"Woah, woah, little merboy," Tempest's tendril shot out, snagging Caspian's wrist.
Caspian turned his head, his white hair swaying in the water. His eyes met the sea witch's gaze, a smug smile plastered on her face.
"I didn't say to cut your throat," she laughed, lowering his hand.
Tempest's bony fingers cupped his warm cheek. Caspian grimaced, nostrils flaring. She was too close, and her touch was icy cold.
"I need something from you, not your life," she smiled. "I want your scales."
His breath caught in his throat. His pulse became uneven, thumping under his skin. He choked, swallowing the hard lump. Caspian's pupils shrank as he swam backward
"My... scales?" Caspian repeated, stunned.
"That or your tongue," Tempest pulled her hand away. "But I have plenty of those!"
She broke into a hideous giggle, twirling around as bubbles surrounded her.
Caspian glanced down at his merman tail. His cyan scales glimmered in the light as his tail moved. It refracted, faint colors of the rainbow glinted on his tail.
Merfolk treasured their tails, shedding their scales up until adolescence. Every scale was special, important. Losing one was the equivalent of losing a fin to sailors.
The question who'd he be without it echoed in his racing mind. He was hated by Delta and hunted by her men. His bleeding wound would only ensure his capture and subsequent torture.
Caspian glanced over Tempest, who smiled cruelly. His incisors dug into his lower lip, his jaw tightened firm and his hands pressed close against his chest. Caspian's gaze snapped to the blade, fear and something unreadable flickered in his eyes before vanishing.
He's doing this for Coral. He would be in pain, but it would be worth it.
Tempest's seaweed tendril snaked around a rotten stool, dragging it towards him. Caspian sank down on it, and hesitantly grabbed the base of his dorsal fins.
He pressed the knife's point to the top of his tail, only for her cold hand to grip his wrist.
"Lower, merboy," she smirked, shifting his hand.
Caspian watched as she placed the blade's tip at the base of his tail. His eyes shifted to her then to the blade.
She chuckled, "It'll hurt like a Moray eel, but it will grow back."
Caspian sucked his lower lip into his mouth, pinning it down with his teeth.
Turning the to the dull side of blade, several scales were pushed upward. His body trembled, his stomach twisted and flipped at the sight.
He recalled their first meeting. When he grabbed her and said, "Swim. Now," before hauling her behind him.
Caspian smiled at the memory. Coral was right, he had kidnapped her that day.
His clammy hand tightened his grip as he pushed the blade down. His brows furrowed in concentration, anger brimming in his gaze.
Here he was, alone. About to shed scales he was proud of. He shouldn't do this... to the trenches with Coral!
What has she done for him except being a nuisance? He should never had told her his name. What on Neptune possessed him to tell her when she asked?
He could argue it's because he suspected her mermaid heritage, but back then he wasn't certain.
Beads of sweat crowned his forehead, drifting away to mix with the cold currents.
The scales slid up on the blade, sending surging pain throughout his body.
His tailfins twitched erratically, his nerves crying for him to flee, the pain made his grip wavered, but he remained firm. Small strands of blood wafted into the water.
Tempest's smile widened at the sight, her tendrils curling.
The memory of Coral drifting on the surface came to his mind. He had struggled to do the same, simply choosing to drift near her.
She had lamented, "Where do I begin? My entire life is a lie. My parents aren't my parents, I'm not even human—heck, not even American."
"Who cares?" He had replied. "You're still Coral. That won't change."
He remembered her radiant yet thin smile as she thanked him. Then the silence that lingered between them before it was broken:
"I think I want to be a mermaid."
His answer reverberated in his mind. "If that's what you wish."
He made a promise, he complied with her wishes. Why must he back out now?
Caspian huffed, as the grating sensation of the scales scraped up onto the dull end. He will suffer, for her sake.
He must.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he scraped the scales in one sweeping motion. Sharp pain racked through his body, stunning him. He floated off the stool, his tail and body rigid. Darkness seeped into the corners of his eyes, his eyelids fluttering closed then snapped open.
In his blurred vision, he saw his scales drifted into Tempest's hands. Her cackle echoed as he finally fell unconscious.
-
In the classroom, the ticking of the clock was the only sound. Katie backed away after the confession. Mr. Carla blinked, his lips twisted in a "ooh" as he tried to wrap around Coral's confession.
"A-a mermaid?" He repeated, stunned. "Really?"
"It's how I survive that wipeout, remember?" Coral sobbed, wiping her eyes. "I know I'm a freak in your eyes but—"
"Are you kidding me?" Mr. Carla interrupted. "You're a mermaid, Coral Ocean!"
Her classmates swarmed closer, their gazes ranged from curiosity to bafflement.
"How's it like to be one?" Yvette whispered, giggling. "Oh! Can you breath underwater?"
"How long did you know you were a mermaid?" Micah chimed in.
"Are your parents mermaids too?" Katie grinned.
Coral's cheeks flushed red, dipping her head. "I...Well, no, yes, and yes."
Her class gasped, their smiles banished the dark tension that surged through her body. Coral snorted, then sighed sadly, staring at her palms.
"I won't be staying here for long," Coral admitted. "I'll be leaving."
"Why? Yvette frowned.
"I don't belong here," Coral sniffed. "I never have."
"No..."Katie pouted.
"I'll be...leaving either today or tomorrow."
"This week?" Yvette inquired. Coral stilled then nodded. "But this week, the finals will be taking place."
"And you know who will be attending," Micah blew a raspberry.
Coral gasped in realization. "Doris Triche..."
Her fingers balled into a tight fist, shaking against the desk.
That conniving cheater will win the trophy, and be hailed as the greatest surfer of all time. Coral will never walk the earth again, while that horrid girl pollutes the ground with every step she takes?!
Life is so not fair.
Coral leaned back in her seat, rustling her ginger hair. "Well...this got awkward."
"You can't leave yet," Yvette straightened. "We need to hold a farewell party for you."
Coral turned to her, coughing dryly. Her pupils shrank into pinpricks, a weight on her chest pressed down, driving the breath from her body.
"By...everyone?" Her gaze flickered away. "Like everyone in Pearl Beach."
"Just the school," Katie assured her. "No-one else will know."
"Yeah, your secret's safe with us," Micah smiled.
"But it'll need to be convincing," Mr. Carla turned to the board, striding toward it.
Picking up a marker, he scribbled drawings paired with words and directions. The squeaking irritated her ears and raised goosebumps on her cool skin.
Mr. Carla stepped back, surveying his work as he silently calculated the math. His eyes flitted around, taking it all in before turning around.
"Behold, my plan," he announced excitedly. "You can have it that your distant uncle would be picking up for some time for a well needed break."
Coral blinked as Mr. Carla circled the crude stickman drawing of her at the pier in red.
He added, "You can wait at the pier, Micah's brother can pick you up with his boat, and he take you to the rocks or wherever you plan to go."
"His carriage is at your command," Micah proclaimed, saluting her with a smile.
"Woah..." she marveled.
Her lips widened into a gentle smile, slowly showing teeth.
"This is awesome," she widened her arms, beckoning a hug. "You guys are the best."
Her classmates surged forward, encasing her in a group hug. Coral melded into the embrace, humming happily. Her brow furrowed as dark thoughts swirled in her head, her doubts pulsing louder and louder.
They're only pitying you.
You're not human. You never were.
Coral banished them, burying them deep down. It's true, she isn't human, but they don't hate her. If anything, they embrace her strangeness.
She nudged her head, allowing the group's warmth to envelope her like a comforting blanket. Katie opened one eye, and muttered, "Are you okay now?"
"I am," Coral giggled. "I finally feel at home."
-
Doris lingered on the steps, ignoring the students who skip down the steps. She looked up, spotting Coral scurry down the steps in a hurry. She rose to her feet, and bellowed, "Coral!"
Coral winced, but gingerly turned around. Doris flashed a smug grin, and strutted toward her.
"I'm in the finals," she announced with every stride.
"Okay," Coral answered, slouching.
"Don't you get it?" she stepped closer, tapping her nose.
Coral shook her head, shrugging with a stern line for a smile. "No, I don't get it."
"I win," Doris hissed with a sneer.
Coral leaned closer, her nose brushing against her. "Okay," she nodded, "Whoever told you that competition was more important than breathing, I hope it was worth it."
"What?" Doris laughed, startled.
"Remember, Doris," Coral continued, stepping back, "You're only in the finals because of my tampered failure. If anything, you're just standing in my stolen spot."
Doris' chest heaved, each exhale more labored with her rising anger. She clenched her fist tightly, digging her fresh cut nails into her soft palm. Coral skipped down the pavement, glancing up at the blue sky. She sighed, tugging her book bag's straps to adjust it.
She's going to miss the sky.
Coral's gaze flickered to her lean legs. She admired the redness of her knees, the faint scar on her shin where she accidentally cut herself on a shard of glass. Her toes that curled in the brown sandals adorned with pink flowers.
She was going to miss her legs.
Taking a deep breath, Coral lifted her chin up, and blinked away her brimming tears. Tonight, she was going to become a darn bona fide mermaid.
Afar, Doris let out a shrill shriek of frustration, that caused some students to stare at her. She grabbed and pulled her purple hair tie loose, freeing her ebony black hair. Turning on her heel, she stormed to the white limo and grabbed the door's handle.
Tugging it open, she climbed into the car, and slammed it shut.
"It's unbecoming of you," Mrs. Triche replied.
"That girl," Doris hissed. "Isn't human. I just haven't proven it yet."
"Then I will," Mrs. Triche said calmly, pushing up her shades.
Doris' eyes widened in awe. Mrs. Triche sighed, and twisted the ring on her middle finger.
"Where does this Coral Ocean live?" She asked, arching a preened brow.