James walked out of the room with a towel in his hand and Raphael thought about warning him that taking a shower probably wasn’t a good idea but he thought he’ll let him learn on his own. Raphael chewed on the bottom of his pen, thinking about how he was going to get rid of the punk tomorrow. Ditching him was important since Raphael wanted to be alone with Vanessa and he’s just a pest. A third wheel.

“Ahh!” he heard from the bathroom with a thud and a grin formed on Raphael face.

*

Vanessa reached over and placed her hands over James to help him spread out how far his hands should go, “Not too far, you’ll break it.” she said as the baseball shape water ball was floating in between his hands. She smiled, “See, as making cookies when you know what you’re doing.”

“I don’t make cookies.” he said.

Raphael got up from the sandy floor, “How about we go for a swim? It was raining all yesterday, so how about it Vanessa?”

“Sure.” she said, then turned to look at James. “Up for it?”

Before James could speak, Raphael spoke, “I thought it could just be you and I. Three kind of seems—crowed.”

“Crowed?” Vanessa questioned as she stood up. She chuckled innocently, “Raphael, we’re supposed to help him. I helped you and he probably wants to. You know the urge to be in the water.”

He took her hands in his gently and smiled down at her, “But Vanessa, we haven’t been alone for even an hour in the last couple of days.” he said, putting his hands on her waist to pull her close to him. “Haven’t you realized?”

“Yes.” she said. She sighed heavily after a moment, “But Raphael, James doesn’t feel—“

“James is a grown enough to take care of himself.” Raphael said as lightly as possible as he could when he just wanted to just look at the blonde punk on the ground and tell him to go away. He looked at James who sat up, but not coldly but with a friendly look, “Right, James? You’re fine. You should know the water, where do to go, and how to get back. You surf, you know how to handle yourself in the water.”

James arched his eyebrows and Raphael pressed his lips together tightly, wanting to the damn guy to just say ‘yes’ and go away. “Well actually, I don’t know the area of Coast Sirenas. Also, Adalyn said it is best if I don’t go out there alone and since she’s the oldest—“

“I won’t tell, you won’t tell, and Vanessa won’t tell right?” he asked and when no one said anything, he grinned. “See, we’re all good. Nessie, ready?”

Vanessa just smiled and shook her head.

*

Raphael and Vanessa both smiled as she crawled on his back and he lifted himself out of the water when they got back to shore crawled towards the dry sand. It was late at night, no one around even for being close to the boardwalk, and they had an awesome adventurous day. And Raphael actually learned how to shift his legs back from his tail. It took allot of patient—something he usually good at having, but lately not so much—and willpower.

She slid off his back and onto the dry ground, “Today was so good. No worries, but it seems like the water knows how to wash that away from my mind when I get in.”

He propped himself up on his left elbow and looked down at her, “It was, like the good old times.”

She chuckled, “How can it be old times when it wasn’t that long ago?”

“It just feels so long. Seems like one thing after another.” he said and quickly regretted it when he saw her amuse look slowly vanish from her face. He took her hand, “But as long as you’re next to me, I’m alright.”

A small smile appeared on her face now, “I’m not going anywhere.”

He also wanting her to say as long as he was his, he knew Vanessa was smart enough and would get the hint. Even though nothing ‘funny’ has happened with her and James, Raphael doesn’t trust him. He isn’t sure he was so protective of Vanessa and why he couldn’t stand her being with another guy.

Vanessa

Vanessa watched as her dad joked around Anita who was laughing back at each other corny jokes while they were out to dinner. She could feel the heat coming from Adalyn who was next to her without looking because she was so focused on the smile on her dad face. She was filled with happiness inside to care if Adalyn was acting jealous. Seeing her dad happy, it made her happy.

“So the time traveler was still hungry after the last bite, he went back four seconds.” Anita said the corny joke and her dad laughed at the corny joke. Vanessa didn’t really think it was funny, but she laughed along because she wanted to show her dad she was having a good time with him and his new ‘girlfriend’. Her dad hasn’t officially said ‘girlfriend’ but they were together.

“What is this?” she heard Adalyn coldly said, grabbing all three of their attention. She was looking down at a salad in front of her and Vanessa saw what was wrong with it. There was crab on top of the salad. She picked the plate up and shoved it at the waitress who looked confused and a little scared of the young women. Adalyn was beautiful and always had an angelic look to her, but when she was mad—you better be scared. “Ugh, take it away!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. Forgive me, the orders must have been confused.” The waitress said.

“How cruel, that poor little crab had to die just for ya’ll to enjoy him.” she said, scoffing as her arms crossed over her chest. “Cruel torture.”

“Whoa Adalyn, it’s okay.” her dad said and Adalyn eyes quickly soften as she looked at him. He looked at the waitress, “Sorry, she’s just having a bad day. Can you please grab the right order? Thanks.”

Adalyn smiled at Vanessa’s dad, “Thanks, George.”

Vanessa breathed heavily out her nose as she grabbed her cup of water, and drank from the straw. The mushie look Adalyn was giving her dad was a clear look of ‘love’ and Vanessa didn’t like it.

“You got such a nice haircut.” Adalyn said, admiring her dad and clearly wasn’t hiding it. “I know you said you like a nice shaved face, but I think the whole beard thing you had going on was great. Though you do look younger. So either way, you look great.”

Vanessa ran her hand through her hair, “So Anita, how’d the department? Are you going to the festival Friday?”

Anita nodded, “Yes. I usually have to always end up working on that day, but your dad talked me into calling off. I haven’t gone to it in a while, so I’m kind of excited.” she said, smiling at her dad for a second.

“George, I hear that dancing was happening there.” Adalyn said. “Save me a dance?”

“Oh Adalyn, he’ll probably just want to dance with Anita. They need more time to bond together.” Vanessa said and Adalyn smiled at her, but it was stiff. “Anita, you have such great skin. I hope I look at least half as great as you do when I reach your age.”

Adalyn rolled her eyes but Anita didn’t notice and she looked happy to hear that, “Oh thanks, Vanessa. I don’t smoke, drink, and as you can see don’t really tan. Also must be good genes I guess.”

The waitress came back with Adalyn order and Adalyn stabbed into the plate hard, almost breaking the plate. She angrily chewed on the salad but Vanessa ignored her and smiled at the happy couple in front of her.

Raphael

Raphael woke up to James making nose and he angrily propped himself up on his elbow. He turned on his life and saw James on the floor shaking and moaning in his sleep. He looked like he was having a nightmare but whatever it was—it was keeping Raphael awake. He grabbed his pillow and threw it at James. James jerked as he woke up and quickly sat up, “Wh-what happened?”

“Dude, you were having a nightmare.” Raphael said as he fell back onto the bed on his back and rubbed his face. “You woke me up.”

James stood up and ran out of the room. Raphael eyebrows furrowed together before he quickly got up from the bed and chased after James who ran down the stairs. He ran over towards the door, making Raphael curse. Was this guy on the track team before? Raphael didn’t under why he was running, but he chased after him down the street.

“James!” he said. “Where—ow!” he hissed when something sharp cut into his feet. He hopped on one foot as he brought his right foot up. A piece of glass was sticking in his skin, so he quickly pulled it out. “Shit.” he cursed as he hopped out of view even though no one was outside behind a bush right before his tail came. He concentrated, trying to bring his legs back.

It took some time since he was freaking out about where James was running off to, but he had a feeling where he might have gone. Once his legs came back and his foot was all heal, not even a scar left he walked down the beach quickly looking for James.

After walking down the beach for a couple of moments he saw James buy the bank of the water. He wasn’t in the water, but he was very close that the waves only was a few inches away from his feet. He was staring out into the ocean, not even looking at Raphael when he got next to him. He had such a lost look in his eyes and when Raphael waved his hand in front of James face, he didn’t move. He barley blinked, it was moments before every blink.

His arm suddenly came up, pointing out into the water, “Out there, she’s out there. I can feel her.”

“Queen Severina?” Raphael asked.

James nodded, “Yes. She’s here, I can feel her.” He then turned his head around and Raphael followed. His eyes widen when he saw Vanessa walking towards them with the same blank look in her eyes and she stood on the other side of James looking out into the water and James looked back out into the water. Raphael was creep out the two zombie like people and he sure if he shook them, they still wouldn’t wake up from the trance they were in.  

When Raphael looked out in the water, he couldn’t see Queen Severina. His vision was really good, so he would have been able to see her out there but he didn’t.

Raphael saw something out in the corner of his eyes on the side James was and as he turned his head, he jumped back to see James and Vanessa hand was together and something was beaming from their hands. As was as bright as if there was a light bulb between their hands.

Vanessa was first to wake up from the trance and she pulled away. Her eyes were widen as she looked at us, looking completely confused and kind of scared. She quickly ran over to Raphael and he put his arms around her, holding her. She was shaking. Not because she was cold, but because he could see how freaked out she was.

James took in a sharp breath and he fell back on his ass. He looked up at them with a confused look and pressed his hands down against the sand to lift him up, “Wh—ow!” he hissed as he fell back down and lifted his right hand up. “What! What is this!” he said quickly as he lifted his hand. As if someone burned into his skin and was healing was something like a seashell.

Vanessa lifted her hand and on her left hand was the same burn scar shape seashell.

Vanessa

Vanessa went down on her knees next to James, “What do you remember?”

“I . . . I was woken up by Raphael because I was having a nightmare. I was drowning in dark dirty water, I could actually feel in in my lungs. Then when I woke up, something just took over me and I ran out of the house. I couldn’t control my body. I could see out my own eyes, but I couldn’t control my body. I came out here and I felt her. She wasn’t above the water, so I couldn’t see her but she’s out there.” he said.

“That’s a lie.” Raphael said, making Vanessa looked up at him confused because she felt that same pull by Queen Severina. It’s hard to explain, but she knew she was out there and this time—she wasn’t scared. Actually, she felt excited out there but that’s because she was under Queen Severina spell. “If she was out there, then why wasn’t walking around like a zombie?”

“Raphael, it’s true.” Vanessa said and he gave her such a cold look. “Seriously. She was in our heads singing some song in another language I don’t know but it was beautiful.”

“Then why not me?” he asked, sounding almost as he was assaulted. He snorted, “I’m a merman, why not me to?”

“I don’t know.” she said. “Maybe because James has power or because she just picked us. I don’t know but that isn’t what important. This is.” she said as she lifted her hand up where the scar seashell was. “I don’t know what this means. Or why we have it.”

Raphael pressed his mouth roughly together and he walked over towards James, grabbing his t-shirt, and lifted him off the ground, “I swear to god, you stay away from—“

“Raphael!” Vanessa cried, trying to pull James and Raphael apart. “What are you doing? Let go of him.”

Raphael glared at James for a couple of moment who gave him a cold look back before he let go of James shirt. James scoffed, stepping back, “Do you think I want this? Huh? No, it was forced on me. Unlike you, I can’t give it back. You wanted this, but not me. You think putting all the blame on me is going to help? It isn’t. Get over being the jealous boyfriend.”

“Jealous?” Raphael coldly asked, taking a step towards him but Vanessa got in his way and placed her small hands on his chest. Raphael chuckled humorlessly, “What would I have to be jealous about? Vanessa loves me, I know she does.”

Vanessa took Raphael hand and pulled him away with a hard look on her face, “Raphael, what is the matter with you?” she asked. “Why are . . . why are you being so mean lately?”

Raphael scoffed, “Mean? Nessie, I just don’t trust him. I just don’t like something about him and he’s getting in the way—“

“In the way?” she questioned. “Raphael, he’s right. He was forced to be like this, like me.”

“Like me to!” he yelled and her eyes widen as she looked up at him.

He gave her an apologetic look as she took her hand away from his, “I thought you said you were okay with it.”

“Nessie, I am. I didn’t mean it.” he said quickly. “I said it out of anger, I chosen this life because I wanted to be with you. I love you.”

“I knew you would blame me.” she said and he shook his head but before he could answer she spoke. “This isn’t about you this time, Raphael. James isn’t doing anything wrong, you are. You’re freaking out about nothing.”

He reached down and grabbed her left wrist, holding her hand up, “I know this doesn’t mean anything, Nessie. This means something and I know it’s about you two. I just don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not going to lose me because of this.” she coldly said as she took her hand away. “But you could if you don’t at least trust me.”

“I do trust you.” he said. “I’m sorry . . . I’m over reacting, I am. I’m just worried.”

She stared at him for a moment before reaching up, cupping his face in her hand, and her blue eyes looked up at his seriously, “Raphael, you don’t think I’m not worried either? Queen Severina is planning something and I’m trying to be ready for it. I’m only seventeen, I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know what’s happening. I need you to be my right hand and help me, not worrying about losing me because that would be the last thing to ever happen.”

He stared down at her for a moment and he sighed, “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

She forced him a smile and hugged him. She lifted her hand up though and stared at him. She was worried about what this could mean because—she sort of did know what it mean but she didn’t want to tell Raphael and worry him. She had saw it in her mind and it scared her.