Chapter 9

Helena POV

"Helena... Helena," Triton called my name repeatedly,

"Sorry," I glanced at him, then back on the walls of the castle,

"Is there something wrong?" I noticed the ring on his finger, similar to the one Nakida wore, it was the same design with a white stone as the gem, "No... I— I saw something, someone... Watching us,"

"Are you sure?" He chuckled, "I don't know about up there but down here, it's rude to stare the prince... Or royalty at tall,"

Swallowing hard, I said nothing further, maybe I imagined it, I thought,

"Oh, I see."

"Did— did I say something wrong?"

"No... No, I— I miss my father and I know he must be worried about me, " I mumbled, playing with the loose ribbon on my dress. His wife disappeared, and then me, his only daughter, It must be heartbreaking for him,

"We can go see him if you like... But you can only do it from a distance,"

"You mean... Go out? Back into the ocean... Triton, I can’t... I can't swim,"

"You're a mermaid, of course, you can. And what about your powers? Have you learned what they are yet?"

"I am afraid, and not I haven’t, I hope it's something cool though," I muttered,

"Even though I fell in the pool today and I felt alive, I felt like I was flying but in water,"

"Incredible wasn't it?"

"Yeah... It was,"

"Remind me... How did you fall into the moon pool,"

"I was—" I hesitated, I didn't want to get Sarah into any trouble, she is just a kid, and I didn't want to get her into any trouble,

"I got distracted... Fell in," I chuckled, which faded away from my face quickly as it appeared,

"Triton," I looked across at him, "I need to ask you something,"

"Sure, go ahead,"

"When we first met... You said you felt like you know me... What did you mean,"

"I don't know... I think we have met before, in a past life maybe," he chuckled,

"Mermaids believe in reincarnation too,"

"In a way,"

"Who knows... Maybe we have met before, maybe my mom... And your mother had some form of baby shower when we were babies,"

"What's a baby shower?"

"A party... thrown by expecting parents for the baby, you know... Fun little games, gender reveal..."

"Helena," he laughed out,

"What did I say something funny?"

"No... Oddly, you think our mothers would host a party for us, I was born long before you... I think I knew when your mother got pregnant too... She disappeared on us,"

"Oh," I muttered, I was truly disappointed, I thought we were the same age or hoped we were the same age, but why? Triton says he feels like he knows me, and I was interested in the Prince, I felt drawn to him in a way I can't explain, it's like how lungs need air, our veins need blood, our stomach needs food, and... How I needed the ocean that night when it called me.

"And, if I might add," he spoke again, "Your mother and the queen didn't get along well... Had disagreements all the time,"

"No wonder she is giving a cold shoulder ever since got here, I reminded of someone who she despised,"

"Which reminds me, Helena... You don't remember anything at all?"

"Nothing, it's blurred... I am sorry, every I said to the council is true, the night of the party, it... I— don't know what happened to me out there, for three days I was gone... And I don't remember any of it,"

"It's okay, I am sorry that happened to you, I can help with that... You know, take you to someone who can restore your memories,"

"Where..." I stood up, excited to hear that, "Take me to them... Please,"

"Well... I should have clarity about what I meant; my poor choice of words always lands me in trouble... What I meant to say is... I know someone, she is called the oracle, she is like the enchantress of the ocean,"

"Okay?"

"She lives in the ocean, and I mean lives there... She doesn't come up like the rest of us, and... She has to find you,"

Great, I thought, I had genuine fear for the water but not only that, we were hunting down a ghost,

"It's a long shot, but it's worth trying... Maybe she can't tell us why we have this connection," he placed his palm over my hand,

My breathing began heavy, and my heart was pounding out of my chest, it was like I am surrounded by water, and I was drowning, and there is a light, far away from me but each time I blinked it got closer,

"Helena... Helena!"

Gasping for air, I gagged, before coughing up water, lots of it, the prince kneeled before with firm grips on my shoulders,

"Helena?" He whispered, "What happened... Why were you coughing up water?"

"You know..." I held on to my throat, as I tried to speak, "You know how you keep saying you feel like you know me?" I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, "Yeah?"

"That's how I feel whenever you touch me or try to hold my hand... I keep having the same dream over and over again like I was drowning, and there was light... A very light coming to me, I—"

"It's okay, let's get you inside... you're shaking,"

Trying to stand my legs betrayed me, I was too weak to even stand let alone walk,

"I can't..." I cried out, "I just need a minute... Just let me catch my breath and then I will go to my room—"

I blacked out.

Opening my eyes, I looked around the room seeing an unfamiliar face, a bright light moving back and forth across my face, burning my eyes,

"She seems fine..." The stranger stared down at me, snapping his finger causing the light to disappear, I could now see where I was, I was in the room they gave to me,

"Anxiety attack," the stinging of thin leather gloves filled the room as he removed them, "It's a human thing,"

"Helena," Triton rushed to my bedside, as I tried to sit up,

"You passed out me... Thought I lost for a minute," he smiled,

"Thought you say?" The man added while packing up a small bag, "Prince Triton that's the first time I have heard you yell for me like the way you did... Even when you are hurt, you have never cried for me so hard, if I am—"

"Thank you, Doctor," Triton cut him off, I could see his flushed cheeks under the dim lights, he was embarrassed, and this man, he is a doctor,

"Lady Helena it's good to have you here, I hope we don't cross paths again," he taunted, "Prince Triton," he mumbled with a more serious tone,

"See you, Doctor," Triton spoke, and although I was watching the door all this time, I could see the Triton's gaze on me from the corner of my eyes,

Nodding his head, the doctor hurried away, closing the door softly behind him,

"Helena..." He mumbled, "I think you were having a panic attack because of you trying to remember, do you remember?"

"I— don't, Triton did you hear a word I said earlier, the first time we met, and you shook my hand, then today when you tried to hold it... This is what you do to me, your touch... It makes me want to remember,"

"And I—" he whispered, "I want you to remember and tell me I am right, tell me that I know you from a different life or you were my secret human friend," his lips parted,

"I—"

He stared into my eyes, I have learned many things about Meritopia so far, my favorite is these flames of the candles, rocking when the wind blew, sending its essence around filling the air with vanilla extracts and strawberries, combining to create the perfect moments, one like this.

Leaning in closer, the gold in Triton's eyes brighten, dancing with passion and desire, well at least that’s what I think it is because it's the same way my parents would look at each other, just like how Triton was looking at me now.

Our faces were close, our lips are inches apart, this was going to be my first kiss—

The door swung opened, and we pulled away, "Oh..."

It was the girl from the first day, the one with wings,

"I— am sorry, Lady Helena..."

Lady? First, the doctor them her, did something happened why I was passed out.

"Prince Triton, I—"

"Speak maid," stood from my bed, arms tucked behind him,

Maid? That's what we're, maids...

"My Prince, the Queen has summoned Lady Helena—"

I wish everyone would stop calling me that,

"—to have dinner with her,"

"Oh," he glanced at me over his shoulder,

"Tell her I will be there... Thank you,"

The girl stared at me with a confused face before skipping away.

"I must leave you to freshen up, so you can get to your dinner?"

"Triton... Did something happen when I — passed out, 'Lady' Helena?"

"Oh, the council official announced your arrival here, and who you were."

"Didn't everyone already know?"

"Yeah— but it wasn't official until they make it official, perhaps you can explain to me when you get to take your mother's place,"

"How did I not know my mom was a mermaid Triton, a council member to be exact,"

"Elder Selene wasn't just any council member, she was one of two high councils, she ruled over the others, they are powerful, but she was the most powerful along with elder SAM*"

"I have watched my mother swim... And she popped out fins, a tail and—"

"These," he hoisted his hand, "These are called moon rings... Most mermaids have them... Some don't, it has the ability for us to stay in full control even in ocean water. It makes us immune to the transformation when we want it to,"

"I never saw in a ring like... The moonstone, that is what is important, not the ring,"

"What do you mean?"

"I never saw her with a ring like that because she removed the stone, and it etched in her wedding ring,"

"Well," Triton mumbled, "That makes perfect sense... You can try looking for it... In her chambers,"

"Her chambers?"

"Yeah... I know you knew... Didn't the Queen send someone to show you where your mother's chamber is,"

"No, she didn't,"

"I see." His face wore a look of disdain that left quickly as he spoke again,

" I must go now, Lady Helena,"

"Not you too... Helena is fine, I don't remember calling you 'Prince' Triton... Ever,"

"True," he chuckled lowly,

"Aren't you coming... To dinner?"

"If the sends for you... It means I am not invited,"

"Oh, well cam we hang out afterward... Maybe you can show me my mother's room?"

"Helena... I can show you the room, but I can't go in with you,"

"Why?" I stared up at him, "I will tell you after dinner, there is something I have to do."