Page 130 of Sea's Secret

“And I am to take your oath? How? How can I trust a corrupt one of your vile human race?”

“You are a fool if you do not!” We all turned around to see a middle-aged mermaid with light blond hair with blue tints and a tail–a tail that shimmered turquoise in the water.

My heart beat faster.

Is it–

“Allia,” Father gasped.

–My mother.

“Hello, will you make the same foolish mistake that you made so long ago? Will you deny your people their lives, now?”

“We were safe under the sea! I was only doing what we had been doing for centuries, what always kept us safe. I waited for the Ancient to come,” Father said as Mother swam up to tread water beside Dominick and me.

“Well, she has come. You better listen to your daughter, or you will kill more of our people!” she shouted.

“How are you here?” Father gasped.

“The Ancients,” she said, looking at all my sisters, then resting her gaze upon me. “I came to support my daughter. I love you, Meria. Thank you for saving our people from your father’s ignorance.”

I had no words. Her eyes were warm and so were her arms as she wrapped them around me. That–that had been the missing piece for me under the sea. That had been the reason I did not feel like I belonged. I was like my mother.

“I was looking for you–” I began.

“I know, dearest, Celia told me, and you traveled the Misted Seas? You truly are a strong soul. I knew you were special the first time I held you in my arms.” She kissed my cheek.

“I am so happy to finally be with you.”

“And I you. I am so proud of you and your example of strength. I missed you every single day.” Her eyes, so soft and warm, made me feel at peace. “I am going to go talk to your foolish father, now, and to all our people,” she said with a wicked grin, kissing the top of my head.

“Your king has failed you all–” my mother began, pulling away from me to shout to all the mer. “Many have lost loved ones to the darkness. Will you keep doing likewise until our race is lost forever?” my mother called.

Dominick touched my hand, and I clasped it tight beneath the water.

“Go up and onto the shore, and see for yourselves that you also have legs as well as scales. That our ancestors lived and prospered on Marren Island,” the old queen called.

There were murmurs around us within the water, and Finn swam over to us.

“Who wants to join me? Legs are pretty useful,” he said. A small group followed him, and Father was still silent. Slowly, more and more merpeople swam toward Marren Island.

“I only wanted to help our people,” Father finally said as he left the rock and approached Mother.

“You are a fool.”

“Can you ever forgive me?” Father asked.

“I doubt it. You removed me, not only from my kingdom, but from my children. I have not seen them for nearly two decades. I missed out on watching them grow. I did not see them marry and have children of their own. You robbed me, Marren King. You stole my life from me. That is not something I can take lightly. You are incompetent and should step down as king. You almost destroyed our entire race with your pride and foolish ways.”

“King of Marren,” Ancient Celia’s voice boomed loud. “You are stripped of your title and crown. You are not a worthy ruler of Marren.”

“I will do as you ask and beg for forgiveness. Will you banish me?”

“I will not do what you so foolishly did when you banished, not only your righteous Queen, but Marren’s youngest princess–still, you will only be allowed to remain in Marren if the new Queen allows it,” Celia answered him.

“And who is this new Queen, great Ancient?” Father asked, bowing his head.

“Queen Allia is Queen and ruler of all mer, until it is time for her eldest daughter and her husband to replace her. Queen Allia will restore order and balance to the merpeople. All Hail to Queen Allia!” the Ancient called out.

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