Halfblood: Tails of the Ocean

Helena POV

Clasping my hands tightly around the cup, I took a deep breath, appreciating nature. From where I stood, I could see the glistening of the ocean under the moonlight, steady waves swaying back and forth. It was beautiful. Too bad I could only enjoy it from a distance. There was an incident in first grade where I was trying out for the swimming team, and I almost drowned. I haven’t gone near large bodies of water since, except when my mother and I would go to the beach. I would sit in the sand, collecting shells as I watched her, floating around, allowing the currents to drift her body where it desires.

"Oh, Mom." I fondled with the necklace around my neck.

It was given to me by my mother, as my fourteenth birthday gift, and I haven't taken it off since. The pendant was round, a starfish craved into the center, and inside was a picture of her and me as a baby. Holding on to it, I closed my eyes, allowing my brain to unlock the memories I had with her—wide smiles, luminous blue eyes, even the beauty mole right above her top lip. My dear mother, I love you... I always will love you.

It's been four years since her disappearance and numerous search parties led by both the community and the police department. Each time they came up with no clues further drove the stake of misery into my heart. After some time, it was no longer a missing person's dilemma. It was listed among the piling of unsolved homicides cases in this town. Some say she drowned; I say bullshit. I have seen my mother swim. There is no way she drowned.

It's has been just me and my father since then, alone, living in the middle of nowhere far from civilization. And I was jeered for this at school. I had no friends, and the teachers pitied me until a few days ago when Pete asked if I wanted to go to a party with him. I said yes, and here I was, standing alone. I’ve had a crush on Pete since the second grade. I admired how strong he was, his abs noticeable under his shirt drenched in sweat when he trained. All the girls like Pete, from the popular ones to the nerds. Pete talking to you puts you out there, but to be seen with him? That's something. Now, we have all matured and graduated from the same school, and this party was one last celebration.

"Hey." I felt an arm slithering around my waist. "You okay?"

"Yeah—yeah, I guess, but... I have to ask. Why did you invite me here, Pete?"

"So, I can spend more time with you." He caressed my chin, gliding his thumb over my lower lip.

"All you've done since we got here is pretend as if we aren't here together."

"That's not true, babe. Being popular is not easy, and after tonight, I might never see my buddies again."

He was right about that. High school is over, and sadly, most friendships will end with it.

"I am sorry. I wasn't even thinking about that. That's selfish of me."

"No, it's hot... You're hot."

His words made my cheeks redden with a blush that I tried to hide, though I was sure the dim light from on bonfire must have betrayed me. That was the first time a boy has told me I was “hot,” and I expected more, like in the movies. But Pete was no prince charming. He was a high school jock and a soon-to-be charismatic college boy. That's far as he would go when it came to a compliment, and I liked it.

"I—" I chuckled nervously, "Pete..."

"Shh..." He dragged his fingers down my lips. "I want to show you something." He gripped my hand, pulling me behind him.

"Where are we going?" I giggled as we ambled through the crowd of intoxicated teenagers, too caught up with their own drama to see us... together.

"You'll see." He smiled back at me.

Finally, we made it out of the crowd. Pete stooped under a rusty chain that barred us from the other side.

"Private property... do not trespass," I read the sign nailed to the post.

"What was that?"

"I don't think this is a good idea. We should head back—"

"Don't be a spoilsport. Where is the fun in that?"

"I know, but I just think—"

"Fine, go back if you want to. Just know I will just bring someone else."

And by someone else, he meant another girl.

"You're right. I’m sorry." I hunched under the chains as well.

"Show me."

After walking in silence for a few minutes, he froze in his tracks, turning around to face me.

"Are you ready to be amazed?" He grinned.

"Yea, I guess—"

Stepping aside, Pete gestured to a large hole in the ground behind him.

"What's that?" I mumbled, nervous as we walked over to it.

"I don't know... It wasn't here a few days ago when we were prepping for the party. It just appeared out of nowhere."

It was like a well, but larger. The stones packed around it were old. Whatever this was had been around for a long time. Peeping over in it, the first thing I noticed was the moon's reflection in what seems to be water at the bottom. I could see plants and colorful stones that looked naturally pigmented.

"Beautiful, huh?"

"Yeah, so are you saying this wasn't here before—" I turned around, with wide eyes, finding Pete behind me in his birthday suit.

Cleaning my throat, I looked away. So, that's the reason he brought me here.

"Don't you like what you see?" He slowly paced towards me.

"I-I think we should go back." I stepped backward as he got closer.

"Touch me," he whispered. The moisture flicked off his tongue as he licked his lips.

"Pete... let's go back."

"Why do you have to be such a bitch, huh?" he yelled, shoving me in the chest.

"Pete, let's go back... Pete, let's do this... Pete, let's do that," he continued, mimicking how I spoke.

"Pete," I glanced over my shoulders, looking down in the hole.

"What? Helena from first grade still afraid of a little water?" He pushed me again.

"Answer me, bitch!"

My ankles were pressed against the short sides of the well.

"Pete, let's just get back, okay?"

"Fuck you." He gave me one last push.

In the blink of an eye, my back came in contact with water, and I couldn't help but noticed how frigid it was. It should have been warm, but it wasn't, and that's strange for water that has been contained. Why was it so cold? Each time my head bobbed above the water, I gasped for air. This was different from the pool tragedy—maybe because someone was right there to pull me out before I started to struggle—but now, I am face to face with death. Each chance to breathe became harder than the last one. Drowning wasn't like what we saw in the movies with waving arms and screams, dramatically dipping a few times underwater, calling for someone to come to rescue you. This was reality. There was so much panic and fear of dying that the only thing to focus was staying alive. It was impossible to wave your arms when you found yourself trying to clutch onto the water, hoping to find something there to float on. You couldn't scream because when you opened your mouth, water filled you up, forcing you to gulp it down. How long this continued depended on you. Would you fight to survive, or would you give up and allow the water to be your grave?

I was getting weak, probably hallucinating, because around me I swore I saw large bubbles on the surface as if the water was boiling. It reminded me of when my father would turn on a burner under the biggest pot on Sundays to cook potatoes, but in this case, the hole was the pot, and I was a potato. Sinking to the bottom, I blinked a few times as the moonlight kissed my forehead for the last time. There was no hope for me. I was drowning.

Gasping for air, I coughed uncontrollably, opening my eyes slowly, forcing them to shut when the rays of the sunlight stung them. With a loud groan, I rolled over on my side, looking around. I knew this place, but why was I here? On the beach, I couldn't remember anything from last night. It was all a blur. The last thing I remembered was holding a cup in my hand, staring out at the ocean. How much did I have to drink? And I have been gone since last night. Wasn't anyone looking for me?

Standing up, I began to walk. My father must be worried. I had been gone for hours, and it would be twenty-four hours soon, so I’d better hurry to the house before he filed a missing person report. I could only imagine the pain he was going through because of my selfishness. Mom disappeared, and now his only daughter got wasted and reopened that wound. Taking a deep breath, I looked over my shoulders. I noticed a woman far behind me, but I could feel her eyes on me. I was near my house, so I began to walk faster, which turned into jogging. Glancing over my shoulders again, I didn't see her. She was no longer there, and there was nowhere else for her to go but into the ocean. I didn't see splashes from her swimming—maybe she wasn't there at all.

Twisting the doorknob, I pushed open the door, finding my father seated inside with police officers, all of whom wore a startled expression on their faces like they had seen a ghost. Had they? Was I dead, and my spirit was somehow roaming around?

"Helena." My father rushed over to me, hugging me tightly with repeated kisses on my forehead.

"Sorry, Dad. I know it was cruel of me, and—it's okay, Officers. I think I had too much to drink," I laughed nervously. "Woke up on the beach this morning. No hangover, though, thank God," I joked.

"Honey," my father placed his hand on my shoulder, "you've been missing for three days."

Unknown POV

Swiftly, I flicked my tail, diving further into the deep. I needed to get back to Meritopia, so I could warn the Queen about what's coming. Swimming past the coral where the protectors stood guard, I swam down the underwater cave's tunnel, tearing the seaweed from my path as I swam. Emerging out of the pool, I waited on the moonstone in my ring to change from blue to white. As soon as it did, I took a dress from the safe, hurrying through the palace. My heart pounded heavily in my chest. Standing before the Queen's chambers, I realized the doors were closed, but I needed to see her. She must know.

"I wish to speak with Queen Marina," I mumbled to the guards, who pretended I didn't exist.

"Do you have no respect? Did you not hear me? I want to speak to the Queen." I approached them.

Linking their tridents together, they barricaded me from entering her quarters. Raising my hand, the ground beneath us began to rumble. I didn't provoke them; they disrespected me, and now they must die.

"I am here," her sweet voice whispered behind me, pulling my hand down.

"Queen Marina." I bowed at her feet, kissing the tip of her glass shoe.

"Stand, child, you seem so... disturbed. Is something wrong?"

"My Queen," I stood, taking her hand, "I’d rather speak with you privately." I glared at the guards.

"Very well," she marched past me, pushing the door open to her room,

Closing the door softly behind me, I bit the inside of my cheeks, worried about what I was about to tell her.

"What news do you bring?"

"I watched the moon pool as you told me to, ensuring that Prince Triton was nowhere it."

"And?" She walked around the room, dragging her hands along the emerald stoned tables.

"There was an incident."

"What do you mean?" She glared at me; her eyes flashed from orange to bright red. She was already angry, and she hadn't heard the news yet.

"A human girl fell into the moon pool. She was pushed by another—"

"On a full moon?" Her face fell with dismay.

"Yes."

"That was two nights ago. Why are you reporting this to me now?"

"Because she drowned. Turns out, she wasn't much of a swimmer."

"I see. But if the human is dead, why bother to report it?"

"That's the thing, Your Highness. I watched her take her very last breath, and the human male—I guess he panicked and ran back to the others. So, I took a swim. I must have swum too far. It took me a while to get back, and..."

"And?"

"When I did, her body was missing,"

"So, the human authorities found her." She walked towards me.

"I am afraid not..." I swallowed hard. "She lives, Your highness."

"Did you see her with your own two eyes?" The queen squeezed my shoulders.

"Yes, I-I used the ring, and I followed her."

"You went to the surface?"

"I had to… I had to be sure," I mumbled.

"Okay... We can fix this. Tell no one, especially not the prince." She cupped my cheeks. "That girl was murdered, a violent death in one of our moon pools. Do you have any idea what that could mean for us?"

"No... I do not."

"Sirens are born from violent, watery deaths. That girl died and was brought back to life. If she is a siren, then she will be as strong as me. With their tactical behavior and our powers, they will be invincible with a leader that great."

"What if she's not a siren, but the one the oracle predicted?"

"No, if that human is my son's mate, I will rip the spine out of her tail. She doesn't belong in our world."

"What do you want me to do, My Queen?"

"Keep an eye on her. If she changes when she touches water, I need you to take her here... To me, only me. Say nothing to Triton. This betrothal must go on."

"As you wish, My Queen."

"Leave," she mumbled. I could hear the disappointment in her voice. I failed her. I failed Meritopia.

Walking through the halls, I closed my eyes, dragging my finger on the sea glass walls, humming the song of the sea, a tune that's popular among the sirens, luring sailors to their death. For centuries, humans tried to discover if we were a myth. For centuries, I had watched them fail, thinking mermaids and sirens were the same, but we weren't. While those hideous creatures killed for sport, we’d rather stay hidden, protecting the ocean. But we do share one common enemy: humans.

What that human boy did to that girl was wrong, but what we were about to do to her was worse. If the powers of the moon granted her fins and a tail, she will be in danger, and she will risk our existence.

"Such a beautiful song. How can something be so dangerous but appear so gentle," he spoke from behind me.

"Prince Triton," I kneeled, unable to meet his eyes.

"I missed you last night. I waited for you in my chambers, but you didn't come."

"I am sorry, My Prince. The queen sent me on a last-minute voyage."

"I see."

I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him that what the oracle told him could be true, about him meeting his mate at the center of the moon pool, but I didn't want to break his heart. I didn’t want to give him false hope, knowing that what happened to the human was a terrible mistake. Furthermore, I gave the queen my word. My marriage with the prince was too close for it to be the ruined by a prophecy. I was the one who held Triton in my arms, stroking the top of his head each time there was a full moon, and he came back to Meritopia, disappointed that he hadn't found the one the Oracle spoke about. I asked him how would he know when he had found her, and all he said was, “she wears the rarest ornament of the ocean.”

"Are you alright? You seem distant," he added.

"Yeah, I have to go. Your mother... She has asked me to take care of something. I will be gone for a few days, but I promise when I get back, we will take the longest swim ever, floating above the ocean, bathing in the moonlight." I reached for his cheek, stroking it with my fingers.

"I will be waiting here for you." He placed his palm over my hand, bringing it to his lips, placing light kisses on my knuckles.

"I know," I whispered, walking away from him.

It was too risky to go back to the surface without being spotted. The humans had converted our home, the ocean, into a recreational spot. Over the years, things had become harder. We swam in pairs just in case one of us was caught in a fisherman's net. We swam mostly at night to decrease the possibility of being seen but even that came with consequences. The sirens hunted at night, and though humans were at the top of their list, merpeople were second.

Seated in the garden, I smiled as schools of fish swam around our kingdom, different animals from different species exploring the ocean's floor. Swaying my palms over a few poorly grown flowers, my heart filled with joy when they grew taller, their blossoms touching my fingertips.

"I never knew you still came here."

"William." I breathed out. "What are you doing here?" I whispered. "We can't be seen together."

"Why? Because you're getting married to the prince?" he sarcastically asked, but he knew the answer. He was just being bitter.

"Please, don't do this, William... Not here," I looked around.

Removing his helmet, my heartbeat began to pound faster when I saw his face, beautiful white eyes, with robust hair to match.

"You are not pure... I had you."

"True, but you never said the words, William. You never made me yours, and now you are behaving like a fool."

"Does your prince know you have laid with another?"

"No, and it will a stay that way. Why stick with a bloody guard when I can have a prince?"

"Because I love you. Can't you see that they are just using you to fill a void because the prince's true mate hasn't shown up yet?"

"I am sorry, William, but I don't feel the same about you..." I lied. I did feel the same about him if not more, but I was going to be a princess, and soon, the queen of this pod.

"No, it's greed that is making you do this. You're basically kissing the Queen's fin just because you want to fit in somewhere you don't belong... Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me."

Slowly, I raised my chin, my lips slightly parted, looking into his dancing eyes.

"I-I don't love you, William. I’m sorry." I brushed past him. I didn't expect him to understand. I don't expect anyone to understand, but I worked hard for this. I earned it through sweat and blood. I gave up so much that no mermaid or merman would, so I’m sorry. Sometimes, true love is a small price we all have to pay. The heart wants what it wants... And right now, that's Triton.

Rushing over the waterhole, I dived in, my legs merging back into a tail as I swam up the tunnel and out into the ocean. I needed to keep a watch on the human girl as Queen Marina said. I had to make sure she wasn't Triton's mate, because if she was... I would kill her.