The Mermaid's Curse

Chapter One

Part I: The Other Side

Chapter One: Oceania – 1912

      The full moon rises, timeless and ancient, its pale white light illuminating the tips of the rising waves. It’s high tide, and the turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean crash over the rocks and onto the soft sand of the beach, washing away the sand castles built by sightseers earlier that day. 

      At least that’s what I’ve been told by my older sister Ula, who has ventured above water. I’ve never actually seen the beach, the waves, or much of the moon, for that matter—well, except the filmy half-light that filters through the layers of water to reach me in my safe home on the ocean floor. My parents say a mermaid’s place is underwater until she reaches age eighteen, at which time she’s finally mature enough to make the trek to the surface. 

      The ocean is as elemental as the moon; it is a force on its own, and cannot be stilled. I could never leave it permanently, but tonight at midnight, I turn eighteen, and can finally experience the world above. Naturally, I’m half-excited and half-terrified by the prospect.

      That’s why, even though it’s late, Ula and I are floating outside my parents’ little home among the rocks. Normally, she would be at her house, with her husband Nereus and their adorable five year-old mer-baby Doria, but tonight, she has made an exception.

      Ula pokes me on the arm, her eyes shining the same rich blue as the ocean’s depths. “Oceania,” she says. “It is time.”

      My stomach twists and wrenches like the body of a slippery eel, but I smile at her. She’s right, of course. Ula can gauge the hour by the angle of the sun or the moon, just by gazing up through the water. That’s her special talent—all of us mermaids have one, although I’m not sure what mine is yet. I’m hoping this will be revealed to me tonight, as I celebrate my newfound adulthood under the full moon.

      I widen my smile, the way I always do when things seem daunting and scary. My mother tells me that we can face anything with a smile. 

      Ula, however, rolls her eyes. “You’re grinning like a baby dolphin.” She places a stilling hand around my shoulders, which have begun to quiver with nerves. “Look,” she adds more softly, “I know it’s scary to venture to the surface for the first time. But it’s something you have to do.” Her eyes darken with intensity. “Only then will you discover your true place on earth—land or ocean.”

      “But c-c-can’t you come with me?” I hate myself for the way my voice shakes, but I just can’t help it. I look away from Ula’s face, focusing instead on a yellowfin tuna nearby—anything to prevent her from noticing that I’m ready to burst into tears.

      “No, I can’t,” Ula replies. “I’ve chosen the ocean, after all. And even if I could, why would you want that? I can’t hold your hand through this. You have to do it yourself.”

      I twist a section of my fine, wavy hair, trying to occupy my anxious hands. “Okay.” I emit a high-pitched giggle, and the little tuna fish scuttles away in alarm.

      Ula’s lips have quirked upwards in a half-smile. “I love you, little sister. Now go.” With a quick kiss on the cheek, she shoves me toward the surface. 

      There’s no turning back now. Guided by the light of the moon, I use my strong tail and arms to propel myself away from my family’s home on the ocean floor, and toward the other side: the strange and foreign realm beyond.

End Chapter One

      Thank you so much for reading The Mermaid’s Curse. I would love to hear your feedback, and if you liked it, be sure to give me a vote. :) If you’re curious about Oceania’s adventures on land, never fear--I will post Chapter Two soon!

      Want to read the entire book? It’s available on Amazon Kindle for only 99 cents! http://www.amazon.com/Mermaids-Curse-California-Book-ebook/dp/B00OV2DIMU/