Melody

"Melody!" My mom wraps her arms around me when Jim lands on the balcony and my father joins her. My mom holds my shoulders and inspects me from my toes up, "Are you alright sweetheart? Did they hurt you?"

I remove her strong, worried grip with a wince. Merpeople tended to have muscular upper bodies, not as powerful as the tail but it didn't feel good when she was upset. In fact, when my mother was a mermaid, she could probably arm wrestle my father and win half the rounds. Jim hangs back and fiddles with the sail on his solarsurfer.

"I'm okay. Sorry for ruining the party." We were on my parents' private deck leading to their bedroom.

"Don't even worry about that. We're so glad you're back." My parents hug me again and I couldn't be happier to see them. Mom squeezes my dad's hand, "You can probably call the alarm off Eric."

"That would be a good idea. Don't want anyone else lost at sea. I'll be back in just one minute." He tentatively leaves, worried that I either might not be real or here when he returns.

"Let's get you something to eat Melody, you must be hungry."

"Mom, really, I'm fine."

"Let me get Carlotta."

With her arm around me, Mom leads me inside to sit on the couch. Still within sight, she calls out in the hallway to the staff.

"Where do you think you're going?" I beckon Jim to come in when I see him readjusting his solarsurfer for take-off again. He enters hesitantly.

Quickly wrapping a blanket over my shoulders, mom rubs my back when she returns from the doorway. Jim leans uncomfortably against the patio door frame and I think of his mother. Mom suddenly notices his presence.

"I'm sorry, how rude of me. You must be James. Here have a seat, both of you must be exhausted." She pats the couch where we're sitting, mom watching me like a hawk while I eat an apple left here.

"I don't want to intrude…"

"Please. As queen, I demand you have a seat young man."

"Yes your majesty."

He carefully sits down, all rigid posture and graces while I sink into the couch with a grateful sigh.

"You saved my daughter Captain Hawkins. I think we can skip formality. Though, I don't think we have officially met. I'm Ariel." He nods and she shakes his hand.

"Jim."

My dad rejoins us accompanied by Carlotta, who was bearing all kinds of soup and snacks. My stomach growls loudly in agreement. Everyone else missed it but when I glance over at him, Jim tries to restrain his grin. Carlotta hugs me and exits to go tell the rest of the staff that I had returned.

"What happened?" My mom closes the door behind her.

"Yes, how did you rescue Melody, captain?"

Smiling, he relaxes a tiny bit, "I only assisted. Mel basically escaped by herself. And she stole a piece of information that helps to put the puzzle together. Here sir, you had better take a look."

Dad unconsciously strokes his beard in thought as he scans it. My mom stands over his shoulder and her eyes widen. She leans down and whispers the translation in my father's ear. His eyebrows slowly rise up and disappear under his hair.

"See sir, Melody told me that she is all of those things except born of sea and shore."

I watch my mother for assistance. Should we tell him?

Mother quickly configures an answer, "Melody was born on a ship that was docking at the time."

Oddly, I was disappointed. I didn't want to keep secrets from Jim. All the people knew about mermaids except they would forget if they tried to write it, speak it, or any form of communication. Grandfather put a spell on all of them so people wouldn't hunt for mermaids or reveal information if they were tortured.

"She's the key to whatever they're looking for. It won't take long for Greaves to notice that the map is missing, he'll be steaming livid. Not that it matters because he already knows the inscription. Since he took it to get decoded in different quadrants of the galaxy the information is already leaked and it won't be long until more pirates come in. Melody is the solution to this and I need to figure it out before they get desperate and try to take her again. You'll need a guardian Melody. King Eric, I suggest that you get your best men and pick one of them."

Dad studies Jim, "You saved my daughter today using wits, creativity, bravery, and strength. I think I found my man."

Jim and I both protest. It's not that I didn't enjoy his company but he would be so sick of me if we were together 24/7 and as for his reasons? I had no idea.

"Just listen before you say anything. My Mel can help you. It's not that I doubt my men, they're good soldiers. But they haven't ever dealt with space pirates. You fit the bill, you're a smart quick-thinker, honest, intuitive, and have the technology. I underestimated these people and you tried to correct me. Ariel?"

"I agree with you Eric."

"Sir, you don't even know me that well. Why would you choose me?"

"I read your file Jim. You're a good man."

"How can you be sure?"

My mom stares him straight in the eyes, "I know this is a lot of responsibility. But I have a good feeling about you James Hawkins. I'm rarely wrong about these things." Her magic was solely based on people's souls and moral compasses. Mom told me one night that she knew that going to Ursula was wrong but she was desperate. And if mom hadn't judged my dad right, she would probably be dead for putting faith in a man who wasn't good.

Not that my mom was a sea witch, she had inherited magic because we were royalty in Atlantica.

Jim turns to me carefully, "Is this alright with you?"

"I'll help you find what they're looking for then all of this drama can be done."

We don't have a chance to talk more as a group because the next thing I know, the door is slammed open and my friends all topple in.

Trent, Mira, Hillary, Murrow, Irving, Ming, and Toby, still in their party regalia, tumble to the ground with a cry of, "Mel!"

What I recognize as Jim's friends from earlier step in politely behind them.

Oh, geez. What now?

Jim

Those were the kids I saw in the storm when I was going to get Mel. I would bet my solarsurfer on it.

Something was going on here and I would find out what it was.

A/N: Another chapter successfully finished! Happy reading!