A/N: I'm going to make a longer chapter for forgiveness from my long updation.

19

Once again I made my journey through the palace with Miruko, but this time no guards seemed to be following us. The place was busy as ever, some mermaids even stopped what they were doing just to see Miruko and I passing by. They seemed so surprised to see me that I even heard a small conversation begin as I swam by. I couldn't understand what they were saying; I only caught a few words.

"…Calypsa's here?"

"I heard her father died… is it true she's…?"

"… I heard she's to be the next ruler…"

"How did she become a mermaid…?"

"What's that merman doing with her…"

"… covers nothing below her waist…"

What were they talking about? I had no clue what any of them meant, I especially wondered how they knew my father died. Was my father so famous that even the mer people knew about him? He was just a truck driver after all, what could be so important about that?

A flash back hit me so suddenly, I couldn't help but yell out in surprise.

"Oh you know, dad wasn't human until he met mom, wanted to give up his old life and marry her. Things like that." That's what Mina had told me some time ago. Yet I had taken that matter so easily, I didn't even think about what it actually meant for a while. What did she mean by that? How could my father possibly not be human?

Or maybe my father was a merman before…

I shook my head, that couldn't possibly be true! My father wouldn't have been a human if he was a merman, and wouldn't Mina and I be born as mermaids? I thought.

But as I gazed around the palace wondering what Mina had meant, I realized it could be true. If I was a human before and became a mermaid now, then couldn't it be possible for my father to be a merman and turn into a human?

"Calypsa? Are you alright?" Miruko asked. I saw him staring at me in concern.

"Yeah, I'm—I'm fine." I replied.

"Maybe you shouldn't go to the dance—"

"No really, I'm alright."

He gave me a reassuring smile and I felt my cheeks grow hot. I tried covering them with my hands, but that made me look stupid. So I pretended to scratch my cheeks so it would show the reason why they were red.

Shortly thereafter, I saw a huge opening in front of me and beyond that I saw what appeared to be the city. There were more mer people out there than in here, and all of them seemed to be going in one direction.

I went through the opening which led me out of the palace, and a wave of relief washed over me.

"Well it seems everyone is in a rush for the dance." Miruko replied. I looked up at him and he stared straight ahead at the pathway before us. He swam forward and I followed.

We mostly passed by shops, carvings, and large structures. I wondered where the homes were for that I was curious as to what the mer people's houses looked like.

I continued staring at the city ahead of me, studying the structure's as I passed by them until I noticed a mermaid with a rather large belly pass by. She bumped into me slightly and muttered a sorry. When she looked to see who I was, she stopped moving and just gaped at me. I stopped as well staring at her in puzzlement.

She had a bright green fin and dark green eyes with blond hair that seemed to glow like gold. My eyes moved back to her belly and I couldn't help but wonder if she was pregnant. I saw her cheeks grow bright pink and she stared down shamefully.

"I'm very very sorry for bumping into you my lady. Please forgive me." She said and looked down on the floor in shame. I couldn't help but notice her eyes turn watery and the color seemed to drain out of her eyes.

Miruko had stopped moving and stared at me to see what I would do.

I grew ever more puzzled and wondered why it was such a big deal if she bumped into me or not. I noticed some of the mer people staring down at me to see if I would punish her.

I smiled at her warmly, "That's alright, it was an accident after all."

The color returned in her eyes and she smiled in relief. "Thank you! Thank you so much! I promise nothing like this will happen ever again!" She made a small bow before she left.

I heard whispering from the crowd around me and I felt uncomfortable. Had I done something wrong?

I stared at Miruko with a puzzled look and he gestured me to come beside him. I hesitated before I swam over to him and noticed the small smile on his lips.

"Why did that mermaid apologize to me like that?" I asked. Miruko's smile widened and my cheeks grew hot again.

"Well, let's just say you're known as someone important here Calypsa." He replied.

My eyes shot straight up. "Stop calling me by my middle name. And I hate the way you talk so mysterious. Why can't you just tell me everything?" I argued.

His smile faded. "I told you, I can't tell you anything."

"Because you're stupid brother Icarus said so? What makes him better than you?"

He suddenly had a thoughtful expression on his face. "There are too many reasons that he's better than me."

"Why? You're kinder, smarter, and who gives a damn if he's stronger than you?"

His eyes darkened, and for the first time he stared at me in anger. "Everyone gives a damn if he's stronger! And how do you know if I'm smarter than him, Calypsa?"

I tried to find words to answer back, but couldn't. His angry stare made him look so much like his brother that I just froze in my spot staring at him.

His features relax. "I'm sorry. Let's just go to the dance before we're late."

I followed him as he swam away. His face had a blank stare, but his eyes held sadness and worst of all, fear.

We moved in silence until Miruko spoke suddenly. "You have no idea what he's going to do to you." He said barely above a whisper. I stared up at him puzzled.

"What?"

He closed his eyes for a second. "Never mind."

I frowned but did not reply.

Finally, I saw a huge crowd loom into view. There, I heard cheering and laughs coming from the mer people. Everyone had smiles across their faces, and some mermen stared at something with wide eyes. A look of satisfaction crossed their faces and I wondered what they were looking at.

"Well what do you know? We're late after all." Miruko said. He gently grabbed my arm and pushed me forward towards the crowd.

We swam to the top of the crowd so we could get a better view, and there I saw what the mermen were looking at. There were dancers in the middle of the crowd, their bodies moved so gracefully and accurate, but that wasn't what the mermen were staring at. There were five dancers, four formed a circle and the fifth one was in the middle. The fifth one wore so much jewelry that she sparkled in the water with her purple fin. Her hair was silver and shined off the water so brightly that you could've sworn it was the moons rays itself. But nothing covered her chest; she only wore shells tied onto seaweed around her waist. And her face was so full of emotions that it made your heart flutter. She was absolutely beautiful.

The four other dancers, however, had seashells and all sorts of sea craft tied around their chests and around their waist. I noticed that all of the four dancers had blond hair with red fins. But their beauty never matched the fifth dancer.

The crowd had given enough space for the dancers, and everyone cheered when the mermaids started to sing with their sweet voices. They sang in a different language that I didn't recognize, but I wondered how they could even speak under the ocean floor. I figured it took a lot of practice.

The four singers started to hum and the fifth dancer sang a solo. Her voice was so strong and pure that it seemed to melt everyone's heart, even mine.

Soon she stopped singing and began to dance again. She twirled so fast making the rubies that she wore around her waist begin to give off a powerful glow.

Suddenly, she stopped twirling and began to move her hips and her upper body. It reminded me of a belly dancer, and she started to move her arms in the rhythm of her waist.

Then, she stopped. She seemed to stare at every one of us one by one, and I saw the color of her eyes. They were red, and it almost reminded me the color of blood. Her eyes stopped on mine and I couldn't help but shiver. They were full of hate, and a desire that I could not describe.

I think she saw me shiver for that a grin formed on her face.

I looked up at Miruko wondering if he stared at the women in awe just like the other mermen did. But instead, I saw anger in his eyes.

I figured she was not a very friendly person at all.

She swam towards me, and I couldn't help but realize how graceful she was. A merman beside me thought she was going to come towards him, so his body tensed. But she stopped in front of me and I noticed the disappointment in the merman's eyes.

"Well my lady, it's a pleasure to finally meet you at last." She said. I almost shivered again by the coldness in her voice. But I managed to stay steady.

"Um… hi." I said uneasily.

She chuckled. "You look so much like your father."

I stared at her in surprise. "You knew my father?"

She stared at me like I was an idiot. "Why yes, everyone knew your father."

"What do you mean?"

Miruko broke the conversation. "Eugina, the king's orders were not to tell Calypsa anything from her families past."

I broke in, "What king? Icarus is the king?"

Miruko didn't say anything for a while, until he shook his head. "I've said too much."

I looked at Eugina. "Tell me please, is Icarus the king?"

"Well, yes."

I glared at Miruko. "You could've at least told me that."

He frowned and did not reply.

"Well lady Calypsa, the ritual dance is going to start soon in order to favor the Gods. Everyone is welcome to dance, and I'm sure you'd like to dress up nicer other than wearing that… thing."

I stared down at the tank top I was wearing. Nothing was really wrong with it, but this wasn't really the type of mermaids clothing. I looked around to see everyone was wearing something different, either something like the dancers wore or simply seaweed strewn together to cover the mermaids private parts.

"But I can't dance." I said.

"Oh it's easy; you don't have to be an expert. I'll show you some simple things, don't worry." But I noticed the strange glee across her eyes.

I stared at Miruko to see if he would let me go, he just nodded his head with his arms crossed over his chest.

"If you say so." I said shyly.

She smiled and gestured me to follow her. I swam beside her and the crowd watched us go in silence. A music started up, one that I never heard of since the instruments were so different. I wondered where it was coming from, but Eugina told me to hurry up.

We came to a corner where mermaids chattered noisily and jewelry was hanging in stacks on rocks. We entered in some sort of tent where I guessed the dancers dressed up, which it was, since mermaids were busy fixing their hair and trying on some outfits.

"This is where we dancers put all the rubies and diamonds we need. Or simply a dressing room as everyone calls it." Eugina explained. "Feel free to put anything you want."

I thanked her quietly and looked around the place. My eyes immediately stopped on a shelf, I saw something that looked like a vest, and like everything else in this room, it had rubies placed on it. I thought it looked pretty good so I took it off the shelf and showed it to Eugina.

She frowned. "That? Why don't you just get something to cover that?" She pointed her finger below my waist and I wondered what she meant.

"Cover my waist? What for?"

She stared at me exasperated. "Don't you see the small slit their?"

I stared harder at what she was pointing and found out that she was right.

"Oh, but it's just a slit."

"Just a slit? You pee out that you know." She said.

I stared at her open mouthed. "Oh, I… didn't know." Maybe that's why everyone stares at me in shock, I thought.

"Well now you do. Haven't you noticed everyone covers their waist?" She said. I nodded.

"So then next time cover your waist, and your behind."

I stared at her wide eyed. She laughed.

So I looked for something to cover my waist and spotted a nice simple belt that looked like a skirt on the same shelf. It wasn't too fancy, which I was happy for.

I showed it to her and she frowned again. "Get something more pretty."

"But I'm fine with this one."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, don't you want to show your beauty to that Miruko?"

I glared at her, "I don't—"

"Yeah that's what everyone says and soon enough they fall in love with the guy."

I opened my mouth to argue but she told me to hurry up and get dressed. I glared at her and did what I was told.

When I was done, she grinned and led me outside. But before I left, I grabbed my blue tank top since the outfit I wore felt itchy, and I followed her.

When we were about to arrive where everybody was dancing, Eugina pulled me to a corner.

"Listen you rat. You might as well be the queen for this damned place, but I don't give the hell who you are. I know Icarus is mad about you, but don't you dare take him from me, understood? He's mine, and I'm not going to let you touch him you filth."

I was taken back by her remark. I didn't even know she liked Icarus.

"I don't like him anyway." I replied.

She laughed. "I don't give a shit, I know your lying. He's crazy about you, and I'm going to find out why. Because him and I were in love until you showed up!"

I just stared at her dumbfounded. I hated Icarus, how could she even think that I even loved him? But then again she might not know what Icarus did to my father.

I glared at her as I spoke back, "I don't even like Icarus, not one bit. Do you even know what he did to my father?"

She rolled her eyes. "Your father gave up his own kingdom just to marry your own mother. Even if Icarus did kill your father, he deserved it! A king never abandons his own kingdom for a filthy little whore!"

I clenched my teeth and was about to strike her until I stopped and stared at her in disbelief.

"My – my father was a—"

"King." She finished.

I grew still for a moment not believing what I was actually listening to.

"But—but how can that be?"

I heard her give an exasperated sigh. "Since it was the king's order not to tell you anything, I think I should keep my mouth shut."

"But I thought my father was the king?"

"You stupid girl! I told you that your father abandoned his kingdom! Icarus took his place, think straight you filthy idiot!"

"I - but how did Icarus—"

"Why don't you shut up and go fuck someone you rotten whore. Nobody cares if Icarus took your father's place, I'm glad that piece of crap died! Icarus is a better king anyway and I hope he makes your life a living hell!"

I glared at her and was about to reply back until she interrupted me again.

"Oh and I hope that crack pot sister of yours dies too. That stupid moron, I heard she can't even read." She smirked, "What a retard."

I felt as if my blood began to boil from rage. She had no right to talk about my family that way.

"Shut up or I'll—"

"Or you'll what? Are you going to call Icarus to save your sorry ass?" She mocked.

Before I knew what I was doing, I screamed and lunged at her. I pushed her hard against a rock and began to claw at her face. She screamed and frantically tried to stop me, but I knew she couldn't. I was full of hate; no one could talk about my family that way.

"Why doesn't Icarus save your sorry ass now!" I screamed.

She continued to scream, and I didn't notice anyone come up from behind me. I felt strong arms wrap around me and push me away from Eugina.

"Let go!" I screamed. I thrashed around violently until I smacked whoever it was with my tail. I heard a short cry, yet I was still trapped in the person's arms.

I saw other mer people surround me and I had no idea I made such a racket. I looked over at Eugina and noticed how blood poured out from her face.

She glared and pointed at me. "She attacked me!" She told everyone. "I was helping her learn how to dance, but she attacked me!"

My eyes grew wide. "I did not! She was insulting my family!" I shrieked.

The arms around me tightened and I winced, he was practically crushing my ribs. I looked behind me to see who was keeping me still. It was a merman I didn't recognize. I then noticed he was one of the guards since he wore armor across his chest.

"Your family?" I looked up to see another merman who had spoken, one I did not recognize either. He had one of his arms wrapped around a mermaids shoulder; they looked like a couple.

"She wanted to kill me!" Eugina shrieked.

I struggled again under the merman's grip. "Liar!" I yelled.

Eugina clutched her face and her eyes turned watery. She put on an innocent face, "I was only trying to help you, why did you attack me Calypsa?"

"Stop lying! I did not attack you, you piece of shit!" I screamed. I started to curse at her insanely, and all the while everyone stared at me like I was a wild animal. I noticed Miruko was among the crowds and he stared at me worriedly.

"Let me GO!" I yelled one last time before I felt my face grow hot, and my mind grow dizzy. I felt a strange new energy build up from my inside and didn't seem to notice the white glow around me. My face was burning red and I probably looked like an insane killer, but my eyes never left Eugina. The merman who held me let go and stared at me in shock.

I wanted to rip her to shreds, to see the agony on her face, to watch her suffer, and most of all kill her. I was about to lunge at her, but instead something bright came out of my hand, almost as if by magic. It headed straight for Eugina, and the water grew a strange red color.

Eugina stared at the glowing thing for just a second until it hit her hard on the chest. She screamed in agony before I watched her be thrown against a rock.

No one moved for a second, until six mermaids rushed to Eugina's side for aid. Everyone else stared at me in shock. I began to realize a larger crowd had formed and Icarus pushed out of everyone's way to see what all the fuss was about.

He first looked at Eugina's still form and a look of worry crossed over his face. For the first time I saw a look of sadness cross over his eyes until he looked at me. Then that same evil returned and a look of anger spread over his face.

"Did she do this?" Icarus asked while glaring at me. Everyone nodded and their reply's were 'yes your majesty'.

I shouted out in despair, "I didn't mean it! Honestly I meant no harm! I don't know how I did what just happened!"

When I met Icarus's eyes I saw hate, disgust, and fear.

Someone shouted out that I was a murderer, and soon everyone followed his pursuit. They screamed louder each time they said the word, and Icarus said nothing to stop them.

I began to scream and clutched my head trying to drown out the voices. "No! You're all wrong! I'm not a murderer, please Icarus tell them I'm not a murderer!" But all he did was stare at me.

My eyes grew watery and I pushed my way through the crowd. Mer people moved out of my way quickly, afraid that I might hurt them too.

I swam out of this place as quickly as I could. I heard Icarus's shout for someone to stop me, but I paid no attention to him. I swam so fast, everything went by in a blur. I was amazed at my sudden speed.

I saw the glow of the city soon disappear as I swam up the tall cliff. The ocean's darkness took place, and fishes scattered away from me in fear.

The water pressed against me tightly and my hair swirled under the water while brushing against my face. I had my hands outstretched to see where I was going until I noticed a small light from the top of the ocean floor. I swam faster to that direction moving my tail madly and all the while it seemed to scream at me to stop. I was growing tired.

I heard someone call my name, and although it sounded familiar, I ignored it. But this caused me to swim faster.

Suddenly the water's surface loomed into view and I sprang out of the ocean, hovering in the air for a moment, feeling the light breeze hit against my face, the splashes of the water dancing around me, and the rays of the sun hitting against my back until I dropped back into the sea. I smiled at the warm feeling of the outside world and I jumped out of the water again to feel the air once more.

As I dropped back into the water, I spotted a small rock just a few feet away from me. I quickly swam over to it.

As I approached the rock, I tried climbing it using my hands and tail. It was difficult since my fish tail was so tired from swimming so hard, so I had to use my hands mostly.

As I finally sat at the top of the rock, I gazed around the sea, but my vision was a little blurry. However, I managed to see the bright blue sky with a few clouds up above me, feeling the wind blowing against me softly, and the sound of water hitting against the rock gently. Although the crazy incident just happened a few minutes ago, I never felt better in the last few days.

I smiled and closed my eyes while taking in a huge deep breath from my nose, smelling the salty air for a moment, and then let it out slowly. Breathing this way felt like a long lost memory.

I opened my eyes and stared right at the sun until I looked away from its strong brightness. The suns rays glowed against my face and I felt warm inside, almost as if someone was comforting me. But the outfit I wore felt uncomfortable, so I took it all off and put back my tank top not caring if I wore nothing to cover the slit just below my waist.

So I just sat there, staring straight ahead realizing I was so close to the shore. It was about half a mile away.

My front body began to hurt from the sun, so I turned around. Now the suns rays were hitting my back. But soon enough, it began to burn as well.

So I began to cry.

For the first time I felt tears flow down my cheeks, and I always thought mermaids had no tears. But I figured I probably never felt it since I was underwater. So I cried and a sob escaped my throat.

I knew I had to return back to the sea, and I dreaded it. I just wanted to sit here feeling the soft wind blow against my face, and the heat of the sun on my body.

I wish Mina was here, I thought. At least I wouldn't feel as bad.

"Mina…" I whispered. It took me a while to finally realize I said that; talking had seemed like a long lost memory too.

The wind seemed to carry my voice and I turned around. I stared at the shore ahead of me with my hair blowing against my face. There, I could've sworn I saw someone.

The white figure standing on the island soon disappeared, and I realized I was probably seeing things.

I turned back around and stared at the never ending sea ahead of me. The wind hit me harder, and I felt as if the wind was urging me to talk again. It was a strange feeling, but it felt so real.

Speak… It told me. I gasped and couldn't help but wonder if the wind had told me that.

Tell what you want… It whispered. The voice was soft, like an angel's.

My mind told me I was only hearing things, but my heart told me to answer. I hesitated wondering which choice was best.

Speak… The wind said once more.

I decided it was best to follow my heart. But what did I want? My father? He was dead, along with my mother. The only thing left for me to want was Mina, but how could I get her?

I whispered my sister's name wondering if that might work. The wind drifted around me as if saying I should go on.

"Come to the sea." I said, my voice seemed to be carried by the wind, and itblew harder causing the water around me to churn.

"I need you… Mina please." I said as I fought back tears.

"Come to me."

I closed my eyes and said in a stronger voice. "Come to where you belong."

And the wind faded as it carried my words.

A/N: Have a Happy New Year everyone!