Song of the Mermaid Warrior

Part 1

"I really don't know how you came up with this fun concept!"

Jordan leaned against the windowsill in the stairwell she was hiding in, and sighed at her publisher's words. "For the last time, Marie, it's not a 'fun concept'. It's reality."

"Sure, sure, sweetie. I'm sure you feel that way." She laughed, causing Jordan's mild headache to worsen. "The important thing is, it's a best seller! Which reminds me..."

"I won't do a signing, or any in person event." Jordan stared down at the book in her hands, the title "Blood and Water" staring back at her, the picture of the fragile mermaid on the cover a mockery of the work she had done. "So don't even try."

Marie's groan was so loud it caused Jordan to wince in sympathy. "Why do you do this to me? Why can't you just be like a normal author and help me advertise the book and make more money?"

"I didn't write the book to become famous. I wrote it for a reason."

"I get that."

"Do you?"

"Yeah, you want to spread this fantastical idea that mermaids are actually powerful beings, an ancient warrior society."

Jordan rubbed her head. "They are..."

"Mermaid blood just makes you prettier and more fertile, higher purity means weak and delicate, especially for women. That's just common sense." Marie chuckled, the sound grating on Jordan's ears.

"You know, I use to wonder why you were so insistent on it... but then I looked up your blood purity level... oof." The tone became sympathetic. "I didn't even realize that low of a score was possible! It has to be tough to be you!

"..."

"I understand why you want to normalize the idea that mermaids are tough creatures, not just No-Bloods like yourself."

"Marie..." At the warning sound of her name, the editor changed tactics.

"I'm just saying that I understand why you wrote this book, and it's a good thing! After all it's super popular. But what use is there hiding behind a pen name and not going to events? People are going to find out who you are eventually, and what your purity level is. Might as well be ahead of the storm, own up to it, you know?"

"No one will know if you don't tell them." Jordan felt exhausted, as she always did after talking with Marie. "So they better not find out."

"Of course they won't from ME!"

"Good. Then no more talk about in person meetings, okay?"

"..." Marie's silence was angry. " ... fine."

"Then call me if there's any change with the current plan." Jordan hung up, letting out the breath she had been holding and unclenching her fingers around the phone.

It's not like I didn't expect this reaction, but it's still so infuriating. Everyone assumes that mermaids are just beautiful sirens, delicate flowers just meant to be there to look pretty and have children... they don't have any clue what a full blood mermaid is like.

But that was the world she lived in, and she knew that a single book wouldn't change people's minds.

But I could hope.

____________________________

"Hey, Jordan, class is starting."

At the familiar voice she felt a sense of relief, turning to face her friend Hunter with a smile.

"Yeah, I just finished my call. Got to hide my phone before the teacher finds it." She tucked it away in a hidden pocket, patting it down to make sure there wasn't a telling bulge in her school uniform vest that gave her away.