achromatic (ˌækrəˈmætɪk)
-adj
1. without colour.
"The day held an achromatic gloom."

[0] Prologue

Tonight was the night Will was going jump into the Moon Pool in a desperate attempt to get a tail of his own, and a thousand different outcomes were racing through Rikki's head.

She imagined the phone call she was most likely going to get in the morning when Will awoke, fully human and disappointed beyond belief. She imagined Will getting his wish and, by some miracle, growing a tail. She imagined Will submerged in the Moon Pool, illuminated by moonlight, the water still as a stone — no trace of magic left. There were a thousand and one different ways the night could've ended. . .

Lewis was never supposed to be part of the equation. He was supposed to be back at his apartment, working on that stupid research paper he was so obsessed with.

Not here. Not with her and Will.

Rikki's first thought when Lewis came tumbling into the cave was that something must have happened with Bella and Cleo, because why else would he be there? —but there was something about the look on Lewis's face that told Rikki this had nothing to do with Bella and Cleo. It was a gut feeling, more than anything, that told her this was a personal matter.

"What the hell are you two doing out here?" Lewis asked, exasperated. "Are you looking for trouble? Seriously? Have you forgotten that tonight is the full moon?"

Rikki folded her arms across her chest. "We're handling ourselves just fine, Lewis."

"What are you doing?" Lewis asked again, persistent.

"I want to be like them." Will said, the desperation clear in his voice.

Lewis blinked, the information not quite registering. "Like them?"

"A mermaid." Rikki said. "Well, merman, I guess."

Lewis knitted his eyebrows together and looked at Will in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

Will nodded. "Completely."

"You're going to have to live in fear for the rest of your life, Will." Lewis said, taking a step toward Will. "Fear of your secret being found out, fear of getting wet — fear of the rain, Will. You can never enter another diving competition. You can never swim with your sister again. You're going to have to lie to your family and to your friends for the rest of your life. I get that the whole merperson thing is appealing, I do, but, seriously? You can't really be considering this."

"I do not live in fear. I can take care of myself, Lewis. It isn't that hard to avoid water." Rikki said, defensive, despite the fact she knew she was lying. Water was everywhere, the threat of exposure looming constantly over her like an ominous presence, but she couldn't let Lewis know that. "Me and Bella and Cleo have done just fine so far. Without your help, might I add."

Lewis laughed, dry and humourless. "Oh really? I can't count the times I've had to come rescue you and the girls because you nearly got yourself caught! Dr. Denman? Does that name ring a bell? Jesus fuck, and now you're trying to pull Will into this mess too? That isn't fair, Rikki. Not to Will. Don't let him do this."

"Hello? Still here!" Will said, gesturing with his hands to get Lewis and Rikki's attention. "I know everything I'm risking, Lewis. But I've been thinking about this for weeks, okay? I've made my decision. I want to be like them."

"You heard him," Rikki said, voice clipped. "So you can leave now."

Lewis shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving." He looked back at Will. "Will, listen to me. For almost four years now I've had to watch their backs. We've had more close calls than I can remember. Don't do this to yourself."

A sliver of moonlight suddenly beamed down from above, causing the Moon Pool to start bubbling.

"It's almost time." Rikki said.

Will's heart raced, threatening to beat right out of his chest. "What do I do?"

Rikki inhaled a shaky breath, nervous. It was now or never. "Just jump in. Go, now!"

What happened next seemed to go in slow motion.

Will took a step back in preparation to dive, but before he could leap into the water Lewis grabbed his arm and yanked him backward. Will twisted in his grip and tried to push him off, but Lewis was stronger — stouter — than he looked. The two grappled for a moment before Will's sandal slid against the slick rock and out from underneath him — - sending the both of them sailing into the bubbling Moon Pool.


a/n: chapter written by when the tide comes in.
oh, and a quick note: this is not a rewrite. mimmie and myself have decided to change the story completely.
leave your thoughts in a review, please. :)