Chapter 2: Building Tension
The underwater kingdom of Atlantis shimmered in all its resplendent glory, a true testament to nature's majestic artistry. Bioluminescent plants cast an ethereal glow, painting the seafloor in hues of blue and green, while schools of vibrant fish darted through the water, their scales catching the light like tiny, living jewels. Amidst this breathtaking tableau, Riss swam with purpose, her tail fin cutting through the water with elegant grace.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more chaotic than the last.
She needed a plan, something that wouldn't leave her bound to some random human, but also wouldn't get her banished from the sea.
She needed advice, someone with more experience in the human world than she had. There was only one person who fit that description: her cousin, Ronan. He had spent more time on land than any other mermaid, even attending a human college. He understood them better than anyone.
Riss made her way towards Ronan's dwelling, a charming underwater cave adorned with glowing shells and sea glass.
The entrance was guarded by a playful school of clownfish, their bright colors a stark contrast to the dark cave. Riss swam past them, her tail flicking gently to signal her presence.
"Ronan," she called out, her voice echoing through the cave. "Are you here?"
A muffled response echoed from within, followed by Ronan's tall, dark figure emerging from the shadows. His dimples were on full display, his smile warm and inviting. "Riss! What brings you here?"
Riss offered him a tight-lipped smile, her eyes filled with worry.
"I've got a bit of a situation, Cousin."
Ronan's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Riss sighed, running a hand through her dark, wavy hair. "I was practicing my legs, you know, like Father always insists. And I got myself into a bit of trouble."
Ronan's eyebrows shot up, his concern evident. "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"
Riss took a deep breath before continuing, "I got caught in a fishing net.
And before I could free myself, some human came along and rescued me."
Ronan's eyes widened in surprise. "A human? Riss, you know what that means."
"Yes, of course I know! I'm betrothed to him now. But I don't even know his name, Ronan! How am I supposed to marry someone I don't even know?" Riss exclaimed, immediately regretting snapping at her cousin.
Ronan's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand, Riss. This is a tough situation. But you know our laws.
If a siren is rescued by a human, she is bound to him," Ronan said gently. "I'm sorry, Riss. I know this isn't what you wanted."
Riss's eyes flashed with defiance. "I won't just accept this, Ronan. I can't. I won't be forced to marry some random human."
Ronan sighed, his gaze drifting to the glowing plants on the cave wall. "I know you won't just accept it, Riss. But you must understand, this isn't just about you. It's about our people, our kingdom. The humans...
they have their own ways, their own rules. Sometimes, they can be... unpredictable," Ronan explained carefully. "But you must respect their laws, just as they must respect ours."
Riss crossed her arms, her tail flicking impatiently. "So, what am I supposed to do? Just go find this human and marry him?"
Ronan chuckled softly. "Well, it's not quite that simple. You need to understand him, his world, his culture. And you need to make sure he understands yours. He might not even want to marry you. Mortal men aren’t quite as desperate and lusty anymore, no offense intended, you might not be his type. Who knows, maybe he’s gay. Maybe he only likes girls who don’t live in the ocean…” Ronan trailed off, being both realistic and trying to make his cousin laugh.
Maybe he’s engaged to someone else. Maybe...” Riss trailed off, her mind racing with possibilities.
Ronan smiled, amused by her line of thought. "You're thinking of all the worst-case scenarios, aren't you? I was just saying that as a possibility. You don’t want to try too hard to get out of this and accidentally upset the ocean’s laws. I’d hate to see you stuck on land because you tried to make your mortal miserable…” Ronan warned with a wry smile, knowing Riss’s tendency to go to extremes when she didn’t get her way.
Riss huffed, her arms still crossed. “I don’t want to be stuck on land either. But how am I supposed to just ‘understand him’ when I don’t even know his name?” she said, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
“Well, you’re going to need to go back and find him. Introduce yourself, get to know him. It’s not like you have to rush into marriage,” Ronan said, his tone soothing. “Do you know *anything* about him?”
Riss shook her head before realizing she had one thing. She reached into her bag and pulled out the sweatshirt he’d given her.
“I have this. Is this going to help me?” Riss said dryly, already assuming this was a dead end.
Ronan’s eyes lit up, reading the writing on the hoodie. “Of course! Now at least you know where he works!” He said, gesturing to the logo, all of which was gibberish to Riss, aside from the wave in the middle.
“Uh, I do? What do you mean? Does it say something?” Riss raised an eyebrow, obviously confused.
“Oh, right. I always forget you wouldn’t know English writing. Bet you’re wishing you’d let me tutor you in it now,” Ronan chuckled. “It says the name of a research institution. It’s actually a partner of my college! I’ve taken a few courses from them, maybe your mystery man was one of my professors or classmates. It at least narrows it down and tells us he’s local. It would be bad for you if he was some tourist, already on his way back home. More than that though, it tells us something essential.” Ronan tapped the logo. “He’s a marine biologist. Probably works in sea life conservation or research, which tells us something about him. You should be able to relate to that. You’re both passionate about the sea.”
Riss’s eyes widened. So, this human was one of them—a sea lover, not just an ordinary land creature. This gave her some hope, at least.
“Maybe,” she said, still feeling overwhelmed. “But how do I find him? I don’t even know his name.
How am I supposed to find someone when I don’t even know what to look for? Riss sighed, feeling like she was drowning in an endless sea of unknowns.
Ronan smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Riss. We'll find him. Where could he possibly hide from a determined siren like you? Besides,” Ronan continued, glancing inside the hood. “It looks like your fiancé was kind enough to leave you a cheat sheet and you’re lucky enough to have a cousin who can read it! He wrote his name and details inside the collar, just in case he lost it. Or, I guess, in case he gave it to a mysterious stranger who would need to find their way back to him.” Ronan smirked, flipping the hoodie around to reveal a small tag sewn into the collar. On it was written:
Alex Thompson
Marine Biologist
423 Maplewood Drive
Coastal Haven
Riss’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re kidding me. He wrote his name and address in the hoodie? Does he not understand how the world works?”
Ronan chuckled, “Well, he is a marine biologist. Maybe he’s just more trusting than most.”
Riss snorted, her skepticism evident. “Or maybe he’s just stupid.
Anyway, it’s a good thing he was so kind and trusting,” Riss said, rolling her eyes. “At least now I have somewhere to start. Thanks, Ronan.”
“Anytime, Cousin. Just be careful, okay? Humans can be full of surprises, and not all of them are good.” Ronan warned, his expression turning serious. “You cannot just show up on his doorstep, you know.”
Riss paused, having already turned to swim away.
“That was totally your whole plan, wasn’t it, Riss? You don’t even know how human addresses work! What do you think any of those numbers or letters mean?” Riss countered, turning back to face Ronan. “I mean, I can see they’re not a map or a treasure chart, but I don’t know what they are.” She gestured to the address tag, a frown marring her otherwise smooth forehead.
Ronan chuckled, running a hand through his long, dark hair. “Well, those numbers and letters are what humans use to navigate their world. They call it an ‘address.’ It tells you exactly where to find someone or something on land. Each combination is unique, like a fingerprint.”
Riss's eyes widened in realization.
"So, you're saying I need to learn how to read these human 'addresses' to find Alex Thompson?"
Ronan nodded. "Exactly. And while you're at it, you might want to brush up on your English. It'll help you communicate with him and understand his world better."
Riss let out a sigh, running a hand through her long, dark hair. "Fine. I'll learn how to read their stupid addresses and their stupid language. But how do I even start?"
Ronan smiled, clearly pleased with her cooperation. "Well, for starters, I can teach you how to read English. I've been studying it for years, and I've even lived among them for half my life. It's not as hard as you might think. I might as well come with you, you know. I know you’re smart and savvy but you’ll be practically hopeless on land, no offense.” Ronan said, shooting her a lopsided grin. “You don’t even know what the word ‘street’ means, you’re not helping your case.”
Riss scoffed, “You’re one to talk, Mister ‘I lost my tail for some land whore’. You’re acting like I haven’t seen humans before.”
Ronan laughed, “Oh, I’ve done much worse things for much prettier ladies than temporarily lose my tail for ‘land whores’ as you so eloquently put it. Besides, I want to make sure you don’t permanently lose *your* tail because of some ‘land whore’ named Alex Thompson.” He chuckled, knowing her sassy and joking tone meant she’d already gotten his point. “I’m coming with you. I’m sure it’ll make Uncle Triton feel loads better about this.” Ronan grinned, obviously pleased he’d convinced her to bring him along.
“Ha, ha. You’re the worst.” Riss rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t hide her smile. “Fine, you can come. But I need to go back to shore as soon as possible and find this guy.”
“You are so in luck, cousin. I happen to own a human speed vessel called a car and I can take you straight to him. Well, not straight there. We’ll stop by my place to get you some clothes. I’m sure one of my ‘land whores’ will have left behind something that’ll fit you. Now let’s go see your dad and get going!”
Ronan suggested, his excitement palpable.
Riss rolled her eyes but couldn’t help feeling a little better. Having Ronan with her made this whole situation feel a bit less overwhelming.
“Okay, but we need to be discreet. I don’t want the whole kingdom knowing about this until it’s absolutely necessary,” Riss warned.
Ronan smirked, “Don’t worry, Riss. I’ll be as discreet as a mermaid can be in a car.”
Riss sighed, knowing that was probably the best she was going to get. “Fine.
Let’s go see Father. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to know that I’m dragging you into this mess with me.” Riss rolled her eyes but followed Ronan out of his cave and back towards the palace.
As they swam, Riss couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. She’d always been a little wary of Ronan’s human connections, but she knew he was the best person to help her navigate this situation. She just hoped he didn’t try to turn this into some sort of human adventure.
They approached the palace, the grand entrance guarded by two massive sea horses. They immediately parted, letting their princess and her cousin right through. Riss was on a mission but Ronan made sure to wave hello before following her to the throne room.
“Hey, King Trident! Not interrupting any state business am I?” Ronan called out, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he playfully saluted his uncle.
King Triton chuckled, his expression softening at the sight of his nephew and daughter. “Ronan, you know you’re always welcome here. What brings you to the palace this evening? Has Arista roped you into her predicament as I suggested?” King Triton asked, his gaze shifting to Riss. His expression was stern, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Riss squared her shoulders, standing taller as she approached her father. “Yes, Father. Ronan has agreed to accompany me while I’m on land. You were right to suggest his help. We learned my betrothed’s name, home, and place of work. Turns out reading English is a helpful skill.” Riss said, trying to joke a bit to not let her father know how upset she still was by this whole situation.
“Good, good. Ronan will likely be of great help to you, given his expertise,” King Triton nodded wisely. “And that’s an impressive starting point. You should be able to find him quickly.”
King Triton then pulled out a small silver box, decorated with oceanic motifs. “When you find him and tell him your situation, give him this. You mustn’t open it prior, it’s for his eyes only.” He said sternly before his eyes softened. “My dear Riss, I know this is upsetting but you’re strong, you’ll get through this. You’re my daughter after all. And please, don’t be too hard on the boy. I want my future son-in-law to think highly of our kind.” King Triton placed the box in Riss's hands, his gaze filled with concern and warmth.
Riss's eyes widened as she took the box, a sense of dread washing over her. “Father, what is this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Just a reminder of our ways, our customs, and our expectations,” King Triton replied, his expression turning serious. “Give it to Alex once you've explained your situation. It will help him understand our world and his new role in it.”
Riss's grip tightened around the box, her knuckles turning white.
She knew what her father meant, but the thought of explaining her situation to some random human made her want to cringe. She couldn't help but feel like she was being forced into some sort of arranged marriage from the dark ages. But she also understood the importance of this task. She was a princess, after all, and her actions reflected on her entire kingdom. She had to do this right. "I understand, Father. I'll do my best." She said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
King Triton smiled warmly at her, but his eyes were still filled with concern. "I know you will, Riss. Now, go.
Find Alex and explain everything to him," King Triton said, his voice filled with both command and concern. "And remember, Riss, our laws are not to be taken lightly. Once you are bound to him, there is no going back."
Riss bowed slightly, her grip tightening on the small silver box. "I won't let you down, Father. I promise."
King Triton nodded, his expression softening. "I know you won't, my dear. Time is of the essence."
Riss and Ronan turned to leave, but Riss paused, glancing back at her father. She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "We'll go now, Father. Thank you for your guidance."
Riss tucked the box carefully into her bag, making sure it was secured. They swam out of the castle, heading towards land.
“RISS! Arista! Wait!” Yelled out a familiar voice behind them. Turning, Riss saw Lorelei swimming towards them. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"What's going on, Riss? Why are you leaving in such a hurry?" Lorelei asked, her voice like the gentle hum of a sea shell.
Riss sighed, knowing she couldn't hide the truth from her friend. "I've got to go find my betrothed, Lore. When I got caught in that fishing net and you went to get help, some human rescued me. Now, I'm bound to him."
Lorelei's eyes widened in surprise. "Betrothed? To a human? You're kidding me." Lorelei exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. "How could this happen? I was barely gone ten minutes! And who is he?" She demanded, her voice filled with frustration and a little bit of jealousy.
“I don’t know much, Lore, just the basics. Ronan is coming with me to help me find him.”
Lorelei's eyes narrowed, her jealousy evident. “And what makes you think he can help you? He’s spent too much time with humans, he’s practically one of them now. You can’t trust him, Riss.”
Riss rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Lore, I need help. I can’t do this alone. Ronan knows the human world better than anyone. He’s the best person to help me.”
Lorelei crossed her arms, her tail flicking irritably. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m just looking out for you, Riss. You know how humans can be," Lorelei said, her voice laced with worry. "They can be unpredictable. And who knows what kind of human you're dealing with here."
Riss sighed, understanding her friend's concerns, but also knowing she needed all the help she could get. "I know, Lore. But I have to try. I have to at least meet him and see what happens. I can't just ignore this whole situation and hope it goes away."
Lorelei's eyes narrowed, her tail twitching nervously. "Just be careful, Riss. Don't let him charm you. Don't let him sweet-talk you into giving up your life in the sea. Remember who you are, Riss." Lorelei said, her voice heavy with concern.
Riss's voice was gentle as she replied, "I know who I am, Lore. And I won't forget it. I promise. But I also can't just ignore this. I have to see this through."
Lorelei looked at her with a mix of worry and admiration. "You always were stubborn, weren't you? Alright, I'll let you go, but remember my warning. Humans are tricky, and they’re not to be trusted.” Lorelei said, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.
Riss nodded solemnly, “I will, Lore. And thank you for your concern.”
Lorelei offered Riss a small smile, her gaze softening, feeling bad that she’d gotten her best friend into this stupid situation. “That’s what friends are for, right? Now go, find your human and come back to me, as soon as you can.”
“I will. I promise.” Riss said, both to her best friend and to herself. She gave Lorelei a hug before swimming back towards where Ronan was waiting.
Ronan gave a halfhearted wave to Lorelei who was clearly trying her hardest not to glare at him. They’d never gotten along and they both had known he was in earshot when she said he was practically a human, just as untrustworthy and dangerous.
"Ready to go?" Ronan asked, not even waiting for Riss to join him before guiding her towards the shore.
"Wait a minute, Ronan! I can't just go up there in my... in my fin!" Riss stammered, suddenly realizing the practicalities of her situation. She couldn't just walk out of the ocean wearing nothing but a sweatshirt and her many, many scales.
Ronan chuckled. "Ah, right. We'll need to do something about that. No need to look like a fish out of water-- literally." Ronan said with a wink. “You’ll be fine in that hoodie and flip flops until we get to my car, then we’ll get you properly dressed at my place.
Riss huffed, "Funny. Just as long as I don’t look like one of your land whores." She playfully splashed bubbles at him, pushing her concerns away as she tried to keep up with Ronan's lighthearted mood.
They swam towards the shoreline, the setting sun casting a warm, golden glow over the water's surface. Riss could already see the silhouette of land gently meeting the sea, the coastal town of Coastal Haven waiting for them just beyond the breaking waves.
As they broke the surface, Riss quickly pulled the hoodie over her head, shivering slightly from the cool evening air. She looked down at her legs, once again on land. At least she wouldn't have to worry about any curious humans spotting her scales but she still felt awkward without her tail. She and Ronan waded out of the water, the sand squishing between their toes as they made their way towards the shore.
Ronan was more comfortably dressed, his tail and oceanic accessories magically fading away and being replaced by shorts and a casual button up, one of the enchantments he’d learned from his time on land. Once you’re a local, it’s much harder to explain why you’re constantly walking out of the ocean completely nude. Humans tend to not be very understanding about mermaid fashion choices, and that’s a fact.
It wasn’t a far walk to Ronan’s car, a strange metal thing Riss had only ever really heard about. It was a good stretch of their legs, especially for Riss with her lack of familiarity and coordination. Her legs ached, unused to the strain of walking, and her feet sunk into the sand with each step, making progress slow and arduous.
"Are you sure there aren't any magical ways to get to your car?" Riss grumbled, leaning heavily on Ronan as they walked.
Ronan chuckled, "I wish. But no, magic only gets us so far on land. The rest is just plain old human effort," he said, shooting her a grin.
"Well, that's not very magical of you," Riss retorted, but she couldn't help laughing.
Despite her aching legs, she was grateful for Ronan's help.
Ronan patted her back reassuringly, "Just think of it as a workout. You'll get used to it and be back to your agile self in no time. Besides, my car's not far now. You can rest up in the passenger seat while I drive."
Riss groaned dramatically, "I hope you're not planning on driving like a human. I've heard their driving is as reckless as their fashion sense."
Ronan laughed, "Relax, cousin. I'm not that human. I promise, I drive like a sensible merman... most of the time." Ronan winked, leading her towards the familiar shape of his car parked along the deserted beach.
“That’s not saying anything! You’re the only merman out there aside from my father.” Riss grumbled, understanding her cousin’s joke.
As they approached, Riss couldn't help but stare. The car was a sleek, blue metal box with four round objects attached to the bottom. It looked unlike anything she'd ever seen under the sea.
"Is this your 'human speed vessel'?" Riss asked, her voice filled with a mix of awe and skepticism.
Ronan grinned, opening the passenger door for her. "Yep, this is it. It's called a car. Not as fast as our tails, but it does the job. Hop in, your legs will thank me."
Riss hesitated before carefully climbing into the car, her eyes wide with wonder as she looked around the strange interior. "It's so... small," she observed, running her fingers over the smooth, cool leather seat.
Ronan snorted, closing the door behind her. "Wait until you see the inside of a human home.
Small is an understatement," Ronan said, shaking his head as he rounded the car and climbed into the driver's seat.
Riss looked out the window, watching the beach and sea disappear into the distance as Ronan started the car. The engine roared to life, a sound that sent a shiver down her spine. She turned back to Ronan, her eyes wide with curiosity. "How does it work?"
Ronan chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Magic, cousin. Human magic. It's a bit like how we use our tails to swim, only instead of water, they use... well, I'm not exactly sure.
I just know how to make it go and stop and turn. The rest is a mystery to me." Ronan said with a shrug and a wink, pulling the car out onto the road. “I’m studying anthropology and marine ecology, not engineering. I know exactly what I need to know to make it work.”
Riss watched in awe as the scenery passed by in a blur. Buildings appeared and disappeared, and people strolled along the sidewalks, completely unaware of the mermaid princess riding alongside them.
The town of Coastal Haven was a charming coastal community, a place where pastel-colored houses lined winding streets and the smell of saltwater and freshly baked goods filled the air.
Riss drank in the scene with wide eyes, her nose pressed against the car window. She'd seen the human world from afar, but this was her first time up close and personal. She felt a pang of excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of apprehension.
"You look like a kid on Christmas morning," Ronan chuckled, glancing at Riss.
Riss blushed, pulling away from the window. "It's just... so different.
So... normal," Riss said, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and confusion.
"Well, that's what humans do best, isn't it? They take the extraordinary and make it ordinary," Ronan said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Don't let it fool you, though. They've still got their own set of... eccentricities."
Riss nodded, her eyes scanning the streets. She saw people of all ages and sizes, laughing, talking, and going about their daily lives. She noticed how different they all were, even though they seemed to fit in so seamlessly together.
It was like watching a school of fish in the ocean, each one unique yet part of the same whole.
“Where are we going first?” Riss asked, turning to face Ronan.
“First, we need to get you some clothes. We can’t exactly have you meeting your future husband in that hoodie and flip flops,” Ronan said with a smirk.
Riss looked down at her outfit with a grimace. “True. But where are we going to find clothes at this time of night?”
Ronan laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. We’ll spend the night at my place. Get you fed, clothed, and rested. I don’t know about you, but swimming to and from Atlantis always wears me out and you’ve done that twice today. Trust me, human beds are awesome and they have these things called showers. It’s like rain but inside of your house and they use it to stay clean. I know it sounds weird but trust me, it’s amazing,” Ronan said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Riss's eyes widened, "You're not making any of this up, are you?" she asked, skepticism lacing her voice.
Ronan chuckled, "No, I promise. Humans have some weird ways, but those things are actually really nice."
Riss sighed, leaning back against the car seat. "Alright, I'll take your word for it. So, we're going to your place first?"
Ronan nodded, "Yep.
My place first. It's not far. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."
Riss didn't need to be told twice. She sank into the seat, her body aching from the unfamiliar exertion of walking on land. The car sped up, the wind rushing through her hair, making her feel like she was flying. She closed her eyes, trying to take in all the new sensations.
The drive wasn’t long but before she knew it, Riss was falling asleep in the passenger seat, lulled to sleep by the hum of the car and the wind in her hair.
Ronan could tell she was exhausted, having had maybe the most traumatic and difficult day of her life, so he parked the car, unbuckled her, and carried Riss into his house. She groaned happily as he laid her on his bed. The shower, food, and human clothes could wait until tomorrow. Right now, all Riss needed was rest.