Celeste

13.

My bed felt strangely soft and cool this morning. I wondered if Gloria had opted for the satin sheets, or if she had forgotten to put in the bed warming pan last night.

I mused, stretching my arms in a wide arc as I sat up, eyes still closed against the early morning light, that I quite liked the bed like this.

And then I opened my eyes to a curious jellyfish inches from my face.
I did the only thing I could think of. I screamed.

Then it all came back to me in a rush of information. The jellyfish backed off, through the gap in the rippling curtains. I watched it go with curiosity, as it seemingly propelled itself, with a ballooning movement.

I had never seen anything like it. I reached, using my tail in a snakes coil to lift myself so I could reach the curtain, pulling it so I could see the room again.

It hadn't changed much, but it must've been changed slightly, as more strange creatures were let in, floating past in a row, headed for another hole high in the ceiling where they promptly disappeared.

I noticed curled poles sticking out of the soft floor, like handrails. I reached for one, using it to pull myself out of the corner where I slept.
The iron poles were stuck into the smooth rock wall, leading up like a ladder. I began to float in that direction, pulling myself along with uncertain movements.

I watched the mosaics on the wall as I got closer. They seemed to show a world map, of sorts. I had seen my fathers maps on the wall often enough, with a red flag for every pirate ship taken down. I had seen an atlas on his desktop, and remembered the beautiful swirling script of far off places. like India, Antarctica, and China.

But this map was different. The creator had used the glass to create the land in simple glass, but the sea was covered in hotspots of colour, reds, greens, yellows and blues. Carved into the rock was names. City of light, read one. Hunting grounds, read another. I stared at one name for a while, Atlantis.

I stared at it for a moment before continuing upwards, like a ladder without gravity, only by holding myself close to it I could stop from turning sideways. There were starfish lounging here, glowing against the dark rock. I had only seen them at beaches, in the shade of boulders against the spray of the sea.

I poked them as a child, squealing at the strange texture and at the way they reacted when I did so.

These were different, almost more predatory then the ones I saw on land. They had long hooks curved against their limbs. I don't think I'll touch these... I thought to myself, moving upwards, following the glowing shifting trails that came off the jellyfish. I took heed to Mitch's word, and kept my distance.

I was thankful for the light as I entered the tunnel, and the handrails too, as the tunnel was dark and twisted upwards. I followed as best as I could, but my new tail felt more of a burden, dragging against the rocks and leaning the wrong way, too close to the wavy threads of the jellyfish.

I found this out when a sharp sting made its mark on my tail. It was akin to a bee sting, but lasted longer and was stronger. Shock made stiffen, wincing at the sudden pain.

I clung onto the rail, holding myself as close to it as I could. The sensation melted away after a while and I eyes the jellyfish with new eyes, narrowed in suspicion.

I decided to retreat back to the original room, keeping a clear distance from the glowing threads weaving behind the transparent creatures.

When I got back into the room again, I noticed a figure tracing the map. At my angle I couldn't see what they were tracing, but by the crown of red on her brow I knew who it was imedietly.

"Hello" I said as politely as I could. She snapped her head in my direction instantly, dropping her hand from the tiles like it was hot. Her face relaxed as she saw me.

"Ah. Celeste. I thought the girls took you to the athletic room to learn." She said.

I moved closer into the room, rightening myself as I did so.
"I wondered what was up there. The er, jelly... Fish seemed interested. They move oddly." I explained, lowering myself to her level.

Her brow creased. "You've never seen a jellyfish?"

I blushed in embarrassment. "...no. I saw a picture when I was little, but never knew what they were called. Mr Addison kicked me out of the library."

"Why would he do that?"

"Where I come from, women don't do much except marry and have children."

Ruby looked in thought, "when I was a child my mother taught me from the library. Women were allowed." A brief smile slides across her face. Gone in an instant. "Anyway, let us go to the agility room. You can't use the poles forever."

I followed her through the tunnels again, admiring the fluidity of her tail as she sped ahead.

By the time we got there my arms were hurting, alongside bumps and bruises on my tail

The agility room consisted of no poles at all, with hoops of iron and long looping curls of ribbon.

She swam close to me again.
"The water is heaviest here. It is best for learning." She took my arm and gently led me up towards a knotted ribbon pulled taunt across the room. I held on.

She was right. It was almost like a magnet pulling me down and creating a dip in the ribbon.

Ruby's voice echoes "there are only a few rules for swimming. Rule one. Keep your tail moving."

I did as she asked, gingerly moving the reflective tail to and fro. The pressure on the ribbon lessened.

She nodded. "Rule two. Use your fins."

I gently flared out the transparent fins out as best I could. It reminded me of trying to wriggle ears or kneecaps like Tommy wrent used to do in elementary school.

I began to get into a rhythm. The ribbon was straining upward now slightly, wiggling at very swish I made.

Her voice echoes again.
"Rule three. Never be afraid to let go."

I faltered in my routine slightly.

Then, I uncurled my grip from the ribbon.