The tidal bugle called in the distance just as I emerged from my rocky sleep chamber. Cramps squeezed the muscle up and down my legs so that every slow kick to stay afloat burned. Fatigue clouded my thoughts, and hunger raged in my hollow stomach. Flowers probably weren't enough to sustain all the physical activity I was doing. At least today was my last day of this. Tomorrow, I'd be back on solid ground, able to rest without moving my arms or legs and enjoy human food.

A ray of disappointment flicked in my chest. The underwater Kingdom was truly beautiful, and in just three days, I had made several new friends. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and they genuinely wanted to spend more time showing me all the intricacies of their world. Part of me wished to stay a little longer. After all, this was a once in a lifetime experience. It wasn't every day that you met a mermaid.

But a single word had the power to change that sentiment: Lani.

"Kiara!"

I jolted from my thoughts as Catilli swished into the room.

"Good morning," I said.

Catilli dipped her head in acknowledgement, though she said, "You mean good tides. We don't have morning and night here."

"Oh. Good tides."

"It's actually mid-tide now."

My eyebrows shot upward. "Really?"

No wonder I was so hungry.

"Yup." Catilli made her way to a wooden chest by the dining table. "We'll have to eat our second meal quickly so we can start getting ready for the party."

I hauled myself toward the table. Pain clawed my shoulders with each stroke. If there was anything I learned from Oamer, it was that I was drastically out of shape.

Catilli reached into the chest of food and pulled out three shells. "Here you go," she chirped as she handed me two.

I stared down at the shells, one with three remaining terew flowers, the other with chunks of white fish.

"Why two?" I asked.

"Those few terew flowers aren't enough to sustain you down here. We can get more in several tides, but we don't have time before the party."

I deflated at the news, but said nothing. My fingers trembled from a lack of sustenance as I placed a piece in my mouth. The poignant, fishy flavor engulfed my tastebuds, and the chewy texture made my stomach churn. I shoved a terew flower into my face to mask the flavor. The lightly herbal sweetness helped, though salt lingered on my tongue.

"Catilli, do you eat anything else down here other than fish?" I hated to be rude, but I thought I might vomit if I had to eat one more bite of fish.

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "We also eat kelp, algae, and seaweed. Would you like some?"

I sighed. My choices were either to eat slime and rubbery meat or pass out from exhaustion.

"I suppose so."

Catilli plopped a green blob over my fish. I ate it in one bite, and the mass gradually slipped into my stomach. The salt ended up numbing my taste buds, so that the fish didn't taste as strong as usual.

Huh, nifty trick. I made a mental note to remember that for future reference.

Energy seeped into my veins, clearing the earlier mental blockage. Now, if I collapsed, it'd be from soreness and not a lack of food.

"I'm here," a voice announced. Lira appeared in the entrance with three other mermaids, one of which held a silver trunk.

"Hey, Lira. We just finished our second meal," Catilli said. "Once I clear the table, we can begin getting ready."

"Begin getting ready?" I repeated. "When's the party?"

"The pre-party meal is at second high tide, and we must be ready by then," Lira said.

"There's a pre-party meal?"

"Yes, we always have our most important guests arrive early and enjoy a light meal together. Then, a little before second low tide, we get ready for the ball. It wraps up around the end of the tides, and then we have our ending soiree. Usually, it's just the adults sitting around and talking while enjoying a few snacks. The younger children must leave, but since we're over seventeen, we're allowed to stay."

I blinked at her, unable to process all the itinerary. When I agreed to attend the ball, I never expected such an ordeal.

My attention shifted to the corner of the room, where a yellow trunk joined the silver one Lira brought.

Lira motioned to one mermaid. "This is Sel. She'll help you prepare for the party. I found some extra clothes that I thought might be your size. I brought them with me in the trunk. You can pick out your favorites to wear."

Sel, a shorter mermaid with amber hair and matching eyes, swam toward me. "The first thing that we do is give you a massage. It helps you to remain relaxed while getting ready and during the party. Please float over that ledge."

I pulled myself to a smooth bit of stone jutting out from the wall and hovered above it, my stomach facing downward. Sel's hands dug into my tender shoulder muscles. I bit back a yelp.

"Does everything feel okay?" Sel asked.

"Kind of," I squeaked.

She attacked me harder, gripping, pressing, and wringing my back.

This is supposed to be relaxing?

Finally, she stopped kneading my muscles. My body fell limp in the water. Sel had wrenched out every bit of tension that plagued me. Relaxation spread throughout my body, crawling into my mind. My eyelids drooped as I eased into sleep.

"How do you feel?" Sel asked.

"Ah," I sighed.

That seemed to suffice as an answer, for she began the next phase of the treatment. "Right now I'm going to put some perfume on you. It will make you smell like Mer, the national flower of Oamer." Her voice was quiet now, a tender breeze on a lazy day. A cool gel grazed my arms, and the sweet aroma of flowers encompassed me.

"I'm going to comb through your hair now. You can go to sleep if you like. You're going to need a lot of energy for this afternoon and evening."

Tines brushed my scalp, gently tugged my hair. The sensation was lulling, and I succumbed to sleep.

***

"Alright, Miss. Time to get up," a voice prodded. Someone nudged my arm. My eyelids lifted slowly. Sel hovered beside me, a soothing smile on her lips.

"Is she awake yet?" someone asked.

"Yes," Sel said.

I pulled my torso upright, though my legs remained stretched in front of me. Catilli and Lira watched me from across the room, a twinkle in their eyes and their lips upturned like they shared a secret. Nerves crept up my skin.

What happened? Why do they look like that?

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked.

Lira shrugged. "I don't know. The maids are the ones who keep track of time."

"How do they do that? I thought the bugle indicates time?"

"It does. But they've been maids for so long, they can tell when to wake us up from our naps so that we have enough time to get ready for the pre-party."

I couldn't imagine how much training that required. These maids were extremely talented, though I supposed they had to be since they served the Oamaren Monarchy.

A maid swam into the room. "Ladies, it's time to pick out your outfits."

The second maid and Sel brought Lira and Catilli their trunks.

"Yay!" Catilli cried. She threw open the yellow trunk and rummaged for the perfect ensemble.

I leaned over her shoulder and stifled a gasp. The dresses were normal, like human clothes. It shouldn't have surprised me, since I hadn't seen even one mermaid in a bikini top throughout my stay in Oamer. Everyone wore tight sashes of fabric as shirts. But the mermaid stereotype was still ingrained in my head.

A periwinkle dress was thrust into my arms.

"Try this on," Lira said.

I pulled the illusion gown over my swimsuit. The slim cut hugged my skin and hindered the skirt from inching up in the water.

"Whoa, Kiara, you look gorgeous!" Catilli said. "Come, look in the mirror."

Sel swam forward with a large piece of jagged glass. I drew in a breath. The whole gown shimmered from the high collar to my toes.

"That color looks gorgeous on you," Lira said, her voice silky-smooth. "It really compliments your hair and eyes."

"Thank you," I breathed. It was the most exquisite dress I ever wore. The sparkles were like thousands of sewn-on diamonds. Given that this belonged to a Princess, I wouldn't be surprised if they really were gems. "I think I'll wear this one."

"When?" Sel asked.

Confusion swarmed my mind.

"Tonight for the party," I said cautiously.

"I know, but do you want to wear it: for the pre-party meal, the dance, or the ending soiree?"

"I, uh, don't know." I faced Lira, who was busy smoothing a short white-lace dress. "Do we change during the party?"

Lira nodded slowly. "Normally, we start by wearing something more casual, then change into our ballgown, then end the night in a classic formal dress."

"Oh."

These people really went all out.

Lira handed me a black cocktail dress. "This can work for the pre-party."

"Ooh, and how about this for the dance?" Catilli said. She held up a fluffy, pink tulle ballgown with white and pink ombre ruffles on the skirt. "I think it will fit you perfectly."

"And it will match your new pearls," Lira added.

"Should I try it on?" I asked.

"No, it'll fit you," Lira said. "Just change into the black dress."

In my experience, it was always better to err on the side of caution, especially when dealing with clothing for an important event. But I wasn't about to argue with Lira. I slipped the pre-party dress on and gave the periwinkle gown to Sel. The bodice was simple, just high enough to conceal my swimsuit, while embroidered flowers decorated the hem of the skirt.

"I love it. It looks so good on you," Lira said.

I smiled. "Thanks." I glanced down at the flared skirt. It swayed in the water, drifting upward. A concern flashed into my mind. "Wait, what if the skirt rides up in the water?"

Lira frowned. "Oh, I don't know. We don't really have to worry about that thing."

She turned to her maid to tell her how to do her hair. I sighed. It was a good thing I kept my one-piece on.

"How would you like your hair?" Sel asked me.

I thought for a moment. "What do you think?"

"I think it would be lovely if you curled it."

I was incredulous. How could they curl hair when we were under the sea and in freezing water?

I pushed my disbelief aside and agreed. Sel grabbed a metal box, the inside lined with copper pegs. She wrapped my hair around each one, securing them with bits of string. A few minutes passed, then she removed them, each piece of hair falling into ringlets.

"How are those heated?" I marveled.

"We use a hydrothermal vent," Sel said. "The metal holds high amounts of heat for a long time, which helps the hair to maintain a tight curl."

It was incredible that mer-people had some of the same things as humans. If only the food were comparable...

"It's almost time to leave." Lira's voice carried throughout the room, shattering my reverie. I spun around to face the other mermaids.

"Ooh, you look so cute!" Catilli's tail bounced in the water, swishing her yellow chiffon dress. "I can't wait for the pre-party to begin!"

Her enthusiasm was contagious. Anticipation bubbled in my veins. I wondered what it'd be like. I already dined with royalty—quite the awkward experience—but this was an actual ball, filled with sweeping dresses, intricate dances, and royal guests. The vision seemed fanciful and glamorous, nothing like those dumb socials the school tried to get us to attend, or even like prom.

A dull grey flicker appeared in the doorway. "Ladies, the hippocampi have arrived," a merman announced.

My body went rigid. "Wait. Hippocampi are real?"

"Yes, how else would we get from place to place quickly?" Catilli said. "Now come on! We want to get to the pre-party meal."

I couldn't help but think that the mermaids traveled pretty fast on their own. Nevertheless, I hurried after the train of mer-people in silence.

Four hippocampi gleamed outside, giants compared to us. Rainbow colors swirled together to form mosaics on their scales. Instead of legs and hooves, the hippocampi had robust, golden fins, which swayed up and down in the water.

That's it. I'm staying forever.

But...I wasn't. I was leaving tomorrow as soon as I woke to get back to Lani.

Lani. Imagine what she'd say if she knew I rode on a sea horse. She'd be in as much awe as I at this moment, staring up at the powerful creatures.

"Over here, Miss," a merman called. I swam to the top of the unoccupied hippocampus. A quick glance around told me that Lira, Catilli, and I each got a horse, while the maids shared one.

My hands grabbed the creature's golden mane. It felt like silk in my palms, and I feared my grasp would slip. But when the horse broke into a gallop, it remained firmly in my clutch. Water rushed past my face, tossed my curls over my shoulders. The jetstream gushed in my ears, and lights around me blurred. The high speed pushed me upward, but my knees dug into the slippery sides of the hippocampus to keep me down.

All too soon, the white spires of the castle rose in the distance. The hippocampus bolted up the hill, then screeched to a halt by the column-lined portico. Lira and Catilli flitted straight through the castle doors, held open by two Sracceants, but I lingered a moment. My fingers brushed the leathery scales of the hippocampus, and it let out a soft whinny. I grinned.

This is so adorable.

Just then, the bugle thundered through the water. I jumped and darted through the entrance. In a sickening way, it reminded of the school bells that pronounced students tardy for stepping into class a second late.

Maids and butlers buzzed about the foyer, shells and gems in hand. Lira and Catilli waited by the stairs, their eyes surveying the room. Shame burned in my cheeks as I joined them.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hold you up," I said.

"It's fine, we're right on time," Lira said. "The men have to be here before the guests, but the ladies always arrive after so that we can make a grand entrance."

We floated up the winding stairwell, the path lit by the mermaids' tails and the glowing sea vine on the banister. Each stroke mounted tension in my muscles, tension that had felt so good to release before. My legs ached by the time we reached the fourth floor and ducked into a dim corridor. Two more Sracceants waited at the end, in front of white French doors.

"Are you ready, your Highness?" they asked when we approached.

Lira threw on her most dazzling smile. "Always." She set her hands on both golden handles and flung open the doors.

Inside was a wide rectangular room, divided in half by two Corinthian columns. My eyes were immediately drawn to the further side. A merman hovered above a diamond-studded throne carved out of gold. Two ruby dragons crept up the back, forming arm rests. He wore a cape of rainbow scales that draped around his burly frame. There was no mistaking it: I was in the presence of the King of Oamer.

I tore my gaze away, focusing on six mer-people clustered around a glass coffee table. A mermaid in a bubble-gum pink mini skirt nestled between Nitov and Ayil. Across from them were three mermen with scarlet tails.

"You're here," Nitov said, crossing over to where we stood. "Let me introduce you to the Princes and Princess of Mertond."

Anxiety spiked in my blood. I forgot that there would be more royalty to meet—and more opportunity to embarrass myself.

To my surprise, Nitov's hand took mine delicately, unlike Catilli's grasp. He flashed a gentle smile, as if he sensed my nerves and wished to put me at ease. Some of my jitters melted as he escorted me to the others.

"I'd like you all to meet Kiara," he said. "She's from the human world."

All three of the boys stood, their matching black eyes scrutinizing me.

"This is Dilo," Nitov said, pointing to the smallest of the mermen. "He's the youngest of his three brothers."

Dilo waved. "Hi! You're pretty."

I paused, unsure of how to respond.

"Uh, thank you," I murmured.

He must be too young to understand how awkward that statement is, I figured.

"This is Bosar," Nitov continued, unphased by the comment. "He's the second oldest." The hunched-over guy in the middle shifted a little, eyes on the ground.

"H...h...hi," he stammered.

"And this is...."

"Prince Kaotoniy of Mertond," the merman farthest on the right interrupted. His tail swept backward as if getting down on one knee, and he kissed my hand. "You may call me Kao."

My face froze in a stunned smile, eyes wide in startlement. Nitov placed his arm around my shoulder and guided me to the couch. I floated on his left side, right across from Prince Kaoton-something. I focused my gaze on the glass coffee table.

"And I am Princess Merlah, heir of Mertond," the girl between Ayil and Nitov said. I glanced at her, only to be pierced by her obsidian eyes. Her hair, bright red on the ends, circled her head like angry flames. I edged further to the left.

"I'm sure you all know Catilli and Ayil," Lira rushed to say. "And of course, I am Lira, Princess of Oamer and your hostess."

She snapped her fingers twice. The movement made no sound, generated only a few bubbles, but a maid hurried over and set a turtle shell before us. I groaned internally. I should've guessed that the pre-party meal would involve raw meat that they expected me to partake in.

Each of the Royals leaned forward to fetch a shrimp. I held back. Maybe they wouldn't notice that I wasn't eating.

"Here you are, Kiara." Nitov beamed at me and handed me the small fish. I pinched it between my fingers.

"Thank you," I forced out.

On the opposite end of the coffee table, Lira lifted her shrimp like a wine glass.

"A toast," she said. "To the ball this tide. May it be one to remember."

I chewed the head of the shrimp. To my relief, it wasn't as bad as last time. A hint of acid cut through the fishy taste and tenderized the meat fibers. It must have been a more gourmet preparation to impress the guests.

The French doors flew open with a thud. A plump woman glided into the room. Her nut-brown hair twisted into a braided bun behind a lacy gold crown.

"Presenting Queen Posentia of Oamer," a deep voice called from the doorway. "And Queen Ezel of Mertond."

A slender mermaid followed the Queen of Oamer to the adult's circle. I recognized her immediately as Queen Ezel. She had the same black hair and eyes as her children. And though she wore no crown, she carried herself with the poise of royalty.

"I'm so glad you all came," Lira sang, converging our attention on her. "This will be such a wonderful evening."