The Ocean's Call: Part One | ✔

Part Thirty One

Part Thirty-One

"Did you enjoy your little talk with Emily?" I ask him.

He snorts. "I like her, granted she's a little protective and very graphic."

I laugh, God only knows what kind of threats Emily made. I'm sure they were very, very graphic. Explicit in description. "She means well."

"I know. I also assured her she has nothing to worry about."

"We're all here now, which means we can go. Which means I'm just this much closer to swimming with actual mermaids." Emily says excitedly, demonstrating how close with her fingers.

I grin, shaking my head. "Am I invisible now?" Austin jokes. Anya snickers, coming back over to the table with us.

Emily rolls her eyes. "Sorry, and a merman."

"Mermaids are cooler." Anya teases, poking her tongue out at Austin.

"We're exactly the same." Austin reminds her. She shrugs, shaking her head.

"We're still cooler than you."

I grin, today is already off to a great start. The rest of the day is going to be amazing. Conversation takes a lively turn as Emily asks about the cool things; they've all found in the water. She's like a kid hopped up on sugar in a candy story and she just got told it's Christmas morning.

She wants to know anything and everything there is to know about being a merfolk. What it's like to swim through the water, breathe in water, have a tail. Nana joins into the conversation several times, her interest and excitement peaked.

I'm happy that everyone seems to be getting along so far. And we're all having fun for now. There is the nagging reminder that there are so many merfolk on this boat because of a certain mermaid wanting to hurt me. One of these mermaids plans to be searching the area because I died nearby.

But I try not to dwell on those details too long. Today is meant to be a day for Emily and nana to get to know Austin, and Anya. Plus, I guess you could say Harley too.

I almost can't wait until my entire family knows about merfolk. I can't wait to introduce Austin to my parents. It's an odd feeling because I recall not wanting to do that at all. I mean it's inevitable and I almost want to just get it over and done with.

But if I'm going to introduce Austin to them, I should tell them the truth about me. For the first time the idea of doing that doesn't stress me out, making me feel panicky.

I start to think of different ways I could tell my parents I'm a mermaid and that Austin is my mate, oh he's also a merman. Oh, and you guys can choose to be one too.

The panicky feeling starts to come back as I realise it is going to change everything. Not only am I letting them in on the biggest secret I've ever had but I'm opening their eyes to a whole new world they can choose to join. Well one of them.

I wonder which of my parents could've possibly given me the merfolk gene. It could've been either of them. Then there's the tiny little detail of what'll happen if they decide to complete the rebirth ritual. They will find their mate, the person their meant to be with and it'll tear my family apart.

I cannot imagine either of my parents with anyone else, I don't want to ruin their marriage. I leave the table as my mind begins racing to a million different dark places of a torn family. I sit alone at the front of the boat, watching Moon Wreck Island come closer and closer as we travel through the water.

"Are you okay?"

I look to my right to find Austin has joined me. "I'm fine."

He gives me a look. "What happened?"