Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EZRA
Aulani was all smiles as she hugged me tightly.
I tried to smile back, but it wasn’t there. Everything was right, and yet… it was not right.
I held her hands, staring into her bright brown eyes until…
“Alright you two, break it up already.”
We did so to see Kalei, and tears filled her eyes when she looked at me. “I’m so sorry Ezra. I should have never–”
“Kalei.” I embraced my cousin.
She sobbed. “Tavo cornered me–”
“I know.” Because I did know. Knew what it felt like to feel small, powerless, like nobody could help me. My time as a frog had done that, but, more so, being Tavo’s younger brother made me feel what Kalei probably felt.
“And what he said… about the throne…” She wiped her tears and Aulani put her hand on Kalei’s back. “You know I don’t want it, right Ezra?”
“Kalei.” I laughed. “You have supported me and been my friend since we were young. I know you would never try to hurt me.” I gave her another hug. “Let’s move on, alright?”
She nodded and hugged me back. “Thank you Ezra.” Then, after a moment, she pulled away and punched my arm playfully. “You still ought to give your cousin a punishment though–for disloyalty to the throne. It’s only fair and right.”
A grave expression crossed my face. She was right. It was only fair. I couldn’t show favoritism, not even to my favorite cousin. “You’re right, Kalei. A fair trial will be held.”
Aulani joked. Perhaps she can serve as Kaiora’s royal event coordinator as punishment. We know how much she loves balls.
I voiced Aulani’s words aloud and this time, Kalei laughed.
We hardly had a moment to joke around more because Aulani’s expression changed and she suddenly looked away.
Someone is calling my name. The voice is familiar… She gazed at the sea, and then… she was running. Dashing towards the beach.
“Aulani!” I followed, and Ho‘ohuli, Kalei, and Cressida followed too. The mermaid was so fast, that when she reached the water, it seemed to sparkle at her touch. The water swirled around and around until…
A woman emerged from the sea, a golden triton in her hand. I gaped, unable to stop staring at her green colored scales, iridescent tail, and bright green eyes. She looked familiar… so very familiar…
Before Aulani reached her, the woman stared at me, her mouth slightly open.
“Ezra?” she asked, and Aulani turned around.
You know Aunty Lorelei?
Lore… My head was spinning. Father spoke of his “dear Lore,” who he missed everyday…
“It’s my…” A lump formed in my throat and Aulani grabbed my hand.
Is she your mother, Ezra?
I nodded, putting all the pieces together. Somehow, this mermaid came to our world before. Walked among our people. Saved the birds. Married my father. Had me. And then she disappeared.
Because she returned to her world. Unlike Aulani…
“Ezra?” Her voice was the same one my father had described, soft yet unyielding.
I nodded, words failing me. My mother—my mother—stood before me. The woman who had walked through legends and gossip, the one who had saved the birds in the past, was here.
“My son…” Lorelei rose, eyes glistening, like she wanted to hug me but also hesitated.
That hesitation caused my chest to squeeze.
Did she not approve of me? Instead, she said, “We will reunite later, Ezra. For now… time is of the essence.” She turned to Aulani, and that made me even more anxious.
Was the mermaid’s month up? Would she turn to sea foam?
“Oh, my dear…” The queen’s expression softened. “You are so close to breaking the spell and remaining a human forever.”
Aulani frowned, as if to ask, “How?”
Lorelei moved her triton, and light seemed to shimmer from the ends of it. She wove it in the air and again, there was a large gaping hole where once was nothing. Yet, inside of that hole shone a beautiful sea, and, in the distance, a castle with red shingles and white walls.
A portal. I stared, unable to process all of this.
Prince Ryker’s castle… I blinked.
Aulani seemed confused, looking from the portal to her aunt. And then it dawned on me: this was Aulani’s chance to go home. She could go to that castle right now, meet Prince Ryker, and possibly fall in love, which would allow her to live on as a human.
Because if not… I glanced at the sea foam floating on the distant waves.
“You may return home,” Lorelei said, adding, “When you fled that night, your father and I pursued you. He drew on the magic of the triton, and I drew on ancient, unstable magic. It has been years since I drew on that well of magic, but I opened the portal, hoping it would be your escape. When your father couldn’t find you, he turned to me for help.
” She held out the triton. “You will recognize this as an old triton, which your father gifted to me. It stabilizes ancient magic and has allowed me to create this portal.” She tipped her head.
“Your father could not come, in case our magic mixed and something terrible could result. This was the only way to ensure your safe passage back home.”
Home… Aulani’s home. My breath hitched.
Aulani froze in place. I wanted to reach out to her with my mind, but what was I to say?
Lorelei held the triton out for us to see. “Only I have the power to open the portals between worlds. Your father’s triton cannot draw on the same magic that I can. He has allowed me my use of magic… in exchange for an offer to bring you home.” She smiled.
The mermaid princess was still stuck in place, speechless.
Aulani? I finally reached out and she replied almost instantly.
My father… allowed Aunt Lorelei her magic… for me?
Yes, he did it for you, I confirmed. A tear slowly trickled down her cheek.
He did love me… albeit in his own complicated way.
And he wants you home, I said, though it pained me to do so… I didn’t want her to leave. Didn’t want any of this… but she had a chance to survive. She would meet Prince Ryker and follow the plan and story that had been prepared for her all along.
“Will you come home now, Aulani?” Aunty Lorelei asked, pointing to the portal.
All attention turned to the mermaid-turned-human. I could sense her thoughts racing, like leaves in a typhoon.
Then she looked at me, and a calm filled her mind.
Peace.
Aulani took my hand and squeezed it.
You have to go, I said softly. Or you’ll turn to sea foam…
She smiled, not a hint of fear or doubt in her eyes. Not even hesitation. I’ve made up my mind. You’re the prince–now king–that I’ve chosen. You’re right for me.
My heart melted. It was her. Always her, but I would rather her live on. I can’t let you do this…
I love you, she said and drew closer to me, the water swirling around us. I looked into her eyes, knowing there was nobody else I’d rather be with. Nobody else I could ever love as much as her…
I love you too.
In that moment, so tender, something happened. Golden lights sparkled around us. Magic floated in the air, and it was so buoyant it felt like we were floating, if only for a moment.
Aulani took a breath and gasped, clutching her throat. “Ezra!”
I gaped. “You can talk–”
“Took you long enough to say it, Ezra! I waited ten tides and five eternities for you to say it–”
And I couldn’t hold back any longer. I kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing me back. “The spell… it’s broken?” I asked aloud, pulling away, just to make sure.
She laughed and looked towards her aunt. “It is, am I right?”
The woman nodded, her eyes rimmed with tears.
She opened her arms and Aulani let go of me to embrace her.
“You did it,” my mother said, then held her arm out for me to hug her too.
I couldn’t believe I was actually embracing my mother.
I never imagined this day would come–never imagined I would ever meet her.
She pulled away and kept one arm wrapped around Aulani’s shoulders.“You really did it, Aulani. And you found the right prince for you.”
“Oh he’s the perfect prince–king–for me.” Aulani wiped some tears and then held my mother’s hands. “I can’t believe father was willing to allow you to use magic… for me.”
“He misses you,” my mother said, her eyes sad. “He wishes he had never said those things, banned you, or betrothed you to the briney king.” She squeezed Aulani’s hands. “And he wants you home, dear. We all do.” But her eyes moved past Aulani, to me. “But we cannot ask that of you.”
“Can I visit?” Aulani asked, hope in her voice.
The queen softened. “As keeper of the portals, I will very well be using this triton, and a visit from you–both of you–would be splendid.”
I let out a quiet breath of relief, one I didn’t know I was holding.
So Aulani would be able to go home. Perhaps not all the time, but she could see her family, make amends, and have peace and closure with it all.
Lorelei gave her a shell necklace. “Call whenever you’re ready to visit home.
I’ll always hear you, my sweet… daughter in law?
” She kissed the top of Aulani’s head then winked at me. I nodded.
Mother looked like she wanted to say more, but, instead, squeezed my hand. Her eyes reflected mine.
“We have much to discuss, Ezra, but…” A laugh escaped and it sounded so much like I imagined it, I just stared. “You have a lot to do too.”
Yes…
She looked at all the others standing on the beach. “We will have much to catch up on,” she told us and winked.
“I hope to see you again soon, Aunty Lorelei. Thank you,” Aulani said.
The women embraced once more, and then we all watched as the sea witch leaped into the portal.
Her tail splashed in the water. The portal closed swiftly behind her, leaving us with a view of the sky, as if it had never been there.
Aulani let out a breath, turned, and smiled at me and the others on the shore.
“I think that’s enough excitement for one day,” she said, and I knew I would never tire of hearing her voice.
I was glad everyone could hear it now too.
She squeezed my hand before hugging everyone.
And, lastly, she wrapped her arms around my neck.
“You know,” she said, her voice soft. “You once asked me to stay, and you clearly stated your intentions why.”
I grinned.
“So…” She raised an eyebrow. “Are your intentions still clear–”
I kissed her. I didn’t care if everyone was watching. She smiled through our kisses, and I quietly said, after I pulled away, “My intentions are very, very clear. I was gone the moment you splashed into my life, and if you aren’t going to be my wife, I might as well turn back into a frog.”
“Well,” she said, pulling back and playing with my hair. “I’m planning to stay and be your wife. And if you don’t like it, let minnow.” I shook my head but laughed. Her eyes lit up, my favorite thing in the whole world to see.