The Heart of the Sea: A Genderswapped Little Mermaid Retelling (Once Upon a Reimagined Time) by Chesney Infalt

Author:Chesney Infalt [Infalt, Chesney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookDragon Publishing
Published: 2021-08-31T23:00:00+00:00

Caspian

Devere and I made it to the family meeting after everyone else. The throne room of the undersea palace was open, just like the rest, columns holding up the structure with enough space in between for most types of sea creatures to fit through easily, although most did not dare come unless invited.

Mother and Father were there, as were two of our brothers. Raed had been missing for a long time, and no one had a clue what happened to him. Then there were Hedeon and Ammiras, two mermen Devere insisted were our brothers, regardless of the fact that I had no recollection of them. And…

Where were they? Apparently we were not the last ones to arrive.

Uncharacteristically still, Mother pressed her lips into a thin line and looked at the floor, which was a mosaic of seashells and stones. Father put a hand on her back as he addressed us with his deep voice, “Another tragedy has struck: Hedeon and Ammiras are missing.”

Devere peeked at me out of the corner of his eye, concern tightening his features. Our other brothers went just as still as Mother, sinking until their tails rested against the floor like hers.

“I have sent out search parties,” Father continued, “but in the meantime, I expect you to stay here, where it is safe.”

“But Father,” Aakil, the eldest of our brothers, interrupted, “we wish to seek them out as well.” His tailfin twitched. “You cannot expect us to wait and do nothing.”

Tears slipped from Mother’s eyes and floated off her face to meld with the sea. Father wrapped his arm firmly around her shoulders.

“No, I expect you to console your mother and remain here where I know where you are. We have already lost—” He cleared his throat. “We have already lost Raed. And while we still hold to hope that he will find his way back to us, we must focus our efforts on bringing Hedeon and Ammiras home and keeping the rest of you safe.” His nearly black eyes found mine. “No one leaves.”

I started to object, but Father dismissed us with a flick of his tail. My brothers bowed their heads and left for their rooms, Devere last among them after throwing me a warning look.

And yet, I stayed. Neither of my parents seemed surprised.

With a sigh, Father said, “Caspian, I know you wish to see your human friends, but if you could wait a few days until we find your brothers, that would make things easier on everyone.”

“But you know where I go,” I countered. “I am either with them or I am here.”

“Or out being reckless with Devere.” Father raised a dark brow.

“We would not be so foolish as to do that with our brothers missing.”

“But you would risk leaving here to see humans?”

Mother looked up at Father and patted his hand. “You know the World Above is fascinating, Fiske. Just because the humans are starting to hate us does not mean we—”

“What do you mean?” I cut in. Guilt nipped at me, but I had to know, so I could not bring myself to regret asking.

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