The next day while Alastor was at work and Beth was at school, Charlie decided to walk down to the beach and stroll across the shore. At first she only stayed on the sand and watched the waves, feeling the sea breeze on her face. It was very relaxing and the sight was lovely. The perfect blend of land and sea. How she desired for both worlds to be united like the shore and the tide.

But soon the ocean called to her. She looked around to make sure that no one could see her and when she saw that she was alone, she began to walk into the water. Her legs were turned into a tail again and she happily swam about the waves. Now while Charlie was fascinated with the world above and had enjoyed living in it so far, she couldn't cut herself off from the sea completely. After all it was where she had been born and raised. The sea was apart of who she was.

It was a conundrum. She didn't want to be apart of just the sea and she didn't want to be apart of just the land either. She wanted to be apart of both. Many would disagree, but Charlie was more like a mermaid than any other who had ever lived. For you see a mermaid was half fish, half woman. Half a creature of the sea and half a creature of the land. Yet despite this the lot of them had chosen to live the lives that their fish side was more comfortable with. Ignoring anything that related to the half which was a woman. But Charlie wasn't like that.

Like a fish she was happy under the waves but like a woman she was happy above the waves too. She was drawn to both worlds. She longed to be somewhere in between, and that was actually a lot more natural and normal than her people realized.

"I can't understand why we have to limit ourselves to only one world." She thought as she sat herself on a rock and looked out at the horizon. "If I only belong in the sea then why does one part of me resemble a human woman? And if I only belong on land then why does the other part of me resemble a fish?"

"You know I wouldn't sit on that rock for too long. Someone could see."

At first Charlie was startled when she realized someone who wasn't Beth was here but she felt relief when she turned to see that it was only Vaggie, standing in the shallow end.

"Oh hello again." She greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"My boss sent me down here to make sure that one of my co-workers wasn't fishing on the job again. What are you doing out in the ocean during the day? Somebody could see you."

"I know but I can't help it. I am a mermaid after all. The ocean is my home."

"I know that, so why is that you're so interested in land? What made you care so much about humans? Did you hate it under water or something?"

"No. I'm very happy living in the ocean."

"So why come up here?"

"Well apart from wanting to spare humanity from genocide, it's because land feels like home to me too. Growing up, I was content in the sea with my family and with all it's creatures. But at the same time I felt that there was a second place that I belonged in. New people that I needed in my life. Technically speaking, I am half human. So why is it so strange for me to want to be on land?"

"So do you just want to become a full fledged human and live on land forever?"

"No. I love the ocean and I would hate to be apart from it forever. But I love being on land just as much. I don't want to have to choose, I want live in both worlds."

"You know that's not possible right?"

"I know but I'm constantly drawn to the land and the sea. And I don't know what I'm going to do when Summer ends and I have to go home. I couldn't bear to never see my parents and my sisters again, but now I don't know if I could ever bring myself to leave Alastor and Beth for good."

"At least you have the freedom to leave this world and at least you can go back to wherever you came from. I can't do either."

"What do you mean?"

"The other fairies in my hollow rejected me for not having wings. They'd never let me come back, even if I begged them. And because of a mistake I made, I can't ever leave this place. Not unless I do something horrible."

"What is it you have to do?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Just be glad that you have freedom."

Charlie gave her a sympathetic look.

"Vaggie are you happy?"

"Happiness is overrated don't you think?" She spoke it as a joke but Charlie didn't laugh.

"Vaggie do you need help? We don't know each other very well and I wouldn't blame you for not trusting me but, if you're in trouble I'll do whatever I can to help you."

"That's sweet but you can't help me. I got myself into this mess and I'm the only one who can get myself out of it."

"There must be something I can do. What exactly is the problem? What mistake did you make? And why is it that you can't leave here?"

Vaggie sighed and took a few moments to think before she spoke again.

"I'm only telling you this so you don't end up like me. You know Valentino?"

"The man who owns the circus?"

"Yeah except he's not just some sleazy carny. You know that freak show he has? Most people think it's just smoke and mirrors. But it's not. They're real mythical creatures who he conned into becoming his slaves. He sniffs out our misery or our anger or our fear, then he comes to us with an offer for something better but at a high price. Clouded by negative emotion, we agree to his bargain and end up selling our souls to him. So now he owns us."

"Vaggie that's terrible. You can't stay with him."

"I have no choice. He has my soul. If any one of us leaves him without our souls, we die. So we're trapped."

"Is there a way to get your soul back?"

"Either he gives it back willingly or we wait for him to die. We've all contemplated killing him but he's too clever and too powerful, and right now he's looking for a new act. So for your own sake stay away from him and the circus."

"But what about you?"

"I've lived under his thumb for years. There's nothing more he can do to me."

"But you and those other creatures shouldn't have to live like this. I'll find a way to help you."

"Don't do that."

"I'll find a way to help you all."

"You can't. I didn't tell you this because I wanted your help. I told you this because I wanted you to be careful. Valentino is very charming and manipulative, he preys on feelings. If he ever comes near you, run or swim like Hell. Promise me you'll do that."

"Vaggie-"

"Promise! I couldn't live with myself if another creature was ensnared by him because of me."

"I...I promise."

"Good."

"Can I at least still be friends with you?"

"As long as Valentino doesn't find out, we can be friends."

"And can I tell Beth about you?"

"No. I don't trust children."

"You'd change your mind if you really got to know her. But I won't say anything."

"Does the other one know about you yet?"

"No."

"And he suspects nothing?"

"Not a thing."

"I don't know how you can live under the same roof as him for this long and he still hasn't caught on to what you are, what is he, stupid?"

"No but he hasn't seen me wet and he doesn't believe in the supernatural so when I act different, me being a non-human doesn't come to mind."

"Humans males are certainly not the most perceptive creatures and that's only one of the reasons why I don't get involved with them."

On cue, the girls suddenly picked up the sound of a snorting noise which was followed by a human voice that was getting closer.

"Someone's coming!" Charlie gasped before diving off the rock and vanishing under water.

"I tell ya Fat Nuggets, I don't know why Valentino insisted we spend a day at the beach but I'm not complaining. I need to work on my tan."

"Oh no." Vaggie thought when she recognized the voice.

As soon as Angel came around the corner, Vaggie quickly got out of the water and went to hide. If she had been quiet then she would have been able to leave without him ever acknowledging that she was there. But a nearby jellyfish stung her leg and she let out a scream.

"Oww!"

Angel took off his sunglasses and spotted her hoping up and down on the shore, clutching her left foot.

"Vaggie?"

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" She whined.

He put down his bag and went to her aid.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked her.

"I got stung by a damn jellyfish!"

"Are you gonna be okay?"

"Yes. It's only a little-" She tried to walk on her foot but she felt great pain again. "Oh God this hurts! This hurts so bad! I can barely stand! Do something!"

"Only one thing to do about a jellyfish sting. You have to pee on it."

"What?! No way! That can't be!"

"Oh it be toots."

"If you're lying I will drown you right in this ocean!"

"I'm not. There's like ammonia in urine that's supposed to help ease the pain."

"I am not peeing on my own foot! I don't even think I can."

"I can do it."

"No! Absolutely not! I'd rather suffer through the pain!"

"Suit yourself."

He turned to leave. Vaggie tried to walk on her foot again but the swelling, the itching, and the pain made it seem impossible. Especially when her feet were often very sore due to Valentino forcing her to dance twenty-four seven.

"Wait!" She called. "Okay, do it! But make it quick and don't you dare tell anyone about it!"

"My lips are sealed." He assured her before beginning to strip down, Vaggie averted her eyes and out stretched her foot.

"Happy place Vaggie." She told herself. "Happy place."