Chapter four

"Oh wasn't that a most splendid night?!" Adella cried blissfully as she stretched her arms above her and spun around the room. The rest of us just laughed and sighed contentedly as we began to pull off our bracelets, necklaces, and other glittering bobbles. I reluctantly changed out of my beautiful golden shells and placed them carefully back into Adella's trunk. I smiled as I began to undo my hair and pull the pearls from the long strands, thinking amiably about the events that had just transpired. A pleasured sigh escaped my lips as I recalled the way Dagan's eyes had looked at me and how his voice had deepened when he said my name. I consciously caressed the spot where his lips had touched my hand and bit my tongue to keep from laughing aloud.

My other sisters were also rather quiet as they contemplated the ball and the exciting moments each of them had experienced.

My sister Aquata was especially thoughtful for tonight she had received two requests to be called upon later this week. Unfortunately, because she was the heir to the throne, sometimes her admirations weren't always spoken out of love for her person alone. Perhaps that was the reason she was always a little wary when attending large events like the ball.

Adrina and Adella were speaking in hushed tones – along with an occasional shared giggle or two – while they brushed their hair and readied for bed. Attina was finished with her own toilet and was now snuggled up in her favorite coral fan chair with her newest novel. Alana sat close by, stroking and feeding her newly-found pet butterfly fish.

I soon also finished changing but instead of heading for bed, I left my tired sisters and swam towards the royal stables.

I heard Midnight's squeals before I even saw him. "Hello, my darling." I said softly as to not disturb the rest of the seahorses or any other castle inhabitants.

Midnight whinnied in reply and nuzzled my hand, looking for a treat. "I'm sorry…I don't have anything for you tonight." I said sadly, stroking his long, knobby snout.

I leaned close to his dark blue cheek and whispered. "Ready for our ride?" An excited squeal was his answer.

I laughed and reached around him to secure the saddle and bridle. His wide eyes darted from his gate towards the stable door and his squeals became more and more excited until finally I opened the large gate and mounted him.

I held tight on the reigns to keep him from just bursting out of the stables until finally the castle walls were out of sight. Then I brought Midnight to a standstill at the top of a large sand hill where the sea bottom stretched out before us for at least five miles. The moonlight streamed down from the surface above us and reached its eerie arms down to touch the sea-swept ground and illuminate the tufts of softly-waving anemone on either side of me.

This was by far my most favorite part of the night…the time when everything is quiet and asleep…when the only source of light is the gentle moon…and when the only thought running though my head is just how wonderful and wild I'll be feeling very soon.

Thus, I loosened the tough reigns, hunched forward in my seat and clicked my tongue twice.

In the next instant, my hair was flowing freely behind me, the water was rushing past my face in flurries of bubbles and speeding currents, and my entire body was lifted in a weightless bliss without my even moving a muscle. Freedom. That's what this was. Beautiful, marvelous, breathtaking freedom.