This chapter is dedicated to ClockWiseWiss, may she rest in peace. I will miss her wonderful stories!
Cam's eyes slowly fluttered open and he rolled over in his bed, relaxed for a moment. When the previous day's events came flooding back to him. His transformation, Zac and David finding out, visiting Rita, and to top it all off a lecture from his parents about underage drinking. Not one of his best days.
Cam glanced at his clock on the bedside table, it read 7:00. He would have just enough time to shower, get ready and grab a bite at the café before heading to school. His feet found the carpet and he stretched until his back gave a satisfying pop. Making his way into the bathroom, Cam turned the shower nozzle and almost stepped in but quickly withdrew his foot.
Damn, Cam thought to himself, This is going to be harder than usual.
He turned off the water and plugged the tub. And then, once again, turned the water back on. After it was full to the brim, he turn the faucet to the right and stopped the outflow of water. Cam took off his pajamas and underwear and stepped into the steaming water. A few seconds later his tail took place of his legs, which stuck out of the tub at an uncomfortable and awkward angle. Doing the best that he could manage, Cam dipped his head below the water and scrubbed shampoo and conditioner into his hair.
Lifting the plug for the tub, the water drained out. Cam pat his tail dry with a towel, which was a lot faster going than yesterday. It almost scared him that being a merman was coming easier to him. He stood up in the tub, got himself dressed, and rushed down the stairs.
"Come straight home after school ends," his mother said to him, "Remember you're still grounded."
Cam let out a groan, but he nodded and grabbed his backpack. After leaving the house, he hurried down the street and made his way to the cafe. Upon entering Cam spotted Zac in a booth by the counter. Sirena and the other two fish chicks were huddled around the counter and David was trying to worm his way into the conversation, just trying to be closer to Sirena. Carly was taking the early morning shift and Evie was grabbed her and Zac's juices for the morning.
Cam made his way over to Zac's table. "Well, showering was harder than usual this morning," he said in greeting.
"Why would showering be difficult?" A voice from behind him said. He turned to see Evie raising a curious eyebrow at him.
"Be-b-because, Julia used up all the hot water before I could shower." Cam stammered.
"Uh-huh," Evie nodded disbelievingly. She sat down in the empty chair at their table and started chattering mindlessly with the two boys. David soon came over and joined them so they were all sitting down and eating breakfast together.
"Did you finish the calculus homework?" David asked the group.
Cam scoffed, "Barely."
Zac checked his watch, "Guys, we'd better be heading over to school or else we'll be late."
The group stood up and began to gather their things. Sirena walked over to the table and gave David a kiss goodbye, and they started to make plans for later that afternoon when the necklace that hung around Sirena's neck began to glow.
Everyone froze.
"Mimmi," Sirena called out in a shaky voice. Mimmi and Ondina walked over. Cam's heart began hammering in his chest.
"David?" Sirena asked quietly.
David looked confused, "Sirena?"
"Evie?" Mimmi asked, "what's going on?"
Evie shrugged and looked across the table, "Zac?"
Zac cleared his throat, "Cam."
"Can we just stop playing the name game?" Cam burst out.
Ondina looked over at him and narrowed her eyes, "You. We need to talk." She grabbed him by the hook of his elbow and lead him out of the cafe, the gem on her necklace still glowing brightly. Evie, Zac, David, Mimmi and Sirena were following closely behind them.
Cam struggled against Ondina's surprisingly strong grip but was unable to free himself from her grasp. She lead him down to the pier in front of the cafe and released her grip momentarily before giving him an earnest shove and sending him tumbling into the ocean.
"What do you think you're doing?" Evie shouted angrily at Ondina.
But her question was left unanswered, when the group of six watched after Cam disappeared below the surface that the ocean water began to froth and bubble. "No way," Evie whispered under her breath.
Cam emerged from the depths, gasping for breath. His glimmering blue tail stretched out behind him. He threw a stone cold look to Ondina, "Happy now?"
"Not one bit." She snarled back. "Here's what is going to happen: you are going to come with me to the pod without protest, there Veridia will hopefully start her plans for your execution."
"Execution?!" Evie and Zac simultaneously exclaimed.
"Well, it hasn't been confirmed yet. But if you want to kill a plant you have to cut it at the root, correct? If the pod just takes away his powers then he'll just return to the merman chamber next full moon." Ondina elaborated.
"What!? You can't be serious?" Sirena piped up.
"This is absolutely ridiculous, I don't even want my powers. I never chose to get them in the first place," said Cam who was now filled with fury. How could they talk about ending his life as if it were like pulling a mere weed from a garden. Apparently, that's all that he was to Ondina. A nuisance.
"There is no way to know that we can trust you." Ondina stated matter-of-factly.
"Wait a minute, I have protected you guys countless times from getting exposed AND I gave you guys the trident stone even when Erik offered to help me gain a tail." Cam countered.
"And before that, you stole the trident and tried to destroy the moon pool."
Cam opened his mouth to retort but Ondina cut him off once again. "This matter isn't open for discussion." She held out her hand and let her moon ring envelope Cam in a blue light. Cam found himself completely paralyzed in his spot in the water below the docks. The only thing that he was able to move were his eyes. Ondina dove gracefully into the water beside where Cam floated, completely frozen in the waves. He tried to struggle free from his magical bind but he couldn't so much as twitch a finger.
"I'm taking him to the mermaid council where they will decide his fate. And no one try to stop me." Ondina growled, she narrowed her eyes at Zac and Evie who looked on helplessly.
Ondina pitched under the surface as Cam was dragged behind her against his will.