Fins (Transformations: Book 2)
Chapter 4

“Any luck?” Freya asked as she reunited with Idun after searching the beach.

The dryad shook her head. “She wouldn’t have gone home, would she?”

“Not without telling me.” Freya was getting nervous that something might have happened to Aria.

Idun gave her a sympathetic look. “Let’s head back to the party. Maybe, she went there while we were gone, so we didn’t see her.”

Freya nodded and led the way without a word, hoping Idun was right.

Aria and Alizarin sat in stony silence for several minutes before she finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Doesn’t it bother you to go around kidnapping people just because your princess says so?”

“I follow her orders, whatever they may be,” he replied, simply, “She wishes to have you out of the way for a few minutes, so we are here.”

“And none of the bothers you?” she pushed, “You’re fine just doing as your told?”

“I am a servant,” he pointed out, “It’s not my place to argue.”

“Right.” Aria sighed as she thought about what Freya told her about the boy. “It must be hard, having to be a servant to the people who were supposed to raise you.”

“You been gathering information, I see,” he commented without emotion.

Aria shrugged. “I was curious about you. Can you blame me?”

“You wanted to know about the person who attacked you, I suppose. That would make sense.”

Aria shook her head. “It’s not just that. I know I probably startled you that night. You’ve had to look out for yourself a lot, haven’t you? It’s only natural that you would be suspicious of people who approach you in the dark.”

“That is not a justification,” he pointed out.

“No, but you already apologized, so it’s fine, either way,” she assured him.

“I didn’t apologize,” he argued, “You still snuck up on me, so it’s your own fault.”

“Right.” Aria smiled a little. “So do you really follow every order the princess gives?”

“Always,” he answered.

Aria frowned as she thought about that. “So, if she told you to kill me…”

“She would not do that,” he promised, “You think poorly of her, but she is not so mad as to have a girl killed off just for flirting with the prince.”

“She did try to drown me, once,” Aria pointed out.

“She wasn’t trying to kill you,” he assured her, “She just wanted to make a point and scare you a little. It’s your own fault for pretending to be a mermaid.”

“That was an accident,” she argued, “Well, mostly and accident. It’s complicated and that still doesn’t give her the right to try and drown me.”

“As I said, she just wanted to scare you,” he replied, “It’s true that she can be like a child, throwing a tantrum, at times, but she is no murderer.”

Aria couldn’t help smiling at him. “A child throwing a tantrum?”

“I shouldn’t have said that.” He looked away from her, quickly. “Please, forget it.”

“But it is accurate,” Aria pointed out, “Of course, I wouldn’t tell anyone you said it. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with the princess.” She considered him for a moment. “It’s a shame you have to serve someone like her.”

“You should not speak about things you don’t understand,” he warned.

“Sorry.” She offered him another smile. “You know, if you became a human, permanently, you could get away from all of that.”

“I will not abandon my duties,” he replied, quickly.

“Do you really feel like you owe them so much?” she wondered.

“You heard some rumors and think you know everything, but you understand nothing,” he told her, “Do not try to tell me what I should do or feel based on what you’ve heard about me.”

Aria stared at him for a moment and nodded her understanding. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess I really can’t understand what you’re going through.”

“It’s fine,” he assured her, “There is no need to discuss it further.”

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Aria looked at him, again. “You think it would be possible for us to be friends?”

He gave her a blank stare. “Friends?”

Aria shrugged. “You seem to be a decent guy and I’m not very good at making friends. I figured we might be able to be friends.”

“I don’t think so,” he told her, “I serve the Glemoran princess, whom you have made an enemy. It would not be right for me to befriend you after that.”

“You can’t base every decision on what Sapphira wants,” Aria replied, “You have to be able to make your own decisions sometimes.”

“I have decided to obey the princess, whatever her orders may be.”

Aria considered the answer for a moment. “That’s not really what I meant, but whatever.” She realized there was probably no way to get through to him. He’d been raised a certain way and she couldn’t just undo that with one conversation.

“Hey, do you have any idea where Aria went?” Freya asked Kai once they were inside.

He shook his head and looked around. “She said she wanted to take a walk, but she would be back.” He looked at Sapphira. “Did you see which way she went?”

“No,” she replied, firmly.

Freya stared at the mermaid for a moment. “You know where she is, don’t you?”

“Of course not. She’s of little interest to me,” Sapphira told her.

“You forget that I am an ocean nymph,” Freya pointed out, taking a step closer, “I can sense things about merfolk and, right now, I sense that you are lying to me, which is never a good idea.”

Sapphira frown at the nymph for a minute, then gave an exasperated sigh. “Fine. She’s not hurt. I just wanted a minute alone with my fiancé. Is that too much to ask?”

“Just tell us where she is,” Kai ordered, losing any of the kinder thoughts he’d gained about the princess. He was reminded that she was still a petty, self-absorbed Glemoran, even if they’d had one decent conversation.

Sapphira shrugged and led the way out. “You don’t need to worry so much. She’s perfectly safe.”

“Where is she?” Kai demanded, “How did you even manage to get her away from the party?” When the princess was silent for a minute, he managed to piece it together. “Your shadow.”

“He was acting on my orders,” Sapphira explained, “She will not be harmed.”

“Just hurry and take us to her,” he commanded as he and Freya followed Sapphira down the beach.

“So what do you do for fun?” Aria asked, trying to replace a safer topic to discuss.

“Fun?” he repeated.

“That things you have when you do something you enjoy,” Aria said, “You do have fun, right?”

Before he could answer, the shed door opened from the outside to reveal Kai, Freya and Sapphira. Kai immediately yank Alizarin up and shoved him against the wall of the shed. “How dare you lay a hand on her again!”

Aria jumped up in surprise as Freya rushed to her side, looking concerned. “Are you okay?”

Aria nodded. “I’m fine.” She looked at Kai and spoke more loudly, “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” Kai continued to glare at Alizarin, who was putting up no fight as he was pinned against the wall. Aria walked over and took Kai’s arm. “You don’t need to worry so much. Besides, he was only following an order. If you’re going to be mad, get mad at Sapphira.”

Kai’s glare never faltered, even as he begrudgingly released Alizarin. “Come near her again and I’ll make you regret it.”

Alizarin gave no response to that. “Are we finished here, princess?”

Sapphira nodded. “Let’s go.” She led him away from the rest of the group, never bothering to even glance at Aria.

“Are you really okay?” Kai asked as he looked at Aria.

She offered him a smile and nodded. “He wasn’t violent. He just did as he was told.”

“You have to be careful around him,” Kai warned, “He’s a Glemoran and, worse, a red-tail. He’s dangerous and can’t be trusted.”

Aria stared at him for a minute. “I don’t get how having a red tail makes a person dangerous.”

Kai shrugged. “It’s just the way they are. Some people think it has to do with who they would have been, had they been born. Whatever the reason, red-tails are known to be more violent. You’ve had to deal with his unwarranted attacks twice, now, haven’t you?”

“The first time, I startled him and he apologized…more or less…and this time he didn’t really attack me.” She paused as she remembered that he had basically kidnapped her. “Well, he was acting on orders. How can you accuse him of being violent, but not Sapphira? She’s the one who told him what to do.”

“He didn’t have to obey,” Kai pointed out, “Attacking someone without cause, even a land girl, could get him into trouble, regardless of his orders, so he should have refused.”

Aria was dumbfounded by his words. She looked at Freya. “Could he really get in trouble for this?”

The nymph frowned, but nodded. “If the king and queen replace out, he will likely be punished.”

“As he should be,” Kai stated.

“You can’t tell them.” Aria looked at him. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone. He doesn’t deserve to be punished for following orders.”

“Aria, you have a soft heart, but you need to understand how these things work,” Kai told her.

“Promise me,” Aria commanded, “If your pretty words mean anything, do this for me. Keep tonight’s incidents a secret. Never talk about them again.”

Kai stared at her, blankly for a few seconds before he responded, “If that is truly your wish, I will respect it.”

“Thank you.” Aria breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Freya, again. “Can we go home, now? I feel like I’m about to collapse.”

“Of course.” Freya put an arm around the girl and led her away. “I think we’ve both had enough excitement for one night.”

“Did things go as planned, princess?” Alizarin asked as he walked with Sapphira.

“Not really,” she admitted, “That nymph showed up looking for the land girl. What makes her so special, anyway? Everybody seems to be falling over themselves to look after her.”

“You have plenty of people who would do the same for you,” he tried to assure her.

“Because I am a princess,” she replied, “Most of them don’t like anything about me except my title.”

“Is it your wish to be liked?” he wondered.

Sapphira paused as she considered that. “Do you like me, Alizarin?”

“You are my princess,” he answered, “I live to serve you.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she told him, thinking for a moment, “You could get in trouble for what you did tonight.”

“Only if she tells someone,” he pointed out, “and I don’t think she will.”

Sapphira frowned as she looked at him. “Why is that?”

“They’ll have told her the consequences,” he replied, “I don’t believe she wants anyone to be hurt, even me. After all, she doesn’t understand our customs.”

“Does she strike you as such a kind person?” she wondered.

Alizarin shrugged. “She spoke kindly to me.”

“Did she?” Sapphira considered that. “Do you wish you hadn’t been forced to be rough with her?”

“I did my best not to hurt her,” he replied, “Besides, I was not forced. I choose to follow your orders, as I always have.”

Sapphira took a moment to phrase her next question. “Are you mad at me for giving you that order tonight?”

“Are you mad that I failed to give you what you want?” he countered.

“Just give me a straight answer,” she commanded, “or else, I will be troubled.”

“I could not be angry about any order you give,” he assured her, “You may give me any command you wish and I will follow it without argument, as you well know.”

“I know,” she admitted, “but it would be perfectly understandable if you hated me for it.”

“Do you hate yourself, princess?” he wondered.

She smiled and shook her head. “What’s to hate?” She turned to face him and clasped her hands behind her back. “Hey, let’s go see if that dryad will buy us food, again. I want to eat more pie.”

“I’m surprised you would replace a human thing so enjoyable,” he commented.

“I guess it may not seem fitting for the Glemoran princess,” she agreed, “but you won’t judge me, right?”

“Never, princess,” he promised, “It would not be my place.”

Eric heard a knock on the door, late that evening, after he had already gotten changed to go to bed. He opened it to replace Adam, standing outside. For a moment, he just stared at the assistant in confusion. “How do you know where I live?”

“I read your personnel file,” he replied, casually, “Now, get dressed. We’re going out.”

“Out where?” Eric wondered, although, he headed to his room to change, “Come on in, by the way.” He decided not to address the issue with Adam reading his file. He figured he’d have seen it when hiring him, anyway.

Adam stepped inside, but didn’t bother closing the door. “I’m taking you out. We can grab a drink or something. I’m just tired of seeing you mope around the office. You can’t spend your whole life pining over that girl. Just watching you is depressing.”

“I’m sorry my romantic issues are causing trouble for you,” Eric called as he threw on some clothes, “But, if you’re trying to force me to meet someone else, you’re wasting your time. Aria and I are just on a break. It’s not like the relationship is totally over.”

“Whatever you say,” Adam answered, agreeably, “We’re still going out for a drink.”

“I’m nineteen,” Eric reminded him, “I can’t drink.”

“I know a place that doesn’t card,” Adam assured him, “Are you ready to go?”

Eric stepped out in some decent clothes that might have been nicer if they weren’t in need of ironing. “I don’t really drink and we have work in the morning.”

“You don’t have to drink,” Adam promised, “Just come out with me or you may die alone and you certainly won’t be any fun to work with.”

“That’s only a concern to you,” Eric told him as he followed the older boy out, “Besides, I’m doing fine. Just because Aria needs some space, that doesn’t mean I’m going to have a break down, you know.”

“Whatever you say,” Adam repeated as they headed out.

“Are you really okay?” Freya asked as they entered their apartment.

Aria nodded. “He wasn’t all that rough. He got me into the shed and we just sat there for a little while. He didn’t seem to want to hurt me.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” Freya pointed out, but it was a weak argument, at best.

“I know everybody’s afraid, but he just seems kind of lonely to me. I mean, he never seems to hang around anyone beside Sapphira and she can’t be very good company.”

“Be careful not to get too close to him,” Freya warned, “Even if he doesn’t seem so bad, the people around him are dangerous and it’s clear he’ll follow any order he’s given by the princess.”

“It seems like he could use a friend,” Aria pointed out, “and Sapphira doesn’t scare me.”

“Her parents should,” Freya promised her, “The king and queen of Glemora are not to be trifled with.”

Aria frowned as she thought about that. “He won’t be hurt, right? As long as Kai and I don’t say anything, Alizarin will be okay, right?”

Freya nodded, although, she was uncertain. “As long as Kai keeps his mouth shut, everything will be fine.”

Aria paused at that. “Do you really believe Kai will keep it a secret? He seemed pretty angry earlier.”

“He lost his temper, but he made you a promise and I’m sure he will keep it,” Freya said.

“Right,” Aria agreed, speaking half to herself, “I’m sure you’re right.”

“One drink isn’t going to kill you,” Adam insisted.

“I don’t drink,” Eric told him, “I’m too young and we have work tomorrow.”

“You’re so dull,” Adam handed him a shot of something clear and unpleasant-smelling, “Just one drink and I’ll let you go.”

Eric sighed and took the shot, wrinkling his nose at the smell. “Just one drink?”

“Just one,” Adam agreed.

Eric held his breath as he dumped the contents down his throat, coughing as he barely managed to keep it down. “I don’t even want to know what that was.”

“Smart man,” Adam told him with a smile, “Now, go replace yourself a pretty girl to chat up.”

“I’m not interested in that,” Eric said, firmly.

“Look, you’re on a break, so you’re basically unattached for now,” Adam pointed out, “You may as well enjoy it. Get some craziness out of your system, then, if you and the little mermaid end up together, you won’t ever have to wonder what else might have been out there.”

Eric felt flush and had some trouble focusing on his words. “I need…air.” He made his way to the door, carefully.

“Light weight,” Adam called after him, but he got distracted by a nearby brunette and didn’t follow.

Eric managed to get outside the bar and eagerly sucked in the cool, night air. He looked up at the full moon, trying to remember if it was always that shape. He walked down the beach, watching his feet to make sure he didn’t stumble, and ran right into somebody who was just standing there. “Sorry.” He looked up at a dark-haired girl in a white dress. She looked like she had stepped out of a dream and Eric vaguely wondered if he had passed out.

She offered him a smile. “It’s okay. I was the one standing around, distracted. I was just enjoying the feeling of the water on my toes.”

He nodded, dumbly.

She continued to smile. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” he assured her, feeling like he should say something else, “and I’m Eric.”

She giggled. “It’s nice to meet you, Eric. I’m Angela.”