I've been reading a few mermaid books, Real Mermaids don't wear toe rings, Undercurrent, Tempest Rising, and Fins. I got inspired to write my own story. This is going to be a modern retelling of The Little Mermaid with a twist. I thought instead of always having the mother be mermaid I thought having the dad be merman would it more interesting. Alani's mother.

I'm trying to come up with good mermaid and merman names. Merman names more though. Ideas welcome. I'm thinking of having Ursula as Triton's brother. We'll see.

This isn't based of the Disney version so no confusion.

Chapter 1:

"Come on Alani, what's taking so long?" Mom called from the other side of the bathroom door.

I didn't move from where I stood at the sink. I couldn't seem to breathe right and of all the things—I was craving salt. Not the kind where you craved salty snacks but actual salt. It was such a strong need I almost dumped the bath salts into my mouth which was on the side of the tub.

What on earth was wrong with me?

I gasped air into my starving lungs but no matter how many times I gulped air it wasn't enough. My lungs were on fire.

"Mom!" I croaked as my legs wobbled and I let myself slide clumsily to the floor. The bathroom door opened and Mom came in quickly. She paled two shades lighter than her already pale complexion.

"Help me, I can't breathe," I gasped, clutching my burning throat.

She looked to be in shock and then shook her head hard as if to snap out of a daze. She began to mumble, "Salt….I knew this going to happen….Triton…."

"What's going on?" I choked but she didn't answer and simply disappeared out of the bathroom. When she came back she held a tall glass of murky water.

"Drink this quickly," she shoved it into my quivering hands.

I shakily put it to my lips and chugged it down. It was salt water? Without question I drained it and immediately began feeling normal. "How?" I asked.

Mom didn't look at me. I knew by her expression I wasn't getting my answer of why she gave me the salt water and had known I needed it.

For one thing, I knew something was wrong with me and she wouldn't tell me what. I knew it wasn't normal.

I always knew I wasn't normal. My skin was so white people always asked if I was albino despite my wild curly red hair and green eyes. I was so white I glowed blue in the water. I didn't know where I got such pale skin but I definitely got my hair and eyes from my mom. I never met my dad. If I did I don't remember because I was too young to remember.

I had such a weird obsession with shells and treasure hunting. Treasure usually being things people forgot at Atlantic Beach but sometimes jewelry could be found or other more valuable things. I loved playing with metal detectors. But…most of all I loved the ocean.

Sometimes I wished I was a fish. The ocean just seems a much more exciting world than land.

Maybe these were normal but I certainly didn't feel normal. Especially now after what had happened. Most people would have said I experienced an asthma attack but I knew better. The salt and breathing went together somehow. I just knew it. I could feel it. I was going to get answers. I was determined to find out what was going on. It definitely wasn't normal and neither was I.

Review and ideas anyone?