Everblue

Chapter 14 - Fin

FIN

 

I paced the length of our small living room, checking the sun clock yet again. If Tatch didn't hurry, I'd be late to the practice field. "Come on, Tatch. It's all going to wash off when you get in the water anyway."

"Shut-up, Fin. I'm almost finished," Tatch yelled from her bedroom.

I blew out a gust of air and sat on the couch. For me to get ready took all of two minutes. There was no need to get dressed or take a shower and the bathroom was technically outside, which grossed me out at times.

After ten more minutes passed, she finally walked into the room, looking no different than she had at breakfast. "Finally." I shook my head.

She glowered and stuck out her tongue. "Stop being such a stickleback." 

I ignored her and marched over to the new privacy curtain mom just hung up that partially obscured the porthole entry. As I took off my shorts, pulled back the rock door, and dunked my legs into the water, little bells tinkled from a string that fed through a pipe in the floor I'd never seen before.

"What's that?" I asked.

"The doorbell," Mom called from the kitchen.

"Sea stars, it's Azor!" Tatch gasped. Her feet slapped the smooth rock floor as she retreated back to her room. "Tell him I'm not home."

I sat on the rim of the porthole and pulled back the curtain, unsure if I should phase back into my legs or not.

Mom walked around the corner, looking as angelic as ever with a beaded skirt and tasseled fringe top. "Invite him in," she said, her voice filled with posture—the tone that said she meant business.

I quizzically studied her confident demeanor, confused at the change from her normal insecure manner in the presence of the pure-born, then shrugged and dove underwater to find Azor waiting outside.

"Azor," I said with a nod.

"Finley, I was hoping to escort your sister today. Is she at home?"

Conflict erupted inside me, unsure what to tell him. I could lie like Tatch wanted and protect my mom from the confrontation, or follow her orders and invite him in. I glanced up at the one-way window, knowing Mom probably watched us from the other side.

"Yeah, come on in. I hope you've brought something to cover yourself. We've had the air interior installed."

"Oh, really?" He looked upward and noted the bubbles escaping from our rooftop. "I do," he said smugly, placing his hand on a small rectangular box attached to his utility belt. My leather waterproof one was much cooler.

"You're welcome inside then." I held out my hand to lead the way.

Azor swam up through the porthole and disappeared into the house. When I surfaced behind him, he'd already phased into legs and wore a black man-skirt and matching sock-like boots. I tried not to snicker. He didn't pull off the kilt look like Badger did.

"Why hello, Magdelene," Azor said, his voice laced with charm.

Mom smiled sweetly but gave him a stern look. "Azor, I'd like to be called Mrs. Helton, if you don't mind. And while you are here, please—" she motioned towards our moss covered couch, "have a seat."

Azor grimaced slightly before following her instructions. I guessed it wasn't often that someone corrected him.

Again, I chuckled on the inside, but sat on the porthole rim, still finned up, uncertain what Mom wanted me to do. She gave me the "stay put" look as she took a seat in a chair on Azor's left hand side.

"Tatiana, please come here," Mom called over her shoulder.

A smile spread on Azor's lips. I squinted, unsure what Mom was up to, but I knew it wouldn't be in Azor's favor.

"Yes, Mom?" Tatiana said timidly as she came around the corner, but didn't make eye contact with Azor—pretending he wasn't there.

"Your brother has offered to escort you today and Azor has conveniently stopped by. I need to discuss a few things with him before I join you at the palace. Is that all right?"

"Oh . . . okay, I guess." She gave Mom a kiss on the cheek, then turned towards Azor with a fake look of disappointment. "I didn't see you there. Hello," she said curtly, then pivoted towards me with a huge grin on her face and plunged into the porthole feet first.

As soon as I was underwater, all I could hear were peals of laughter in my head.

"Did you see his face? Sweet urchins! Mom is going to let him have it."

I laughed back. "I know. He thought Mom was calling you out to see him, not to get a lecture. And she is on a roll today."

"This day has totally turned around," she said, sounding jovial for the first time since arriving. "I'm going to be laughing about this for days."

"Me, too."

With a hard flick of our tails, we sped off towards the palace, laughing like we use to in Tahoe.