“Forty three years?!” exclaimed Cordelia. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude.”
“It’s fine. At least I’ve kept my youthful looks.”
“What’s it like being a ghost?”
“It’s alright. I’m used to it now. I’ve been a ghost longer than I was alive.”
“What does it feel like when you walk through walls?”
“It doesn’t feel like anything, I just do it. I’ve seen a lot of things though. I know everything.”
“Everything?” Cordelia wondered if she knew where Flynn was but before she had a chance to ask, Nixie had vanished.
The sewing box was still in the room with reels of thread scattered on the floor.
“Oh great,” muttered Cordelia under her breath.
As she knelt down to pack the contents away, there came a hurried knock at the door.
“Cordelia, are you there? It’s Lana.”
Cordelia jumped to her feet and opened the door.
“Wow! Look at you! Where did you get this outfit?”
“Nixie and I made some alterations to the clothes Mazu bought me. What do you think?”
“It’s different... I love it! I’m not sure what Morwen will say though.”
“Speaking of Morwen, Nixie borrowed this sewing box from her room and I need to get it back before she realises it’s missing.”
Lana raised her eyebrows, “You’ve been here a week and you’re already making waves. Come on, I’ll take you.”
Lana led Cordelia through the cave network until they came to a set of steps leading to Morwen’s chamber.
“You don’t think she’s up there do you?” whispered Cordelia.
“Only one way to find out.”
The wind howled through the tunnel as they cautiously climbed the steps. The door was closed and displayed a sign which read, Morwen Vanora. Lana and Cordelia pressed their ears to the door and listened for any sounds coming from within the room. All seemed quiet. Cordelia slowly turned the door handle and opened the door just enough to peer through. There didn’t seem to be anyone there so Cordelia dashed into the room and placed the sewing box on a chest of drawers.
“Not there,” said Nixie. “It goes over here with the sewing machine.”
“I wish you wouldn’t keep...”
Nixie was gone.
“Why does she do that?” asked Cordelia.
“The perks of being a ghost,” replied Lana.
“I hadn’t associated perks with being dead before.”
“Shhh!” said Lana. “Morwen’s coming. This way.”
Lana led Cordelia across Morwen’s chamber to a small door on the far side.
“It’s locked!” exclaimed Cordelia, trying the handle.
The girls looked around, frantically trying to find the key to the door. Nixie took great delight in watching them panic; not that she meant to be unkind, she just found it entertaining. Just as Morwen approached the bottom of the steps, Nixie appeared with the key.
“Quick! She’s coming!”
Lana grappled with the lock and the door flung open with a gust of wind to reveal the rocks and the sea. The girls made their escape, closing the door behind them just in time.
Morwen entered her chamber and paused. She sniffed the air while her eyes darted around the room. “Someone’s been in here,” she said and marched over to the small door where the key was still in the lock.
Cordelia and Lana hurriedly made their way along the rocks.
“In here!” Nixie was bobbing up and down in the water at the entrance to a cave.
Lana dived straight in. “Cordelia! Come on!”
Cordelia glanced over her shoulder to see Morwen standing on the rocks outside her chamber. Without further hesitation, Cordelia joined Lana and Nixie in the water and swam into the cave.
It was dark in the cave and the sea slopped in and out.
“Where are you?” asked Cordelia.
“Here.” Lana stretched out her hand. “There’s a ledge in front of you, can you feel it?”
Cordelia felt the ledge with her hands, it was covered in Irish moss which made kneeling on it more bearable. Cordelia hauled herself out of the water and sat beside Lana.
“What will she do if she finds us?” asked Cordelia anxiously.
“We’d be given extra studies and locked in our rooms at all other times. She’d probably tell my father too.”
“I suppose I don’t need to worry about that.”
“It’s best not to get on the wrong side of Morwen. She’s Welsh, she’s probably got dragons blood running through her veins.”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow.
“I’m joking,” said Lana. “Morwen comes from an ancient line of merfolk, she wouldn’t be head of school if she wasn’t.”
“If she’s head of school, what does that make Mazu and Triton? I got the impression they were in charge.”
“They are when they’re here. I suppose they’re what you call executive heads. This isn’t the only school for merfolk you know, there’s another one in the East and this one covers the West. Together they cover the seven seas. Triton and Mazu visit both schools, tending to important matters. They’re also the first point of contact for the Kingdom of Meren.”
“Forgive me for sounding really dumb but what exactly is the Kingdom of Meren?”
Lana tried not to show how surprised she was by Cordelia’s question. Everyone in the sea community knew about the Kingdom of Meren, everyone except Cordelia.
“Merfolk royalty,” began Lana. “It’s a proper royal family, just like Queen Victoria’s, except for ours has a king and he rules the seven seas and the creatures who live there.”
“What’s the king’s name?”
“Lorcan. King Lorcan of Meren.”
“Does he have a palace?”
“A castle. I’ve heard it’s quite impressive.”
“I’d love to see it.”
“It’s on an island not far from here. Impossible to see it though, it’s surrounded by rocks and guarded day and night. Visits to the castle are strictly by invitation only.”
A pale silvery glow appeared in the water below them, lighting up the cave.
“Don’t worry, it’s just Nixie,” said Lana.
The girls sat quietly for a few moments and watched Nixie glide about under the water.
“What happened to your parents?” asked Lana.
Cordelia hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. I have no idea who they are. Flynn raised me but he wasn’t
