Erza's heterochromic eyes narrowed then glowed violet as she pressed a finger to CALLIE's forehead. "Don't promise. Make the oath. Swear to me you will not tell anyone what I am about to tell ya."

"But... I can't make an oath. I'm only human."

"Making a divine oath only takes one magic user. Swear it."

"You really don't trust me?"

"No. I trust only myself. If you're not willing to swear by the gods, then we have nothing to discuss."

"You're making me really nervous. But okay! I swear by your gods I won't speak a word." A warmth spread from Erza's finger until it became more focused. The magic was like a string wrapping itself around Callie's brain and suddenly tugging tight. "Ouch! That hurt!"

"It'll hurt worse if ya break your oath."

"Noted. Geez," she winced rubbing her head as the pain faded away. "So why the secrecy?"

"It's complicated. Triton told you a seawitch is obligated to help the Atlanteans adapt to the land due to the divine oath, right?" Callie only nodded. The witch continued, "Well, it's foolish to do something without compensation. I had no choice but to help Delphi blend in, but getting close to Hayden does not warrant inciting the oath. I told her I'd only help if I got something out of it. You look disappointed. You don't agree?"

"Depends on what you made her promise..."

"You need to understand Delphi's position. For running away and forsaking her engagement to Triton, she already risked banishment. That was all her choice. But as long as she marries Hayden, she thinks it will be worth it and she will be happy."

"You're not convinced?"

"I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from her getting Hayden. If she commits to being a human... she won't need her powers. She has agreed to transfer her powers to me."

"What? She can do that?"

"I can... if she willingly gives them up. With her power and mine combined, I think I will be able to lift my blood curse and return to Atlantis." As she spoke, she looked around to make sure no one was watching, then she placed her hand in the shallow touch pool.

Understanding dawned as she watched the water ripple away and Erza's hand remained dry. "That's amazing."

"No... it's not... "

"So you want to go to Atlantis? But why?"

"It is where I belong. To return to our ancestral home is every seawitch's dream, an innate obsession. My ancestors are the ones who offended the gods, but it's the descendants who suffer. You don't understand, Callie. Seawitches are not just banned from Atlantis. Having Mer blood, but being unable to even touch the ocean is a sentence worse than death. It is to want something you can never have. It's agonizing. My mother believed it shortens our lifespan as well.... It's as if this want is part of the punishment. I don't want to die in that old antique shop like her..."

"I'm sorry. That sounds awful. But why can't you tell Triton? I think he would understand if you---"

"He won't. In Atlantis, if it goes against their doctrine, it is frowned upon. Reversing a divine punishment would be considered blasphemous. Atlanteans have no sympathy for my kind. You've seen Triton's disdain firsthand."

"Yes... but what about Delphi?"

"Delphi is questioning things... but she is merely twisting words at this point, trying to stay within the lines of her faith, but still keep her fantasies. My purpose suits her own goals..."

"I thought you two were friends. But the way you make it sound--"

"We have an understanding like you and Triton, Callie. Except you're not getting anything out of your arrangement, are you?" She studied her for a moment. Then a touch of pity lurked in the depths of neon violet. Callie suddenly felt exposed in the most disturbing of ways. "Nothing anyone would want anyway."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she countered grasping for anything to hide from the witch's knowing gaze.

"Yes, you do."

"Callie! There you are!" Adam exclaimed, "They got a squid over here. Where you been, sheila?"

"Here. I was just talking to---" Callie turned back, but Erza was gone. "Oh... nevermind."

"If you're looking for your cuz, I think I saw him over at the gift shop."

"Who?"

"You know, Triton."

Her face flushed. "He's not my cousin!"

"Oh... then-"

"Hey, we're heading to the lockers to get changed," Dion hollered. "You coming? The movie starts in an hour."

"Yeah, it's gonna get super crowded. You need to change and grab a tube before they're all gone," Ashley added.

Callie nodded. "Yeah. Sure. I left our stuff in my car. We'll meet you there."

She found Triton still inspecting the merchandise in the gift shop. "Did you find anything you like? The others are ready to head to the pool."

He gave her back the twenty dollars. "Everything is overpriced and useless here. You should save your money."

"It's not about usefulness. Souvenirs are for memories. It's your first time at the aquarium. You should get something. Oh, look! It's your best friend!" She picked up a stuffed seal that looked identical to the one obsessed with the prince, and waved it around. In an altered high voice, she teased, "Buy me, Triton. Buy me. For only $16.99, you can have my love forever."

He shook his head with a smile. "I think you're the one who wants it. What did Erza say?"

She placed the seal back on the shelf and they walked out of the shop. "I think she is just worried about Delphi, but didn't want to admit that."

"I don't buy it. You two were talking for a while. What else did she have to say?"

It could have been her imagination, but it was as if the magic string made its presence known as a warning. It didn't hurt, but she felt it. Choosing her next words with care, she said, "She was just explaining the seawitch curse to me. She isn't evil and she has nothing to do with whatever the seawitches did in the past. It seems wrong that she is punished for it. You know that, don't you, Triton?"

He ran a hand through his hair as they walked out into the parking lot. "Yes... but you can't trust her..."

"Why not? And don't say because she is a seawitch. That isn't a good reason."

"I know it doesn't make sense to you, Callie. Look. It's not about the witch. I just don't want Delphi to be taken advantage of. By anyone."

"Oh."

The idea that Triton may actually be in love with Delphi and just not realize it, came to Callie's mind. It wasn't the first time she suspected it, but it didn't give her the same sense of glee it once did.

🐳🐳🐳

Glow sticks floated around the pool water. It was a giant wave pool, except the waves were turned off. Above was a large movie screen. The lounging beach chairs were moved into the shallow end where spectators could enjoy the show. Most of the young guests, however, like their own party, armed themselves with the offered floating tubes and went for the deeper water. By the time Callie and Triton had changed, all the double seat floats were gone leaving only one single tube.

"You can have it. I'm an excellent swimmer," Triton said with a dry smirk.

"I know, but I don't want you wading in the water during the whole movie. We'll take turns."

He conceded to this logic and they joined their group in the middle of the pool where Callie's feet could no longer touch the bottom. She was happy to see Hayden and Delphi had secured their own double float.

Triton folded his arms over the side of their ring to where the two were facing one another. She was pretty sure Triton could still touch, though the water was up to his neck. "You can sit in it first, if you want. As long as I can hold onto it, I'm fine."

"And I'm fine like this."

"Can you stay in the water... like this... for long?" She asked in a whisper.

"I should be asking you that, human," he whispered back. "I live in water. What are you worried about?"

"You sprouting fins."

"I am in complete control of my form."

"Um..."

"You can ask me anything, Callie. I'll tell you." His eyes were like a mirror of the shimmering water surrounding them.

It's not fair for someone to be so stupidly gorgeous. All trace of anger from their fall out was gone. She was desperately wishing she could forget the feel of his touch just as thoroughly.

"What does your other form look like?"

"I'll show you sometime."

"You will?"

"Yeah. Why the surprise?"

"I don't know. Just thought it was some big secret."

"Well, I guess it is technically forbidden for me to show you. But we're far past that point, wouldn't you say?"

"Hey Cal. Did they run out of floats?" Adam asked swimming up to the two.

"Yeah," Triton answered for her.

"That blows. Anyway, Callie, I actually got a double floater in case they ran out. You can share it with me, if you want."

"Oh... that was thoughtful. Thanks." Not understanding or liking the tension between the three, she decided to take the offer. "Now you can have this float to yourself, Triton."

He grunted in agreement, not meeting her eyes.

TRITON didn't expect Callie to accept Adam's offer so readily. After all, watching movies together was their thing. Or so he thought. Was she still mad at him? Was this payback for the kiss? How long must he suffer?

Get over yourself.

Callie's words from earlier echoed in his head as he watched Adam keep the float steady while Callie climbed up on her side. It may not be about him at all. It's obvious Adam likes Callie. Maybe she likes him back now? Human emotions are fickle.

Callie's laugh sweetened the chlorine air as Adam made a fool of himself trying to get up on the float only to splash back into the water. Triton stiffened. Come to think of it. Callie always laughs when she is around the human boy, after she gets past her own self-consciousness. If movies have taught him anything, it is that plotlines are recycled and laughing together is a sign of blossoming love... that or prolonged, tension-filled, cringeworthy staring.

When the movie started, he tried to just focus on the story. But his eyes kept straying to the two pairs of couples. He shouldn't have come. What was the purpose if he couldn't sabotage Delphi and if he couldn't watch the movie with Callie. His mood was so shallow, he didn't even pretend to tolerate Ashley when she tried to start conversation with him. He completely ignored her.

He barely registered the movie, though he knew they were talking about hunting and killing a shark. Though the music score was enticing, there was no big explosions or really any special effects to reign his attention.

Then the ending came and the shark was finally shown. The vicious attack and bloody water chilled the prince's bones. He couldn't breath. Frozen in terror, he relieved the most terrifying moment of his childhood. Except his monster made the movie robot look tame. He had to get out. The pool water was too cold, too dark, too dangerous.

After the ending credits, everyone was rushing to get out of the pool. And not a moment too soon, CALLIE thought looking at her pruned fingers.

"That was fun," Hayden said as they all returned their floats.

"Yeah, it was," Delphi readily agreed.

"You had your eyes covered through most of it," he accused.

"There were so many jumps scares and fake outs! It was scary!"

"I still can't believe you never seen Jaws before."

"I'm full of surprises," Delphi teased.

"Have any of you seen Triton?" Callie asked looking around for her roommate.

"Triton didn't stay for the movie, right?" Delphi asked. The alarm in her voice put Callie on edge.

"He did. But I didn't see him at the end."

"Oh no..."

"Delphi, want to run to the bathroom with me?" Without waiting for a response, Callie grabbed the mermaid's arm and weaved between the throngs of people leaving the aquarium.

"We need to find him. I can't believe he would watch this movie! I mean, just look at the poster for it!"

"I thought he would like it... I mean... are sharks really an issue for you guys? Jaws is a fictitious monster with an unexplained bloodlust. An actual shark attack is rare since humans aren't their preferred choice of food. I thought Atlanteans would be the same."

"The creatures down where we are ... they are not quite benign. Triton had an encounter with a very powerful one when he was only six years old. He went missing for days, you see. I don't recall much as I was even younger, but I do remember the panic. Everyone thought he was dead."

"What happened?"

"He killed Leviathan."

"Leviathan?"

"A shark-like creature. Last of the giants... beasts avoided at all costs. When Leviathan was around, our people didn't stray far from the barrier," Delphi explained in a somber tone.

"I see. If this thing was so terrifying, how did a six year old kill him?"

Delphi hugged her arms to her chest. "I've already said too much. Not many know how much Triton is still affected by it and he likes to keep it that way. Image was everything. Typical Atlantean pride, he didn't want anyone to know he was scared... I don't know if he knew that I knew."

Shaking her head, Callie said, "Okay. We should definitely find him if the movie triggered him."

"Okay. I'll say goodbye to Hayden then we can---"

"No, wait. You should go on with Hayden. I'll make sure Triton is okay."

"Oh. Are you sure?"

"Positive. I understand you are worried about him, but leaving Hayden to go after Triton wouldn't look... right."

Delphi looked conflicted for just a moment, then nodded her head. "You're right. Thank you, Callie." Before she left, the princess hugged her and whispered, "Take care of him."

I really struggled with this chapter between writers block, my own ugh-this-writing-is-sucking mindset, being sick and working extra hours before holiday season... yeah I've been struggling.

I have such great ideas for where this story is going, but it's getting there..  yeah.

Anyways, I need to ask what you think of the romance? Too rushed or just enough? Lemme know.