As I leaned back in the chariot, I fiddled with my starfish
necklace. I would definitely have to put it on my string of pearls
once we got to the Duchess' castle--a silver starfish was certainly
better suited on pearls than on seaweed.
I started thinking about what lay ahead on our vacation. It
had been ages since we took a family trip. I looked out the window
and saw a different view. Everything was colder--there were some
frozen icebergs towering down from the surface, forcing Daddy to
steer us deeper into the depths. It got so dark for a while, until
we steered back up towards surface once we past the surrounding
glacier wall.
I was about to fall asleep when I heard Ariel say, ""We're
here!"
She swam out of the chariot, spinning giddily. We all swam
out after her.
"Wow! Look at that." Alana said, pointing to the ice
castle. "It's beautiful!"
"It certainly is. It almost looks like something out of a
fairy tail." Attina added. I nodded my head in agreement.
"Uh, a little help over here?" Arista called. She was pulling
one of my bags off of the chariot. "I was trying to get my bag and
THIS sort of FELL on me."
I was about to yell at her for touching my bag when Daddy
took it from her. "Arista dear, no need to strain yourself. The
Duchess has servants."
Penguins came rushing out of the castle. They greeted us and
took our things. One of them grabbed my bag out of Daddy's hand and
almost dropped it.
"Watch it!" I snapped at him.
He looked at me, a surprised look on his face.
My remark didn't come out like I wanted. "I'm sorry," I
amended. "I mean, please be careful with my things."
"King Triton!" The Duchess swam out of her castle and greeted
Daddy with a warm hug. "It's been too long, old friend."
"That is has Duchess," Daddy told her, hugging her back.
"My, how your daughters have grown!" she exclaimed, looking
us over. "So nice to see you all again, girls. Come on in, everyone!"
The Duchess led the way inside.
I glared at her. She was being awfully friendly to Daddy,
and very condescending to us. I didn't like it. She has an ulterior
motive, a voice in my head whispered.
I squeezed my eyes shut. What was I thinking? She was an
old, dear friend of my father's. She was kind and generous. She had
treated us so well in the past, and she was kind enough to invite us
all the way to her palace for a vacation.
But why? I wondered. There must be a reason she lured us all
the way from Atlantica.
I shook my head. Why was I being so paranoid all of a sudden?
"Adella?" I heard Ariel call me. "You okay?"
"I guess," I replied. "I just feel kind of funny."
"You girls hurry along shortly," Daddy called out to us. "We
don't want to keep the Duchess waiting for too long!"
I waved to Daddy before he swam inside.
"Hmm....well come inside, maybe you'll feel better," Ariel
said.
"You're in an awful hurry to get in there," I said, not
knowing where the remark came from.
"Well, sure," she replied. "It's been a long trip. Besides,
I'm dying to see the inside of the castle--I'll bet there's so much
to explore!"
Dying? What a strange choice of words.
"Adella? Adella?" Ariel waved her hand in front of my face.
"Don't do that!" I yelled, swatting her hand away.
She looked at me with wide eyes. "You're acting really
strange," she said.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "What do you mean, strange?"
"Well, just...tense."
I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed. "I'm sorry. Maybe it's
all the excitement of the journey. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"It's okay," Ariel said warmly. She took me by the arm swam
towards the castle. "Maybe you're just hungry--I know I am, and I'll
be the Duchess has some wonderful food waiting for us!"
I let Ariel lead me to the palace. I felt so tired. I
didn't know what had gotten into me. I wasn't usually so cranky--it
causes wrinkles.
Arista
The Duchess had just showed us to our rooms. Actually our wing! We had the
whole west wing of the palace to ourselves! There were ten bedrooms lining
the halls, and we got to choose our own. I swam ahead of Aquata, practically
racing her to get to the 'best' room first. From what I saw, swimming quickly
in and out of rooms, they were all very nice. When I came to the room at then
end of the hall I stopped to look longer. There was an old canopy bed by the
large window. Upon closer inspection I found that the posts on the bed were
carved into baby sea horse patterns.
"Ooooh, how pretty." I breathed, circling the room. It seemed the
decorating theme for this room was in fact sea horses. I found two more
carved ice statues on the dresser. Then Aquata came rushing in with a stream
of bubbles. She took one look at me and nodded.
"I see you've found your room." She smiled.
"Yes, it's perfect." I pointed out the sea horse features to my oldest
sister.
"Great, now I just have to find the room that I want." She winked at me,
then turned and swam off.
I could hear my other sisters in the hall, calling out to each other: "I want
this room!" "Wow this one is big!" "Have you seen this one?"
I flopped down on the bed. I just hope this place has stables. I already miss
my giant sea horses! I miss my boyfriend too. Daddy had said Dylan could come
along....after all, he let Flounder and Sebastian come...but Dylan wasn't
sure if he could get away. He had hinted at surprising me with a visit, but I
couldn't get any more out of him.
I lazily twirled my light blonde hair around my fingers. Maybe the Duchess
had her own sea horses. I'd love to get to know some new ones. I knew all
about the ones back in Atlantica...their temperament, how to ride them, what
they liked to eat, the fastest, the slowest, etc.
"Ahhh!!" A piercing scream cut through the cool waters, and made me jump.
It sounded like Adella, when she was really mad. What now? I swam as fast as
possible down the hall, looking for Adella. I found her just three rooms
away. She seemed to have started unpacking, one of her bags was in front of
her on the sea sponge bed.
"What's wrong?" I asked, about the time Attina and Ariel swam up beside
me.
"I am going to KILL Andrina!" Adella shouted, her face tuning red from
anger. I had never seen her so mad! Kill? I can't remember ever hearing
Adella threaten that.
"What did she do?" Attina questioned, swimming a bit closer to Adella.
"THIS!" Adella held up a slimy sea slug. "It was in MY bag." She fumed.
"Oh it was just another one of Andrina's jokes." Ariel laughed, "It's a
fake."
"How dare you laugh at me!" Adella hissed at Ariel.
"Adella!" I frowned, "What has gotten into you?" Adella had never
particularly liked Andrina's pranks but she never ever got this upset. Ariel
swam back some, looking shocked.
"What's going on in here?" Aquata showed up in the doorway.
"Andrina's just played her last trick." Adella said, narrowing her eyes.
Suddenly her face changed, she had caught sight of her evil scowl in the
mirror. "I....I'm so sorry." She said quietly. "I didn't mean it."
The rest of us exchanged worried glances. This was not like Adella at all.
Dylan:
I had finished cleaning myself up, after taking care of the sea
horses stable. I made sure that the stables were left in trusting
hands.
I took my seahorse, Current, from the stables and saddled him.
Thinking that I could susprise my Arista with a visit.
I swam into my saddle and took off towards the Dutchess' Castle...
***************
I arrived at the castle, I was greeted by penguins! The penguins
didn't want me to pass!
Adella
I followed Ariel into the palace and we caught up to our
sisters. They were all in the west wing and the Duchess said, "Take
your pick! I'm sure you'll each find a room that suits you."
Arista swam ahead of everyone else, dashing in and out of the
rooms. I felt a surge of excitement at the idea of picking my own
room. If they were decorated like the rest of the palace, I was sure
that the bedrooms would be exquisite--the Duchess had wonderful
taste. I swam into the first room and saw it was decorated with a
penguin theme, all black and white. Too drab for my taste.
The second room was accented with pearls and coral carved
into tiny mermaids. "I want this room!" I exclaimed.
"Sorry, Adella," Alana said. I hadn't noticed her in the
room. She was already unpacking. "I've already claimed this room.
"Oh!" I said, swimming out to find a room no one had
claimed. I hoped I wouldn't be stuck in that penguin room. I needed
something with pretty colors.
Aquata swam by, rushing toward the end of the hallway. I
finally found an unoccupied room that was beautifully decorated with
ice blue dolphins, purple urchins, and pink coral. I loved it--it
reminded me of home and warmer waters. I loved the Arctic, too, but
the colors up north were so bland. I sat on the sponge bed
tentatively, testing it for comfort. Just then, one of the penguins
came into the doorway.
"I've decided on this room," I told him. He bowed his head
and a moment later, returned with five other penguins who were
carrying my bags. I looked at the ice-mirror carved with little pale
blue dolphins swimming all around the edge. I wasn't looking my
best. The trip had certainly taken its toll on me.
I saw the silver starfish hanging around my neck and decided
that before dinner, I should put it on my strand of pearls. I put my
jewelry case on my bed and opened it. A slimy sea slug was writhing
right on top of my precious jewels.
I screamed, knocking it over, spilling my jewelry all over my
bed. Andrina! She was up to her old tricks again.
"What's wrong?" Arista asked, as she, Attina, and Ariel swam
into my room.
Like a shock, rage filled my entire being. "I am going to
KILL Andrina!" I shouted through clenched teeth.
"What did she do?" Attina questioned, swimming closer to me.
"THIS!" I yelled, holding up that slimy slug. "It was in MY
bag."
"Oh it was just another one of Andrina's jokes." Ariel
laughed, "It's a fake."
I glared at her. "How dare you laugh at me!" I hissed at my
baby sister.
"Adella!" Arista said, frowning, "What has gotten into you?"
I noticed Ariel backing away just as Aquata appeared in my
doorway.
"What's going on in here?" she asked.
I narrowed my eyes and growled, "Andrina's just played her
last trick."
Suddenly, I caught my reflection in the ice mirror. I looked
almost...evil. I gasped at the sight. I didn't know what had come
over me. I looked at my sisters who were staring back at me,
confused and frightened.
"I....I'm so sorry." I stammered. How could I have spoken
that way to my sisters? "I didn't mean it."
They looked at me, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry," I repeated, tears
filling my eyes. "Really, I guess I just..." I swam out of my room
in a trail of bubbles.
"Adella, wait!" I heard one of my sisters call out to me.
I kept swimming as fast as I could. I didn't know where I
was going, only that I had to get away. I had to clear my head.
Ariel
I couldn't believe how Adella was acting. She screamed at me for laughing!
Something was definately very wrong with her. I had never seen any of my
sisters act that way. I shrank back away from Adella. Andrina's trick wasn't
that bad.
"I....I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it." Adella said, suddenly calming down.
She looked at us, then to the ground in shame. "I'm sorry," She went on,
"Really, I guess I just..." She shook her head as tears started to spill
from her eyes and join the cold sea water around us. Adella then swam off
quickly, leaving us staring after her. Attina and Aquata exchanged a worried
look. Maybe Adella needed someone to talk to.
I swam after her, calling out "Adella, wait!" But my sister disappeared
around the corner, her tail swishing as fast as possible. I continued down
the long hall and rounded the same corner that Adella had. I bumped right
into the Duchess! "Oh! Please excuse me..." I said, embarrassed.
"It's all right child." She smiled at me. "Where were you off to in such a
hurry?" I opened my mouth to answer but the Duchess kept talking. "Ahh you
want to find your room. Well, I see that most of your sisters have already
settled in."
"I have a room." I told her, ringing my hands in front of me. I was
worried about Adella, but I couldn't be rude to Daddy's dear old friend.
"Oh?" She asked quizzically.
I had found a room I liked before I rushed towards the sound of Adella's
scream. My mind flashed back to just minutes ago when I saw the lovely room.
It was in the center of the hall and had a great view. I could see most of
the Duchess' land. The room was done in shades of my favorite colors - purple
and blue. It even had all kinds of sea creature shapes carves into the walls,
that seemed to sparkle when I moved around.
"I chose that one." I said, pointing to my room.
"My dear, you must be brave." The Duchess said with a slight smile.
I gave her a questioning look, "Why do you say that?"
"I thought your father had told you..." She said, fussing with her long
skirt. "That was Melvin's room" I had never heard of 'Melvin', but if that
was his room then I had no right to take it over.
"I'm sorry, he can have it back." I offered.
"Oh no that won't be necessary," She laughed, "You see, Melvin has been
dead for nearly 100 years. He was an ancestor of mine....it's said he died
here in his home. In that very room. It was his study." She explained. "We
turned the room into another bedroom some time ago, but some of it is
original furniture." The Duchess seemed proud of this. I knew she wasn't
trying to scare me, in fact, she spoke of Melvin as an old friend. "Well I
must be off, lots to do. I'll tell you more about Melvin at dinner if you
wish."
I nodded. The Duchess gave me another smile then went on her way down the
hall. I had never believed in mer-ghosts, so I wouldn't let the Duchess's
story bother me. I hadn't even heard it all yet. I shrugged my shoulders and
swam away looking for Adella.
Adella
I swam out of the palace as fast as I could. I couldn't face
my sisters after I had treated them so terribly. But the thing was,
I had no idea why I did. It was like I couldn't stop the terrible
things that came out of my mouth. Even as I was saying them, I knew
that I shouldn't. But I couldn't help it.
I didn't realize how far I'd swam until I saw a young merman
riding up on a giant seahorse. Wait a minute! I knew him.
"Dylan?" I asked.
The seahorse whinnied as he pulled on the reins. "Adella?
What are you doing out here? I thought everyone would be at the
Duchess' castle by now."
"They are. What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to surprise Arista," he said with a smile. "Don't
tell her I'm here."
"Don't worry, I won't," I replied glumly. I didn't want to
go back there at all, if I could help it. I was even too upset to
dwell on the fact that Dylan was so common.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" he asked,
interrupting my thoughts.
"Oh, I just needed some fresh water," I lied, flipping my
tail.
"Are you sure you should be out here, all alone, at this
hour?"
I was getting really frustrated. I wished he would leave me
alone. Arista was his girlfriend, not me, so why was he so concerned
all of a sudden?
'What's it to you?' I was about to snap at him, but something
came over me. A warm feeling. It started as a shock in my chest and
radiated through my whole body. I was about to tell him to leave me
alone, but when I opened my mouth, I couldn't believe what I said!
"How sweet of you to be so concerned about me," I
gushed. "Oh, Dylan, that's what I LOVE about you!"
He looked at me like I'd turned human. It had been no secret
that I didn't like him too much. I had always told Arista that she
deserved better--a noble. After all, she IS a princess.
"Uh, it's no big deal," he stammered. "I just thought Arista
might get worried about you, that's all."
"Maybe you'd better give me a ride back," I said, not knowing
where those words were coming from.
"Uh, okay," he said.
I jumped on the back of his seahorse and slid my arms around
his waist, holding him tightly, all the time wondering why. I hated
riding such wild animals. And I wasn't too fond of Dylan, either. I
tried to loosen my hold on my sister's boyfriend, but my arms wrapped
around him even tighter.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
"Dylan," I heard my giddy voice say, "You are so sagacious."
Sagacious? I didn't even know what that word meant! I clamped my
mouth shut and hoped I could keep it shut the rest of the way back to
the palace.