Later that evening, Hali sat alone, on her great clam shell bed, in Triton's guest. She had the book lying open in the palms, starting down at the parchment. Again, the book had stated glowing, and the Ancient Atlantican Script, spontaneously scrolled across the pages of her spell book.

Зорка ёсць вочы
Кинер чым многія іншыя.

"The star has eyes keener than most," Hali read in bewilderment, "what's that supposed to mean."

The Guardian angrily slammed the book shut, and tossed it aside. Hali hadn't the slightest idea, what the book was trying to tell her. She supposed it was some sort of clue, to aid her in the search of the Ocean's Star, but the message was vague, at best. Why is it that magical items always seemed to talk in riddles? It simply wasn't fair. As Hali lied in bed pondering what her spell book had just finished telling her, there came a soft knock at the door.

"You don't have to knock, Serene," Hali called, "it's your room too."

The merperson behind the door, entered the room. It wasn't Serene, with Darwin trailing behind, but Jade.

"I'm not Serene," Jade smiled, "but I hope that doesn't disappoint you."

"Oh, no. Not at all," Hali replied, sitting up from bed, "what's up, Jade."

"Oh nothing..."

Hali stared at her cousin suspiciously, seeing as how Jade's sentence just unexpectedly trailed off.

"Really?" Hali's eyes narrowed, "nothing at all?"

Jade just continued smiling, and said, "I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to..."

"Wanted to what?" demanded Hali.

"Go to a concert with me, later."

"A concert?" Hali perked up a bit, "Who's playing?"

"Dizzy Crustacy," answered Jade.

"Dizzy Crustacy?" Hali crinkled her nose, "I've never heard of him, before."

"Well, you know," Jade said teasingly, "the band Manatees of Mayhem is opening for him."

"Really?" Hali began excitedly, "I love the Manatees of Mayhem!"

"I know you do," Jade smiled, "who doesn't? They're the best band Atlantica has ever produced, besides, the lead singer is a total babe."

"Wait a minute," Hali glared at her cousin, "where is this concert being held? The Catfish Cabana?"

"No," Jade lied, "they're playing at the neighboring kingdom, Olympia. It's Prince Gunther's eighteenth birthday party or something. He's invited anyone who's anyone, and we, my dear cousin, definitely fit that description."

Hali was fuming when she found out that Jade had lied to her and dragged her over to the Catfish Cabana. Hali was even more upset to discover that Dizzy Crustacy, and was only Sebastian's stage name, and that Manatees of Mayhem were nowhere in sight. The miffed little mermaid, sat at their table, arms crossed, and refusing to speak or make eye contact with her horrible cousin.

"You should at lest talk to him, Hali," Jade sighed.

"No," cried Hali, turning up her cute little nose.

"Hali," Jade used a sing song voice, "you're just being stubborn."

"No, I'm not!" challenged Hali.

"I think you just proved my point, coz."

"I can't believe you lied about the Manatees of Mayhem," Hali whined, and pouted simultaneously.

"Hali, I'm warning you," Jade sounded like her mother, "you'd better shake yourself out of this awful mood, or else."

"Or else, what?" Hali spat, shaking her head defiantly.

Jade didn't answer her depressed, belligerent cousin in words, but forced her out onto the dance floor.

"Hey, look!" Hali pointed into a crowd of merpeople.

"What?" Jade asked, as she turned to look, "I don't see anything out of the ordinary."

Hali shook her head clear, and blinked her eyes, "Never mind. I thought I just saw Cricket, for real this time."

Jade frowned at her cousin, "Stop making excuses and just dance with me!"

Hali was in no mood to dance, but the sound of the loud music, and it's loud, exultant beat, soon changed her mind. Before long, Hali was dancing, and laughing with Jade at her side. Then all of a sudden, the song changed, to softer beat, a ballad, and Hali could feel her happiness start to slip back into darkness. She didn't even know how it happened. One minute she was right beside Jade, and the next minute, Hali was in Xavier's tight embrace. It all happened so fast! Somehow or other, Jade had planned the entire thing.

"Hali," whispered Xavier, still holding her close, "we need to talk, please."

"N-no," Hali faltered, for she could feel the beating of Xavier's heart against her chest.

She remembered that feeling, all too well.

"Then, just dance with me," Xavier pleaded.

Xavier wanted to dance? Hali was in complete shock. Sometimes, Hali didn't understand why certain things tended to slip out of her mouth, but she couldn't control herself.

I won't dance, don't ask me.
I won't dance, don't ask me.
I won't dance, monsieur, with you.
My heart won't let my fins do things they should do.

You know what, you're handsome.
And so what? You're handsome.
And oh, what you do to me.
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore.
I feel so absolutely stumped on the floor.

And that's why,
I won't dance, why should I?
I won't dance, how could I?
I won't dance, merci beaucoup.
I know that music leads the way to romance,
So if I hold you in arms I won't dance.

Xavier tried to kiss her, but Hali swam out of his arms, so quickly, it made his head spin. He would have chased after her, but his broken heart prevented him.

Xavier sighed, as he made his way to the room he was renting from Sebastian. He felt like a dead man swimming. If Hali wouldn't forgive him within the next twenty-four hours, his life would expire. Lilith would make sure of that. Some kind of friend, she turned out to be. Xavier turned the knob of the modest door leading to his room, and to his surprise a bubbly little mermaid popped up from behind his bead. Xavier gave a loud shriek in his shock.

"Hi!" the mermaid with the baby blue tail called out to him, "my name's Cricket!"

'There's a girl in my room!' Xavier thought to himself in panic, 'why is there a girl in my room?'

"Who are you?" Xavier finally brought himself to ask.

"I'm Hali's cousin," the mermaid explained, "and I'm here..."

"Stop, right there," Xavier ordered, gesturing towards the door, "I've been having more than my fair share of uncomfortable run ins with Hali's cousins. Someone named Merrick threatened me with bodily harm, and another merman named Leo told me that Atlanticans use sand as currency... let's just say that a very angry shopkeeper wanted to throw my fins in jail. So, you can just turn around and leave, thank you."

"Oh," the mermaid giggled, "Merrick's my big brother, and Leo is my cousin. They're so cute!"

Xavier again pointed to the door, "Leave!"

"Not until you hear what I have to say, first!" the young girl was adamant.

"Fine," Xavier sighed, throwing his arms up in the air, "what was you're name again?"

"Cricket."

Xavier scratched his head, "That's an unusual name for a mermaid."

"It's an interesting story, really. Would you like to hear it?"

"Not particularly," Xavier said crossing his arms.

Cricket ignored him, and continued with her story, "One day, my mother was visiting my Aunt Ariel at the surface, it happened to be nighttime, and mother head a strange noise. 'What's that noise, Ariel?' my mother asked. 'Oh, those are crickets, Attina,' Aunt Ariel explained. 'What are crickets?' my mother inquired again. 'Crickets are land insects, that create beautiful music in the black of night,' said Aunt Ariel. Shortly after, I was born, and my mother named me Cricket! She said that she really loved the sound..."

"That's a wonderful story," Xavier began hastily, "but if you don't mind getting to the point..."

Cricket glared at Xavier, "You can put on that tough guy act, if you want, but I can see right through you. I know that deep down inside you're a gentle soul, who is depressed and really wants his girlfriend back. Well, that girlfriend is my cousin, and I can help you. But, if you want to be rude about it, maybe I should just leave."

Cricket turned in a hurry, swimming towards the door.

As Xavier swatted the collection of tiny air bubbles, that strategically hit him in the face, he called out to her.

"Wait!"

Cricket smiled, and then turned to face Xavier again, "Yes?"

"Do you think that you can help Hali to forgive me before sundown tomorrow," Xavier paused for a moment, "it's extremely important."

"If I can't" grinned the mermaid, "than my name isn't Cricket! Here's the plan..."

Cricket cupped her hand to Xavier's ear, and began to whisper the first few steps of her master plan.

"What!" shrieked Xavier.

"Shut up and listen," commanded Cricket.

"That's never going to work," Xavier ran his fingers though his sandy hair.

Cricket only smiled at him, and said, "I'll make sure the secret passage is left open tonight."

Song

The song featured in this chapter, is called I Won't Dance. The music was composed by Jerome Kern, and the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein II, and Otto Harbach in 1934. Various artists perform this song. Of course, I recommended the classy Ella Fitzgerald, and the great Frank Sinatra. You simply need to check out the rendition of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, on youtube.

Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah

For those of you who were wondering why, Cricket has such an unusual name, here it is! Cricket is named after the insect, and modeled after our very own PrincessCricket! She won a contest, you see.

So, does Xavier have any hope of Hali forgiving before it's too late? If not, then Sam will be one happy man, huh?

I remember an episode of the Little Mermaid T.V. series, where someone called Sebastian, Dizzy Crustacy (SP?). Which I believe is a play on words, referencing the jazz trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie. If anyone else remembers that episode, let me know.

Also, my boyfriend has been bugging me to write a story about a character named the Manatee of Mayhem, who needs to find a friend, to cure his diabetes. I was like, um... no. So, I added the band Manatees of Mayhem to placate him. For any of you who are wondering, my boyfriend is charming, and irresistibly sexy. His words, not mine.

Here comes Suzy Snowflake,

xJadeRainx