The warmth turns into an excruciating heat. Feels like my skin is burning off my body. Wouldn’t have thought that was possible, but if I could open my eyes, I’m sure that’s what I’d see. I try to cry out, but everything hurts too much. So. Much. Pain.
I think I’m on the ground. Can’t really tell. I know I’m not upright.
Need the pain to stop.
It won’t.
I gasp. Struggle to breathe. To open my eyes. Gain control of myself.
After what feels like an eternity, the agony eases. Doesn’t go away fully, but it isn’t as bad as it was before.
At long last, I finally open my eyes. The sight before drives terror straight to my core.
Mom is sobbing and clings to Dad, who’s limp and lifeless.
I knew this would happen! Why did he have to fight against my siren powers? I race over. “Mom!”
She looks up at me, her eyes red. “He was wrong about them reviving him! They can’t fix his wounds.” She leans against his chest.
“Do something!” I shake one of his servants. “Save him!”
He hangs his head. “We’ve tried everything. Everything!”
“No, you haven’t! Or he’d be alive!”
The servant just shakes his head.
Mom looks back up at me. “Can’t you do something?”
“Like what? You know more magic than I do!”
She wipes her eyes. “I don’t have the Ayers power.”
Can I use that to save his life? To revive him from death?
Mom rises and swims over to me. She holds out my hair. It’s twice as long and bright than before. “You also have Queen Sirena’s powers. His hopes came to life—you’ve come into the full powers. Only you can heal him!”
No pressure.
“Please!” She pleads with her eyes. “He can’t go much longer without breathing!”
I ball my fists. They immediately glow neon green.
That was fast.
“Hurry!” Mom pulls me closer to Dad.
“Everyone out of my way!”
The servants all stare at me with wide eyes, then scamper away.
My hands grow brighter and warmer. The heat is almost too much to bear. Doesn’t feel like my skin’s going to melt away, but close. I focus on the power and imagine throwing it as I thrust my fists toward my dad.
The green energy leaves me and flies through the water, then clinging to his chest. It pulsates and grows brighter. His wounds disappear.
He doesn’t move though.
I squeeze my hands together and thrust the brightness toward him. This time, it spreads all around him, from head to tail. It sparkles and brightens, moving all over.
Still no response from him.
Mom glances at me desperately, then throws herself on my dad.
He gasps. His eyes open, dart around. He sits up.
“Tiberias!” Mom cries.
My body goes limp with relief. He’s actually alive! I pull myself together and hurry over.
The crowd goes wilder than at any other point before.
“Marra saved you!” Mom squeezes him. “It all worked like you wanted.”
“Wait.” I hesitate. “You wanted me to revive you all along?”
He rubs his chest, where his wound was. “I knew if my servants couldn’t, you’d be able to.”
“And you didn’t think to clue me in on that little detail? Especially when Queen Sirena herself never saved her dad?”
Dad puts a hand on my arm. “I knew you’d find it within yourself.”
I fold my arms. “You’re lucky that’s what happened!”
Merpeople swarm us, and escort us off the field. They take us to my dressing room. The same doctors from before examine us before allowing us to leave.
Dad wraps me in a tight embrace. “How does it feel to have Queen Sirena’s powers?”
“I’ll let you know once I’ve gotten over the shock.”
“Are you ready to rule the oceans yet?”
I give him a double-take. “Seriously?”
He nods. “Of course.”
“Not a chance. I need to get through the academy first. That’s my first goal. I have a lot to catch up on after spending most of my life on land.”
“Your outside perspective will give you an advantage over the rest of us.”
“Time will tell.” I look around for Bash and Halen. They aren’t here.
“Are you ready for the celebration banquet?” Dad asks.
I fall back onto the couch. “Now? All I want to do is sleep for the next week. I just went through all those trials! Killed a two-headed sea dragon, not to mention bringing you back to life. I’m taking a break. Sorry.”
He laughs. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. Next week would be perfect. I’ve already got half of my staff preparing it.”
“Sounds great.”
We make some more small talk before parting ways. The driver leads me back to the limo and holds open the door for me. I glance around for Bash and Halen, but the crowds on either side of the barricades and security officers show me I’ll never find them here. I’m better off trying to find them once we get back to the academy.
The driver motions for me to get inside. Disappointment washes through me. What an end to this entire event—going back to school alone.
You have me.
I ignore my trident and trudge into the car.
Halen and Bash are sitting inside. I stare in disbelief. Am I imagining the sight?
She squeals, and they both leap up and embrace me.
“I knew you could do it!” Bash gushes.
“You had me so scared!” Halen gasps.
I just cling to them, unable to find words.
The driver closes the door and starts the engine. Bash pulls out a bottle of champagne. “This definitely calls for a celebration! You’re the most amazing mermaid alive.”
“That she is.” Halen grabs the bottle and pops the top. “To Marra!”
Bash pours the drink and hands out the flutes. “To Marra!”
We all drink, not that I really need more after the useless wine. I sip mine, though it doesn’t really affect how I feel. Don’t want to put anyone to sleep if I end up singing with the band—even though all I really want is to sleep as long as possible. I have a feeling I’m going to get a lot of attention once we get back to the academy. However, I’m not sure what the attention will be. Will I get made fun of for fully gaining the legendary queen’s powers? Or will people be mad at me for fighting the beloved king? Seems I can’t do right no matter what I try or whose daughter I am.
Makes me wonder how I’ll ever become a beloved leader of the oceans, like my predecessor. Or maybe I’ll just rule Valora years down the road after my dad has had a long reign. I kind of like that thought more.
The car stops, and the driver lets us out. My breath hitches as I stare at the dark building. In a way, it brings me back to my first day here. I really don’t know what to expect, but at least this time around I have my two closest friends at my side.
Bash puts his arm around me and kisses my cheek. “You coming?”
I lick my lips—a lingering habit from life on land—and take a deep breath. “Yeah. If people hate me, will you—?”
“Hate you?” Halen exclaims. “You’re a celebrity!”
“Hasn’t helped me so far.”
She puts her hands on my arms. “You should’ve heard everyone talking about you when you completed the trials! Right, Bash?”
He nods. “Everyone was rooting for you the whole time, and the celebration after you brought Tiberias back to life was unreal.”
“Deafening.” Halen rubs her ears. “If it was your dad’s plan—it’s still weird calling him that—he succeeded. Everybody else finally sees what we have all along! Just don’t forget who was here for you before you were popular.”
“And who tattooed your name on his chest.” Bash rubs his shirt over the ink.
Halen’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”
“How could I ever forget you two?”
“Come on. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.” She grabs my hand and yanks me away from Bash and toward the building.
“Hey!” Bash catches up and opens the door for us. As soon as he does, it sounds like we’ve entered a party rather than the academy.
Halen leads us in the direction of the noise, and as soon as we reach the dance hall, I freeze in place. It’s decorated with balloons, streamers, and bright lights, and has tons of food along the walls. People turn my way and a wave of congratulations runs through partygoers.
Students I don’t know hug me and talk excitedly over one another. It’s overwhelming, to say the least. Bash pulls me away to one of the food tables, and fills our plates. Even as we eat, more people come up and talk with me about the trials and how they were rooting for me all along. I just smile and thank them.
After we eat, Bash leads me to the dance floor. I lean against him and close my eyes, giving into my fatigue and trying to take in the events of the day. It’s hard to believe the trials and the dad curse are all behind me. No more stomach pains, no more having to sneak around to find out about secret ancient legends. It’s all out in the open now. All fulfilled and ready for the future.
Finally, I can choose my own destiny. I may have Queen Sirena’s hair, powers, and trident, but everything going forward is all up to me. Whether I choose to rule is yet to be seen—and I’m glad for that. It’s far too soon to even think about. The only things I want to worry about are getting through the academy, fully adjusting to life as a mermaid, and spending as much time as possible with Bash and Halen.