Chapter 1
Prologue
The sun was ready to set and so was her soul. A chilly breeze swept over her body, drawing her closer and closer to the rusted railing. She stood on top of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. The waves crashed furiously into the rocks. Salty water. Like the tears that dripped down her cheeks. She leant against the railing to hold her body but the winds proved their strength. With the next blow, the railing gave way. They fell. And so did she.
She didn’t scream. Before she realised what was happening it was already too late. The ocean engulfed her whole. Consciousness seeping in and out of her body. Her world fading. The moment before everything turned black, she saw something. Perhaps her mind was playing tricks on her for her final moments. The dark figure moved closer and closer. She shut her eyes, waiting for it to attack. Then she felt something wrap around her waist like two strong arms. It drew her upwards and suddenly it felt like ice pricked her bare skin. Water sputtered out of her mouth and she found herself unable to take a breath. Her semi lifeless body was placed gently onto a flat surface.
“Aurora wake up.” The voice yelled. “Aurora.”
Her body too weak. Her mouth unable to move. Something soft and warm brushed against her lips. They sealed together and she felt life being breathed back into her body. Suddenly the thing blocking her airways surged upwards and turned into fits of coughing. Air moved heavily in and out of her lungs. She gradually opened her eyes. The being us blurry, yet she could vaguely make out a face. A person. Her eyes drifted down and what she saw connected to his torso is a tail. Aurora immediately felt them tense. The creature moved away from her. She reached out her hand to hold his but her fingers caught onto something. It snapped. The creature splashed back into the water. Aurora pushed herself upwards to catch a glimpse but a pounding headache compelled her. She stayed there for a bit. Her fingers roaming around the sand until she touched something cold and hard. She held it up to the sky and it twinkled underneath the moonlight. A silver bracelet. The very thing that was clasped around the mysterious creature’s wrist.
End of Prologue
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It’s February. Rain is unheard of in the peak of summer. However for what felt like the first time, Wembley High is experiencing its first splash of rain. The bell rang. Students burst through the doors and flooded the hallways. Charlie was a victim to this powerful flood. Somewhere between being bumped to the side and jabbed in the shoulder, another body appeared next to him. Like always she smelt of caramel and a hint of peppermint. Her hair is swept up in a slick pony tail and she’s wearing her usual bright colours. Today it’s pink and green.
“School seems livelier than normal.” Alexis yelled the words and even then her voice was somehow swept away with the millions of others.
“It’s the Blue Ball tonight. I’m sure many students are looking to purchase last minute tickets.” Charlie replied despondently. Anybody in a meter radius could see that there’s no longer a spark in Charlie’s eyes when talking about matters regarding the student council. Just short of a month he was the Student President. Peers that once regarded him with respect now whispered a thing or two as he walked past. For weeks he acted like he didn’t care, but with Alexis by his side, his cousin, he briefly allowed his guard down.
“Well why don’t you come over for movie night. The parents are out for some fancy event and I’m making brownies.” Alexis made a desperate attempt to pull him from the darkness. Charlie bleakly smiled.
“Thanks Lex, but I think I’ll sleep early tonight.” And it’s true. It’s been his routine for the past few weeks. Go to school and crash into bed until his mind allowed him to fall into a deep slumber. His bed was beginning to remember the shape of his body.
“No the colour scheme has to be turquoise and silver.” A girl rolled her eyes at the boy in front of her. At the site of his dumbfounded expression she sighed and waved him to climb down the ladder. Charlie knew this girl all too well. The reason behind his misery. Her name is Aurora Knight. Queen of Wembley High and the new Student Council President. Charlie despised the new posters. At the heart of it is an image of a mermaid. She has a stunning shimmering blue tail and a golden trident in her hand. It irked Charlie how wrong the tail looked. The absurdity of the trident. Aurora climbed the ladder to snatch the poster off the wall and Charlie hoped it would stay crumpled in her hands. He almost turned on his heel to walk the opposite direction when he noticed a student’s shoulder collide with the ladder. A series of events cascaded. The ladder tilted dangerously and Aurora’s hands reached out and grabbed onto the only thing it could. The poster. It tore off cleanly and she screamed. Charlie dropped his books and sprinted towards the ladder. In just the nick of time he stopped it from completely collapsing to the ground. Charlie heard heavy breaths above him. With shaking legs Aurora climbed down and planted her feet safely on the ground. She whipped her head around to thank her hero but when her eyes locked on Charlie, she froze. Aurora didn’t utter a word, yet the heads of passing students said all that she could possibly want to. Once their eyes landed on Charlie, their gazes narrowed. Charlie felt as though someone drew a target over his face. Some shook their heads and others capturing the moment on their phones. No doubt the narrative would be twisted that he was the reason she fell in the first place. Charlie walked over to his books that had already been trampled on and dusted them off. “Let’s go Alexis.” He whispered.
“Aren’t you going to thank him?” Alexis blurted out. Charlie shut his eyes and begged the universe that everyone would ignore her words as they did to him.
“I’d rather fall.” Aurora replied in a single breath.
“Seriously.” Alexis waved her hands. “Charlie literally saved you from falling.” Her words echoed against the walls. Charlie forced himself to turn around to face the camera’s. Face Aurora. However, it was as if Aurora’s ears turned deaf. She turned around and continued to tear posters off the wall like they were a plague to the school.
“Alexis come on, let’s get out of here-”
“Is there a problem?” Ky’s voice boomed across the hall. The six foot, dark haired boy thundered into the scene. He took a big step between Aurora and Charlie and stood firm like a wall. Soon two of his henchmen showed up. Equally as tall but not as menacing.
“Yes there is a problem.” Alexis shook her fist. Charlie squeezed his cousins’ shoulder and stared her in the eyes. Begging for her words to stop.
“Aurora, are you okay?” Ky asked. His whole demeanour morphing into something as soft as a marshmallow. Everyone in the school knew that Ky had it bad for Aurora since she arrived to the school. The poor boy was rejected one too many times but nonetheless faithful to his Queen. Charlie admired his dedication but pitied him all at the same time. Who on earth would be in their right mind to have a crush on Aurora Knight? He often thought to himself.
“Yes I’m fine.” Aurora replied in a strained voice. That was all Ky needed to hear. His glare sent daggers in the direction of Charlie and Alexis. Charlie pulled his cousin behind him and he was well aware Alexis didn’t need the protection. In fact, he was more concerned of the damage she could cause to Ky. A broken nose. A fractured rib. She didn’t unnecessarily need to be suspended or expelled from the school. Alexis paid no attention to Charlie’s attempt to move her away. In fact she continued to stare down Ky like a hawk. This time Charlie grabbed Alexis’s arm and pulled her and himself away from the scene. As they were about to make their exit, icy water splashed against Charlie’s back. He turned around to face the mocking laughter and smiles from his classmates. He lowered his gaze and found a metal bottle with water splashed across the floor. Charlie felt the chill of the water more than he did from the impact of the water bottle.
“Shit.” Alexis raised her hands to her mouth.
Charlie didn’t think. He didn’t have time to think. Only move. He made a run for it. “Coward.” Ky’s words echoed against the walls. Charlie knew his safe spot was just around the corner. He reached for the door handle and dashed inside. Three seconds to go. Three. Two. One. He collapsed onto the cold hard ground and as he did the janitor equipment toppled over him. Where is he?” Ky’s voice could be heard on the other side of the door. Charlie quietened his breathing and lay still on the ground. If anyone was to find him right now, they would uncover his biggest secret. A boy with a fish tail instead of legs. The thundering footsteps walked in the opposite direction. It was only a matter of time until he changed back into a human. Beside him was a rag with prominent blotches of brown stains. Shutting his eyes closed and clenching his jaw tightly, he picked up the filthy rag and dried the droplets of water off his skin. The sound of the footsteps drew nearer and nearer. The door cracked open and light slipped into the room. The janitor looked down at the strange boy lying on the ground with a dirty rag held tightly in his hand. “Kids these days.” He muttered underneath his breath and shook his head, “so strange”. He stepped over Charlie’s still body to pick up a bucket and left. Charlie picked himself off the ground. Dusted the dirt off his clothes. Fixed his crooked glasses. The moment he stepped outside, a large pair of arms latched onto him and slammed him against the wall. Pain shot through his back.
“Got you now Coventina.” Ky snickered. He drew his arm back slowly, like a rubber band building tension. Ky launched his fist and Charlie slid down. “Argh.” Ky muttered as his fist crashed into the wooden door. Charlie noticed a water fountain in front of him. Using his abilities, he built up the pressure inside. In a few seconds Ky finished shaking his reddened hand and was ready for his next blow. Come on. Charlie begged. The water fountain tap snapped off clean and aimed like a bullet straight to Ky’s head. The small sharp blow was enough to see stars and knock the him to the ground. Charlie looked at the seemingly lifeless body of Ky and then caught his reflection in the window. His wavy brunette locks stuck out in every direction. His thick black framed glasses on an angle. The bell rang. He quickly brushed his fingers through his hair and straightened his glasses. He took a step over Ky’s unconscious body and headed towards class. Once these halls flooded, he knew it was only a matter of time until someone found Ky and delivered him to the nurse’s office. For now, he didn’t want to get detention for being late.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“What took you so long?” Benji asked, leaning back on his chair. Arms rested behind his head. Grace rolled her eyes. She was sick of the boy she loves, resting on her desk. She kicked the legs of his chair, launching him forwards.“I’m sorry babe.” Benji apologised to her with a puppy sick expression on his face. She rolled her eyes once more but this time with a playful grin on her lips. Charlie smiled. It was pleasing for him to see at least one normal interaction in his day. “Take this.” Benji launched a crumpled bit of paper at her randomly. Their stationary turning into weapons as they fired them at each other. Charlie watched as Benji stretched his arm back like a catapult. A crumpled bit of scrap paper being launched. He released it into the air but his aim as usual is a nightmare.
“Ouch.” Polly yelped when the paper smacked into her face. She plopped her belongings onto the desk and herself onto the chair. She didn’t take a moment to greet her friends before laying her head down and closing her eyes.
“Rough night?” Grace sympathised, patting her best friends head.
“My younger sisters accidentally spilt black ink on my art project and I only have a day left to complete it.” She yawned. “On top of that I need to help out at tonight’s Blue Jubilee event.” She groaned and rubbed her temples. The bags under her eyes grew darker with every passing second. Her life seemed to float in and out of her body.
“Awww Polly.” Grace pouted. “I wish I could sub in for you, but Benji and I have a shift at work tonight. If only there was someone to help out instead.” All of their eyes landed on Charlie. Charlie glanced at the two and then at Polly. The poor thing had completely dozed off mid conversation. He glanced at her sympathetically. Charlie didn’t like the idea of working under Aurora, in fact he despised it, but he knew Polly’s life. How she juggled baby-sitting her younger siblings, work and school. She deserved to have time to herself. To sleep.
“I’ll do it.” Charlie volunteered. He only hoped the night would be bearable and that he would never have to come face to face with Aurora.
