Sea Breeze

Song Splash

Aenon shrugged and looked at her skeptically, "Who'll take you to taste it then?"
She shrugged, "You can," he scoffed and she rolled her eyes, "or I'm sure Shell wouldn't be opposed to a date."
Knowing that she knew exactly how Shell would react he narrowed his eyes, "And what makes you think that Shell wouldn't take the opportunity to bind you to him?"
Marie frowned, "He's not like that."
Aenon shrugged, "Just about any merman in his right mind would be. With a woman comes power and if he managed to marry a mermaid he could see his sister again."
Marie stopped confused. Why would a merman gain power if he marries a mermaid? Aren't there just as many mermaids in the waters as mermen? She voiced her thoughts and Aenon replied with, "There aren't, well at least not around here. The mermaids are a lot more sensitive to the water quality so there's not many of them and if they are born they're kept under constant watch and in very controlled environment to keep them healthy."
Marie processed this as she chewed her seafood for a few moments. She replayed his words until something, well two something's, caught her attention. One: there's other places with more mermaids and two, mermaids mean rank so if she was mistaken for a pure mermaid instead of one because she absorbed Jamie's powers would she be taken and married off? Not sure of the answer she decided to ask, "Are you saying that the others wouldn't let me stay where I am if they found me and thought that I wasn't human?"
Aenon looked at her surprised, she catches on quick, "That's exactly what I'm saying, so don't go near the water if we think there's another merman nearby," he looked down at his food then at her out of the corner of his eye, "and don't expect me to do things for you."
Marie laughed and shook her head, "Don't worry, I'm not that needy. If anything you'll all be needing things from me."
He scoffed and after finishing their meal they began wandering around looking at the rides and passer-bys. They passed by the games neither really wanting to ask the other if they wanted to play. As the sun started to set the streets lit up with it's luminescent orange glow. The dyed streets began to empty of parents and children as they found their stall or left for the night. Music drifted through the air in the form of an old folk song. Recognizing it Marie started humming along and inadvertently went to the concert on the shore of the sea. She watched the men on the stage sing and hummed along herself. 

Aenon watched her then watched the men on the stage finding the karaoke screen and realized what was going on. So they were all volunteers from the audience to sing, huh? Why was this set up here? He watched them and after the song had ended a fat, balding man came up on stage, "Alright," he sounded like a smoker, "any last minute entries into our contest? The winner gets two thousand dollars cash prize." 

On a whim he raised his hand and made Marie raise her hand as well, they could use this money. The man looked at them surprised and gestured for them to come up. He handed them each a number and explained, "Well what a surprise, now I'll explain the rules since I haven't seen you here before. You each go up one at a time and sing a song you feel fits the category. The people vote on each round and if you get enough votes you move on. Got it?"

They each nodded and Marie finally realized what was going on and gave Aenon a look as he shrugged. The man told her the current category was folk and told her to put her song into the system and if they had it they'd play the background music otherwise she'd have to sing acapella if she knew all the words. After that he pushed her onto stage with a mic. She put her song into the system but, just her luck, they didn't have it. 

Clearing her throat she uncertainly began to sing the first few notes of the song. Thankfully she had sung it enough with her sisters to know it by heart and didn't waver once she started. She closed her eyes as she started singing the song about willow sprites and young men. Her voice flowed over everyone and as it was the only sound present they paid close attention. Not many had ever heard this song and the few that had were impressed with the way she sang it. 

Not many of the other contestants were able to put such powerful emotion into it while making it still sound so serene. Marie guided the audience through the song's story line. Halfway through when the grave decision was made by the young man she opened her eyes and locked eyes with the audience one by one until the end. 

When the song had ended she was met by no noise. In fact she didn't know how to react so she handed the mic to Aenon and moved off the stage. Now that it was his turn he decided to just go acapella as well. Whereas Marie had guided the audience with her smooth voice Aenon commanded and controlled them with his rumbling tenor and bass. He was able to spin a tale of heroes, the only folk song he remembered from his kindergarten music class, and the familiarity with it drove the audience to happily recognize it. Some sang along with him and when he was done there was loud applause. 

The director looked at them astounded, such young and unrefined talent right here in front of him. Not many of these contestants had the same stage impact as them but there was an amazing crop of contestants right here. They'll all give each other a run for their money. 

Throughout the next few categories it was evident that Marie was suited for the folk songs and she sang them all beautifully while Aenon was more suited for upbeat, energetic, fast paced rock songs. He didn't sing any of the heavy stuff or the screamo stuff, but instead the ones with meaning behind them. Marie mainly sang of stories and they advanced quite far. In the final five there were them, a girl with short pixie like hair, a boy with hipster clothing, and a girl in some interesting, brightly colored clothes. 

The final category was announced: energetic pop. 

Marie knew she was doomed. Racking her brain she tried to come up with some song that she knew all the words for in the category. The other contestants were set, but she'd sang nothing of the sort yet and she'd one it all acapella because she needed to sing it at her own pace. This category involved a lot of instruments in the back ground and a lot of computer generated noise that she couldn't recreate like she'd done so far by humming. Great, the one category of music that I can't stand, she thought. 

Aenon knew the exact song he'd sing and smirked at Marie as she bit her thumb nail thinking. They'd drawn numbers and he knew she was last so she'd have some time to think but not much. The bright colored girl went up first obviously comfortable since this was the category of music she'd been singing thus far. 

Marie thought and thought then came up with an idea. The other contestants had the crowd pumped up and she could use this energy.