Vanessa knew it wasn't the ideal place but the garage in her yard seemed to be only place for the girls to go. There wasn't allot of things in the. All the holliday stuff was packed on shelves and her dad came out here once and while to clean it.

Kyoko, a Japanese mermaid smiled, "The warm weather...it's amazing." she said as she stood in the entrance as she looked around. "I have been at the arctic for two hundred years. I can feel the sun rays on my skin." she said as her arms open wide as her head tilt back. Her long black hair that went pass her bottom looked glossy and shinny from the sun.

Hasina who was an Egyptian mermaid, lowered down towards a small radio and pushed some button, "What is this?" she said. "What is it meant to do--ahh!" she squealed as a rock song played loudly. She quickly stood up, bring her foot up, and kicked the radio off the stand it was on.

"Hey!" Vanessa said, going over and picked the radio up. It appeared fine, nothing damanged. She set the radio down with a sigh, "Look girls, I know you have been in the arctic awhile and things are new--Tavia."

Tavia, a Portuguese mermaid closed the lid of the bucket of christmas things quickly and turned around. She smiled at Vanessa, appearing innocent like she was listening this whole time. "My queen, go on please."

Vanessa watched as Ninda, Alia, Kyoko, Hasina, and Tavia gathered in front of her. Raphael and James stood against the wall, not talking to each and didn't even look at each other. "I need you all to relax. I need to go inside the house and help Adalyn get you all clothes. Err, girls chooses in clothes are different then the last two hundred years. I'll be right back. Don't leave the garage, my dad well be home soon."

Vanessa quickly left the garage and went into the house. She went upstairs to her room and helped Adalyn find some clothes.

"Not what I expected." Adalyn said as she looked out the window at the garage.

Vanessa grabbed some t-shirt, "Ninda knows how to find the Elixir. I feel like we can trust them."

"Of course you can. Anyone banished to the arctic would do anything to leave. Knowing they have a leader is all the strength they need to leave."

Vanessa lowered her head as she closed the drawer, "I don't know how well of a leader I'll be. You're a good leader, Ninda a good leader. You're both strong and I'm--"

"Young." she said. "Only thing we have to worry about them is their behavior. They been mostly cut off from society for a long time. The villages in the arctic aren't very modern like Coasta Sirenas. It cold and lonely. They'll wanna take advantage of their freedom. So as a Queen, you got to know when to put your foot down Vanessa."

*

Hasina giggled as she bottom Vanessa jeans, "Look, the girls these days can wear men clothes!! Oh my, my mama would strike me down if she knew this! I love jeans!"

Kyoko jumped, "Jeans! I want a million pairs of them."

Alia looked confused as she stood there with her blouse unbutton, her breat barely covered. Both of the boys had left the garage to let the girls change from the raggy long dresses they wore. Vanessa button the shirt up, "It's a blouse. You just button it like this."

"Nothing else?" she asked. "No bodice or dress?"

Adalyn shook her head, "Times are different now, Alia. Girls don't wear long dresses anymore. Their very different from your time."

Tavia looked down at the blue summer dress, "My legs have never felt more exposed. I love it!"

Ninda stretched her arms out, dressed in shorts and a black tank top, "Today world, I can get use to it."

"Girls." Vanessa said. "Look, I know this is all very exciting but we need to talk about what we're gonna do."

"She's right." Ninda said.

She opened her month but Raphael knocked on the door, "Huh, Nessie your dad home."

*

Hasina picked up the piece of cheesy pizza from her plate, eyeing it hard with those almond shape eyes as hot melting cheese slide down from the slice, "What is this?"

"The best thing invented." James said, eating the crust as he relaxed on the other booth.

The five girls looked unsure of the pizza in front of them. It not like they could order pizza from the arctic. Alia was the brave one first and she took a bite of her pizza.

She chewed on it for a second before her eyes widen, "It's good!" she said, taking a bigger bite.

Tavia tried it next, agreeing with Alia. They all liked it beside Kyoko. She didn't like the cheese part so James took her up to get a salad.

"What a handsome man." Kyoko said as she reached over the counter and touched the guy who was making a sub. His eyes widen as he stared at her, "That's a knife, bring it up to your neck--"

James grabbed her, pulling her away from the counter, "Whoa now!" he said as he pulled away from the counter. The guy behind the counter who seemed enchanted by Kyoko spell brought the knife up to his neck but since she didn't finish it just hang there an inch away. James scoffed, reaching over and took the knife away.

Vanessa quickly got and walked over, "Kyoko, that isn't blending in. Release him."

"There is shrimps on that pizza next to him." she coldly said. She looked upset now, "Poor little ones fried and covered in garlic! It isn't right!"

Vanessa sighed, "I know." she said, bring Kyoko into her arms and hugged her.

"Taken from their homes for mankind to eat as if they were never alive. How can the world be so cruel?" she asked, tearing up. "They need to be taken away and buried."

"Kyoko, we can't." Vanessa said.

"Then he doesn't deserve to live." she said.

"We just can't kill him. That's murder and we can get in allot of trouble." she said.

She scoffed as she pulled away, "What they do is murder! I'm sure millions of them have been killed and laid out on ice. Their so little, that need us to protect them. We should be out in the water, watching them. Not here eating pizza!"

"Kyoko please calm down." Vanessa gently took Kyoko hand but Kyoko pulled away.

Kyoko turned to face the man, "The tip of the knife looks sharp. Press it--"

Vanessa held her hand out and the knife jerked before flying over to her hand. Only the mermaids were in the pizza shop. The owner in the bank. The guy behind the counter was under Kyoko enchantment spell. Kyoko turned to face me with a hard look and Vanessa jerked.

She remembered what Adalyn said about stepping foot down. She held her back straight up, "Kyoko, calm down or else. Remember you got to leave the arctic because of me. You follow me, so do as I say."

She gave me a hard look for a moment before it soften and she nodded her head once. She turned to look at the guy and the dazed look vanished from his eyes. He blinked, seeming confused for a bit. Vanessa lowered her hand with the knife and walked away, sitting down at the further end of the counter.

*

Vanessa paced around at the bench, "This isn't going to well." she breathed out. "This island is probably protected by allot of mermaids. I can only move simple thing."

"Use your brain, my queen." Tavia said. "You can do many things. You can do anything you wish to the weather. You can control the water, it'll do whatever you please." she said, her lavender tail splashing in the water.

"Yes, you can do anything." Ninda said, holding out her hand. Vanessa walked over, stepping into water, and took her hand. She sat down on the water, her clothes disappearing, her tail appeared. "Being Queen Severina second in command, I watched her allot as she learned how to control all her powers. Look at the sky. Not allot of clouds, right?" she asked and Vanessa shook her head. "Water vapors up to the sky and form into clouds. Easy steps, right?"

Vanessa sighed, holding out her hand to the hand and slowly stiffen her hands. Palm face out, vapor appear from the water. It ghost like presence suprised Raphael and James. As the vapor rose to the sky, becoming invisible as it grew up to the sky.

"Good." Ninda said, smiling. "Look, clouds are forming already. Nice big ones. Now, close your fist and imagine rain coming."

Palm facing the sky, Vanessa closed her fist but instead of rain a big lighten flash across one of them. Vanessa gasped, letting her fist go.

"Huh, to much." Ninda said, chuckling and Vanessa blushed. "It's okay. Relax yourself, don't feel pressured about it. Loosen up and try again."

Vanessa sighed heavily, relaxing her body. Slowly this time, she closed her fist imaging rain falling from the sky. Nothing happened though, nothing fell from the sky--

A drop hit her forehead after a moment. Her eyes widen before other one came and then more. Water hit the girls and the boys. Vanessa smiled, laughing along with them. She imagined the rain coming down faster and it did as she imagined.

Ninda held her hand out and Vanessa followed. Waved near shore got a little bigger, rising up to shore more. Vanessa was amazed how easy it seemed to happen. Before things usually happened when she was upset but this time she was able to control everything how she wanted.

Ninda legs came back and Vanessa made her leg appeared. She followed Ninda hand poses. It was like her hands and arms were dancing as she control the water. Vanessa made water form into many animals. It reminded her of the water snake Queen Severina formed to attack them.

Adalyn smiled widely at Vanessa, "I knew you could do this. Catching on so quickly."

She swirled water around in the air before throwing it out into the water. She looked up at the sky, making it stop raining and her powers listened to her.

"This is gonna work." Ninda said. She looked out into the water, "We're gonna have to figure out when the right time will be to go. Surely, their watching us."

Everyone got out of the water to head back to her place. Raphael grabbed her hand as everyone went ahead.

"I have to work." he said, frowning down at her. She frowned, wanting him to come with them. He took both her hands, putting them around his neck, "You're doing wonderfully. I always knew you could do it. Always so afriad to use to use them but now your confidant. Makes me happy to see that."

She smiled, "Felt good not to be afraid of them. Are you gonna call me after work?"

He nodded, "Yes. The festival this weekend, we should go to the mall tomorrow."

"Sound good, maybe the girls will enjoy that. Their taking an interest in on-land things." she said. "Go at 12 o'clock?"

"Sounds like a plan." he said. He brought his hand up to her chin and kissed her. She kissed him back, her arms going around him more as she stood up on her tip toes.

*

The girls watched eye wide on the laptop ar the movie Vanessa popped in for them. They formed a half circle, clearly amazed by it. They had a stack of movies to last through the night and Vanessa showed them how to work it. Mermaids dont sleep allot, they can days without it being fine. Even Vanessa can stay up late and be wide awake at nine in the morning.

"So weird." James said as him, Adalyn, and Vanessa stood by the door.

"Stop it." Vanessa said. "Hey girls, you promise to stay inside the garage and not wonder around?"

"Yes." they said, not taking their eyes once off the screen.

Vanessa nodded before they stepped out into yard. She closed the door and sighed, "Their like children."

"Like children, they need guidance." Adalyn said. "You didr really well, Vanessa. Proud of you."

Vanessa smiled and Jame cleared his throat, "Yes, it was really awesome. I really appreciate you going out of your way to get the Exilir. Hardly know me and you care."

"I'm going inside before this get mushy." Adalyn said looking grossed out and turned to go inside.

Vanessa shrugged, "You were brought into this world because of me so of course I'm fix it."

"You didn't do this, it's not your fault." he said. "I came here on my own. Queen Severina the one that pulled me into the water and did this."

Vanessa stared at him for a moment, his eyes looking serious as he spoke. She lowered her head a little, "Well I need to start building my own little group. I needed to find Ninda, this just helped pushed me to do it."

"You're an amazing becoming queen." he said. She brought her hand up behind her neck, nodding since she wanted James to stop complementing her now. It felt sorta of like...flirting. He cleared his throat again, "I should head back to Raphael parents place. See you tomorrow." he said before turning and left.

Vanessa sighed heavily as she looked up at the sky. Was James flirting or being friendly? Vanessa so badly wanted it to be friendly. She doesn't want James to make anything awkward. She doesn't want what Raphael say be true.

She went into her house. Adalyn and her dad was in the kitchen, laughing about something Vanessa didn't ask. Adalyn had a wide smile on her face as she looked at Vanessa dad, her hazel eyes sparkling. Oh no.

"Hey dad." she said, walking over to them.

"Nessa," he said, turning to look at her. "Jeez, feels like it's been awhile since we talked. Like actually talked. How was the sleep over? I was suprised when Adalyn told me."

Vanessa forced a smile, "Nice. Raphael cousins are great." she said. "How's Anita?"

"She's good. We're going the festival together. You and Raphael should hang out with us."

Vanessa chuckled, "Serious? A double date with my dad?"

He shrugged, "Sounds good to me."

"Err..." Vanessa said, chuckling. "No thanks dad." she said as he threw his arm over her shoulder.

"Aw, who will I be with?" Adalyn said, pouting at Vanessa dad. "I have no to be with."

Her father put his other arm around Adalyn, "You can tag along with Anita and me."

Adalyn smiled up at him as her arms weng around him. Vanessa was getting more worried.

Raphael

Raphael couldn't stop thinking about the way James was looking at Vanessa. It pissed him off allot at him watching her in an admiring way. He was happy Vanessa was to busy learning her powers instead of him trying to cool off. Him and James been avoiding each other since they got back this morning. Raphael hated the guy, hated him so much he wasn't very bothered by the fact the guy dying.

Of course, he knew that wasn't really him. It was the merman part of him, the aggressive possessive part that made him sick thinking another man was interested in Vanessa. Sure before Raphael could brush it off, knowing Vanessa a loyal girl. It was that dark part of him that was forming. A part he doesn't want.

He locked the gift shop up since it was closing time. As he latched the padlock, this feeling of someone behind him made his back stiffen.

He turned his head around slowly to see Queen Severina standing on the boardwalks a few feet away from him and he quickly stepped back but hit the metal door of shop. She was right under the street lamp sitting on top of the wooden rails. She looked angelic under the lamp but he wasn't fooled by her graceful appearance.

"Raphael." she said, stepping down and walked towards him. "Dear Raphael, look at you. You are growing into a fine merman."

"What do you want?" he asked. She stepped close towards him, leaving little space between them and he felt uncomfortable. "Suprising to see you here. You usually send your girls to check up on me."

She smiled, "I thought I'll come myself. Jeez, look at you." she said, looking down at him. She grabbed him shirt, pulling it up a little, "Strong, all muscle. I can understand how Vanessa admires you." she said. She let go his shirt and roughly ranked her long pointed nails in his hair. She gripped on his hair as she pushed him roughly into the metal door. He groaned, wincing him pain as he stared at her. She got close to him, only an inch away, "Vanessa playing a dangerous game. She wasn't allowed to take those girls out of the arctic. I don't appreciate her making them commit treason against me."

"You banished them, meaning you didn't want them anymore." he said.

His body was pulled off the door and slammed roughly against it again. He cried out since it hurt his head, "Ninda teaching her how to use those powers. Not what I expected. Vanessa didn't seem like a real threat at first. She was timid, fragile. I didn't see any problem with her, nothing serious. That's why I thought she was a fail and just find a better girl who will accept this gift. I let you both be because I thought you both wouldn't be a problem. Clearly my mistake. That girl has many suprises. You give her this warning--don't try to compete with me. Whatever she's planning, it's dangerous. Fighting against me is a very, very big mistake. One that's she'll end up dead."

Her fingernails loosen their grip. Her nails crawled their way down his face and scratched his lips. She turned around and walked back to the ocean.