Aqua Coral's Arc

Chapter 2 of 16

The path from the map ended at a wall of white stone. Aqua stared up at the castle. Blue and white banners snapped from tall towers. Carved waves curled across the gates. Water sang somewhere inside, and her scales caught the pull of it through the stone. This was his home. Seph stood beside her, forearm scales glowing faint blue. "Watchmen," Seph said. He pointed with his chin. Two guards flanked the gate, each with a seal on his chest. "They'll stop you." "Then I'll ask them." Aqua stepped forward before he could grab her sleeve. The nearest guard raised his hand. "No visitors. The king sees no one." His eyes dropped to her cheeks. The scales there caught the light and shimmered. His hand froze. The second guard leaned close and whispered. Both men looked at her, then at Seph's arm. Aqua felt heat climb her neck. She knew what they saw. A woman who was half fish, standing at a human king's door. "Wait here," the first guard said. He hurried through the gate. Seph moved to her side. "This is how it goes wrong. They lock you in a cell for being strange." "Or they remember me," Aqua said. Her voice shook. She pressed her palms flat, an old habit, though there was no water to read. The gate opened wider. The guard returned, and his face had changed. "The king asks for you. Both of you. Now." Seph's scales flared brighter. He stepped between Aqua and the gate. "Why the sudden welcome?" "He saw her from the tower window," the guard said. "He gave an order. Bring the fish-woman to me." Aqua's heart slammed. She looked at Seph. His jaw was tight, his eyes hard, but he gave a short nod. "I go first," he said. He would not let her walk in alone. They crossed a courtyard where fountains poured over stone shells. At the far end stood a man in royal blue and white. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Aqua stopped breathing. She knew that face. It was the face above her the day she lay drying on the shore, gasping, sure she would die. The king stared at her. His hand rose slowly to his mouth. "The scales," he said. "On your cheeks." He took one step down. "I pulled you out of the sand. Years ago. You had scales like that." "You saved me," Aqua said. Tears burned her eyes. "I've looked for you ever since." The king came closer. He seemed to forget the guards, forget Seph, forget everything but her face. "I thought I dreamed you," he said. Seph's scales dimmed. For the first time, the danger near his sister had passed. But he did not relax. He watched the king watch Aqua, and his eyes narrowed. She had found the man. Now Seph wondered what the king wanted with her in return.