I knock on Marlee's door, my hand practically shaking, I'm so nervous. Her maid opens the door, bows, and steps aside, letting me in. "Are you ready?" Marlee's sitting on the bed, tying her shoes. She's wearing a simple bikini top and jean shorts, and I've never seen her dressed so casual, as the girls are always wearing dresses around the palace.

She finishes tying her laces and pops up. "As ready as I'll ever be," she smirks, shouldering a backpack. I extend my arm and she takes it. We walk down the hall together, and I try to keep my voice low as I whisper to her.

"You have everything?"

"Yes."

"And you're positive you want to be involved?"

"Of course," Marlee says, snapping her head towards me. "I may not love you Maxon, but I definitely care about you. And it's obvious that you love America. And since you're letting me be with Carter, the least I can do is help you be with her."

"But this could be dangerous."

"Yeah, I know that. And I'm willing to risk it," she says, giving me a light shove as we descent the large staircase leading to the docks.

One of the guards nods as we pass him, holding open the door. "Lady Marlee and I are going to go for a boat ride. Don't expect us back till dinner, perhaps later. Please inform my father," I tell him, winking for effect.

The guard rolls his eyes and nods. "Will do, sir. Have a nice trip," he smirks, closing the door behind us.

I close my eyes, breathing in the sun. It's a very nice day, and the sun feels absolutely splendid against my skin. We reach the docks and I help Marlee into one of the smaller boats. I untie the boat from the docks and start the engine, and then we're off.

"Mer said she'd meet us over there," I say, pointing to a strange-looking rock formation. "Do you see her?" I ask Marlee, worried I'll drive the boat right over her.

"There!" Marlee calls, leaning over the side of the boat. I turn to where she's pointing and see Mer's bright red hair just below the surface. When she spots us, she pops up out of the water, beckoning us closer. I steer the boat over to her and fight the urge to grimace as another head emerges from the water.

"Hello, my dear," I whisper to America, leaning over the edge to give her a gentle kiss.

"Maxon, Marlee, this is Aspen," America introduces, gesturing to the handsome merman on her left.

"Pleasure to meet you, sir," I say, holding out my hand. He shakes it, giving a firm nod, but remains silent. "Where to now?"

"Siren's Bay is fairly far out. It's a bit of a strange path, too, so make sure to follow closely behind. The trip should take an hour or so, if we're fast," Aspen answers, squinting at the horizon.

"Got it."

"Once we get there, we're going to have to be very careful. It's not the safest place."

"What do you mean?" Marlee asks, a hint of fear showing on her face.

Aspen takes a deep breath, locking eyes with America. She gives nothing away, but responds ominously, "You'll see. Now let's go." She dives under the water in a beautiful arc of color, Aspen heading in right after her. Luckily, Mer's hair is bright enough that it basically lights up our pathway. I follow a couple yards behind them, watching their bodies zip through the water. It's astounding, really.

The trip isn't too bad, but Aspen was definitely right about the path. We had to weave between islands in a crooked path and it became hard to navigate. It's been only a bit more than an hour by the time we arrive.

Siren's Bay looks likes any ordinary cave, but the way Mer's face pales at the sight of it tells me it's not. She told me that there were myths about it, strange stories about mermaids disappearing or even dying at the cave. It's supposedly haunted by dead sailors, victims of ancient sirens who used their voices for evil.

"America, are you okay?" I whisper, leaning over the boat to grab her hand.

"Yes . . . I'm just worried," she swallows. "What if this is all wrong? What if it doesn't work? What if we die, Maxon?"

I give her hand a gentle squeeze and her gaze turns to me. Her wide, blue eyes are full of fear. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, America. I promise."

She nods hesitantly before turning to Aspen, awaiting instruction. "You'll have to leave the boat here and swim the rest of the way," he tells me and Marlee. Much to my surprise, Marlee is already stripping off her shorts and shoes, seemingly eager to get in the water. I do the same, peeling off my shirt and kicking off my sandals. "But stay close to us. If either of you gets lost . . ."

He doesn't have to finish the sentence. A dark gray, sleek triangle of scales rises from the water, circling the cave's entrance. Sharks. Lovely.

"Oh," Marlee gasps, stepping away from the boat's edge.

"It's dark in there, too. America and I can see fine, but I'm not sure about you two. Just . . . be careful. Swim slowly."

I swallow hard, looking into the dark unknown that may be our savior or our doom.

Without thinking, I plunge into the water, knowing that if I wait any longer, my fear will hold me back. The water is dark and frozen. I feel claustrophobic, closed in by walls of icy water. A hand reaches for me and pulls me out of the darkness. I gasp for breathe as America holds me close to her. "Maxon, listen to me," she whispers against my ear as my breathing relaxes. "If something happens . . . if for even a moment you think you'll be endanger, I need you to go back. I need you to take Marlee and head back to the castle, okay? I can't . . . I won't let this-"

"Mer," I whisper, pulling away to meet her lips. "We're going to be fine. It's going to be okay." Though I know she doesn't necessarily believe it, she nods and kisses me again.

Aspen clears his throat quite loudly, breaking the two of us apart. A blush rises to Mer's face. "We should head in."

Marlee's already in the water, trailing closely behind Aspen. We follow them, America's hand latched on my wrist as she pulls me along.

Aspen was right; we can't see anything. I feel blind, but I trust America enough to let her lead me through the cave. I hear Marlee gasp and I freeze in place. "Marlee?"

"I'm fine," she whispers back. "Just cut myself on a rock, don't worry."

But we all do. Because if Marlee's bleeding, then the sharks . . .

Before I can even think, I hear Marlee's scream pierce through the darkness. I call after her, but America shoves a hand over my mouth, pressing me against the wall. "What's happening? MARLEE? MARLEE!" I call through America's hand, but it comes out muffled and quiet. Her screaming resides, replaced by the low grunting that I assume is coming from Aspen. "What's going on?"

"Aspen's fighting the shark," America whispers, fear making her voice shake. Marlee's fine, don't worry. Aspen, though . . . " Her voice trails off and I wonder if some part of her loves Aspen. Not romantically, of course. But the way she says his name makes me think there's something between them.

I hear another grunt and the sharp click of teeth slamming together. Aspen growls and I worry he's been bitten. America told me that sharks get along with mermaids, but I assume that's only when they're not defending their food, aka Marlee. "Quick, Marlee, grab my hand," America calls. "Maxon, stay right here and don't move. Don't make a sound, okay?" I nod, too scared to say anything else.

Mer bolts away with Marlee trailing behind her. I assume she's taking her back to the boat, back to safety. Aspen screams something in a language I don't understand. And then I hear his breathing, heavy and labored, and Mer's back at my side. America says something in the same language and Aspen replies. They speak for a moment in tense voices and I wish I knew what they were saying. Finally, America sighs and turns to me. Her bright eyes are the only thing I can see in this darkness.

"I took Marlee back to the ship. She'll be fine - she's just rattled. Aspen's okay, though the shark bit him pretty badly. He'll be fine, though. We just have to be more careful."

"And the shark?" I ask

"Dead," Aspen replies. I don't want to think about how he managed that. Instead, I latch onto America's arm. "Let's go before some of his friends come for revenge."

We swim forwards and luckily encounter none of the shark's brethren. Or if we do, I don't see them. And when I finally think we're in the clear, a burst of light, like lightning, explodes before us. America screams and I hold tight to her. "What was that?"

"That," Aspen says, his voice dark and low. "Is what's going to transform America."