Thalia says finally. “If there is not a new king by the summer

solstice, that which binds us to the island, which allows us to live

apart in secret, will disappear. And not all of our kind want to share

a world with humans.”

“I don’t understand. What does this have to do with me? I’ve grown

up human. I don’t know your world.”

“I’m supposed to teach you.” Kurt says. He looks at me from the

corner of his eye and clears his throat. “I was supposed to find you

before the storm hit. I didn’t take into account the beastly number of

people who crowd that beach.”

“That was you!” I smack the table. I remember Layla peering down

at him from our post and Kurt looking lost on the shore. “The ripped

pants? Not a good look for you.”

Kurt shakes his head at me and says, “Besides, the king wants to

keep the throne in the family.”

And that’s when it hits me. A giant Duh smacking me on the face.

The Sea King. My mother.

“I’m guessing ‘My Lady’ isn’t something you say just because

you’ve got that polite British thing going, is it?”

Kurt looks pleased with himself. “The Sea King is your

grandfather. Because Lady Maia, the king’s eldest, has been stripped

of her tail and the king has no sons, this makes you the rightful

heir-”

Before he can finish, I run out to the boardwalk, jump the metal

bars, and land on the sand. My gills itch with expectancy. If the

tattoo weren’t binding them, they’d open right now so that I could

jump into the waves.

And just like that, everything inside me changes. Just like the

mist rising, the tide pulling in and out, the easy shuffle of my bare

feet on the sand. The hard surf crashes around my ankles-hugging,

embracing, welcoming me back-and I swear it whispers my name.

Teach me to hear the mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy’s

stinging. -John Donne

So this is the famed Thorne Hill Academy,” Kurt says.

“It’s a high school, bro, not an academy. We don’t have any famous

students. Unless you count the athletics department. Lots of

Triborough champs. If we win the next swim meet, my team will be too.”

Thorne Hill High School is not your average high school. They make

you take a specialized test to get in if you don’t live in the proper

zoning. In the 1800s, the building was a church. The tall Gothic kind

with gargoyles and sharp pillars that would make anyone think twice

before going on the roof for a smoke break. The stones have faded over

the years from what must’ve been white to a dirty gray.

The tall wooden doors that lead into the school are crowned by two

angel statues. I’m not talking typical angels praying and glowing with

light. These guys are tilted toward each other, like they were frozen

in the middle of their fight. Their carved swords form the peak of the

archway into the school.

“What I mean is I’ve heard of it,” Kurt says. “And remember, you

cannot tell anyone about us. At a time like this it would be extremely

dangerous for anyone in our court to get caught. Your parents are

safe. But anyone else could get killed.”

I nod and lead the way up to the entrance. The steps themselves

are too high for sea level. My first day here, I felt like a less

glorious Rocky climbing the museum steps. Now it’s not much different.

It’s only been a few days of not working out, and I’m already out of

shape.

“Why couldn’t Mom just let us stay home?” I grunt.

Kurt glances around, bored at the way girls trip on account of

staring at him. “She wants you to resume something familiar. Once

we’re at Toliss, you’ll never see things the same way.”

“How many days did you say before we have to go to the island?”

“Two. Until the wall is completely down.” Kurt stops halfway up

the steps. First, I hope he doesn’t get into another rant about how

real mermaids don’t wear shell bras. Second, I think he’s just

attracting too much attention. His skin is still too slick and tan,

his eyes too violet. Third, he’s staring at the angel archway like he

doesn’t know whether he’s remembering something he forgot. Then I

realize he’s actually staring at Thalia, who reached the top steps

before us.

She looks at the other kids with a kind of wonder I’ve only shown

to the roller coasters at Cedar Point. The kids let themselves linger

for too long, because they just can’t help it. They’ve never seen

someone like her. Full peach lips, sharp cheekbones, and eyes so

bright green they teeter on yellow. Her hair falls long and dark over

her shoulders. And there, finally, you notice her ears. Still a bit

too pointy.

Shit, it’s already started.

Wonder Ryan walks up to her. His hands are in his pockets. He

lifts his chin at her in hello. I can practically hear this

conversation. I’ve taught him this conversation. “I’m sorry. You’ve

got to be a transfer. I would’ve remembered seeing your face.”

Kurt and I look at each other, and as quick as a snap, we race up

the second half of the steps.

“Tristan! Where the hell have you been, man?” Ryan says. “You

missed yesterday’s practice. Coach is scared we’re not going to have

you for the championship.” We slap hands side to side, fists up and

down, then knuckle to knuckle in a hello. “Who’s your friend, man?

Don’t be rude.”

“My cousins,” I correct. “Thalia and Kurt.”

Even Ryan stares at Kurt in a way that’s uncool for dudes to look

at other dudes. What if this is the worst idea in the history of

mankind, including the time I entered the Nathan’s hot-dog-eating

contest and the time I let Layla give me highlights combined?

“Cousins from where?” Ryan goes. No one has ever heard me mention

any family.

“Italy.”

“Florida.”

“Ireland.”

Part of me is kicking myself for not having planned this out

smoother. The other part is mentally kicking Kurt just because doing

it for real would make me feel better.

“They travel a lot.”

Ryan nods with this face that screams, OMG! I’m so interested as

long as I can talk to the new girl some more. “Are you guys going to,

like, go here?” If he had a tail, it’d be wagging right now.

“No, we’re just visiting,” Kurt says.

“Oh. Well, you should bring them to the after-school practices.

I’m the best archer in this city,” he says, tapping Kurt on the

shoulder. “Could teach you a thing or two.”

“Archery?” Kurt’s voice softens to something similar to a sound

Layla might make if she found a CD she’d been looking for on sale.

“I’m pretty good with a bow and arrow.”

“He’s more than good !” Thalia chimes in. “He’s the best on the

gua-”

“Team,” I say quickly. “He’s the best on his team.”

“Good. Great. Awesome-possum.” I don’t think even he believes he

just said that. And there goes Wonder Ryan running into the building,

because no matter how cool and interesting we are, he has never been

late to class.

I stare at the ancient clock above the angels. The Roman numerals

are rusty. The arms are getting closer to 8 a.m. when the bell will

ring. Layla usually waits for me inside by my locker, even though hers

is on the other end of the hall.

“Are we waiting for another one of your comrades?”

“Kurt, do me a favor,” I go. “Chill. Relax. Take it easy. You’re

in Brooklyn, not at the bottom of the sea.”

He shakes his head a bit, all I don’t know what you want me to do.

“You’re standing like you’re ready to whip out your sword and go

all Revenge of the Merman on them.”

“Ryan is handsome,” Thalia says with a smirk.