Vanessa watched as her arm turned scaly and she could see the scales going further up her arm. Every time she touches water, a little more changes about her. She slid down into the water, having her knees propped up since her tub wasn't the biggest.

She was laying under the water again and she opened her mouth, the water filling her mouth and she let it go into her lungs. Where any normal person would feel like a lot of pressure and even feel a burning feeling, she felt lighter. Her body felt lighter. Not in a bad way, a good way.

She had no reason to make her lungs move when she was in water. Her blonde hair float above the water and she looked around, wondering what to do now. She had already washed her skin and scales with dove body wash and cleaned her hair.

She didn't really want to get out though, it felt so wrong to be out of water now.

“Vanessa.”, she heard her father voice, making her rise out the water.

She pushed her hair back and bit her bottom lip, “Yeah dad?”

“I'm going to go meet Detective Hurley now, you don't mind right?”, he asked, making her smile a little. Her dad was acting like a teenager getting into his first relationship or something.

“Have fun.”, she said.

“You need anything while I'm out?”, he asked.

“No, I'm fine. Go, I'll see you later.”, she said.

“Okay. Have a good day at the party.”, he said

{}

Once she heard her front door of her house close, she forced herself out of the water since it wasn't easy standing up anymore when your feet are flippers. She ended up on the floor of her bathroom and sighed, grabbing her towel as she dried her body. She grabbed her hair drier and dried her hair until her her feet turned back to normal and she no longer had scales.

She got up and wrapped a towel around her naked body. She went into room and looked through her draws. What do you wear to meet the queen of mermaids? She grabbed a pair of shorts and black and white flannel shirt. She guesses it'll have to do.

Once she was dress, she put on her sandals, and through her hair up in a nice ponytail. She didn't bother with makeup since—well, she looked completely fine without it. She wasn't trying to sound so full of herself, but her skin was baby soft and her lashes were thick and dark around her blue eyes.

She grabbed her house key and left her house.

It took a moment to get into town and to the cafe she was suppose to meet Adalyn and the queen at. She was nervously chewing at her nails as walked and she started notice some people staring at her as if she had something interesting on her face.

She groaned and whispered, “Shut off, please.”, she said about her enchanting powers. Adalyn may be comfortable walking around with it on, but she felt having everyone watching her. This enchanting power is what also lured those sailors to their deaths.

When she got to the cafe, she had seen Adalyn and a beautiful women next to her. Vanessa couldn't lie that the women was—she didn't have words as she stood there gawking. The women had nice smooth soft looking light brown skin. Her hair was in beautiful loose waves, the color a perfect shade of brown, and a beautiful shoulder off dress.

The women looked away from Adalyn because she must have felt Vanessa eyes on her. She gave Vanessa a warm smile and got up from the chair and Vanessa woke up from gawking and went over to the women.

“Sorry I'm late.”, she said, though Vanessa knew she was actually on time.

“Don't worry, we were early.”, the women said, showing a pair of pearly white teeth. “I'm Queen Severina.”

Vanessa wasn't sure what she should do now. Should she curtsy? She has seen on TV so many time when someone meets royalty, she should crusty. Awkwardly, she bent down on her knees, making Queen Severina chuckle, making her voice sound like an angel.

“You do not have to do that, my child.”, she said, putting her fingers under Vanessa chin and lift her up straight on her back. “My daughters never have to bow to me, you are not a servant.”

“Oh.”, she said, feeling so dumb. “I'm Vanessa.”

“I know who you are, I am so excited to meet you.”, she said, taking her hand away and walked around Vanessa, looking at her closely. Vanessa gave Adalyn a look and she was just smiling. “You are beautiful, Vanessa.”

“Oh, uh, thank you.”, Vanessa said shyly and Queen Severina notice.

She smiled, “Please, sit down.”, she said, moving next to Adalyn again and sat down. She touched a mug and pushed it towards Vanessa, “I have taken the opportunity and got you something to drink already. Hot green tea, I get it when I come to land every once and awhile.”

“Oh, thank you.”, she said.

“You don't need to be shy around me, Vanessa.”, she said, smiling. “I only want to get to know you, that's all. How are you enjoying you new life?”

“It's nice—beautiful.”, she said.

“Your eyes, blue as the sea.”, she said, leaning towards Vanessa, making Vanessa stiffen her back up. “You will make a fine soldier, with Adalyn by your side. Her eyes are beautiful like fresh grown seaweed. Gotten many fishermen because of them.”

Vanessa licked her suddenly dry lips but the inside of her mouth just felt so dry. She looked down at the table as she opened her mouth, “I-I haven't really decided if I want to stay like this.”

“Oh.”, she said, sitting back in her chair up straight.

“I-I mean, don't get me wrong.”, she said, feeling so intimidating from this women. “I have felt so alive these last few days.”

“Then stay like this.”, she smiled. “There's a whole world here, you can explore it all. I really want to you to join us. Please, drink some.”, she said, pushing the mug closer to her.

Vanessa wanted to say green tea wasn't really her favorite tea, but not wanting to disrespect her any way how, she smiled and took the handle of the drink. She blew on the hot tea a little and took a small sip. She could tasty the honey and sugar, so it helped a little with the taste.

“I want you to become part of my family.”, she said, bring her hand up to her chest as she smile. “I have big plans for you, Vanessa.”

“But my family—my father.”, she said, not sure how she could explain herself.

“I know, Adalyn has told me.”, she said. “All my daughters said the same thing, it is hard, but you will have almost three hundred sisters there to love you forever.”

Vanessa mouth opened a little, not knowing there was that many mermaids in the sea.

Queen Severina reached out and took Vanessa hand that was laying on the table, “If you think you will be alone, you wont ever Vanessa. You will have a big family that will love you. We stick together as one, never abandoning each other. We do not grow old and die, we wont have to watch each other die. Never have to go through the heart ache.”

“My father needs me though.”, she said.

“You father will always be a cherish memories, it will be a hard sacrifices.”, she said. “Vanessa, my dear, we do not talk about this right now. We have given you time to think about it, I just hope you join. Like I said, I have big plans for you. Now,”, she smiled brightly, “tell me about yourself, I have been looking forward. Drink some more please.”, she said, touching the mug.

{}

Vanessa was thinking so hard about her two hour meeting with her 'mother' as Queen Severina liked to call herself. She didn't really like to address as 'queen' but 'mother'. She rubbed her stomach since she felt kind of bloated after drink two cups of green tea. She had forced herself to drink the tea since she didn't want to refuse Queen Severina.

True to her word, Queen Severina asked nothing but questions about Vanessa, wanting to know everything they could talk about. Anything about her life, family, favorite music, and how she even liked school.

Queen Severina then said she had to go and she had gone straight towards the ocean.

Vanessa turned the block and onto her street. She looked up to see if her father had come home, but she was suprise to see Raphael sitting on her front porch step. Her mouth opened a little and she cursed inside her head. She was hoping he would come by and realize she wasn't home, deciding to go to the party without her.

She was expecting him to wait for her!

When she was near, he looked up from his phone. He quickly got up from the steps and met her at the bottom, “Hey.”, he said.

Her eyebrows furrowed together, “How long have you been here, Raphael?”

“Oh um, about an hour.”, he said, making her jaw drop. “I came by two hours ago to pick you up, but you weren't home so I left for about an hour and came back, hoping you came back, but you hadn't. I decided to wait until you just come back.”, he said.

“What? Why?”, she asked a little to quickly. “You didn't have to wait. Now I feel bad.”, she said, not lying. She didn't want him to wait for her so long out front of her house that long, she hadn't expect him to do that. She thought he would just go on ahead to the party without her. She was hoping for that, she couldn't go.

“Don't worry about it.”, he said, giving her his dimple smile she always melted at seeing. “Go get dress so we can go.”,

“Oh, uh, Raphael, I don't think I should go.”, she said.

He frowned and stuffed his hands in his jeans, “Is it because it's a pool party?”, he asked and her eyes widen a little, wondering he could suddenly read minds. “Has water become scary to be around now? A fear?”

“Oh, oh, no.”, she said, shaking her head. “It's just. . .it's not my scene Raphael. It's nice of you to be my friend, but I. . .I just don't know.”, she said, bring her hand up to the back of her neck and looked down at the ground. “It's not my place to be in.”

“Come on, Vanessa, it'll be fun though.”, he said. He took her wrist gently and put his hand under her chin to make her look up at him. She couldn't help but look into his brown eyes and look deep into them. He looked back at her, his eyes widen a little. She couldn't believe how handsome he could look in simple jean shorts, a white beaters, and open button shirt. A small gasp escape his mouth, “Your so beautiful, Vanessa.”, he said, his voice soft as he brought a hand up to her face.

Her eyes widen a little, couldn't believe what she was hearing from him. He didn't take it back or nothing.

“It's like—your so different.”, he said. “As if there was something shinning off you.”

As soon as he said that, she realized this wasn't really Raphael speaking to her. She was disappointed since it was magic making him say she was beautiful. She turned around quickly and squeezed her eyes shut as she badly wanted to cry for feeling stupid. “Turn off.”, she whispered.

“Vanessa, are you okay?”, he asked, sounding like his normal self. She felt him touch her arm and she blinked the tears back as she turned around to face him again.

She gave him a smile, “Yeah, I'm fine. Let me go get dress and I'll be down in a moment.”