Siren Heart

Into the Ocean

Jack

Jack was just about to dive into the water when he had more footsteps coming behind him. Not again, not more people he thought to himself. Coming around the corner where his mother, sister and their three guards; Enrique, Padilla and Samantha. "What was that? His mother was panting from the run they must have taken from the restaurant. "You felt it too? I was surprised. "Yes. It was energy that passed right through me." Mother was now standing in front of me looking out at the ocean. "I felt it too, in fact everybody at the restaurant felt it. Everyone that is merfolk of course" Layla was standing next to me as we looked at our Mother. " Your highness, what could it be. Could the kingdom be in danger? Padilla slightly bowed as she addressed Mother, the Queen. Her questions made us all nervous.  "It did not feel like our Kingdom was in danger. It felt warm like the ocean was calling to us. There is something different about the ocean today, her waves have a happy rhyme like a song." Mother said this with her ocean voice. Sometimes, I forgot that she was Queen of all the ocean and what power she eluded and held. She turned to look at us all and smiled, " Come let's prepare for tonight's ceremony."

Emelie

 "It's good to see you Ems, welcome home" Carlos gave me his famous bear hug. He had aged and was looking older now. " am glad to see you too, congratulations on the upcoming wedding. I can not wait to meet Sue." Before Carlos could answer, his young sister Elizabeth was already hanging me and squeaking "Oh my God it's so amazing to see you, your hair has gotten blonder, more like white really and London did take the color out of your cheeks." Ah Elizabeth, always a critique drama queen. "Thanks Liz, how's first year at Uni, drop out yet?" she laughed at my tease, though I meant it as an insult. "Ems, its design school, I wouldn't drop out even if you paid me." Of course, madam fashion designer. " don't mind her Ems, Popularity goes to her teenage brain" Finally, my favorite cousin Julian. We were born in the same year, so we pretty much grew up at the same time. "Well, well Juli, I never thought I would ever see you in a beard" I hugged him and we laughed together. "Do you like it, am growing it for a more mature look." Of course he was, always competing with his elder brother. "It suits you, you look all macho man."

Dinner was always a bizarre activity when my cousins were around. Even now when we were grown, they still bickered like kids, this always made me grateful I did not have siblings. "Its wonderful to have you back Darling, so sad though that you took a Job in New York. My aunt Theresa was a really kind and calm woman and I loved her gentleness. "She should not be stuck here like the rest of us, let her go and keep exploring the world, besides New York is a stone throw away compared to London" I smiled at my Uncle Anthony, he was always supported. He was dad's elder and only brother. They grew up really close and so we were all close always having dinner parties and vacations together.  "Did you hear about the divers that disappeared last month? My Dad worked at the Sheriff's office, so such talk about came up at the dinner table. Aunt Theresa frowned a little, "Saddest news we have heard around here in a while" Mom was starting to cut up the chocolate cake she made for dessert, "Yes, Bill and the search and rescue team have been out for days searching, but still no sign of them."  Elizabeth scooted over to have the first slice of cake, "I heard they went missing somewhere near those groves Ems loves so much, rumor has it they might be trapped down there." Wait, did she just say the groves. "Hopefully you kept clear of that place when you went out with Rosie earlier, we have told you how dangerous it is out there." Dad was looking at me sternly. Crap. I hated lying to my parents. "Dad, we were careful and we just went down to the beach, I missed the water here." Mom kissed Dad on the cheek as she put a slice of cake on his plate, " Give her a break honey." I did not hear how the rest of the conversation went or did I pay attention the rest of the night. My thoughts were of what happened with the fish at the groves. What was that? And why did it happen. I know everyone just said the groves were dangerous, but I knew that place like the back of my hand, and I knew I needed to go back there first thing in the morning and see if I could figure out what happened.

 Jack

 I was nervous, we had exactly one hour until the oxygen tanks ran out and they needed to be changed. I wanted us to do the ceremony within the hour, just in case anything went wrong. Mother and the others did not need to be in the ocean for so long. I was in my cobel in palace, staring at my reflection. I looked Kingly in my blue armor plate, now all I needed was to show confidence. There was a light knock and before I could answer, I knew who it was. Layla was lit up any place she was in, it was her ocean power of light, she could shine the darkest depths. "Hi, big bro, I brought you something. A gift from Mom and me" She placed a Clam casing in my hand. It touched me that they would gift me with something. Inside was our Fathers Medallion of bravery. I felt my chest squeeze and I held my breath. "I thought, it was lost together with Dad when he" I could not finish the sentence, so much tragedy had happened in our kingdom the past year and that was why I was being crowned King today. I pulled Layla into a Hug, " Thank You." Our tails entangled and the mixture of our power created a rainbow spectrum all around us. "You are welcome big bro, you know he is proud of you." The trumpet announcing the beginning of the ceremony sounded  and we swam side by side out to the main flower haven. 

I was proud of my people for setting up such a beautiful coronation ceremony. Almost all where in attendance some with oxygen masks and tanks on, the kingdom had a sense of vibrancy and life just as I remembered it before. Layla swam with me along the ocean flower lined aisle leading up to the throne, where Mother, Padilla, Samuel and the priestess stood to swear as in. Mother in her oxygen mask and tank, looked on with pride as I stood before her. The Priestess held up her hands and a trumpet was blown three times, "The ocean chose this day of coronation. The ocean chose this Prince to be King. The ocean will guide your steps and you will reign with mighty above all who live in her depths. You may begin the exchange of power dance." Mother and I bowed to each other, Padilla and Samuel following suit being the second in command. We closed our eyes and let the ocean guide us how to move our tails, that is what made this ritual so special, the ocean guided you by letting you feel her waves. I was nervous that I might not recognize the feeling, but as soon as I closed my eyes, the ocean took over. I could feel her warmth, I would feel her voice telling me how to move, It was like I was truly part of the ocean. I was swirling and rolling in a rhyme that was in my soul. I felt the coldest parts of the ocean and the warmest parts, I felt every creature from the smallest algae to the largest whale. I was whole. I was home and I was powerful. Mother's tail become attached to mine and I felt the flash of lightening above the ocean saying it is done, I was the King.