Rite of Passage

Chapter Two | Augustus Adrian

"Princess Aphria."

Aphria looked up in mild surprise, flustered - a young merman she'd never met before was blocking her way to the breakfast hall, a smile on his face. 

"Hi?" she greeted with a confused smile. "Do I know you from somewhere?" 

"No, but I know you, of course." he bowed. "Princess Aphria. Name's Augustus Adrian; pleasure."

"Great. Nice to meet you, Augustus." Aphria gave him a little wave and started walking. "I've gotta go." 

 "Hey, wait. How's your day been going?" Augustus asked, swimming and catching up with her easily.

It was one of the many times that Aphria was annoyed that she had legs instead of a fishtail - a disgraceful for a siren. But her rank as the princess of the palace justified her reputation, as did her beauty and her voice.  

 Not giving her a chance to respond, he added, "You look gorgeous, by the way." 

Aphria couldn't help but glance at the watery palace walls that held her reflection. Her electric blue locks danced behind her as if alive. Her gown, fastened to her shoulders, was a soft white, graced by little flecks of gold running on the neckline. 

"Thanks, Augustus." 

"Please. Call me Gus," the merman said. 

"Gus," Aphria corrected. He glanced at her and smiled. It warmed the young princess up; she returned it. 

He isn't that bad, Aphria thought, watching Augustus's blue eyes the color of the sky lit up as she smiled back. 

"May I walk you to breakfast?" he asked. 

"Oh, why not?" 

The two of them swam - and walked - to the breakfast hall. No matter how many times Aphria saw it, she couldn't help but glance at it in awe every time she walked in.

It was a majestic place - the ceilings were set high, with windows placed symmetrically at the very top, providing light. In the middle of the hall, a table set for fifteen dominated the hall. It was an ancient table made of mahogany wood - probably the only thing the sirens owned that wasn't traced back to the sea in any way. Magic candles sat flickering on the tables. The hard stone floor was covered with a deep red carpet.

Aphria's mother and father, Queen Diamonique and King Aaric respectively, were already seated. A few chairs down, advisors were seated, too. There were three empty chairs between, for Aphria and her three sisters. Vita was already there; she gave her a smile and drifted over. 

"Ria," her older sister exclaimed with a smile. "Is this your merman?" 

"Vita!" Arphia breathed, blushing. She glanced at Augustus, but he hadn't reacted. Just a hint of a smile tugging at his cheeks. "I just met him!"

The sound of chatter came from the hallway: Aphria's oldest sister, Ingrid, came swimming with her merman, Earwyn. Their tails were entwined; the sight gave Aphria a twinge of sadness. Having legs, she'd never be able to do that with her partner - that is, if she even found him. 

"Ah! It must have been love at first sight." Vita declared. "I take it that this is your merman. What's your name?" she asked Augustus, studying him.

"Augustus. I expect you're Princess Vita? Aphria's sister?" 

"Of course." Vita grinned, tossing a lock of golden hair. 

Aphria's last sister, Francoise, drifted into the hall. She glanced at Aphria and Vita and waved her tail as a greeting. 

Just then, the breakfast bell rang throughout the halls, echoing from wall to wall. 

"Oh - we'd better sit down." Vita smiled at Augustus, still looking him up and down. 

"Yes, of course." Augustus looked at Aphria, gave her a warm smile, and left to sit at his proper place. 

Vita immediately turned to Aphria. "When did you meet this Augustus?" she demanded as they sat down side by side; on the other side, Ingrid and Selena leaned in, listening. 

"Who's Augustus?" Selena interjected, her eyes sparkling as a plate of fish was set before her. 

"Ooh! Has Aphria found her merman?" Ingrid demanded. 

"I say she has!" Vita and Selena declared at the same time. They glanced at each other and burst into laughter.

"Ooh, ooh," Ingrid said excitedly to her youngest sister. "If you ever need dating advice - I'm your go-to."

"Ew! Don't even talk about your relationship with Earwyn!" Selena shrieked. 

"Girls, girls. Settle down," Queen Diamonique called down the table, beaming at her daughters. "What's all this about?"

"Nothing-" Aphria said hastily, sensing the danger. 

"Aphria's got a merman!" Selena, Vita, and Ingrid squealed in unison. 

And so Aphria's fish sat untouched for the rest of breakfast. 

The month passed in a blur of faces: Selena, Vita, and Ingrid; Queen Diamonique and King Aaric; the advisors; very brief glances of Earwyn and Aqua, Ingrid and Vita's respective mermen.

And Augustus - his face showed up way too many times, and way too close.

"Sleep well," Queen Diamonique told her youngest daughter warmly. "You'll do great tomorrow."

Aphria took a deep breath, then looked up at her mother's beaming face. "Thanks, Mom." she smiled at her again, then opened the door to her bedroom and walked inside. Dim sunlight streamed in through the only window set high in the wall.

Suddenly Aphria felt tired; the siren didn't bother to undress before she flopped onto her bed and fell into a heavy sleep.

That night, she dreamed of a memory.

"Ria."

Aphria turned in surprise. Augustus was leaning against a column a few feet back, his arms crossed. "Oh, hey, Gus."

"Hey." he gave her a strange, twitchy smile as she came towards him.

"What's up?" the princess asked, her eyebrows knotting as she looked at the merman. His left eye was ticking, and he kept shifting his weight.

"What?" Augustus flinched.

"Oh, nothing.."

Augustus's eyes locked with hers.

Silence.

"I wanted to give you this," he said finally, blushing.

"Huh? Oh!"

The merman dropped a polished pearl into the princess's hand. Aphria examined it, rolling it back in forth in her palm; her cheeks felt hot. Pearls were a siren's symbol of marriage.

"It's gorgeous," she said softly, touched. "I'll keep a close eye on it... thank you."

Then it happened, out of the blue. Augustus looked at her, smiled, and suddenly his hands were wrapped tightly around her waist, he was pulling her closer, and then their lips brushed.

It tingled.