happen again, I began to transform.

The transition was painless, I felt weird watching it all take place, but it was an amazing thing to watch. The way my legs are covered in scales traveling from the tip of my toes to waist, then my feet began to force themselves together, becoming one, becoming an enormous tail. Glancing up, I could see numerous of Meritopians 'I hope that's they call themselves' crowed around the pool's edge, they were waiting for me, waiting to see what I was going to do next.

Swimming upwards, my tail guided me, moving my body effortlessly in the water. Making a grand entrance, I blast through the top, flipping in the air, and diving back in, achieving the cheers of onlookers.

"That's enough... That's enough," a sweet voice sent the viewers away Swimming my way back to the top, I slowly popped my head above the water,

Sporting black hair, like most of the people here, she had green eyes like Susie, thick eyes brow, with compelling plump lips. Even though she was beautiful, she was still scary and seemed mean "It's okay Helena, you're not in trouble,"

"I don't know what happened." I rocked my tail back and forth underneath me.

"Okay,"

"Something pulled me under... It felt like a vine," I forced my eyes shut, Susie.

"Human kids aren't different from human kids... They are both menaces," she chuckled I stared at her with a blank expression,

"Susie... I saw you talking to her earlier,"

"Oh." I mumbled, "You think she did this?"

"Most definitely... She was probably trying to be funny,"

That didn't seem like the Susie I met.

"I see." I tucked my hair behind my ear, noticing the blue ends,

"What the—" I stared at my reflection in the water, my hair...it changed from brown to bright blue,

"Don't be alarmed, in the water we are mermaids. The cheerful protectors of the ocean but outside out of it... We are like you, human... You know what I mean,"

"Right."

"Well, I must be off, climb out the water if you want your legs back... You will transform back to your human features once you're completely dry... Though the process would be easier with a moon ring," she smiled, turning to leave,

"I-I don't know your name," I called out to her,

"My name is Nakida."