Sea Foam

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Kaelyn drummed her fingers against the rough rock counter and sighed. She hated Noble Meetings, always had. But they were her right and her responsibility. As a  member of the most highly regarded family in the kingdom of Espuma de Mar, she had responsibilities. She was the only heir to her father's title, after all, even if she was a woman. That was what her mother had always nagged her about.

Kaelyn leaned forward and rested her head on her palm.

The Head Nobleman coughed slightly.

"Miss Kaelyn," He said, "Is this lagging to you? Is there somewhere else you would rather be?"

Kaelyn  merely rolled her eyes and moved her floating hair away from her line of sight.

"Yes, Sir. The situations of the kingdom do not amuse me or keep me intent. I would much rather be anywhere else." Kaelyn stated boringly

The Elders stared her down, disappointment etched onto their faces.

The Head Nobleman leaned forward on his stool, causing his fat stomach to squish and threaten to crush the chair.

"You better watch your mouth, girl. It will get you into trouble one day." The Head Nobleman warned, "That concludes our Meeting. I will welcome you back here on the next full moon day. I bid you all happiness and good fortune."

Quiet conversations erupted throughout the room. Kaelyn propelled herself from her seat, swishing her tail furiously.

"Kaelyn, please stay a moment." The Head Noblemen called

Kaelyn groaned. Reluctantly, she turned to face him. Stared up at her. The Head Noblemen was a short fat man with the smallest and skinniest tail Kaelyn had seen. He looked more like a pregnant sea horse than a merman.

"Kaelyn" He said, "It is obvious that you do not wish to continue in your father's work, but I ask you not to ruin this honorable experience for the others."

"I do not want to spend another day here. Why do I have to? Someone more able could take my father's place." Kaeyln argued

"You must learn, girl, that sometimes our paths are chosen for us."

"And you must learn, Sir, that there are those who will not accept a path they do not want to follow." Kaelyn spat back

Kaelyn turned her back sharply and propelled herself away. She shouldered her way through the whispering Elders. Their conversations stopped abruptly as Kaeyln shoved and pushed her way through the crowd. Finally breaking though, Kaelyn made her way towards the outskirts of the kingdom.

The poor and poverty-stricken lined the streets. Kaelyn tried not look at them as the wealthy mansions and castles slowly disappeared behind her. Kaelyn felt a rough hand latched onto her wrist.

"Please, help us." The woman begged, "We haven't eaten in days."

The woman's tail had lost it's shine and bright color. Her face was deeply sunken, he eye socket seemed like caves. Only skin kept Kaelyn from seeing the bone underneath. A small child clung to the woman's neck as though that was its very life line. The child's tail still had it luster, but the color was slowly draining. Kaelyn tore her wrist out of the woman's hand and turned her back. That was only thing to do. The only thing to ward off nightmares.There was nothing to be done for the begars. The wealthy would never lend even a clam.

Kaelyn swished her tail quickly, wanting to get as far away from the woman and her child. When Kaelyn came across the kingdom's welcome sign, she released a sigh of relief. She was free for a few moments.

"Hey! Kaelyn!' Someone called

Kaelyn turned. Her friends sat on their rock and waved her over. Kaelyn felt a grin stretch across her face. She quickly swam to them.

"Hi, Coral." Kaelyn greeted them, "Hi, Al."

"How was the Meeting?" Al asked with a smirk

"As terrible as ever." Kaelyn answered simply

"That's alright, K. You are here with us." Coral said

Coral always knew how to make everything seem alright. She had been there when Kaelyn's mother was banished. Coral was the only one who knew what to say during that time. 

Al, Coral, and Kaelyn lay down with backs to the rock, and stared up towards the surface. Sunlight came down in streams, broken up and beautiful. The ocean shimmered like glitter and diamonds. Kaelyn couldn't help  but admire the sight.

"Laying here makes me never want to go back." Kaelyn confessed

"I know what you mean." Al responded, "Sometimes I think I should judt do something so outrages just so my parents would actually notice me."

"I wish I could remain on this rock forever." Coral sighed

"Let's do it." Kaelyn suggested

"Do what?" Al asked

"Run away," Kaelyn answered, "Swim off and never glance back."

Coral chuckled, "Where would we go? We are the only kingdom left. Everywhere else is either shark infested or human infested."

Kaelyn puzzled over this for a minute.

"What about the Southern Reefs?" Kaelyn asked

"Too many sharks to avoid, and way to many humans." Coral said

Kaelyn dismissed the thought from her mind. They had no choice. They were going to grow old and die in this kingdom whether they preferred to or not. Kaelyn simply stared at the ocean's ceiling again. A fleeting thought crossed her mind. But she knew it was not a good idea.

"Why don't we go up to the surface?" The words slipped between Kaelyn's lips before she could catch them.

"What!?" Al and Coral exclaimed

"You said so yourself, Al. We have to do something outrages." Kaelyn couldn't stop herself.

She rose from the rock and started to swim upward. The water warmed slightly as she continued farther.

"Kaelyn, stop!" Al called after her, "This is how your mother was banished!"

For the first time, Coral couldn't find the words to say. Kaelyn ignored Al's warnings and propelled herself closer towards the scattered sun beams.

At an inch from the surface she hesitated. Al's voice was only a mumble now. For a second she considered turning back. But she looked at the sun. She wondered what it would like above the water. She wondered what her mother had seen when she travled above water. Kaelyn drew a deep breath and thrusted her hand up.