Fins (Transformations: Book 2)

“Look, there’s a school of jellyfish!” Aria pointed excitedly at the group, several yards away. “Aren’t they pretty?”

The pair had been swimming for a while, but they kept having to stop because Aria had to see everything under the sea. This was just the latest in the wonders she’d noticed.

“I suppose, but you shouldn’t go near them,” Alizarin warned.

“Well, I know that much,” she assured him with a smile, “I just can’t believe I’m seeing those with my own eyes. Do you know how much humans pay for a view like this? They have to get the scuba diving lessons and take all sorts of risks for it.”

“You’ll be taking a risk if you don’t get back to the surface, in time,” he pointed out, “We should speed up, so we can talk to the seers before that happens.”

“The seers?” She turned to face him. “That’s who we’re going to see.”

He nodded. “They don’t usually help like that, but I figured they might be willing if it’s for the sake of keeping the peace. After all, it’s their job to ensure the future of our kingdoms.”

“Right.” Aria swam beside him, realizing she probably seemed ridiculous, getting excited over things he likely saw on a regular basis. “Have you ever met the seers before?”

“Not that I remember,” he admitted, “Of course, we all meet them as babies, since that’s where we’re born, but that was many years ago.”

Aria frowned as she thought about that. “Do you ever hate them for what they did to you?”

“What they did?” He looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You know,” she said, “Giving you to people who treated you badly. If they see the future, they must have known what would happen, right? Even so, they forced you into a terrible situation.”

“They did what was best for the kingdom, I’m sure. I cannot fathom their plan because I am not one of them. What is my life worth, compared to the lives of all the Glemoran and Valadoran people?”

Aria couldn’t argue with that very well. She wondered if she would be able to be as understanding as him if the situation were reversed. “You’re very kind, aren’t you?”

That cause him to stop short and he stared at her. “Kind?”

She nodded. “You could hate them for giving you to unkind people, but you don’t. You could hate Sapphira for ordering you to do things she knows will put you at risk, but you defend her. You could be angry at the people who hurt you, but I’ve never heard you say an unkind word about them. You accept responsibility for the cruelty of others, even if it causes you pain. Is that not kindness?”

He continued to stare at her for a minute as he processed her words. “You give me too much credit. I just don’t see any point in being upset about things I can’t change. Why hate the seers for doing what they thought was best? Why hate Sapphira for acting the way she was taught? Why hate those who don’t know to behave differently? I don’t know what it’s like in the human realm, but we are taught a certain way of life. I am a red tail who exist among royalty. No one can be expected to know how to deal with me, right?”

He swam off without waiting for an answer, clearly expecting her to follow.

Aria shook her head in wonder as she caught up to him. “I know I probably don’t understand everything, but I don’t think your tail color should give people an excuse to act like that. We have such issues in the human world and people are often trying to fight against the ones who cause it.”

“Perhaps, that works for humans, but it’s not so simple for us.”

“You say that, but has anyone tried? Surely, the other red tails would fight for a better life, right?”

“I wouldn’t know,” he admitted, “I’ve never met them. They have no interest in dealing with someone who lives among the royal family, after all.”

“That’s just not fair,” she commented, “You never asked for any of this, so why should you be treated badly for it?”

He fell silent and Aria feared she had pushed the subject too far until he replied, softly, “I think you are the kind one, Aria.”

She felt her cheeks flushed and couldn’t seem to find her voice for a minute. Just as she was about to speak again, he stopped.

“We’re here.”

Aria had been so focused on their conversation that she hadn’t noticed when they reached what appeared to be an underwater forest. “What is this?”

Giant kelp grew thickly in front of her, stretching up as far as the eye could see. Aria saw a seal swim out of it and pass by them, but she resisted the urge to comment.

“Stay close,” Alizarin said, “It won’t be good if we get separated in this. It’s easy to get tangled up if you aren’t careful, after all.”

Aria nodded dumbly and followed him into the dense growth, careful not to lose sight of her guide. She couldn’t help but be glad for his red tail, which stood out among the green kelp.

“Do you know where we’re going?” she wondered.

“I have a basic idea,” he tried to assure her, “It’s in the center of this, supposedly. Of course, I’ve never been there, but this seems to be our best bet.”

“Right.” Aria was feeling less confident about the plan by the minute. She knew she would have trouble finding her way back out if he was wrong about this.

Therefore, she was immensely relieved when the kelp became less dense. Before long, she could see what appeared to be a large clearing. A they exited the trees, she realized that large was an understatement. The clearing stretched for miles in every direction and was filled with giant clams as far as the eye could see.

“Are you okay?” Alizarin asked as she stopped swimming.

Aria nodded, slowly. “All of these are producing merfolk?”

“Not at the same time,” he pointed out, “What is it like for humans to be born?”

Aria’s cheeks flushed as she tried to come up with a suitable answer. “Suffice it to say, that’s nothing like this.” She cleared her throat, uncomfortably. “Well, lead the way. You know more about this place than I do.”

“Very well.” He swam closer to the oysters, where various merfolk with silver and white tails were watching over them.

“Can I help you?” a mermaid asked as she caught sight of them.

“We have a matter of some importance that we thought you might be able to help with,” he explained, “It concerns a threat to the peace treaty between Glemora and Valador.”

“I’m afraid we are not supposed to interfere with political matters,” the seer explained, “It might be best before you risk causing a disturbance.”

“Douglas?” a voice asked from nearby.

Aria turned to see a mermaid with bright red hair, staring at Alizarin. He turned to look, as well, but showed no sign of recognition.

“I believe you have mistaken me for someone else,” he told her.

She looked at the other seer. “I will take care of them. Please, continue with your duties.”

The mermaid nodded and swam off, seeming eager to get away from the situation.

The red-haired mermaid turned back to them with a smile. “I’m sorry for approaching you so suddenly, but you are Alizarin, son of Proteo and Eldoris, correct?”

“I’m not sure I would consider myself their son,” Alizarin replied.

“I suppose you wouldn’t,” she agreed, looking past him with a smile, “And you are Aria, right?”

She nodded as she stared at the mermaid in wonder. “How did you know that?”

“We tend to see and hear more than most,” the mermaid vaguely explained, “At any rate, my name is Serena.” She looked back to Alizarin. “My, how you’ve grown.”

“Do I know you?” he asked.

Serena shook her head. “I suppose not. At any rate, why are you here?” She paused and her eyes grew distant. “A necklace?”

“Yes,” Aria nodded, enthusiastically, “We need to find out where this necklace is. It’s really important. Can you help us?”

Serena frowned as she considered them for a moment. “I can’t tell you where it is, but we can ask Spiro. Mind you, I make no promises that he will help.” She looked at Aria. “We must hurry if you are to speak to him and return home before you transform. Follow me.”

Neither questioned the seer as she swam away and they trailed behind. She took them to a building on the edge of the birthing clams and led them inside, where they found a middle-aged man with dark, flowing hair and piercing brown eyes. Silver scales snaked from his tail, up his back and around his neck, ending in a point on his cheek. He looked middle-eastern, not that such a thing seemed to matter here, and he seemed to see right through the group as they approached.

“Spiro,” Serena announced, “We have come seeking your guidance.”

“You have come in vain, I’m afraid,” he told them, “I cannot help you.”

Serena, Alizarin, and Aria just stared at him for a minute. Aria sensed that he already knew what they wanted and had rejected them before they could even ask for it.

“But your gift of sight is so great that you must know where to find the necklace,” Serena argued, “The peace treaty is at stake, here, after all.”

“I know what is at stake,” he explained, “I also know that it is not my place to interfere. We cannot fulfill such requests, as you well know, Serena.”

Her expression was unreadable as she continued to stare at him. “We are to leave them to their fates, then?”

“It is not our place to decide such things,” he said, turning away from them, “I’d have hoped you learned that long ago.” He swam off without giving them a chance to argue.

Aria felt her heart sink at his words, knowing they didn’t have another way of finding the necklace. She looked at Serena, who didn’t seem to be any happier about the answer.

“I’m sorry,” the seer said, “I wish there was something I could do to help you, but my gift isn’t strong enough.”

“It’s not your fault,” Aria rushed to assure her, “I’m sure he’s just doing what he thinks is best.” She forced herself not to get annoyed at the seer, telling herself he had to have a good reason. If Alizarin wasn’t angry after everything that had been done to him, she felt like she would be petty to get mad.

“We always trust that Spiro has good reasons,” Serena agreed, although her tone didn’t sound trusting, “I really am sorry to have gotten your hopes up, though. I’ll see you back to the kelp vines.” She led the pair away in silence.

Aria stared at the clams as they passed, still amazed that merfolk were being created within them. It was all so beautiful and perfect, like a dream. It was a shame that the dream ended there. Once the babies came out, it seemed they had rough lives ahead of them.

“This is as far as I go,” Serena announced as they reached the forest, “I trust you two can find your way out from here.”

Alizarin nodded, silently, barely looking at her.

Aria offered the mermaid a smile, wanting to make sure she didn’t blame herself. “Thank you for trying to help us.”

Serena stared at the girl for a moment, then pulled her into a hug and whispered, “Take care of him, okay?”

Aria was too stunned to react. “Okay…”

Serena smiled as she pulled away and headed back to the clams.

Aria was silent as she followed Alizarin back out of the kelp and into the open sea. She realized this may be the last time she could transform if the Glemorans were after her. On top of that, she’d have to be extra careful during full moons, so she could avoid them. That would mean not seeing Kai or Echo again.

“You seem sad,” Alizarin noted.

Aria forced a smile. “I’ve just got a lot to think about.” She looked at him, wishing there was something she could do to make his life better in the little time she had left. “Do you dislike your name?”

He gave her a blank stare. “My name?”

Aria blushed as she realized how bluntly that had come out. “I’m sorry if that sounded weird. I was just wondering since I know you dislike your tail color and your name…” She trailed off, wishing she had never even started the sentence.

“My name is reminiscent of the color,” he finished on her behalf and shrugged, “It doesn’t matter whether I like it or not. My name is my name. I can’t just change it.”

“You could use a nickname,” she suggested.

“Nickname?”

“You know: like something shorter.” Aria thought for a minute. “Al wouldn’t really suit you, I think and I can’t very well call you Allie. How about Rin?” She looked him over. “You could be a Rin.”

“Rin,” he tried it out, “If you wish to call me that, it’s fine.”

Aria shook her head. “Don’t give me that. I don’t want to call you something you don’t like. I can call you Alizarin, if you prefer. It’s your choice.”

He fell silent for a minute as he considered that. “I like Rin.”

“Rin, it is.” She smiled, even though she knew this was very minor. “I might not get a chance to see you again, but I’ll always remember you as Rin, alright?”

“I don’t suppose it will trouble you too much not to see me again,” he commented, “It seems you would miss your prince, more. Besides, I seem to have a bad habit of attacking you and who would miss that?”

“Don’t be silly,” she told him, “You make things exciting.” She was doing her best not to feel sad. She knew it would swallow her later, but she wanted to enjoy what little time she had left. “I guess I should return to the surface, soon.” She looked around, trying to imprint the scenery in her memory.

He frowned at her for a second before he responded. “You still have some time, if you would like to see one more thing before you go. It’s not far.”

“I always want to see more,” she replied, “Lead the way, Rin.”

She followed him for several minutes until he stopped in front of a dip in the ocean floor. She looked out over the most breath-taking sight she had seen yet.

Down the slope were anemones and other deep-sea vegetation. Surrounding it were hundreds of fishes of every size and color. An orca swam by Aria, startling her enough that she grabbed Alizarin’s arm. When he looked down at her hand, she quickly pulled it away.

“Sorry,” she said, although she couldn’t stop smiling at the sight before her.

“It’s fine,” he assured her. He gestured towards the valley. “Do you like it?”

She gave an enthusiastic nod. “It’s incredible. Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing.”

They were only able to gaze upon it for a few minutes before he announced that it was time for her to return to the surface.

Aria frowned, but didn’t argue as he led her away. “Do you go there often?”

“Sometimes,” he replied, “Not many merfolk come around here. They tend to stay in their cities, after all.”

“I guess that’s understandable,” she said, “It can be dangerous to get out, after all.” She looked at him. “Aren’t you ever scared to do it?”

“Scared?” He shook his head. “I would rather risk danger out here than remain locked in my room and I can’t swim around Glemora. There would be too much risk of someone seeing me and telling the king and queen that I was sneaking out.” He unconsciously rubbed his wrists, making Aria wonder about the scars there. “That would be unfortunate.”

“What would they do?” she asked, then regretted it, “Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he told her, “It is nothing so terrible. I just prefer to have some freedom.” He stopped as they came close to the surface. “You’ll be able to find your way to your shore from here.”

Aria turned to Alizarin and offered him a warm smile. “Thank you.” She paused for a moment, giving him a thoughtful look. “You know, if you chose to become a human, you could be free without fear of being punished.”

He shook his head before she finished. “Glemora may not be perfect, but this is my home. Whatever the risks, I will prefer to take them, rather than leave. I would expect you to understand, since you seem so enamored with this world.”

She couldn’t argue with that. “I will miss being here. I guess I can understand why you wouldn’t want to leave. I just don’t like to see anyone suffering.”

“I do not suffer so much,” he tried to assure her, “I serve the royal family and feel no need to seek another life.”

She looked at him a moment longer and smiled. “You really are quite kind.” Before he could respond, she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him gently. “I’m glad I met you, Rin. I wish we could have spent more time together.”

He stared at her as she pulled away, clearly at a loss for words.

“What are you doing?” a voice demanded.