EDITING■The Ocean's Voice- A Mermaid Story

28 Recovery

Everyone was just thankful Kai was unconscious during the surgery. Pushing the arrows through her shoulder to remove them was a gruesome process...

Edmond's father and Edmond himself constructed a whole other part of the palace over the ocean for Kai's recovery. The suite was built on the ocean so the floor of the room was a pool of sea water, deep enough for mermaids to swim in. There was a carved out tunnel in the wall so mermaids swim in and out. The mer people placed four warriors at that entrance. The room was basically a high ceiling pool. Pathways went around one side of the bed so the nurses could check up on Kai. There was a path around the perimeter of the room so maids were able to clean up. Next to Kai's bed path was a patio with a table and chairs so people (mostly Edmond and his father) could visit.

Edmond and his father even took the time to plant sea plants on the floor of Kai's room as decorations to make her feel more at home. There was a sky light above Kai's bed. The bed was in the shape of a clam, with a mattress that was a wet sponge covered in pink silk to keep Kai hydrated. Even pillows were purple, yellow, and green sponge. The walls were sand colored.

On the wall across from Kai's bed there was a window almost taking up the whole wall, with curtains. This was so Kai and her mother could see the sunset over the ocean. A chandelier made of sea shells and coral hung in the center of the ceiling; it could be dimmed or turned bright. They had furniture sets made to be water proof. Above Kai's room there were nurses quarters so they could look after Kai 24/7. Next to the nurses rooms was a kitchen, to make sure the food was fresh.

"You really out done yourselves. " Pearl, Kai's mother, said to Caesar. "It's wonderful. "

This is usually how their conversations would begin.

"Why thank you. It was all Edmond really. He knows your daughter quite well."

The conversing of the two proud parents would end with the heavy silence of anticipation that hung in the air. Pearl and Caesar sat together as they watched Edmond with Kai. He was usually reading or writing the duet for the two of them as he waited patiently for her to wake up.
*****************************

One evening, after dinner, Edmond and Lady Pearl were alone in Kai's chambers. Edmond was reading aloud the story of Sleeping Beauty.

"She remembered that each of three good faries each gave her a gift. The princess was thankful. The gift of song, the gift of beauty, and the ability to weaken the curse of the evil-"

Kai's mother was listening intently but was nodding off in sleep. She let out a loud yawn.

Edmond chuckled. "Lady Pearl you may retire if you wish. I will stay up with Kai and keep her company."

"Would you? Oh you're a sweet young man, Prince Edmond."

I now know the slander from the truth. Pearl thought.

After seeing all the humans have done for her daughter, her heart began to soften peice by peice.

Edmond grinned as he looked down at his feet, a faint blush crept to his cheeks.

"Those faries weren't the wisest." Pearl added.

"Why do you say that?"

"Beauty and song? Those are not needed for good person, a good woman. They didn't give her wisdom or compassion."

"That is true." Edmond laughed.

"Realistically, Sleeping Beauty would have been a horrible girl! It is a real struggle to be a good person when life is handed to you on a silver plater. She would have been an arrogant-"