Chapter 9

Day 3 Evening

The winds began to pick up drastically, making the waves in the water increase as well. I began to wonder how much longer Edward will be able to hold on. I have already told him he needed to let me go, it was going to be the only way for me to heal completely. That and I knew that my father was hell bent on getting me back and making me stay here. I did not understand him, why grant me the chance to choose, if he was going to make the ultimate decision any ways. I knew Edward though, as his grip tightened around my body that he was planning on keeping me right where I was.

I closed my eyes, focusing my power to converse with only my father.

Father, please.

I knew with enough concentration, I can block out anyone else trying to hear what I am saying and also do the same with whomever it is that I am speaking to. It takes time though and I am not sure how much time I will have. From first guess when I began to hear my family come, they were still a few hundred miles away. Our swimming capacity however is much faster than any other average sea creature. We are able to cover thousands of miles within a few hours.

I love him, Father.

My family understood love and the power of soul mates. I have the story of my own parents meeting a number of times. The love that they feel for each other is greater than the seven seas combined. It stretched and grew into something unfathomable. Mother was a mermaid, finding her true other half was hard for her, not thinking she will ever find him and then one day –BANG, like lightening, it hit her. He was a merman, so it was slightly different then it was for me. Way different actually, there was no doubt that they belonged together. But they did not have all the joys of easy love. He came from royalty. The Prince of Atlantis, expected to marry and be with someone of his same level, not a peasant girl.

I focused on hearing my father, but there was nothing. I opened my eyes and looked out into the now murky water from the storms that my father was gathering. I could begin to see them and gulped at how it was not only my father and mother, but many more mermen.

You bring an army?! I love him and I would take death over being alone down here. You saw the visions for yourself. He and I will continue to look at each other from a distance. You cannot keep us apart. I love him!

I began to try to get loose of Edward's tight grip. I wanted to stare my father in the eyes, letting him see for himself what this will do to us. Yet, the more I moved, the tighter Edward's hands became on my back and tail.

Edward, please let me go. I need him to see, to feel.

Edward looked down at me; his eyes appeared to be lost.

I don't want to lose you.

I lifted my hand up to his cheek then I moved it down to where his heart it. You won't. I promise. I am in here and always will be.

Edward kissed me gently on the lips and then loosened his grip. I let myself fall from his hands and then swam quickly. The pain in my tail could be felt all through my body, but I kept going. I sis not stop until I was facing my father head on.

I love him and I want to be with him. You cannot go back on your word. This is my choice, not yours.

My father searched my face. I knew he was torn. Out of his three daughters, I am the only one so far that has made the choice to leave. I wanted the life above, just as much as my body and mind yearned for the water. But right now, I wanted the love of Edward much more. I crossed my arms over my chest and jutted my chin out, waiting.

Finally my father let out a heavy sigh. Isabella, you don't know what your life will be like up there. Once you make that decision and I grant that wish, you will never be able to return. Never.

I looked over to my mother and sisters, even though I saw pain and betrayal in their eyes. I also saw love and hope.

I understand father, but I also have hope that our lives will cross. That our worlds will live together in harmony. I will not let some stupid tradition and laws hold me from my families. I want both worlds.

Isabella, you can't have it both ways.

Then maybe it is time that we try both ways.

I looked up as I noticed the sun beginning to set. I knew that I needed to get to the surface and to land quickly. If the life I choose is set, I will not survive much longer under the harsh waves. If my father decides to let me have he could turn me human right here, right now.

Please, father, I love him and I love you. Let me be the one to change our lives and futures.

I looked over to my mother who was nodding her head in agreement as I caught a glimpse of Edward swimming toward me. He moved quickly through the water, much like he belonged here, in this world. He came up to me and wrapped his arm around my waist, looking my father straight in the eye. I could tell they were communicating, but blocking the rest of us out. I kept looking back and forth between the two, looking for any absolution. Their faces will still, almost as if they were stone statues. Eventually, I watched as my father lowered his gaze and looked at me. He came over and took my hands. The small smile that he tried to form on his lips was heartbreaking.

Edward let go of my waist as my father took me into his arms. The force behind his hug was indescribable; it was like he was hugging me for the last time. My sisters followed suite and then finally my mother.

You will always be welcomed back. She turned to Edward. You take care of her and love her.

That is when I understood; whatever Edward had said to my father must have convinced him to let me go. I watched as my family backed away and my father brought his trident down toward my tail. I closed my eyes thinking about making my legs kick as soon as he changed me. After a few minutes of nothing happening I opened my eyes and looked at everyone, then back down toward my tail. Confusion swept across my face as I turned my attention to my father.

You did not expect me to have you walking up on land with your tail in pain, now did you?

I smiled as I looked down and saw that my cuts have been healed. I swam over to him and wrapped my arms around his thick torso.

I love you, daddy.

His hand moved into my hair and drew me closer as I relished in his touch. I knew that as soon as I pulled away, that the rest of my family would already be gone and that my father will be swimming quickly. I did not want to watch them leave me. I let my arms drop and then turned around. It was my turn to swim as fast as I could.

I came to the shore line and poked my head out of the water; the sun was just inches away from setting. I knew that if I was in the water at the final moment, all the talking would be for nothing. I felt Edward's arms encase my lower half and then picked me up, carrying my bridal style out of the water. My bottom half drying quickly as I watched my tail separate and my feet came into view.

Out of nowhere I felt a blanket fall over me, covering up my now naked body. I smiled as I saw Alice run back to the shell, where the rest of the family was already climbing into the other shells.

Edward lowered me into the seat and tucked the blanket tight around me. He leaned over to strap me in and his mouth gazed across my cheek.

"Are you ready to go home?" He asked before straightening up.

Home, I thought. Who would have thought that within three days I would have found a new home?

I nodded my head slowly as he moved toward the other side. I gazed out the clear glass and pressed my fingers to it. The ocean stretched all around us. I could see my youngest sister sitting up on the rocks, her hand outstretched, reaching for me. My mother and Sapphire where also looking out toward me. But my father was nowhere to be seen.

This was my home now. My life, soul, heart and body belonged to Edward and I planned to make every bit of it worthwhile. After all I have an eternity.

A/N: Only one more chapter left, a few loose ends to tie up! Thank you all for reading and reviewing, hope that you enjoyed it!