Chapter 4- Power

~Caroline Lu~

I walked down the street to the town's local library. Several cars full of highschoolers passed by me, cat calling out the windows. Summer vacation. When everyone seems to think it's time to get wild.

The reason why I'm walking instead of riding to the library is that my mother thinks it's wrong to sit around and do nothing all summer.

Every Summer, I spend alot of time at the library getting books on my list to read. It's out of habit that I always get to the library as soon as school let's out to get all the good ones before everyone else.

I walked into the old library and instantly smelled the smell of old pages in ancient books. I loved that smell. I never got tired of that smell.

I carried my long list of the books I wanted and I headed up the old wooden stairs to the top floor of the library.

"May I help you?" an older woman called out to me as I passed her.

"No, I think I've got it" I replied with a smile.

I walked further and further into the seemingly endless pile of books. The musty old book smell got stronger as I ventured further.

I scanned the shelves for the book I wanted. It seemed to be lost among all the old titles of books up here. Ragged spines stuck out at all angles.

I never found the book I wanted that day, but I did find something that would change my life forever.

It was one of the books that had to be old but looked like it was in excellent condition. It had a spine that shimmered. That's what caught my attention from the start. I tilted my head to the side. The spine read Spells and Modern Day Magic.

I flipped through the book and laughed to myself. This could be funny to try, why not? I skipped out the library without getting any of the books I had originally came for.

I jogged all the way home. I was excited to try the new spells out to see if magic could really exist.

When I opened the front door, I realized the house was quiet. Everyone was out. Perfect. I figured that quietness and alone time would help me with the spells. Maybe being alone would help make the spells come true.

I sat the book down on my vanity and opened the book to a random page number. I scanned over the ingredients and started shuffling around the house to get everything I needed.

Ingredients:

One necklace, bracelet, ring, or charm of some sort that will contain the magic you are about to use.

A bowl of warm water.

Sea salt

The spell

Instrustions:

Pour a handfull of sea salt into the warm water. Make sure your charm is secure on your body. Once you get this power, you must not take it off. If you take it off, you will lose the power of the mermaids. You must chant the spell three times while touching the water, after you are done chanting, dispose of the water and resume your normal life.

The spell:

I call upon the goddesses and the gods of sea,

To make me what I've always truly wanted to be.

Give me my powers as soon as you can,

So I can be where the water meets the sand.

A mermaid is what I wish,

Half woman, half fish.

I took a deep breath and followed the spell.

A few seconds ticked by but nothing happened. Maybe it takes time?

"Caroline, are you home?" I heard my mother call from downstairs.

"Yes what is it?" I asked.

"We're going out to eat tonight, you ready?" she replied.

"I'm coming" I said and I grabbed a small jacket to wear out.

Later, when we got back I was super tired. I told my family I was going to shower and go to bed early.

I slipped into the steaming water and I felt a strange tugging sensation. Then my legs were gone! I had a fish tail!

I looked at it, running my hands along the scales, not believing it was true. Oh right! The spell! I almost forgot!

The shower head immediatly turned on and I held up my hands to protect my body from the water. A jelly like substance fell over me. I stopped holding my hands up and the shower turned off completely.

Several days went by that these strange new things happened. I walked back to the library to give the devilish book back. The same lady before gave me a strange look when I handed over the book.

"Child, tell me you haven't used this book" she asked.

"I have, but I want no more part of it ma'am" I replied with an embarassed blush. She seemed to be staring into my soul.

"My name is Madelaine. I know what you are, and I know how to help, please come with me, I've helped many boys and girls that are" she leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper "mermaids and mermen".

Thanks to elysa-lu for entering Caroline. This chapter would have been up earlier today if the site wasn't acting weird. Anyway. Hope you enjoyed, characters are still welcome! Boys especially I'm trying to get couples together but boys are rare here haha!