Father always said that unlike my six older sisters, I likened Mother most. Not by looks alone; I carried her jaunty spirit. I was always one to make everything a game. It drove the eldest, Attina, to wrath.

 Whenever I came back after a long time away at the surface to bring home a human thing and show it to my sisters, most of them would listen in awe. But Attina wasn't at all amused.

 "I can't believe you are encouraging her. The girl needs to learn how to be a mermaid, not a human," Attina said from the high up apature of our special cave that she used as a seat.

 I allowed her interruption of my story as I was explaining the dingle-hopper, "How can I be any more of what I already am, Attina?"

 My sister lowered her head to the ditch where we sat in a semi-circle. Her pretty nose flared. "You are obsessed with a place that is forbidden. The enemy's territory. It's concerning to say the least."

 "We can learn from our enemies, too."

 I expected Attina's surprised reaction to my claim, "Where are you getting such balderdash?"

 All my sisters answered, "Scuttle."

 Attina swam off her seat, her glittering tail flipping behind. She swam to me. Her hair was wrapped around five spiky shell cones that protruded from her head. A pearl-beaded body chain hid her chest flesh. A garnet ring in her greek nose. Silver bejeweled bangles weighed her wrists. As the heiress, she was given the widest selection of jewelry to be showered and choked in.

 Her tapered eyes held a serious gaze. "Imagine if Father heard you quoting a prisoner. Or if he found out you were going to the surface."

 "He will never find out," I said. "Will he?"

 She understood what I implied. "I never promised my clandestinity."

 "So you've told."

 "No. But I feel tempted to. For your own good. Only I don't think I need to. Father is bound to catch on to your absence. You can't keep this up, Ariel."

 I squinted her way, "We'll see about that."

 "Stop it, Ariel. It's not a challenge, it's a warning. Life is not a game. This is serious."

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 "On the contrary," I tipped up my chin. "It’s the biggest game of all." I ignored everyone's shaking heads.

 Attina sighed, "This is your flaw, Ariel. You think you know everything. But soon your games will catch up to you. And you'll find that you can't have everything you want."

 As another wave whipped against my back, I opened my eyes. The tide had risen up to my mouth. My arms, still locked around the tip of this rock. It was a miracle that I had held on this long for the whole night. I desperately hoped Flounder delivered my message to my father. Any longer a wait, and my arms would give way. My body felt increasingly dehydrated as the saltwater continued to beat at my skin. But I held on.

 The sun was only adding to my peril. I pressed my cheek to the granite. With nothing more to do, I eased my mind into synchronization with the sounds of nature around me. My ears tuned in to the mews of the seagulls, the whoos of the wind, the powerful brushing and rippling of the waves. My nose recognized the saltiness of the air. Whether I liked it or not, I was home, or at least a league away.

 Then I heard another noise that made my heart stop, the dismal yet resounding lull of a conch shell. I squeezed my eyes shut as the waves pulled away from me, and the person I'd been waiting for approached. I must face him. I urged myself to lift my head and turn around. The image of a giant body blocking the sunlight was blurred before me. I couldn't see much, but pushed off the rock and reached out a shaky arm, "Help me. Please."

 Before any further movement was made on my part, I was thrust up with the water and blown back with the wind. My innards lifted for a moment, then succumbed to gravity as I landed on the edge of the sandy coast. Was I broken anywhere? Somehow, I managed to lift my head after such an impact. This time the image was crystal clear. I beheld his veined arms, his lifted chest. The glorious white locks that spread over his broad shoulders. And in his mighty right hand, an engraved gold trident, nearly as big as him.

 Dare I say the word? "Father!"

 His steely expression turned down any hope I had. "Not 'Father' anymore. I am not even your king, do you understand!"

 I frowned with quaking lips. "Yes. King Poseidon of Undersea, do I have your cordiality at least?"

 Sebastian, his second in command, whispered something to the king.

 King Poseidon then addressed me, "Cordiality is reserved for citizens of Undersea. But my mercy is given and remains as long you keep to your vow, and never swim below the shallows again."

 "But I have no friend here—"

 "Dat eez no concern hof hours!" Shouted Sebastian. His high cheeks condemned me. The necklace of dead crabs strung together, jangled against his deep, swarthy chest. "Hand. Haccording to law, hall treasures of dee sea must remain therein." He swam closer until he was but one inch from the line that separated me from him. With an outstretched palm, he urged, "Dee comb."

 The comb. My mother's comb. The last bit of opulence that remained with me. Without a fuss, I slipped it out of my hair and handed it over. But I concealed within my gown the better gift. The thing that had turned my life around.

 Sebastian turned up a surly smirk, "Dat will do."

 I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was being disowned and disavowed. "Do you want me to apologize? That's what you want, isn't it? Fine! I apologize! I apologize!"

 They turned their backs on me.

 "NO! FATHER!"

 In one whip of their tails, it was final. I was on my own.