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I ignored them, harbouring a secret smile. They’d shut up soon enough.
We made our way down to where the water met the rocks, and I slipped my sandals off. I had picked out a dress to wear to this big unveiling, being as the last time I had worn trousers during a transition, I’d never found them again.
“Right.” I sat down on a rock at the edge of the water. “You’re not allowed to tell anyone what you’re about to see.”
“This is getting scary.” Kira fluttered around to my left. “You know I’ll take your secrets with me to the grave, but you don’t keep secrets full stop. What’s going on?”
I stroked a lock of my hair. I didn’t want to keep this to myself anymore.
“Watch,” I said.
I lowered myself into the water and turned around to face them. Planting my legs together, I let them meld into my tail and I flicked it up to the surface. Seawater showered down on my friends’ gobsmacked faces.
Allison squeaked, her arms windmilling as she struggled not to fall. Kira grabbed her arm at the last minute and yanked her back upright, but her open-mouthed face didn’t look away from me.
I grinned sheepishly.
“What the hell, Maeve?” Kira asked. “Are you a freaking mermaid?”
“Apparently.” I swished my tail back and forth, the evening light rippling across my scales.
“How long have you known?” Allison asked, clinging to Kira’s arm.
“Since a couple of days ago, when Adrian Everhart chased me off a cliff. I woke up in the sea like this,” I said, gesturing to my tail.
Kira squared her shoulders, her bottom lip pouting out. “You told everyone that wasn’t true!”
“Did you really think I was going to tell my family that’s what happened? When half of them would have jumped at the chance to retaliate?” I asked.
“Well… that’s a legitimate concern, I suppose.” Allison scratched her chin.
“Don’t let her off the hook,” Kira said, poking Allison in the chest. “She should have told us straightaway.”
“How is this possible, though?” Allison asked, her gaze following my tail. “I thought you were a witch?”
“I am… I think. But after a little digging, I think my mum was a mermaid, and she didn’t tell anyone,” I said.
Kira’s face fell. “She didn’t even tell your dad?”
“I don’t think so.” If she had, Dad kept her secret better than she had.
Allison picked her way across the rocks to sit down and dangle her legs in the water. Kira fluttered behind her and perched on an opposite rock.
“Can I touch it?” Allison’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Her hand half reached out to my tail. “It’s so beautiful.”
I chuckled. “Go on, then.”
Allison ran her hand over my scales. “Wow. They’re so soft and shiny.”
“Oh gods. She’ll take you home as a collectible if you’re not careful,” Kira said. “Are you going to tell your dad?”
“Not yet. I haven’t gotten my head around it yet, and besides… I’m not thrilled to tell him that his wife was keeping something this big from him,” I said. “I just needed to tell you guys, you know, while I work it all out.”
Kira grinned and leapt off the rock, into the water next to me, sending an enormous wave of water lapping over my head.
Good thing I could breathe underwater.
“What are you doing, you maniac?” I asked as Kira popped up beside me.
