Page 29 of Sea's Secret

“What is the matter?” he asked in his polite way, and I wondered if that was an act, too. Was everything between us an act? Why did he have to be so observant when I just wanted to move past him and leave?

“My father–” I started, but could not finish as Edmar spoke over me.

“Ah, yes. I hope you will listen to what he advised you today,” he said, touching my cheek.

I pulled away from him.

“I should go,” I said, trying to move away, but he put an arm out to stop me.

Tell him, my soul begged me.

“You will obey your father, won’t you? I could not see myself with anyone but you, Meria,” he said with a smile, but for good reason, I did not think it sweet. He was clearly indicating that he would not like me if I questioned and disobeyed.

I was disobeying, I was questioning; I had to.

I was not going to marry that merman.

Then tell him that! I shouted at myself within my soul.

“I always obey my father,” I lied, ashamed once again, for being a coward and not confronting him like I knew I should have.

Why can I not be brave, or bold? Why can I not sing what is in my soul?

“Yes, you are very obedient. I think that is one of the things I love most about you. So agreeable.”

“I have to go–” I said, moving his arm down to give myself some space to swim past him.

“Yes, of course.”

But before I let him say another word, I flicked my tail, causing a flurry of bubbles in front of his face, and I zoomed off and up. I needed to talk to Finn, to tell him I had been banished–and that I was going to search for my mother, even if there was a storm.

In only a few moments, Edmar was behind me, grabbing my tail. Curse him and his fast swimming.

“Let go,” I sang loudly.

“Where are you going? There is a ship up there.”

“I just need to see Finn, and I will be right down,” I lied again.

I cannot tell him the truth, but I can lie? What does this say about me?

I slipped from his grip, finally, and swam straight to the surface. Watchers were all around. I could lose him in the chaos. I thought about diving deep, but with his larger tail, it would not be an effective escape plan. He would catch up with me very quickly. My best chance of escaping him was to find Finn in that stormy sea. I searched through the dark waters.

Where is Finn? He has to be up here.

Then, there was a flash, and suddenly a fast current pulled me far away from Edmar, and I then swam upward, breaking through the water again. There was another flash, and a ship in front of me was struck by lightning. Instantly, red and yellow ripples covered part of the ship. The seas continued to rage, and I turned around, seeing Finn, finally, at my side.

“What are you doing here, Meria?” he asked, swimming closer. The waves sloshed back and forth so fiercely that we were tugged closer to the ship. The water was warmer there.

“They are jumping,” Finn sang to the watchers. “You cannot be out here, Meria. Go back to the castle.” I saw to my great irritation, that just behind Finn, Edmar had popped from the water. He was a dozen feet away from us, and I could not let him near me again. I was done hearing him speak and telling me who I was. I did not love him. I did not want to be with him. Never again.

“Please, Finn–Edmar–”

“What?” Finn asked, his eyes locking with mine.

“He told my father about having legs. My father has banished me.” Finn’s face looked as if he wanted to murder someone, probably Edmar.

“I hate him.”

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