Aurelia plummeted into the cold, crushing darkness, her mind spinning with fear and regret. 'Maybe I'm paying the price for testing waters I shouldn't have,' she thought, as icy tendrils of water dragged her deeper.
Suddenly, a searing pain jolted through her chest, and she gasped awake, coughing up water as air flooded her lungs. She lay on her back, disoriented and shaking, her body aching from the ordeal. 'I'm alive?'she thought, her trembling hands running over herself to make sure she was whole.
"Aurelia?"
The voice startled her. She turned her head to see Arielle kneeling beside her, her expression flooded with relief.
"You're awake," Arielle said softly, her voice carrying both concern and exhaustion.
Aurelia blinked, trying to process the sight in front of her. Arielle looked...different. She was dressed in a dark green swimsuit that clung to her like it was part of her, accentuating her ethereal beauty. Her hair, wet and shimmering, cascaded around her shoulders like molten copper. For a moment, Aurelia thought she looked just like the Ariel from The Little Mermai—but without a tail.
But something wasn't right. Aurelia sat up, wincing, and looked around. They weren't on her familiar beach anymore. The inland surrounding them was lush, with towering rock formations and strange vegetation that looked untouched by human hands.
"Where are we?" Aurelia asked, her voice hoarse.
"This isn't your beach," Arielle replied, avoiding the question directly.
Aurelia's suspicion flared. "I knew something was off about you," she snapped, glaring at Arielle.
"What are you talking about?" Arielle asked, her tone calm but wary.
"You! You're the one who pulled me into the water!" Aurelia stood abruptly, her fists clenched.
Arielle sighed and looked away, the flicker of guilt crossing her face, but she quickly shook her head. "That wasn't me," she said firmly. "It was a mermaid."
Aurelia froze. "A...mermaid?" Her confusion deepened. "But you—you're the one who's suspicious! The name, the hair, the way you act—everything!"
"I'm not a mermaid," Arielle said, her voice quieter now, but filled with conviction. She met Aurelia's gaze. "But I know what you saw. It was a mermaid—a real one. And it would've killed you if I hadn't pulled you out."
Aurelia's mind spun. "But...why? Why would a mermaid attack me? Aren't they supposed to be...harmless?"
Arielle shook her head. "The ones in your books and stories? Sure. But the real ones? They're not what you think. They feed on obsession—on people like you, people who can't stop dreaming about them. It's how they lure you in. You're exactly the kind of person they target."
Aurelia's knees felt weak. "How do you know all of this?"
For a moment, Arielle hesitated. Then she took a deep breath. "Because I've been tracking them," she said. "I'm not from a landlocked town. I'm from Atlantis."
Aurelia's jaw dropped. "Atlantis? That's not real—"
"It's real," Arielle interrupted, her voice steady. "It's just not what you think. And I came here because of you."
"Me?" Aurelia's voice cracked. "Why me?"
"Because they've been watching you," Arielle said, her green eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "I've seen it happen before. People like you, who are drawn to the sea, to the idea of mermaids—they're the ones who disappear. I was sent to make sure it didn't happen to you."
Aurelia staggered back, trying to process everything. "So...you're here to protect me?"
Arielle nodded. "Yes. And I need you to trust me, because the mermaid that attacked you won't stop. Once they've marked someone, they don't give up."
Aurelia stared at her, torn between disbelief and the undeniable truth of what she'd just experienced. "Why didn't you just tell me all this before?"
Arielle looked away, her expression pained. "Because you wouldn't talk to me, why do you think I befriended your dad and friends."
Aurelia swallowed hard, her heart pounding. Everything she thought she knew was unraveling, and for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to uncover the truth.
"That's not the only reason why I sent to protect you ," Arielle said, her voice softer but steady, a small smile playing on her lips. "Aurelia, you're the Princess of Atlantis."
Aurelia blinked, then burst into laughter. She was used to being the one with wild theories, but this was on a whole new level. "Nice joke!" she said, clutching her stomach. "Let me guess, Aquaman's my uncle?"
Arielle frowned, clearly unimpressed. "I'm not joking, Aurelia. This is another reason why they're targeting you. Not only are you obsessed with them, but you also have Atlantean blood in you."
Aurelia froze mid-laugh, her smile fading. "How are you so sure? I'm just an ordinary girl—"
"—with sky-blue hair and golden eyes?" Arielle interrupted, arching a brow. "You're drawn to the sea, have an obsession with its mysteries, and spend hours dreaming about creatures most people think are just myths. Yeah, sounds really 'ordinary.'"
Aurelia opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. Her hand instinctively went to her hair, then her eyes, as if noticing their unusual features for the first time. "But I don't understand. How? Who? Does my dad know? Did my mom—" She trailed off, her thoughts spinning.
"I'll explain everything later," Arielle said firmly, cutting through Aurelia's spiraling questions. "Right now, we aren't exactly safe."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes. "Wait. If we're not home, then how—" Her gaze darted around the strange inland setting. "Did you swim with my unconscious body all the way here?"
"Yes," Arielle admitted with a shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I am Atlantean, after all. Swimming fast, having super strength, and breathing underwater are just a few of the perks." She clasped her hands together, her smile returning.
Aurelia stared at her, dumbfounded. "You're serious."
"Dead serious," Arielle said.
Aurelia shook her head. "This is insane. I've lived my whole life as... well, as me. Just Aurelia. How can I possibly be... royal?"
Arielle softened. "I know it's a lot to take in, but everything about you—your connection to the sea, your curiosity, your features—it all points to the truth. You're special, Aurelia. More special than you've ever realized. And now, the mermaids know it too."
Aurelia's stomach churned at the thought. "So, what? They're coming after me because I'm Atlantean? What do they want from me?"
"Power," Arielle said simply. "Atlantis's royal bloodline has a connection to the ocean that even mermaids envy. It makes you stronger in the water, more attuned to its magic. If they consume you—" She stopped herself, her expression darkening. "Let's just say they'd become unstoppable."
Aurelia's legs felt weak, and she sat back down on the rocky ground. "This... this is too much."
Arielle knelt beside her, her voice gentle but urgent. "I know it feels overwhelming. But you're not alone in this. I'm here to help you, to protect you."
Aurelia looked at her, searching for any sign of deception, but found none. Despite everything, Arielle's sincerity was unshakable.
"Okay," Aurelia said finally, her voice trembling but resolute. "If what you're saying is true... what do we do now?"
Arielle's smile returned, this time more determined. "We go home. "