The new chapter 20. Should be loads better and less confusing. Dedication to TheDarkMaiden because of the super nice comment on chapater 5
Radiance's POV
Aurora is scowling at me, trying her best to act like an actual Royal for once. Her long unsually dark brown hair is pulled back and braided in a wavy pattern with purple pearls. Her light purple tail shimmers ever so slightly from annoyance, showing only a fraction of her true power.
My mother is behind me and I can feel her glare on my back but I ignore it, not understanding why she would be upset with me. Aurora cannot understand why I do not like Shimmer, dispite my attempt to explain to her over and over again.
Aurora sighs, sounding more like a growl than anything. "Your suspicions of Shimmer are horribly wrong. She has given nothing to be suspicious of, thus you shouldn't dislike her! You have to give her a chance, you're my dearest friend. She is too."
Anger boils inside the pit of my stomach, the taste in my mouth turning sour. The more she defends Shimmer, the more angry I become. True, I have no real reason to be suspcious of Shimmer... other than the fact she asked about my necklace and she has very similar markings on her tail to mine and developed a quick bond with a princess royal. Also that she came out of no where, claiming to be from a clan that barely makes its existance known!
Secrets are kept from me, I just know it. I trusted Aurora and why can she not trust me?
The markings that are on my tail are like no other merperson has ever seen before. A mixture of royalty but not quite, and a symbol of a powerful singer, which I am. Not quite like Aurora but that's because she is a full Royal. Shimmer's marks are much more detailed and intricate which means she holds a great power but acts as if she doesn't even know it! Another suspicious action!
The moment I decided I disliked her when she asked about my necklace. My missing father's necklace. Ever since I was born my mother had me wear it, and I never ever took it off. My mother always spoke about my father, a great man who was deeply in love with my mother. Her eyes are filled with pure love for him but are also clouded by heart break.
She told me they were seperated right before I was supposed to be originally born but she carried me an extra four years before finally birthing me. She waitied to look for him but she was unable to carry me any longer as I was anxious to be born. My mother kept me secret from the clans because of my remarkable growth rate. I grew faster than any mermaid she had ever seen and saw the power that my voice had. She feared for my safety. When I reached my twentith year my tail was almost full grown but I had started to age as a normal mermaid who would be a little older than Aurora, who is fifty in human years.
Emmet and Aurora both should have noticed the similar markings that we both share, despite it is rude to look at one another's tails... I decide to finally bring up the subject, no matter how rude it was for me to notice! "She and I share same markings!" I blurt out and Aurora sucks in a sharp breath.
"Indeed you share similar markings..." She says carefully. "She possibly could be a great singer as well."
I roll my eyes at her innocent mind. "How would she not know already!"
She shrugs, "Same lineage? Perhaps you share two bothers fathering you and her... thus same markings appear."
"Impossible." My mother shakes her head and when she sees our confused faces she continues, "Different ages. Shimmer seems younger. Much younger."
"That doesn't matter." Aurora says, although her voice doesn't sound too convincing. "This doesn't matter. Markings mean nothing, just sharing a similar power! Rarity I presume!"
"No other mermaid has ever had my mark, then she appears!" I spit out, hurt from all the secrets. Hurt from the fast formed bond between Aurora and Shimmer.
"Enough of this, lets go find my bother and Shimmer to see if they found her talent." She gives me a pointed look. "She comes from a broken clan. One that perhaps merpeople are unable to discover their potential." Aurora leaves her mother's room in a flury of bubbles, expecting us to follow.
My mother follows slowly behind and I wince knowing her tail must be causing her pain again. Her tail was torn, from a fishing spear that was thrown carelessly into the water and struck her. A torn tail can never be fully healed, and causes a mermaid to be unable to swim correctly again. Her beautiful red-orange tail stained with an awful jagged tear in her fins.
As we rounded the corner we run into Emmet and Shimmer, I instantly fall into a scowl. Shimmer looks up, meeting the eyes of my mother and seems to shrink back towards the wall in fear.
"Brother! I was just coming to find you!" Aurora says brightly but then she turns her attention to Shimmer, asking if she's alright.
Shimmer gulps, looking down to the floor watching a pink sea star inch it's way across a rock. "I'm fine." She nervously says.
"No, what's wrong." Aurora asks again, concern showing all over her face.
Shimmer doesn't meet her eyes but instead meets my mother's eyes who gives her an intense glare. "Mother? What are you doing?" I ask.
"Are you speaking through a private link?" Emmet angerly says."What are you speaking about!" He demands moving infront of Aurora, in between Shimmer and my mother.
My mother feigns a face which tried to look like she wad surpised, "Oh no. I'm unable to communicate that way! Is Shimmer able to?" Her voice is off, higher pitched than usual. A trait that my mom always has when shes lying.
"You're lying." I point out and Emmet gives her a pointed look then shifts his gaze to Shimmer.
Shimmer quickly rushes to defend herself, too quickly. "No! No, we aren't. Please I'm not saying anything!" She looked over at my mother when she said that and my mother's jaw clentches.
"What is going on!" I shriek, unable to accept any more lies and secrets. "Why are you all lying to me? Mother, I trusted you! Aurora, I trust you! Why can you not trust me?"
"Shimmer, I know you're lying too." Aurora points out.
"How!" I fiercely demand from her.
"Radiance! You do not speak to your Princess in that manner! My dear, I'm so sorry..." My mother tries to defend me but she holds up a hand and instantly she clamps her mouth shut.
Aurora sighs tiredly. "None of your concern Radiance... I'm sorry but this cannot include you."
I open my mouth to say something but Shimmer suddenly lets out a terrified wail. "No please! I'm not saying anything!" My mother flinches from her sudden out burst.
Aurora shouts, clearly angry as well. "I demand to know what is going on!" Suddenly, my body starts to tingle, my tail grows heavy feeling relaxed. My mother's eyes widen and her blacks narrow inside of her emerald green eyes. Aurora used compulsion.
"What's going on?" Shimmer sobs, clearly afraid and clueless. Emmet rushes to her side and graps her hand, whispering everything is alright.
"One bounded to Souce, another bounded to Song... the two will connect and will bring light to us all. Both with the ability to walk in between two world, both with the strength to end the dark. But beware to this clue, for this holds a price, the sacrafice of Song." My mother mumbles, voice filled with pain. Aurora drops the compulsion in sudden shock and my mother floats to the bottom starting to sob. "You ruined everything!" She shrieks at Shimmer.
Shimmer chokes back on a sob. "I'm sorry. I didn't say anything!"
"You should have died the first night they attacked you!" She screams again.
Emmet grabs my mother's shoulders. "How do you know that?" She doesn't respond and he shakes her violently, anger detailed on his face.
Aurora cries out in protest. "Brother! No, stop!"
"They're coming again. Rising up. The Elder spoke to me in a dream of what would happen but I had to stop it. I must! Instead, I was the one who started it." She continued to sob.
"Started what?" I stammer out, my body trembling from her omnimous words.
"I'm not the only half-breed Radiance..." Shimmer whispers.
Both Aurora and Emmet shout at the same time. "No!"
My mouth drops open. "You're a half-breed!? How!?"
Before Aurora was able to clasp her hand over Shimmer's mouth, she moved away quickly and came closer to me. I instantly shrinked away but my back hit the rough walls. "I'm human... Aurora changed me. But you, you're a half-breed too."
Aww.. I liked this chapter better. :) Much more clear and the following chapters will explain more about what Radiance's mother said.
I realize I haven't introduced her name yet. Why is that? ;) He he he...
Leave a comment telling me these three things.... Another LIGHT HEARTED bribe I'm asking from you guys. A MUST! In one comment/ answer ALL three for your vote to be considered.
1) Did you like the old ch 20 or the new one?
2) Which POV do you want to read about next? Shimmer, Aurora, Nate, or a surpising new character that we havent heard from a while.
3) Did you vote [and/or] what did you like most about this chapter!
Thank you!!!! The reason to this "bribe" is because I want YOU to pick what YOU want to read about next!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only choose from those four character I gave you. The more answers then the faster I will write the next chapter because then I'll know what to write about. Deal? :) I'm so evil.
PS
Radiance is ABOUT twenty years old. Johnny is about thirty years old. (Connections starting to come together)