Opal Waters | ✔

- Chapter 5 -

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Chapter 5 - Unedited

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My heart leaps for joy as soon as we were able to head for the water. It seemed like all of the ceremonies were done. That water had risen another foot as it was taking over everything. Dancing around our toes as people begin taking off their necklaces. Placing them in their pockets with their clothes. Setting the clothes neatly on a pile on the ground everyone seemed to run for the water.

The waves crashing as they begin to fill with fins of all sorts of colors. Colors I've since realized mean different things. Green fins control earth, blue control the sea, yellow is everyone's happiness. But mine, my fin was silver... and I was the only one.

Sammy had always told me that it reminded her of the moon, so maybe there was something special that pulled me towards it. Maybe that's why I always desired the ocean so badly around this time of the month. When the moon was the highest, the brightest, it's most full shape.

"Let's go," Damien whispers as he begins to take his shirt off. I shook my head waiting for everyone else to break the surface of the water. My mind holding me back from the thought of having to swim around with over a hundred people. The classes have never been this full. Things were soon going to come crashing down, we didn't have the capacity to take these many new people in. But for some reason, we kept bringing them in. Kept housing them, feeding them, and everyone that was old enough would help out. Would get a job. Except I was never able to. No one would allow me to.

Every time I would try Sammy and Olyvya would tell me I already had a job. My job was to show the new students around. Help them get their sea-legs. Or in our case, control over their fins. I shook my head though realizing that I didn't have the same chances as everyone else. They would graduate and get to move on, but I would be forced to stay here...there was no getting out of here because they were scared of me. Scared of the powers I possessed.

"Opal are you sure you are okay?" Damien seemed actually concerned as he looked at me. I shook my head trying to push away all the thoughts about my life. All the reasons I hated everything around me. My life had become so dull. Go to school, go swimming, repeat. I would help with special projects but never anything that excited me.

"Yeah, let's go swimming," I smiled at Damien, hopefully, he wouldn't notice the internal conflict that was eating at my insides. I needed a change. Something that would help me grow out of my comfort zone. Something that I could really latch onto and feel like it was my own. I was always helping everyone else with what was important to them.

I slowly took off my dress, revealing everything I had to offer. I made a mental note to avoid looking at Damien in hopes he was doing the same. This was something I hated about being a mermaid. If you ever wanted to see your clothes again then you had to leave them on the beach. I'd lost many clothes throughout the years. It was growing too expensive to keep purchasing more.

Damien reached over, grabbing my hand as he smiled at me and we head into the waters. The liquid freezing as it kisses our skin and slowly our bodies begin to change, to morph into something inhuman. Something beautiful. I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of happiness knowing that no one had a fin like mine. But a part of me knew this would make it harder for me to hide. Harder for me to stay away from the crowds.

The transformation was quick once it started taking hold. Before I could really say anything else both Damien and I were pulled under the water as our arms stretched out in front of us helping guide us down towards the rocks on the bottom. The water got deep fairly quickly and as it did so the temperature continued to drop.

A slight shiver takes over as my skin forms an extra layer of skin to help keep me warm. I smile to myself mentally thanking my body for taking care of itself. Damien follows me as I lead him down to the bottom of the ocean. My hand dancing through the tiny fish rushing to get out of the way. I plucked one of the fish from its school before plopping it into my mouth quickly chomping down before it could squirm too much.

Damien shook his head as he caught up to me. His find was a bright gold that contrasted his rather than skin. His hair swirls in the water as the bottom gets closer. I grab one of the sea corals holding onto it tightly hoping it would break as I filled my lungs up with air. My body more buoyant than normal.

I smiled at Damien as I grabbed another fish. Chomping down on the fresh catch I watched as Damien squirms. This confused me though. Was he a new mermaid? Didn't he know how good they tasted when they were eaten just like this? Fresh still under the sea? I rolled my eyes before doing a spin. Allowing the water to flow over every muscle in my body. I was at my happiest when the water was surrounding me. I felt like I could do anything dancing on the bottom of the sea. Swimming a little further towards the depths of no return I watched carefully as Damien follows me.

Why was he following me so much?

I stopped once again looking at him to see what he would do. His hand reached for me, his grip just barely missing me as he swings with his other hand. Hooking me around the waist he pulls me closer to him. My baby hairs dancing gently around us as he pulled me even tighter into his chest. His eyes caught mine as he plants his lips on my gently at first before growing more passionately. Our lips dancing as the waves continue to swirl around us. 

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A U T H O R S      N O T E

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the fifth chapter of Opal Waters, it means the world to me. I really hope you enjoyed it and please do tell me your thoughts about it.

What do you think about the kiss?

What do you think about Damien?

Please don't forget to comment and vote. Also, check back tomorrow for the next chapter. Chapters are posted around 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

- Brittani

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