RIPPLE

{Two}

Song: Octopus's Garden - They Beatles

{P.S. I finally did a thing and made a banner}

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I knew where I'd find my younger sister.

       Although it was getting dark out, Aquamarine would be at Titanic's shipwreck. She loved to explore it's insides and see the rooms, the old decor of a human ship they claimed to be unsinkable. It was a massive cruise liner that was shroud in almost-darkness, and I found Aqua on the deck instead of the ballroom.

       Aquamarine was just that. Aqua. The light shade of blue matched her eyes, her clam bra and her scaly tale. Aquamarine never dared to explore the surface but she will explore every shipwreck and every part of the ocean she could. Aqua lacked her usual chipperness. A flower crown made from white and red roses was woven into her white-blonde curls. No give backs. Merrick is all yours. Aqua teases, and I can tell her playful smile is slightly hurt. She wanted this more than I do. She gazed longingly at mom's necklace that now belonged to me, turning away from me so I couldn't see her expression.

       Tell me the real reason you passed the crown to me, Aqua. It was all I wanted to know. She wouldn't give it up just because dad asked her to. She wanted to follow in mom's footsteps since she was a girl.

       To keep you away from their world. Duh, Nerissa.

       I grab her arm so she has to face me, the real reason.

       How do I know you can keep my secrets? Aqua tempts. Us sisters aren't very good at keeping secrets -- at least, the other six aren't. I frown. Aqua sighs. Rylan and I are leaving Atlantis, Ris. There's a mermaid sanctuary near Australia, and we're leaving the day before you marry.

       Unless I don't marry at all. I scowl. My sister fell in love with a palace servant, Rylan, a taboo topic to my father. They're going off on a whim to a sanctuary that may or may not exist to be together. Isn't running away together a little . . . cliche? Anger churns through my veins. You damned me so you can live happily ever after?

       Guilt washes over Aqua's face. We don't get any happily ever after, Ris.

        You'll risk your life for love? I demand, and even Aqua can tell how stupid she's being. But she doesn't care. She'll sacrifice anything to get the life she wants. Didn't our father question why she gave up the throne so easily? For some servant boy? For some place that may not even exist? You're putting yourself in danger, Aqua. Be smart about this. Stay here. Tell dad the truth.

       And risk Rylan's job? His family? Don't be stupid, Rissa. Dad would never accept someone like him, and this is our only chance to get out of this place.

       I hope a net catches you both, I hadn't meant to say it out loud to her. But it escaped my thoughts faster than I meant it to. Aqua's features are overcome with hurt, but I don't care. She sacrificed my future for hers. She's going to leave the only home she's ever known.

         Night has fallen upon Atlantis, and although it still remains a bustling and beautiful shimmering city, I can't stand to be near the shipwreck, my father, or my other six sisters, each as stupid as the last.

       Glimmer was next in line after me. But there was no way I could pass this responsibility onto her.

        Although I promised my father I would stay away from their world, I feel myself drifting up up up towards the surface. The anger is still fresh and hot in my veins, and I'm happy the blue of the ocean is finally gone. The darkness is something I blend in well with, and I swim in the single ray from the moonlight, following it until I burst through the water, gasping for a breath although I know I don't need to.