I woke up the next morning feeling like I hadn’t slept at all. I hit Sebastian over the head with the pillow annoyed he still slept next to me.

“Go make me breakfast,” I mumbled rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I heard him roll over and felt him snuggle up to me. “Geez what are you doing!” I jolted out of his grasp and hit him several more times over the head. “Get up!” He laid their drained.

“Go to the store, and buy some groceries. There’s fifty cilms in the draw. Go buy whatever you need for the next three days.” He mumbled not moving. How much was fifty clims?

“What is a ‘clim’ worth?...aren’t you coming with me?... where’s the grocery store?” I asked getting no answer. Sighing I tossed a purple top on and found what he claimed was fifty clims. I shut the door and looked down the street. I knew the patisserie was three blocks away, so i made my way there hoping I would similar shops, that being the grocery store, was nearby.

I made mental notes to almost all the shops I passed. There was an We’R’Toys, Antiques Galore, Mindy’s Florist, who probably was enjoying her sudden increase of sales, as I still had at least three bouquets around the house. And to my amazement there at the end of the street the grocery store.

I sped down and opened the door, the chime sounding. I can’t believe I actually found this in one hit. I looked across the store, rows of selves, stands and signs displaying the edible goods laid out in front of me. I loved there were still plenty of familiarities. Now what was I supposed to buy? I looked at the weird and wonderful fresh produce, recognising very little.

“Can I help you there miss?” a soft voice asked from behind. I turned to meet the owner wearing a green apron. He was fairly young, average in appearance but had muscular arms, suited for his occupation. Smiling I rubbed the back of my head.

“I’m new at this,” I admitted blushing with embrassment. I turned back and peered over all the ‘vegetables’. “What would be a good selection for three days’ worth of food?” I asked pointing at the weird green thingy remembering Sebastian’s muffled words.

“Well that’s really depends on what type of dinners you plan to cook, how many you wish to feed and your budget,” he said coming forward. “Say you cook for you and your fiancé then forty clims should be more than enough.” I was about to ask how he knew I was engaged but remember the minyorni and the papers. I turned back to the owner who had gotten me a basket. He explained three simple dishes to me and what I would need. Me, secretly making notes as to their similarities to topside dishes and ingredients. I also asked him for that weird cereal Sebastian always fed me.

“Thank you very much, I really appreciate it,” I smiled looking down at my full basket weighing down on my arm. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name?” I began.

“Most people call me Almond,” he explained. Like the nut? “Hey Ephemera! It’s the girl from the papers,” he called. I heard a couple of bangs on the wall from the upstairs living area. “She always has her head stuck in the latest news, so she’s not the greatness of swimmers,” he explained. I couldn’t imagine there being anyone worse than me?

“You!” someone screeched. I turned but was tackled across the aisle with backbreaking force as I collided with a display stand spilling coral flour all over us. I looked up to see a powdery mer with a crazed look in her eyes staring down at me. “You!” she screeched again and began clawing at me. “It’s all your fault. I hate you!” she screamed pushing me to the ground.

“I don’t even know you” I cried out. She grabbed my hair and pulled my head up, I screamed out in pain. “Really? Think back to your first night here!” she let go of my hair, my head fell hitting the ground.

“I don’t remember. Stop it! I never did anything to you. I don’t even know who you are!” I screamed as she began scratching me up.

“Ephemera, leave the customer alone,” Almond said in a rather wimpy voice. Come on man, get this crazy women off me!

“It’s Effie!” she yelled back at him, before returning to hit and bite me some more as I struggled beneath weight her. “You and I are the same. Humans, before that snake of a woman changed us!” She yelled her eyes going red. Than why was she hitting me if we were the same? “Why did you, that ugly little gutter snipe, get the better guy, the better house, the better publicity, the better looks. Why have you gone from a subzero to some slut of a hero while I end up in this hell hole!” she pulled my hair again and slashed at my arms and face gashing open some skin. I knew I was no beauty but wow, that was harsh. Also did she get her nails sharpen or something? They were sliceing me like paper. Other mers had stopped to watch, gasping at the scene that took place in front of them. Hello, some help please? ”Why did you get the better deal?” she squawked.

“Because she has tried to work with the situation, instead of fight it, you twit!” the familiar voice hollowed out across the store. Crazy Effie was thankfully ripped away from me and constricted to screaming between Ava’s long silver coiled body.

“I hate you. I hate you both. I hate this stupid place, I hate you stupid snake, I hate that poor excuse over there that thinks he’s worthy of me, I hate that jade of a Ranga. I hate you all!” She screamed her face going a bright red.

“Oi! Zip It!” She commanded. “And you say you were loved Topside? I can’t imagine the Topsideians being that blind. There is no love for hate.” She snapped her fangs at her victim. “I almost feel sorry for Almond. If anything, you are not worthy of Almond here. I’m sure a night with the royal guard will cool that temper and hopefully your attitude,” Ava hissed at the raging mer in her grasp as a pair of creepy royal guards entered the store. Someone helped me up slowly as my arms and back ached, only then did it finally clicked.

“She’s that really famous fashion model from the magazines. Is Effie that girl who I saw on the night of my transformation? Not the pair of mutes but the other chic?” I asked. Ava turned and smiled her toothy grin letting the guard grab a hold of her.

“Yeah that’s her, the screaming drama queen from that night. You were much better behaved. Almond, don’t follow her.” She turned to see the green grocer stretching out to madwoman.

He gave Ava a shocked look, like she had torn out his arm. So Effie was his singer? Poor guy.

“Look after your store, she’s only staying the night. Probably as much as they can take of her. Now let’s have a look at these injuries.” She slivered down to me and coiled gently around supporting me. Her mouth twisted and untwisted itself in knots as she looked over the battered fish. Hehe get it? Ava brushed the flour off me and looked at my cuts. “We need to get you bandaged up before sharks smell your blood. Real hazard for the tourism industry I’d have you know. Good thing we’re in a convenience store.” Someone passed Ava a new pack of bandages and she tended to my cuts and bite marks. As for the bruises, there wasn’t much we could do. “You got knocked around quite badly, how much do you remember?” she asked flicking her white hair behind her.

“I’m fine, I remember everything from topside to Sebastian to Effie bitting my arm,” I tried to smile and lifted my arm showing one of the many marks. There were a few splinters in my back from the wooden stand I had crashed into. Thanks to the handiness of aisle eight, Ava used some tweezers and dug the tree out of my back. I grit my teeth together when a stubborn shard didn’t want to leave.

“Is…It..OUT…yet?” I grumbled. As she showed me the tiny splint of wood that had hurt a freaking lot.

“For being such a good patient here’s a lollypop,” she laughed and took one from a nearby stand. Almond came up to us and handed me one of those green shopper bags with a replacement of my groceries.

“Thank you, how much do I owe you?” I asked searching for the fifty clims.

“No no. Please I’m very sorry for Ephemera behaviour,” he stumbled. I placed the cash in his hand. “Use it to take Effie out. There’s a really nice patisserie a block away,” I smiled. Ava took me by the arm and led me out into the street. “Not so fast it hurts,” I called. Thankfully she slowed down for me and we strolled down the street.

“You over paid by the way,” she said crossing her arms, her body swaying gracefully through the water.

“Not if you include this box of chocolate I snuck out,” I smiled holding up my prize. Ava didn’t reply but I liked that she was smiling, like she approved. I laughed but had to stop as Effie had been sitting on my chest. Ava opened the door to Sebastian house.

“Sebastian! Sebastian, get your sorry scales down here right this minute!” Ava yelled making me jump almost dropping my bag. I hid behind Ava as I saw Sebastian’s shadow approach the door.

“Oh hi Ava, Aubrey’s not here at the moment,” he explained.

“Oh really,” Ava said sounding surprised. “Well I found her under a tramp of a maid being beaten up with her fiancé nowhere to be seen.” She pulled me out from behind her, revealing my battered figure. “I’m surprised she even found the store, points to her for navigation,” Ava said ignoring Sebastian’s efforts to get to me.

“Aubrey what happened?” he asked. Wasn’t he listening? She just explained it.

“Quite the catfish fight. You missed out on a good show, Vischer,” Ava continued somehow keeping him from getting to me. “It was lucky I was there, otherwise who knows what would have happened to this little gem of yours”

“Ava!” Sebastian sounded annoyed.

“I think I’ll go make some biscuits,” I said quietly trying to sneak pass them. Ava suddenly dropped her guard and Sebastian plough into me.

“Ooh I love those things.” She grinned inviting herself in.

“Ahh…grrr…Sebs” I gritted my teeth, fighting back the pain. “Get off me…ah ahh…rrrr.” I slowly got up using him as my support. I hobbled into the kitchen taking out the mixing bowl.

“You should have seen her back Sebastian. Took a good ten minutes to get all the chincks outt.” Ava continued, knowing exactly how to twist the knife in Sebastian.

“Aubrey go to bed,” Sebastian commanded coming over. I pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me, I’m fine. Just sit down and wait.” He hovered for a couple of minutes before giving in and joining Ava who had spread her long slivery body across the lounge.

“Ava what happened?” he asked pulling himself up a chair.

“You let her out by herself that’s what happened you lazy tyke.” She seemed cross for some reason but continued. “Well from the way I saw it; little Red was talking to Almond when his angler of a singer charged at her… the rest can be seen in the kitchen.” In the corner of my eye I saw Sebastian grip the chair tighter his knuckles going white. “I’m surprised your so calm about all this, Aubrey,” she called across the room.

“Huh? Oh. The thing is, I can understand what she’s getting at. It’s not like either of us had a choice. Nor can we, choose how other people view us. Both of us have changed classes, and been taken out of our comfort zones. We’re outsiders, and that’s what we will always be.”

“Wow, did you have that speech pre planned? That’s the longest thing I’ve heard you say,” Ava said clapping. I shied away back to my batter giving it a final stir, before making the hard effort of getting to the air pocket. It would only take fifteen minutes to cook, I doubt I’d have the energy to swim back up so I sat on the stone edge protruding from the wall as i waited for them to cook. I couldn’t hear the two talking below, and I doubt they could hear me.

With only the water lapping at the walls I hummed a tune. I had known this tune all my life but could never quite remember where I had heard it before. The timer dinged and I jumped over to pull them out. Perfect. I descended down into the water, instantly cooling them off to an edible temperature.

I hadn’t even got all the way down when Ava was already taking her second.

“I don’t know what you do to make these so good but….mmm.” she tossed her head back closing her eyes. “I just thought of a brilliant idea.” She beamed. Somehow I knew I would think differently on whatever she had in mind. “Yes, actually this works well with you, music girl and Miss Drama queen and the in-laws. Oh I should have thought of this sooner. Don’t worry leave everything to me. I’ve got to go check on the Nut. And make sure he’s not planning on busting his babe out of prison. Tallyho.” She grabbed the remaining of the biscuits off the tray and disappeared.

“What was that about?” I asked worried turning to Sebastian who looked just as stunned.

“I honestly don’t know,” he turned to me and saw the empty tray. “Possible, there’s another batch?”

________

Sorry if there is any mistakes, I only went over this once.

So now Aubrey has an enemy, Effie. I bet no one will ever guess what Ava has in mind. (I don't even know fully) I feel sorry for Almond, but he honestly loves her as much as Sebastian loves Aubrey.

Random points:

- The currency for Atlantis is Clims - has a good exchange rate.

- Sebastian’s last name is pronounced ‘Vish-er’ like ‘Fisher’

- Ava is a sort of scientist and doctor. (doctor of what…?)

- Irene isn’t actually the eldest daughter of the king at 28

- The King lost his name when he was crowned and he is not immortal.

Anyway they weren’t than important to know.

See you guys in the next chapter