Sirens - The Curse- Ch 7

Instructions

~CHAPTER SIX~ I brushed pastry crumbs off my fingers. The jam that filled it was sweet and sticky, bursting with fruity flavor in my mouth. "Thank you" I said to Arden. He looked back at me confused, " For what?" " For showing me around and most of all that jam puff, it was amazing!" " Really? That's called being friendly, and seriously, my pleasure Orca." He grinned at me. The setting sun glinted behind him making his hair seem golden. His eyes sparkled. Oh. Oh no, no. Panic flooded my chest. The sun was setting, the solution won't last much longer. I have to leave, Coral will be back home soon, if not already, and Tsunami might be returning from that cafe now! I stood up, my legs were shaking. " Arden, I - I have to go home now, I lost track of time-" I hastily retreated to the door. " Let me walk you home," Arden was right behind me, I turned around to face him. " No! I mean thank you, but it's fine you've already done so much," my face heated. I opened the door and the ocean breeze hit my face. Perhaps for the final time, I thought. " Good bye Arden," " Good bye Orca, maybe I'll see you later," I ran home, away from the crowds, back towards the beach. I removed my slipper, feeling the cool sand under my feet. At the porch, I change back into my water clothes. Carefully dusting Coral's skirt and putting it back into the package. I can already feel my feet webbing, legs merging back into a tail, my ears pointing. Then I realized. I hadn't taken off my veil. It could be for the better, the solution may not have been strong enough to completely stop my curse, but why didn't Arden question it? He never even batted an eye! And I definitely didn't see anyone else wearing something like that. Did Arden suspect anything? What does he know? I sucked in a sharp breath, no, I was just being paranoid. People like me, like my family, don't exist. There is no way he can know. My room looks so different. So dark, so fake. Trying to recreate a beautiful world that it is nothing like. It was way too small, I was suffocating. I swam over to the door, I need to get out. Get out, get out of here, my room, my solitary confinement. I floated away, as fast as I could, there, another pool, another exit, I thought. I broke the surface, gasping for air, out of breath. There was someone there, in the room, I glared at them, as best I could. Hopefully my body language scared them off. "Orca! Guess what I brought today! Okay, I'll just tell you, I got earrings!" My gaze softened. It was Coral. She did arrive before I did, but clearly not by much. " Really? Show me!" I was truly excited for her, she was begging for piercing for years, and now she finally got them, along with new, beautiful earrings as well. " There was this lady who sold a bunch of pretty stuff, I picked a whole bunch, but Hazel told me not to get very heavy ones though. Oh yeah, and I brought some for you and Nami too!" Coral exclaimed. I took the jewelry from her hands. They were gorgeous, shining pale blue crystals hung from chains to what must be a hair comb, along with matching earrings. " Aww, you didn't have to Coral, thank you so much! These are beautiful." I said as she smiled at me. " I knew you'd like them," Hazel had walked in at some point. " Hazel, of course, I love them." And just as we were enjoying our moment, the door slammed open. We all jumped, someone was at the entrance. "Hello?" Hazel stood up. The figure came closer into our view. It was just Tsunami, relief flooded over me. "Oh thank the angels, Nami, you scared us!" I turned to face her. She was panting, out of breath, she wore a panicked expression. " They're coming, we have to leave, let's go!" Tsunami hissed out. Hazel's face matched Tsunami's now. " Is it the hunters?" she asked. Tsunami nodded gravely. "Let's leave, we can't let them catch us." "Wait, what are you guys talking about? Why do we have to leave?" Coral looked scared. Poor girl, no one told her about the hunters. Hazel and Tsunami ignored her, simply closing the door and all the windows. " Get in the pool, now," Tsunami ordered. " But why?" Coral asked again, confused. " NOW!" I flinched. Tsunami never raised her voice on us. Coral obeyed her legs merging into a tail like mine. Hazel grabbed her bag and wand, her tanned skin unnaturally pale. Tsunami stepped in and Hazel followed, we all ducked underneath the surface. " Okay, to the exit." Hazel's voice was muffled and trembling, which could be from fear or the bubble on her head. I glanced at the others, Tsunami was clearly putting on her brave face, and Coral looked terrified. And me, I didn't have a mirror at the moment, but I could feel the fear radiating off of me. We swam to the exit as fast as we could, leading us out to the sea. I took one look back. I wish I hadn't.