“The islands?”
Cordelia nodded. “I’ve no idea what I was doing there. Must have something to do with being a mermaid. I’ve always wanted to see the islands but Flynn wouldn’t let me. He said it was dangerous.”
“You know the Sirens live there, don’t you?”
“Sirens?”
“Bird women. Vicious beings. You’d do well to stay clear. Flynn’s lucky he wasn’t eaten the day he found you.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s Merfolk law that we cannot mix with Sirens. They trick sailors with their beauty and singing, then drag them to the bottom of the ocean to drown. If they’re hungry they eat them.”
“That’s terrible,” said Cordelia.
“The Merfolk Kingdom have tried to reason with the Sirens but it’s no use.”
“Have you ever been to the islands?”
“I swam close to them but I’ve never been on the islands. Zamira would’ve eaten me for breakfast.”
“Zamira?”
“Leader of the ravens. They live on Slate Island.”
“And Bishop’s Island?” asked Cordelia.
“That’s where the gannets lived, they don’t seem to be there anymore.”
“Where did they go?”
“We don’t know,” said Lana. “They say a feud erupted between the two groups because the gannets had vowed to live a peaceful life, feeding only on small fish, but the ravens refused to change their ways. I wouldn’t trust any of them.”
Cordelia thought for a moment. “Do you think they could’ve had something to do with my parents?”
“It’s possible,” said Lana. “I wouldn’t put anything past Zamira.”
In the time the girls had been chatting in the cave, the tide had risen and the water was now lapping at their feet.
“Come on,” said Lana, “I doubt she’s still looking for us now.”
As dusk turned to night, they followed Nixie’s glow out of the cave. Carrying their boots and dripping salty water, Cordelia and Lana tiptoed back to their chambers. Cordelia changed into her nightdress, hung her clothes by the fire and slipped into bed where she lay awake listening to the waves breaking on the rocks outside. She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her parents, ‘Did Zamira have something to do with it?’
FOUR
A NEW BEGINNING
At breakfast the next morning, Cordelia was aware of the students staring at her as she entered the room. Her fashion sense was causing quite a stir and Morwen Vanora almost spat her drink across the table.
“Heavens child! What have we here? What’s happened to your clothes?” barked Morwen.
“Where did they find her?” whispered Max in Rafe’s ear.
Rafe stared at Cordelia intensely as Max nudged him with his elbow, expecting him to join in with the jibes.
“I made some alterations.”
Cordelia stood boldly, unwavering, but inside she was a bag of nerves, wondering what Morwen’s response would be.
“All the other girls seem to manage just fine in their attire, I don’t see why you should be any different.”
“With all due respect, I intend to do better than manage.”
Cordelia wasn’t entirely sure where her boldness had come from but she knew what she liked and she knew what she didn’t. The students waited on tenterhooks for Morwen’s response.
“My office, now!”
Cordelia followed Morwen as she marched through the tunnel to the lighthouse. This, it seemed, is where formal matters were dealt with, including student conduct.
“Remain standing,” ordered Morwen as she took a seat at her desk.
Cordelia rolled her eyes.
“And there’ll be no more of that!” snapped Morwen. “Do you know how lucky you are to be here? This school is for the elite, the elite. Triton found you on the seabed and here you are. No references, nothing. I have no idea where you’ve come from. We have pedigree merstudents here, all with the correct paperwork to show they’ve come from a long line of pure merfolk. We accept nothing but perfection. The Kingdom of Meren will only be guarded by the best.”
Cordelia stood silently, holding Morwen’s stare. She still knew very little about the Kingdom of Meren. ‘What if I don’t want to guard it? What if I just want to be normal?’ Cordelia decided to keep these thoughts to herself as deep down, she was more than grateful to have somewhere to live and she knew such a remark would mean the end of her stay.
“What do you have to say for yourself? You could at least show some gratitude. What will Mazu say when she sees what you’ve done to these clothes?”
Cordelia inhaled deeply and slowly released the air. “I know the rugged rocks like the palms of my hands; long dresses and skirts aren’t practical.”
“What is it with you youngsters? Why can’t you follow the rules?”
“Nobody told me the rules.”
Morwen scowled at Cordelia, “Very well, you leave me no option but to speak with Triton and Mazu. Perhaps they will reconsider your placement here.”
Cordelia left the lighthouse and fought her way through the crowds of students in the tunnels making their way to their morning lessons, stopping briefly at her chamber where she changed into a bathing suit ready for diving practise.
Cordelia squinted as she emerged from the tunnel, the low sun blinding her eyes. She inhaled deeply the fresh Atlantic air and walked barefoot across the rocks to the amphitheatre where her class were already seated, listening to Irvin Seymour. Knowing she was new and also a friend of his daughter, Irvin decided to be lenient about her lateness.
“Hurry up Cordelia, you don’t want to miss this. Young Rafe’s going to demonstrate a reverse dive.”
Cordelia’s face fell. ‘Can this day get any worse?’ she thought.
“Hey,” said Lana as Cordelia perched next to her on the rock. “Okay?”
Cordelia nodded. She was lying. She wasn’t okay. How could she be when her world had been turned so spectacularly upside down? Without wanting to ruffle any more feathers on her first morning of lessons, Cordelia sat quietly and watched Rafe perform his dive. He was quite the peacock. Cordelia hoped that he would slip and mess it up but then remembered how Nixie had died. She grimaced as Rafe descended into the
