Aqua Coral's Arc

Chapter 1 of 16

Aqua Coral wiped down the counter of her seaside shop for the third time. She was not cleaning. She was stalling. Somewhere in this land lived the human king who once pulled her off the shore before she dried out. She wanted to find him and never leave his side again. But no one knew where he stayed in the castle. The reclusive king let no one near him, and a shopkeeper with fish scales had no map to a hidden throne. The scales on her legs and arms picked up the smallest shifts in water. In the shop's still tanks, they told her nothing useful. She pressed her palms flat on the wood. A king who hid himself left no current for her to read. The door swung open and hit the wall. Seph filled the frame, blue hair damp, jaw tight. Her twin brother rarely visited during work hours. The patch of scales on his forearm glowed pale blue, the way it always did when trouble stood near her. "Lock up," Seph said. "We're leaving." "I'm working." Aqua rolled her eyes. "Not today." He crossed the room. "Someone's been asking about you. For weeks. I found his name and where he sleeps." Aqua set down her rag. "You've been chasing this alone?" Her eyes widened. "You trust everyone. I don't." His words came clipped and flat. "I got there first." "Seph. I'm not looking for a man who wants to hurt me. I'm looking for the king. The one who saved me." Her voice cracked on the last word. "I can't even find where he lives." Seph stopped. His glowing forearm dimmed a shade. He studied her face the way he did when he was deciding how much to say. "The man I tracked," he said slowly. "He guards a gate. A castle gate. He carries the king's seal." Aqua's breath caught. "He works for the king?" "He was watching you to keep the king safe. Not to hurt you." Seph's jaw worked. "I nearly put a knife in him for nothing." She grabbed his sleeve. "You know where the castle is." "I followed him back last night." He pulled a folded scrap from his vest and dropped it on the counter. Rough lines marked a path inland, past the town gate, up a rise. "Blonde king. Blue and white. Never comes out." Aqua stared at the drawing. Her hands shook. For the first time she had a road, not a rumor. "Come with me," she said. "No." Seph stepped back. "You'll walk up to a king who fears strangers, alone, and smiling. That's how you get thrown in a dungeon." His voice hardened. "I'm coming to keep you out of one." Aqua folded the map and untied her apron. The king had no idea she was coming. Now, for the first time, she knew exactly where to find him.