FINS
CHAPTER EIGHT

Mom, Parker and I headed down a long dimly lit carpeted hallway, mirrors covered almost every inch of the walls. I looked terrible. Two butterfly bandaids covered a gash on my forehead. I had a black eye and my lip was split down the middle. "Mom. How am I walking? I mean the guy kicked the crap out of me."

"Don't use words like that in front of the representatives. I won't have you embarrassing me in front of them."

"Mom?" I couldn't hide the shock and hurt from my voice. She ignored me, and walked ahead. We came to a stop at a white door.

"Julius healed you. Well as much as he could." Parker whispered. Julius did? It amazes me that someone who looks like he could be a sophomore in college could heal deadly injuries with the flick of his wrist. Parker grabbed my shoulders. "Red listen carefully,when you meet the representatives courtesy. Meet their gaze at all times. Be confident but respectful. They're going to ask you questions. Answer honestly. I'll be with you the entire time." He placed a strong hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "Now go with your mom to get changed."

He headed farther down the hallway as I headed inside the assumed changing room. As soon as my foot hit the floor of the room Mom covered my mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry I was so short with you Honey. I'm not supposed to show any sort of affection towards you." She whispered, face centimeters away from mine.

"Why?"

"Shhhh, The Pixie Queen Hara wants me to be objective. You see your father and I are representatives. She has spies everywhere. Not to mention the power struggle going on with vampires."

"Power struggle?"

"Yes. The previous king put his two sons Francisco and Sebastian in charge of the kingdom. And let's say they don't want to share. Narhira is the representative for Francisco and his mate. Also the rebellion happening with fairies. Queen Skie doesn't know what to do with herself."

Skie Nicholson is the Queen of Fairies? That's a shocker. I mean she went to high school with Kat and me. "There's a lot of politics in something like this Sol. You're the last of the Merricks. Everyone wants a piece of you."

"Did you know? That I was a mermaid I mean."

"I've known since the day you were born. I'm sorry Sol. I'm sure you've already know that I'm not your real mother. And my name isn't Sarah. I'm Zaia and my mates name is Bruno. Your parents dying wish was that you grow up normal."

"Then why didn't I? Why is this happening to me!?" I demanded, getting into my so called mothers face. In all honesty ,my emotions were swirling out of control. All I could see when I looked into her face was a stranger. All I could think was that this woman wasn't my mother. This woman wasn't the one who raised me. She didn't even look like her. Her hair was slicked back to reveal a line of earring going down her ears. She was in a black pantsuit with a golden belt wrapped around her waist. She looked like a hard powerful warrior.

"We couldn't contain your true self anymore. Julius was giving regular spell treatments to you in your sleep. But there's only so much that magic can do."
please
"So I'm just a freak now?"

She flinched. Only then did I realize what I was saying. I just called her, Parker, John and every other supernatural creature a freak.

"I suppose it does. " She whispers.

"Mom...I."

"It's ok. I'm used to it. Pixies aren't exactly seen as equals. We're Jumatate. Lesser beings. Queen Hara isn't even a real queen." She walked over to a sliding door. Opening it to reveal a giant walk in closet.

She handed me a long white gown and a pair of beautiful white wedged heels."Put these on. I won't have you looking so shabby in front of these important diplomats." I took off the hospital like gown I'd been wearing up till now and slid into the gown. The fabric hugged my body tightly but expanded at the bottom. It resembled a mermaids tail. The top curved down, exposing more cleavage than I would've liked. I slid on the heels.

"Let me fix your hair." Mom grabbed a brush and methodically started smoothing out my fiery locks. She then pinned it up in a braided bun with tiny pearls littering the red mound. I looked myself over in the full body mirror. I looked like a different person. Sophisticated.

"Come. We can't be late." She says rather loudly. She then grabs my hand, slipping a piece of paper into it. "Read this when the this all over. And just remember Sol; I love you more than anything." We head out into the hall and continue walking. I clutch the note in my hand wondering what it could contain.

Two large oak double doors stood tall in front of us. I mentally prepared myself for the worst. I bet the vampires are drinking from virgins as we speak. Dragons chomping on some sort of meat. Probably human. Their big wings flapping dangerously. I'm ready to bolt when the doors swing open. A bright light blinds me for a moment I throw my arm up to cover my eyes. Soft piano music was coming from somewhere, and I could quiet talking and laughing. My eyes adjusted after awhile and I could see inside the room. Women were in expensive looking ball gowns and men in tuxes danced on white marble floors. All together there were around 30 people. Red wine colored drapes were pulled back to reveal a night sky. The full moon shining bright above us. I sniffed. Something smelled delicious. I could see a long table, every inch of it covered in food. My mouth watered at the sight. I mean, who can blame me? I hadn't eaten anything since those hotdogs two days ago. Shit, I've missed a lot if school. Kat must be pissed. Wait, if Kat's Parkers sister...does that mean she's also a Lycanthrope? My mental inquires were cut short by my mom pulling on my forearm.

"This way." She says curtly. It was hard hearing her talk to me like that. Even if was just an , to me, was the kindest, gentlest, person in the world. She never got mad at me, and honestly spoiled me. I loved her more than anything. She pulled me across the ballroom, many of the dancers stopped and stared at us. Well, more liked stared at me.

"Are all these people?" I ask, hoping she understood. Her face still remained stone cold, but I could see understanding in her eyes. I really need to find out what to call these supernatural creatures. I mean I know the specific names for each species, and them there's Jumatate. "No. Most of them are human. Witnesses to the representatives."

"But I thought humans couldn't know about you guys."

"They can't. These people will either become vampire Jumatate , or sex slaves to the nymphs."

She shook her head.

"I bet even some of them want some of your blood. It helps them live abnormally long lives. Vultures, all of them."

I couldn't hold back my gasp."You mean these people are here against their wills?! That's kidnapping!"

"No. They choose to be here. They want this."

How could anyone choose to be a part of this?

We continue weaving through the onlookers when I spot Parker across the room. He's dressed in all black, a scabbard at his side and a dagger dangling dangerously from his belt. His father next him in roughly the same attire. Though he held a two handed axe.

"Why are Parker and his father dressed like ninjas?" I ask, still staring.

My mom can't hold back a chuckle. "Ninjas? Since when do ninjas carry axes?"

"Since now apparently." I mutter under my breath. She laughs again.

"John and his son are part of an organization called Bad Wolf. They are am elite group of lycanthropes from all over the world. Their sort of like the peace keepers of our world."

Those weapons don't look very peaceful.

My eyes meetParkers and he smiles. "Good luck." He mouths. I grin back at him, glad to have a friend among strangers. Ouch, smiling actually hurts. I grimace, touching my split lip tenderly. Blood dots my fingers and I hear gasps around the room. I can see some humans eyeing me greedily and a few of them licking their lips. Oh right, Parker said my blood was valuable or something like that. Feeling sick to my stomach, and more than a little faint, I wobbled slightly.

"Careful. These guys might just drink you dry." A deep voice chuckles behind me. I turn to see Julius Love and his sister staring at my bloody lip. "Here, allow me." Julius pulls out a handkerchief from his white tuxes breast pocket. "He then wipes the blood from my hands and mouth. "There. All fixed."

I touch my lip again, the skin had completely healed over. "How'd you do that?"

He waggled his fingers at me, blue sparks shooting out from them. "It's all in the hands."

"Let's go. We don't have time for this." Kari says, pulling on her brothers arm. "We're already late."

Julius bowed to me. "Well my lady, it would seem that I am to leave you now. I'll meet you at the representative table." He then snapped his fingers and vanished. Kari sighed. "He always does this y'know. Disappears like that. Dad, seriously you know I can't teleport yet!" She groans, drudging over to what I assumed was the representative table.

"Dad?!" What did she mean Dad?!

"Julius is Kari's father. All the humans assume they're siblings because he looks so young."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is just to much. I sway a little. Mom grabs my shoulders. "We don't have time for fainting. Come on. We're almost there."

She pushes me forward. A large moon shaped table sits in front of a roaring fire place. There 13 people sit in throne like chairs. The table of representatives.

"At the far end is Francisco and Narhira." Mom whispers. I turn to see a man, scrawny and lean. He looked...sickly. His blonde hair a dull mop on his head. Dark sunken in eyes peered forward. Narhira was saying something but he didn't look like he was listening.

"Next to them is the lady chief of nymphs, Mirobi." A woman, looking to be in her fifties sat hunched over in her chair. "They say that she's dying and her only daughter Huei, refuses to be her successor." The old woman coughed, as if to add emphasis to what was said.

"And then next to her is where Bruno and I sit. As you know, we're pixies."

I could already see my dad sitting in his seat. Face like marble.

"Next to us is Yzme. The oldest living Lycan. He was blinded in battle over 200 years ago."

A muscular man with a long red beard sat arms crossed over his bare chest, his eyes closed. He was wearing a kilt and had a cane resting on his lap.

"You know Queen Skie."

Skie sat next to another man, who seemed like he was trying to call her attention. He had bright red hair and freckles.

"Is that her mate?" I ask.

"No. That is her servant, Tye Brahcha. Next to them is Alexander, King of Dragons and his mate Tanya."

For dragons they looked extremely...human. Alexander's long curly hair fell past his shoulders, tied back with a blood red ribbon. Our of all the people here, he looked most kingly. His mate was a spritely looking thing. White blonde hair falling down her spine. Gray eyes stared absently, as if she were in her own little world.

"Then of course you know Julius."

He waved from his seat, seeming as cheery as ever.

"The last two are also vampires, Sebastian and his mate Georgina."

Sebastian reminded me of a bear. Big, and hairy all over. His eyes were hard emeralds, on his chiseled features. His mate was the exact opposite. Georgina was. petite, with short blonde hair and big blue eyes. She looked terrified. Her hands were shaking and she kept glancing nervously at her mate.

Mom moved to her seat, grabbing dad's hand. Once she was seated everyone quieted down. Even the music stopped.

"Now, my fellow Vanatori," Julius begins. "Let's begin this meeting of representatives."

Vanatori? What's that? Unsure of what to do I turned to mom, eyes begging for help.

"Introduce yourself."

I curtsied, bowing my head as low as I could get in this tight dress. "H-hello," I stammered. "I am Sol Teresa Lorenstein. It's a pleasure." I stayed down low, waiting for them to acknowledge my presence. After about a minute or two, my legs started to shake. Sweat beaded and slid down my forehead.

"You may raise your head Merrick." A soft voice whispered. I look up to see Francisco smiling gently at me. A calm washed over me as I looked into his eyes. He seemed so nice. Somewhere I could hear a soft growl. "You did very well Sol." Julius comments, giving an approving nod.

"Thank you."

"Enough of dis! We are not here to exchange pleasantries." Narhira growled between clenched teeth. I gulped. "I agree." My dad nodded, leaning forward in his chair.

"Sol do you love us?" He asks, eyes suddenly soft. I look at my mom and dad, tears welling in my eyes.

"With all my heart." I say sincerely. Mummers shake the group of people. "Quiet." Alexander hisses, the room settles down quickly.

"Would you say that we nurtured you? Cared for you?"

"Yes-"

"Then you would say that you owe is your life?"

Where was he going with this?

"Well of course bu-"

He cuts my sentence short with a look.

"Then give it to us. Give the land of Pixies your blood."

What? Is that was all they wanted? My blood?

"'Ow dare you say dat you are entitled to the Merrick blood! As I recall, you took the Merrick child in out of the goodness of your 'eart! She has no obligations towards you Jumatate." Narhira boomed, nails digging into the hardwood table.

"Well what does she owe you las?We Lycanthropes have been protecting the Merrick for 16 years." Yzma points out. Scottish roots leaking from his voice.

Everyone stood up from their seats. King Alexander seemed to burning with anger. "My people need the Merrick blood! An unknown ailment has plagued our already endangered species."

"You mean you need the blood for your mate! You want her blood for your own selfish reasons. So does Lady Mirobi. What about Sol? Does she have no say in where her blood goes?" Skie demands. I can't hold back a sigh of relief. Good, I'm glad someone isn't completely insane.

"This isn't her will! This is the survival of a species! Of my love! I can't lose her!" King Alexander cried, his proud face crumbling to show a scared man. My heart filled with pity for the dragon, his mate stayed seated. Her eyes still staring blankly in front of her. What sort of illness is it?

"This is her will. She is just like the rest of us. She has a choice." Julius says calmly, giving my mother a look. His eyes saying something his mouth could not. I could see green stripes slowly creep from my mothers hairline. I felt a hand tap sold on my shoulder. I glance up as conspicuously as I can. Parker and John stand a few feet from me, eyes glowing silver. I could see Skie getting riled up as well. Her skin shimmering like ruffled feathers.

"This is an endangered species! We will not be taking this so lightly."

"Can you really think that Queen Skie? After what's been happening in your country?"

Black feathered wings exploded from her back, her hands became sharp talons that scrapped across the hard wood table. "My people are none of your business. What I do know, is that this is wrong."

"This is out last hope. She is giving her blood. There is no other choice." Mirobi whispered.

"There is always a choice." Mom whispers. "And I choose my daughter."

"What are you talking about Zaia? We need this." Dad looked at his wife, confusion etching

Surrounding her eyes are green stripes, like a mask. Transparent wings flutter gracefully. "Go Julius! Get her out of here!" Mom shouts, grabbing a spear from under the table.

Julius dematerializes. Leaving only a black smoke. The gaseous substance quickly moved towards me and before I knew it I was flying backwards.

Parker and John were following in suite. I could see my mom shoving the spear into the ground.

"Da-mi puterea de a aduce tot ce este in gol!" My mom shouts. Lightning fired from the spear, shooting into all the representatives. I could see Alexander rushing my mom before the door closed and all I could see was darkness.