Esmeralda
I tossed and turned, getting sick of the movement and sitting up in my bed. I had waited for Louie for long enough and now he was using my necklace against me. Mika had been more helpful than him - spying on his every move. As of this moment, I still didn't have anyone besides her and Louie to join my kingdom, and I actually liked it that way. I missed the people of Islanda and wanted them back. I was growing impatient waiting for him to keep his promise. I clenched my fist. I made a decision then and there that I was going to do something about it myself. I was going to go to Islanda.
I had a plan in place. I was going to show up, strip Louie of his powers from my end, Violet could do whatever she wanted with him after that, but he was useless to me. I was going to get my necklace back and bring the people of Islanda with me. I took one more look at my home before accelerating out of it and smashing into something hard and cold. A mermaid. I swam backward to regain myself, rubbing my aching head, "Louie." I shook my head without looking at the figure. When I opened my eyes, it wasn't Louie that greeted me. "Violet..." My lips trembled as my skin ran cold. She was heavily pregnant and glowing shades of blue. Her beauty was indescribable. "So this is your new home." Her voice was cold as ice as she ran her fingers along stone hedging that surrounded my kingdom. "How did you find me?" I couldn't take my eyes off her. I was in disbelief. "I followed Louie." She looked up at me, meeting my eyes.
"So you know..." I couldn't place if she was filled with rage or hurt or sadness. I had never seen this expression on her before. "How could you do this to me, Esmeralda? After you already took off mid fight. I thought we were best friends." Now she looked hurt. And I knew one thing - I had no powers without my necklace.
I touched my bare neck vulnerably, "What are you going to do Violet? Kill me?" my voice was prejecting but my insides were shaking uncontrollably.
She sighed, closing her eyes, "What will it take for you to get Louie out of my life?"
Her question surprised me. "Your dear husband? The father of your child? I thought you were living out your dream."
"He is one of the worst mermen I have ever gotten to know, and that's over Aalton." She peered at me. My eyes widened. I scoffed. I didn't blame her. I never liked Aalton and with what I knew now, I disliked him even more. "Give me the people of Islanda." I blurted, eyes wide and terrified of her response. One strike with her power and I could be dead. She stared blankly and a million thoughts went through my head about what she could be thinking. "I will give you half." She said. I was completely shocked that she wanted Louie gone so badly that she would hand over half her people, just like that. I had her in a moment of easy deliberation so I decided to ask for more, "I get to pick who."
She bit her lip, "I keep Isla and you take Aalton. Everyone else can choose who they go with."
That was a risk I wasn't willing to take. "I hate Aalton as much as you do and what guarantee do I have that anyone will come with me?"
"That's the deal." She said sternly, folding her arms across her body. My skin grew hot. She had me backed into a corner and I needed a way out. "You want Louie out of your life and i'm the only way to do that."
She gritted her fangs but stood firm, "No."
"Then there is nothing I can help you with." I turned my back to her, crossing my fingers in front of my belly. This was my only chance and I hoped to the founding fathers that she would take it. Dreaded moments of silence passed before my ears rang with delight, "Fine."
I spun around with giddy, hugging her impulsively before instantly pulling away. We both sucked in a breath awkwardly.
I cleared my throat, "Well, we better get on with a plan then."
"Yes, let's do that."
We came up with a plan and a contract to go with it. We both signed along the dotted lines with an iridescent blue pen and got to work. Violet would go home and pretend like everything was okay. While Louie was sleeping, she would take the necklace from him and bring it to me. When he discovered it was missing and came to me, begging, I would denounce him from my kingdom. While he was off seeing me, Violet would tell all the Islanda residents of Louie's indiscretions and inform them of the plan, and then when Louie returned, we would both be there to kick him out of our kingdoms, with the support of the entirety of Islanda. Our kingdoms would merge but stay separate. Being one but apart and we would both get to rule as allies and our people wouldn't be so torn between us.
We looked each other in the eyes and it felt like old times when we would plot and share our secrets. We shook on it and parted ways. This wasn't what I had expected, but I'm glad it happened. That backstabbing Louie would be out of both our lives and I would still get to rule, Islanda or not.
