Page 41 of Calling of the Crown

Giddy with a sense of wonder, I whirled around in the water and arched my back to flip backward. This feeling rushing through me was light. It was rightness. It was freedom. And I needed to see more. With my hair and dress waving gently in the water around me, I pushed through the water, gliding through it effortlessly. Small pink and yellow fish darted by, circling up and around my limbs as I swam. A sea turtle made a point to glide by, waving a flipper as it went.

“Everything is so beautiful,” I beamed to Dallas as we neared the ocean floor.

My bare feet sank into the soft sand, which surprised me. I’d expected a rough, almost gravel-like sea floor, but as I sank to my knees and slipped my hand through the white grains, it was as soft as velvet slipping through my fingers.

Vibrant green kelp, twisted coral in varying sizes and shades of orange and red, and seashells in every color imaginable surrounded me. So many colors I never expected to find under the ocean greeted me now with a beauty unlike any other. It was mesmerizing, stunning, and magical.

“This is just a small glimpse of all that the Ambrolia seas have to offer,” Dallas noted from beside me.

A sudden shrill sound echoed in the water, and I quickly looked ahead as a massive Orca swam gracefully in our direction. Jayanna, still in her shark form, swam ahead to meet the Orca, and the two twirled and flipped about each other.

“I believe that’s Khalani,” Dallas guessed.

Smiling, I nodded. “I believe you’re right.”

Looking beyond the pair, I scanned the ocean floor and noticed what looked like old ruins scattered around the vibrant coral and marine life. They looked like structures, some fallen and mostly gone, others still relatively intact.

“What are all those rock formations?” I asked. “Are those old buildings?”

Dallas followed my gaze then nodded. “Those are old homes and shops from when Water Fae still lived in the water. They’re structures that didn’t get raised up to the surface when Sand Crab Fae raised our Kingdom.”

“So they’re abandoned?”

“Other than marine life that decided to take up residency there, yes.”

Curious about the buildings, I got up from my knees and swam closer to the nearest one. Half of it had already collapsed, but I could still make out a corner wall and window. Stone and seashells littered the interior of the long-forgotten building, and among the debris, I saw tattered fabrics. On closer inspection, I realized it was clothing. After digging around the rubble and finding shelves and hanging displays, it became clear this was an old clothing store. Seeing something as ordinary as a clothing shop abandoned like this made my throat tighten with emotion.

“Look at all these dresses and tunics,” I mumbled to Dallas as I gathered up the old fabrics. “Just forgotten.”

Dallas took a labored breath from behind me, and the sound made me quickly turn in her direction. Seeing my alarm, she waved a dismissive hand while the other held her throat. “I’m fine. My time under here is just about up. I’m gonna swim back up and switch out with Imani. Don’t move from here, okay?”

She didn’t wait for my response. The water around her bubbled, and suddenly, she shot toward the surface like an underwater rocket.

I stared after her and mumbled, “Well, that’s cool.”

I turned back to the fallen building to continue looking around when a faint warmth brushed over my cheek. It was so miniscule, I almost thought I’d imagined it, but my skin buzzed where I had felt the whisper of a touch. I held my cheek and looked around me for any sign of someone or something that could’ve touched me, but there was nothing.

“Water, was that you just trying to say hello?” I asked the sea around me.

She’s here.

Smiling at the voices in the water, I nodded. “Yes, I’m here.”

She’s here.

Right here.

Follow.

A flash of movement caught my attention from the corner of my eye. It was like a flicker within the water, almost like light reflecting off fish scales. I whipped my head around to follow the flash, but I found empty water. I nearly shrugged it off, but another blur of motion caught my attention farther along the seafloor, leading through the old ruins.

“Hello?” I called, swimming after the flicker of movement.

This way.

I drifted closer to where I’d last seen the movement, and as I did, the water’s pull got stronger, almost like it was trying to lead me in a certain direction. I let the water guide me to where it wanted me, weaving in between old buildings and homes until the pull suddenly stopped. All was calm, and there were no more flashes of movement.

“Is this where you wanted me to go?” I whispered to the sea as my gaze drank in the sight before me.

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