Chapter 10 Aulani
CHAPTER TEN
AULANI
Ialways thought being a mermaid was confining, and that it set me apart from the rest of the world negatively. Ever since I was born, I’d always been able to communicate with animals and the world around me in a much deeper way than any other mermaids I knew.
The mermaids looked at me differently after that. They thought it was odd, and anytime I danced with the jellyfish, leaped with the dolphins, or sang to help the royal gardens grow, it set me farther and farther apart from the others.
Perhaps that’s why I explored the surface world. The humans were othered by the mermaids, just like me. So perhaps that’s where I belonged… with them.
I couldn’t help but miss my little fish friend, Humu, and his loyalty even to my last splash in our world. And then Mo, my sister. She betrayed me, but what other choice did she have? I missed her, even as thoughts of her still stung bitterly.
But Aunt Lorelei thought differently of me.
When she saved me from the fisherman’s net, she asked a nearby shark for help.
Mermaids mostly avoided sharks.
But she knew them.
She knew all the sea creatures and connected with them deeper than any mermaid I knew. I confessed to her about my strange connection to animals, and she said, “You have a gift, Aulani. Don’t hide it.”
And now that gift could bless this land, maybe even save it.
As much as I missed Humu and Mo, I knew I wouldn’t be seeing much of them whether in this world or our own.
And now that I’d been human for a few weeks, I was feeling more confused than ever before.
It was clear as day that the birds were dying from the frog infestation, and that something had to be done. Ezra sent out his troops every night to hunt the frogs, and he even went out himself, but the birds were dying of starvation. The balance on the land was not right.
The frogs are eating all the insects. Insects and bugs that the birds once relied on… I could sense the discouragement that the birds felt. They were losing in this frog battle, and if they were losing, the kingdom and island were losing. Ezra was losing.
But what if I could help?
I thought of this as I watched the coronation.
Crowned King of Kaiora, Ezra looked magnificent. The newly crowned king stood before his people, his expression stoic, green eyes somber, crown sparkling.
"I hereby declare you, Ezra Keoki Kanahele, as the Sovereign King of Kaiora, Keeper of the songbirds, and Protector of the ‘Aina." People threw flowers into the air, filling it with rich floral scents.
And despite being in the crowd with Kalei, I thought Ezra wouldn’t see us. But his eyes searched until he found me, and a smile gently touched his lips. My heart burst as I clapped my hands.
I wished I could cheer with the others.
Festivities began almost immediately after, and while Kalei ran off to try the food, I stood by a pillar, watching Ezra. He was a perfect king. The perfect person to rule Kaiora, especially.
He must have felt my eyes on him because, when he finally had a moment, he stole away behind the pillar.
A confusing mix of excitement and sadness swirled inside of me, a whirlpool that seemed to sink right into the depths of my heart: Excitement because he was finally king, but sadness because, well, I was going to have to leave at some point…
And I’ll never see him again. I brushed the thought away as he hurried towards me, extending his arms. I threw my arms around his neck, and he spun us around, his own arms around my back. It was magical, and I wished we could stay in this dazzling, warm, protective embrace forever.
You did it, Ezra! You are king! I squeezed him extra tight, taking in his fresh scent that was like rain and cedarwood and musky earth.
I couldn’t have done it without you! Ezra wasn’t one to exclaim things, but the happiness that came from his mind to mine was light, like buoyant foam on the surface of the sea.
All I can say is congratulations, my frog prince–now king! I laughed at that.
As he set me down, he kept his hands on my waist, and my hands slipped onto his hard, warm chest. The pillar, large foliage, and ferns hid us well, and I deeply wanted to kiss him.
Aulani! Oh, kelp me, I was falling for him! What a forbidden thought!
His eyes sparkled as they looked into mine, and from the color on his cheeks, I wondered if he thought the same thing.
A smile crossed my lips, and he returned the favor, the air charged between us. I looked at his lips, remembering the last two times we kissed. He was perfect for me…
I knew I shouldn’t, especially since I would not be in this realm forever, but I leaned in. He leaned in too, a silence before a storm, knowing that this safety and calm would not last forever, but we had to enjoy while we could…
Just as his lips were about to touch mine, his warm breath on my skin…
“Ezra, where did you–”
We jumped apart at the sound of Ho‘ohuli’s voice. He blushed, having seen us in our intimate position, our faces close together. We all blushed, actually, and Ezra rubbed the back of his neck. His cheeks bloomed like coral under moonlight.
Ho‘ohuli gave the king a look, and I had the briefest notion that they had discussed me. It was almost a warning look, but one that was also full of sympathy: even Ho‘ohuli knew I couldn’t stay here.
“Ezra, Lord and Lady Kawai’ae’a are leaving soon and wished to bid you congratulations before their departure.”
The king nodded, regaining his composure quickly, while I stood there feeling dejected and disappointed. Perfect timing, Ho‘ohuli…
Instead, I turned to Ezra and nodded encouragingly. You have so many people to talk to. I’m truly happy for you, Ezra. You are going to be the best king this kingdom has ever had. It was as if he wanted to say so much more, but instead, he nodded.
Thank you, Aulani. With that, he bowed, turned on his heels, and followed Ho‘ohuli, leaving me alone.
“I saw that.” I jumped to find Kalei approaching, a plate of food in her hands.
We watched her cousin as he talked to his people, a kind smile on his face, as if he had put a certain distraction out of his mind.
His wandering eyes betrayed him though, and when he saw us watching him, his lip twitched and looked away quickly. My heart skipped a beat.
“He doesn’t want to lose you,” Kalei said softly. “But he will… he has to. You’re not from our world, and if you don’t get back to yours and your prince, you’ll die.”
I sighed, and, for the first time since I’d arrived, I realized I did not want to go back to my world. What if I stayed? What if things worked out between Ezra and me? The more time I spent with him, the more I wanted it all to work out.
Because if I stay, I will die. I had to get Prince Ryker to fall in love with me, or I’d turn to sea foam. Those were the terms of the curse. Anger boiled inside me. I had no choice… I had to resist Ezra.
I need to get to the sea, I said softly to Ezra, and he met my eyes.
Yes. I’ll take you.
Tonight?
Yes. I promise. And I knew he intended to keep that promise, no matter what.
I stared at the stars as I waited for Ezra. Where was he? He said to meet at the stables, but it was getting dark. Had something delayed him?
You’re acting like a seal being chased by a whale, Aulani. Calm down, I told myself, and tried to think about the telescope I saw in Prince Ryker’s jacket. When I returned to my world, I would get him to fall in love with me, marry me, and I could ask him all the questions about the stars.
I can forget all about Kaiora, the frogs, the birds, and… him. Ezra. That made me sadder than a shipwreck without treasure.
I don’t want to forget him. Ezra was the sweetest person I’d ever met. He never judged. He just saw me for who I was…
And where is he?
Anxiety pressed on me as doubts formed. What if Ezra would not take me to the sea?
He wouldn’t lie to me. He just wasn’t that kind of a person. Ezra was honest and genuine to the core.
Suddenly, our mind connection brimmed with life, like Ezra was trying to reach out to me. The connection felt tangled though, like a fishing line snagged on something.
We could only communicate when we were within a certain proximity, but it felt as if he was far away from me… and getting farther and farther.
Ezra? I stepped away from the stable, my heart beginning to race.
Aulani! He spoke in a panicked voice.
Where are you?
Nothing. Fear gripped me, and I began running. I didn’t know where, just… I had to move.
Ezra! I screamed in my mind, rushing through the palace walls.
“Is everything all right?” Ho‘ohuli asked, and I shook my head, trying to tell him Ezra was in trouble, but he didn’t understand. I ran off, and he trailed behind me.
Ezra, where are you? Again, nothing. I couldn’t even sense his mind, which frightened me even more.
And then… ever so faintly…
The garden… I’m…
Nothing…
I rushed to the garden at the front of the palace, passing the gardeners cleaning up their landscaping tools for the day. Someone cut the rose bushes to perfection.
“Aulani!” Ho‘ohuli was still following me. “What is going on?”
The garden? I shook my head. Where could he be in the garden?
Wrong garden! I told myself, and looked to the back of the palace, where the terrace garden grew wild and free. Yes. He went there often to be alone. I darted in that direction, Ho‘ohuli out of breath behind me.
“Slow down, Aulani!” he called, but I couldn’t.
Wouldn’t.
Ezra was in trouble, and I needed to help him.
When I reached the terrace garden, the sound of a coqui frog filled the air.
Ezra! I climbed the lava rock terraces, avoiding stepping in the middle as saplings and young plants grew within. As I reached the top, panic began settling in. He was not anywhere in sight.
Ezra. I couldn’t sense him. Couldn’t see his koa trees blocking his mind from my view. Couldn’t sense his warm, calm presence in my mind. An unsettling feeling came over me. If I couldn’t sense his mind, was his mind… dark? Was he… gone?