Chapter Eight- Mahad

"You, a merman? Seto, in order to concoct a spell or potion, I would need something of Joey's like a scale or even scrapings from a scale."

"Would this do?" Seto reached down and pulled up his necklace, turning the setting over to reveal the back.

Mahad's mouth dropped. "How did you get that?"

"It came loose from his tail two days ago and gave it to me as a token of affection and an engagement gift." He watched as Mahad scraped off a film of tiny scales off and into a test tube.

He examined the sample and nodded. "I should be able to make a potion with this. It'll take some time, but it'll be worth it. I'll make a potion to do what you desire."

"Thank you, Mahad. This means a lot to me." He squeezed Mahad's shoulder before leaving the magician to his studies.

Seto found his family and Joey in the garden having tea and Joey talking animatedly to Mokuba and Gozaburo. It was clear that Joey was comfortable with his family and that pleased him. He came closer to hear Gozaburo say, "Will your family be coming to the wedding?"

Joey shifted slightly. "No, I don't think so. They understand how I feel about Seto, but with their duties and no one to oversee matters, they can't really leave to attend."

Nice excuse, Seto thought as he sat. It covers the fact that they're mermaids and can't exactly come onto land.

Gozaburo nodded. "I understand, but that's a shame."

Joey sipped his tea as the king engaged Mokuba in conversation about his studies. They had discussed wedding details that had already been decided on before Seto had left for the trip. Joey liked what he heard and gave his opinion when asked about decorations and music. Things had gotten a little sticky when the topic turned to his family. He spoke of his mother and sister. Gozaburo's furrowed brow told Joey that the king was perplexed over why he never heard of them. He had pushed that mystery aside and asked if they would be coming. Joey managed to fabricate a story to explain that they couldn't come. It's not just because they're mermaids, but Mother would be furious that I'm in love with a human and that I told humans I'm a merman. Either one is liable to get me killed or banished.

"Joey, what do you think of Mahad?" Seto asked as they remained in the garden while th rest of the family went inside.

Joey blinked. "Your royal magician?" He shrugged slightly. "He seems nice. Is he powerful?"

"He's the best in the land. He sense some trace of magic coming from you."

"I'm guessing keeping my true self hidden from him isn't an option."

"Correct. Actually, I told him when he asked if I was aware you were magical. He's sworn not to speak of it. I also made a request of him."

"What kind of request?"

"I asked him to find a way for me to be a merman for three days; the opposite of your ability."

Joey's eyes lit up. "Oh, that would be wonderful. I'd be able to show you my world and you'd be able to meet Mother."

Seto chuckled at Joey's excitement. "Mahad's looking into it, but meeting your family is why I asked."

The next day, Joey browsed the library while Seto was busy with duties and sharing some of the wedding plans he had made at Yugi's kingdom. He ran his eyes and a hand along the shelves. Some of the books were similar to the ones he had back home, only they spoke of the human equivalent. Again, our races are similar in some ways despite our different views on one another. If only we could get along.

"Hello again, Prince Joey."

Joey turned to see Mahad enter the library and approach him. "Please, just Joey. Seto told me that you know my secret."

Mahad nodded. "Seto knew I would not tell anyone. We've known each other since childhood when I was a commoner who was good at magic."

"And now you're the best in the land, according to Seto."

"He is correct."

"He also spoke of the request he asked you to do. How is that going?"

"I took a scraping from the scale you gave him and examined it. Your ability is fascinating: Human for three days."

"Yes. The catch is that I have to have my tail out of the water by dawn. I change back at dawn after the third night whether in the water or not."

"Ah, thanks for telling me. I was trying to figure out how to set it so Seto become a merman for three days."

"Can I help you with that?"

"I would like that. Follow me." As they headed out of the library and down into Mahad's lab, the magician said, "Please tell me about merpeople. I know that mermen used to become human, but lost the power except for you."

Joey nodded. "That's right. Mermaids have their own power. They briefly become sirens and used a hypnotic song to sink ships. All mermaids have it, even my mother and sister. These moments vary with each one and during the teen years, the number of times goes up and then hits a fixed number at eighteen. Right now, my thirteen-year-old sister does it three times a month and my mother does it once a week at night."

"Wow, that's…"

"Sad? Dark?"

Mahad nodded. "Dark. Your ability is preferable."

"Yes. Also, technically contact with humans is forbidden and I could get in big trouble if Mother finds out."

"What kind of trouble?"

"She could kill me or banish me in some way. She could make me a permanent human if she chooses to banish me from the sea."

"She would do that?"

"She's the queen. She can do what she wants when it comes to punishment."

"I just can't imagine a parent doing such a thing to their child." Mahad sat at his desk, grabbed a quill, ink, and parchment and started writing. "Banishing them from their home and for you, that would truly be awful: To never swim through the waters that is your home."

"I hope that doesn't happen, but if it does, I'll still have a home here."

"You're right. This will definitely be your home when you marry." Mahad silently prayed that Joey did not end up banished from the sea.