The Little Mermaid's Name is Luna

2: The Deal

"Oh, Luna, off daydreaming again..."

Luna only faintly heard Marine's voice. She was still thinking about the prince. Still thinking about how she'd saved him. Still wondering if he'd seen her, or if he remembered her. She couldn't get him out of her head. It had been three months and she still couldn't forget him.

"What are you thinking about, Luna?" Claira asked, leaning down in front of Luna.

"Oh," Luna said, "I was simply thinking about the surface." She traced circles on her silky blankets.

"We can go, if you want," Claira said. "We can go to the surface, you and I."

"I've already been today," Luna said absentmindedly, remembering how, an hour ago, the prince had sat on the beach, drawing in the sand with a stick and humming. His voice, she dared to say, was almost as beautiful as a mermaid's.

"Luna, I'm worried about you," Marine said. "All you do anymore is stare off into space. Ever since your first visit to the surface.... It's like you're not here anymore."

"Yeah," Ferana said, sitting beside Luna. "Your head is up top, not here, where it needs to be."

Luna sighed. "Sorry."

"No, Luna," Pearl said, swimming into the room. "Don't just say sorry. Sorry won't fix anything. You need to fix it, Luna." Pearl sighed, softening. "Grandma wants to talk to you."

Luna's ears perked. "She does? About what?"

"She didn't say," Pearl said. "She's in her stateroom."

Luna rose from the bed and swam over her sisters. Part of her was afraid. What did Grandma want to talk about? Was she in trouble?

Grandma's stateroom was beautiful and inviting. A large bed dominated the space, but there was also a chaise and two armchairs. Grandma sat in one of them. She beckoned Luna over. Luna gulped and slowly swam over, sitting down lightly.

"What happened at the surface?" Grandma fired.

"I told you," Luna lied. "I swam up a rough river."

Grandma shook her head. "A rough river wouldn't do this to you, Luna."

"What? Make me daydream?"

"And send you up to the surface every day." Grandma watched her intently with coal-black eyes. "Who did you meet?"

Luna gulped, her heart pounding. "I..." She wanted to say she hadn't met anyone, but of course she had. I met the prince, Grandma. His name is Charles. He's got windswept blond hair, and he watches the ocean so intently. I saved him, Grandma. I'm in love with a human.

Grandma nodded. "Ah," was all she said.

"Ah what?" Luna ventured.

"I see it in your eyes, Luna. You're in love."

Luna blushed. "I'm sorry, Grandma. I'll try to-"

"No, darling. You don't understand. Love never leaves you. You will be in love with this human until you find a good merman worthy of marriage." She shook her head.

"Have you ever been in love, Grandma?"

"With a human? No. But I have wished to marry one before. You see, humans have immortal souls. Mermaids, on the contrary, do not. We live three hundred years and pass away; but humans continue living long after death. They go to a bright, happy place with their families. The only way for a mermaid to join them is if they marry a human. But, of course, that's not an option." Grandma smiled, tracing circles on her tail.