Chapter 6 Aulani
CHAPTER SIX
AULANI
He wasn’t what I had pictured when I imagined a frog turning into a human prince.
Ezra Kanahele looked like the island had shaped him: sun-brown skin kissed countless times in the heat, salt-flecked curls falling into his eyes like he’d just come from a long swim (which he did).
His hair held the faintest hint of gold, like it had stolen light from the tips of the waves themselves.
And those eyes… a brighter green than even the brightest green kelp at sea.
He wasn’t flashy, not even in his princely attire, but there was something quietly noble in the way he carried himself. There was a stillness, like a mountain rising from the ocean floor, steady and unshaken even when the surface was wild.
His voice was calm and genuine, cutting through any falsehood like a coral shard, and when he smiled–which was rare, crooked, a little reluctant–it felt like catching sunlight through the tides.
And that kiss? I smiled as I waited for him, trying to trust that he would come back. Hours had passed, and I was freezing. The dense water dried out my skin and scales, and I couldn’t breathe for long underwater. Not like I wanted to go under anyway. It was too cold.
This is what life in the deep brine would be like, and I shuddered.
I made the right decision, I thought. Right? Even though I was stuck here, it was better than being trapped underwater by my father.
After a while, I began to pace. The sun had long disappeared and the moon shone in the sky.
What if he doesn’t come back? What if he lied? He knew I was vulnerable out here.
He knows too much… But what choice did I have? I had to trust him.
As more time elapsed, I grew angry at myself. Why had I kissed him? He was the wrong prince to kiss! I was supposed to kiss Prince Ryker! And Prince Ryker was realms away.
Just as my anxiety began turning into panic, I calmed myself by singing. I could sense the life of the world around me. This island was truly something. It wasn’t full of magic, but it was full of natural, innocent, unassuming life. Joyful life. Bright life. Lush life.
The trees were old, the water pure, and the leaves bent to the will of the wind. The birds occasionally sang, but they seemed… sad. Like they had lost something.
They had lost themselves. I couldn’t explain how I knew this, but all mermaids had some connection to the natural world.
I seemed to have this sense stronger than any other mermaid.
Just as I could connect with the whales or the dolphins, I could connect with the creatures here.
Which is why it surprised me when the little frog talked.
Turns out he was actually human! I looked towards the path, and when I didn’t see him, I began to sing the song I sang to Ryker after rescuing him.
E hiamoe, e hiamoe,
The tide has found you, soft and slow.
The stars above still know your name,
Even when you’ve lost your way.
E ho’omālie, no need to fear,
The sea carries you home from here.
I’ll sing ‘til breath returns to stay,
And all your sorrow drifts away.
The birds sang back, and the area, though cold and filled with mist and crisp mountain air, seemed to turn warm. A few birds descended from the trees to fly around me, as if welcoming me here. It made me feel a little less lonely.
One bird, in particular, rested on my shoulder. It seemed weak. Hungry. He looked at me with his black eyes and I paused to stroke his vibrant red head. His curved black beak tapped my skin.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
It tapped me again.
“Pili?”
The bird moved its head up and down. “A pleasure to meet you.” I grinned and began singing again, hoping the song would give life to the bird. The plants and water hummed in response and soon, the bird flew in circles above me.
It was just the energy it needed to find food.
“Aulani?”
I jumped, and the birds scattered away. Ezra had come up without me even realizing it. “Were you talking to those birds?” he asked.
“Sort of.” I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and felt my heart skip a beat as he knelt down at the pool’s edge to speak to me.
“Really? Can mermaids communicate with birds?”
“Not perfectly,” I said. “And not all mermaids can, but… I’ve always had a way with animals.” I held out a finger and Pili perched on it. Ezra watched, fascinated.
“This is Pili,” I said. It bowed to the prince, and he grinned.
“Incredible.”
“This one was hungry and weak, but a good song cheered him up and look.” I tapped his head. “He found a bug to eat. Good for you.”
“That is an ‘apapane,” said Ezra. “One of our native songbirds.” He sighed. “They’re disappearing.”
“Oh no.” I frowned. “Why?” Then I hugged my arms as Pili flew away.
Ezra held up a vial of something green. “I’ll tell you everything about the frogs on the way. My cousin has a solution for us, and it should work. The village is farther than I expected from here, but Kalei is expecting us and we’re going to get you warmed up in a safe place for the night.”
“Thank you.” My heart warmed just from hearing his words and knowing he really kept his promise.
“Alright, so you better get your legs first,” he said, “And then we’ll both take this.” He held up the green potion. “This will allow us to communicate, even after you lose your voice.”
As I pulled out the blue vial, I hesitated.
“Is something wrong?” Ezra asked patiently.
“I’m nervous.” I frowned. “I’ve been wanting to explore the human world for so long…”
“Well, you can wait a little longer and shiver, or…”
I looked up and realized… he was teasing. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight and I laughed. “You really krilled the mood, Ezra.”
His smile made my heart flip. I thought the pun would annoy him, but he came back with a quick reply. “Careful, or I might think you’re fishing for attention.”
I giggled and then I didn’t feel so nervous anymore as I drank the potion. It tasted awful, but as soon as I swallowed, I knew something was happening. Bright lights swirled around my body, and suddenly I could feel water rushing between my legs.
Legs! I gasped and poked my foot out of the water. I said Ezra’s name, then gasped again and looked at him. My voice… it was truly gone!
“Let’s get you out of the water,” Ezra said, gently putting his hands under my arms to pull me out. And when he did, we both seemed to have the realization that I was, well, naked.
“Oh.” Ezra quickly looked away, practically ripping off his vest and handing it to me, averting his eyes. “I honestly didn’t think that through. I’m so sorry.”
It’s alright. Barnacles and slimy eels, he couldn’t hear me!
I pointed to his potion, and he nodded. “Yes, let’s both drink it.
Kalei said that couples use this. It works for a month at a time, which will be perfect for us.
We can communicate in our minds, but the only way for it to be activated is if we…
” Color blossomed in his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck.
I shrugged and he finished. “Is if we kiss each other.”
I gave him a look.
“I promise I’m not making it up! You can even ask Kalei when we get to her house. It’s like I said… couples use it when they want to communicate with their minds.”
I nodded. What other choice did I have? And was it terrible I didn’t mind the idea of kissing him again?
Fine. He drank half, then I drank half. It tasted much better than the one I’d just swallowed.
Then I faced Ezra and, for the first time in my whole life, my heart was racing faster than a marlin zipping away from a fisherman. My thoughts crashed like waves, relentless and wild.
His lips met mine like the hush of a tide slipping onto shore. Gentle at first, like he wasn’t sure if I’d pull away. I didn’t. I leaned in like a current drawn to moonlight, letting the warmth of him ripple through me, soft and sure.
Kissing Ezra was like diving into sunlit water: startling and golden, and a little dangerous if I stayed too long. I shouldn’t have. I knew I shouldn’t have. But oh, he tasted like the wind before a storm. I gently touched his smooth jaw, mesmerized by him. Like something I’d chased across oceans.
My heart flapped in my chest like a startled fish, flipping wildly between you fool, stop kissing him! and do it again! His fingers brushed the back of my neck, and I swear the sea inside me sang.
This wasn’t just a kiss. It was a breach—the kind whales make when they can’t help but leap into the sky.
And tides take it! I wanted to leap with him.
I shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did, but he didn’t pull away, so why should I?
This is a shipwreck and I’m sinking for it.
Ezra’s voice sounded as he pulled away. Really? Good to know.
My embarrassment could’ve drowned a whole reef.
You heard that?
I can hear everything. You can probably hear my thoughts too, though I’m trying to keep them guarded.
And suddenly I felt our connection. I could see his thoughts, but as he said, he raised walls, made out of tall, sturdy trees, to block me from the view of him.
I did get a glimpse of the words and emotions he felt: attraction, guilt, and… admiration?
If he asks to kiss me again, I don’t think I could say no.
I heard that too. He spoke to me in my mind again and grinned.
Well, this is going swimmingly. By which I mean I’m sinking fast. I had to build up a wall in my mind, like his.
Coral. Yes. I was from the Coral Realms and we used coral as walls for everything. I built it up, keeping him out of my intrusive and wild thoughts.
Ezra’s green eyes sparkled in the moonlight. You wear your heart on your sleeve, mermaid.
If I had one, I teased and he smiled, standing and helping me up.
“Let’s get you to the ocean,” he said. As I took his hands, I felt as if my entire world was shifting.
Shifting… But how? I was probably delirious from being in this new world.
It most certainly was not Ezra.
With his tunic around my waist, I attempted to stand. Ezra’s calloused hands settled on my waist, but then he quickly retracted them, as if burned. His face flushed.
“You’re… steady now?”
Not in the slightest. How do you stand so straight on these wobbly things? They’re worse than seaweed.
It was then I could tell he kept looking away, averting his eyes.
Ah. I gently lifted his chin so he met my eyes. You have no idea, do you? I’ve seen much worse. Consider this modest compared to the world I came from.
He blinked, processing what I’d said, then the faint pink on his cheeks deepened. “I… I don’t…” The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. What was I to do to make him more comfortable?
Then, a fleeting thought came into our shared connection, whispering between us: She’s… unbelievably attractive.
My eyes widened and I couldn’t help but smile, amused.
Oh really?
He froze. “That’s–I mean…”
Thank you, Ezra. That’s good to know.
He cursed to himself and let out a breath. “Look. I didn’t mean–I mean… I never said I wasn’t aware of it. Just–” He sighed. “I’m not used to the company of someone like you.”
No need to explain yourself, I told him. I’m not offended.
He let out another breath and I couldn’t tell if he was relieved or more embarrassed than before…
but something about the interaction made my heart skip a beat.
I’d been called beautiful before, but, coming from him…
it was different. It made my heart want to soar and sail wild and free like the ships on the sea.
I’m not so different from the company you probably keep, Ezra. I’m just… more exposed.
And this time Ezra let out a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Right. Um… we’ll see. So let’s teach you how to walk and get you some real clothes.” And with that, he placed his hands on my waist to steady me. I took his arms, and, in a few electric moments, my jellyfish legs steadied enough for me to walk on my own.
Just a few steps.
More stumbles that frustrated me more than I wanted to admit.
But I got the hang of it. Mostly.
“You did it!” he exclaimed, leaned over, his hands still on my waist. I clapped my hands, but, for some reason, he was still there, and I didn’t want him to let go. We looked into each other’s eyes, and my heart paddled harder than a panicked seahorse.
Oh scales. We had to get me to my world, because if I spent too much time with this young man, I was going to sink farther than the briney kingdom at the bottom of the sea.