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“No. Just as humans cannot swim. If they enter the water, they surely die.”
What had been a marvel to me then was still a wonder now. Mermaids did not cry. I suspected we would, for we experienced emotions just as humans did, and yet, we could not. It was a mystery that crossed my mind once more as I gazed at my nurse, still beautiful, yet rigid in her solemnity.
I lifted my face, feeling the thrill of wonders yet unknown to me beckoning like a siren song. Then I looked at my dear, dear nurse. I considered her words. Which was greater?
Father will never know. Even as I told myself this, I remained unsure. And even if he did, he would never… I could not even complete the thought. It was too terrible to contemplate.
I took my nurse by the hand, her palm kissing mine, our fingers intertwining, and began to swim for the surface. Before we broke through, I gazed down at her. Her face was resolute, but her eyes seemed sad.
“What?” I called to her. “Did I make the wrong choice?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Right or wrong, who will know? You have made it. Now, go. You gamble much, might as well see what you’re wagering for.”
Needing no further encouragement, I flipped my fin and cut through the water with beautiful ease. I swam toward that golden light, beckoned by its beauty. As I crashed through the surface, I sucked in a noisy gasp of air.
My nurse broke through beside me, her hand still clasped in mine. Her movements were elegant and unhurried, and she regarded me with her black gaze. “Easy, child. We are here now. There is no hurry as of yet. There are hours yet to see what you can before we must return.”
Unable to speak for happiness, I squeezed her hand. There was so much to see, it was almost too much to endure. One sister had spoken of that, but I hadn’t known what she’d meant. How could I have? But now that I was here, experiencing heat never before felt on my skin, eyes blinking at the new sights before me, I understood.
“That is called land.” Nurse pointed and I followed her finger.
“It’s… beautiful.” The so-called land was a rich color of brown with deep green sprouts atop it. “I wonder what those green things feel like. Do you know what it is called? Is that also called ‘land’?”
“I have a feeling you will have more questions than I have knowledge.”
I glanced at her and saw that sad expression had returned to her eyes again, but I did not dare ask why, for fear that she would say something that would compel me to turn back. I had no intentions of doing so before I absolutely had no choice.
My eyes tried to take it all in. The golden glow of a ball in the sky. It was that ball, I realized, that gave the water the glinting, multi-colored splendor. As soon as I was done discovering that marvel, there was the sky itself to consider. Full of wispy-looking white things.
“They look heavy,” I mused aloud. ‘Why do they not fall?”
“Come, Princess. I will show you the castle.”
Eager to see all I could, I obediently followed my nurse and we swam together. It was a wonderful feeling, gliding in the water with the ball of light so close. I felt exhilarated in a way I never had before as my fair skin was bathed in warmth.
We resurfaced after a time, and my eyes widened to see the castle my nurse had brought me to. Unlike my own father’s kingdom, this realm was not made of coral reefs and pearls, but a strong, brown structure.
“I wish I could touch it,” I was looking at the castle, but knowing I would never touch, never come close to it, I turned my gaze to the brown ground.
“Touch it then.”
Startled, I turned to my nurse. “Truly?”
She laughed, although it was not an altogether happy sound. “We have come all this way. Why not touch it if you desire to?”
Determined, I swam all the closer until I could reach out and touch the dark brown land. I pulled my hand back at once.
“Did it hurt?” my nurse queried, taking my hand in hers and peering at it.
“No. Only… what is this?” I showed her the flecks of brown on my hand.
“It is only earth, child. Look.” With her fingers clasping my wrist, she pulled it under the water. Then she brought it out again and showed it to me. “It washes away with the sea.”
I was shocked. It would seem that not only could humans not come near the water, even their land faded by the sea’s power—and it was only a gentle wave that had taken the land away from my hand.
The sound of music coming from above me had me tipping my head back. Then I saw creatures spiraling through the sky with the same grace I swam the sea. I grasped my nurse and pointed, my voice vibrating with excitement.
“Look! What is that, Nurse? Wait! Is it the flying fish?”
