Emerge by Tobie Easton Read Free Book Online

today, what with another Mer in your midst,” my dad says.
    “Oh, yeah. Lia, did you know that Melusine chick was a Mermaid?” Lapis questions.
    “Nope,” I say, my annoyance obvious.
    “I want you girls to be welcoming,” my mother says as she sips her sugar kelp tea. Especially you, Aurelia, since the two of you are in the same grade. Do you have classes together?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “I don’t like her.”
    “Why ever not?”
    “Her boyfriend’s a human!” I shout. There. I wait for my mother’s reaction. Maybe she’ll be so freaked she’ll get the Foundation to put a stop to it.
    “Yes, her father told us.” My mother’s voice is way too calm, and my father just nods solemnly.
    “Well? Can’t you do something? Order an injunction or—”
    “Aurelia! We’re not dictators. You know very well that the Foundation’s job is to keep the peace, not limit anyone’s freedom. Now, I wholeheartedly agree that it’s not proper parenting … ”
    “But we all came up here to raise our children the way we see fit, Lia,” my dad says, covering my mom’s hand with his. “Filius assured us that Melusine has a particularly strong hold on her legs and that he supervises her with the boy regularly. We may not agree with it, but she’s his daughter, and it’s his choice.”
    “At least it will prove to the community they’re not udell . That’ll be a help. We can’t have anyone thinking prejudice against mortals is acceptable,” my mother finishes. They both look at me like they expect me to understand.
    “So, that’s it? You’ve lectured us for years on the dangers of getting ‘romantically entangled,’” I purposely use their own words, “with humans, and you’re just going to let Melusine do whatever she wants?”
    “Melusine is not our responsibility the way you and your sisters are.” My mother’s tone grows firm. “No matter what Mr. Havelock lets his daughter do, we expect you to continue living by the rules we’ve set down. They exist to protect you.”
    “And we’re very proud of the choices all you girls have made.” My father’s smile is genuine.
    “This is way too much lecture for me to handle before 7:15,” Lazuli says as she and Lapis rise from the table. “Lia, we’ll meet you at the car.”
    Once my parents and I are alone, my mother comes and sits next to me. “I can tell you’re angry at this girl, but her father promises he won’t let her put any of us at risk.” I plaster on a comforted expression. If my mom knew I’m more angry about who Melusine’s dating than the consequences it could have on the Community, she’d flip a fin. “I want you to think about what a hard time she must be having. You know, her mother was killed in an uprising earlier this year.”
    The news sinks into my bones. I knew her mother was dead, but I hadn’t realized it was so recent or that it had been violent. I’m lucky that, living on land, none of my immediate family has fallen victim to the wars. My anger fizzles.
    “Imagine how hard it must be to come up here to a whole new place and know no one. Try to reach out to her, okay, kiddo? I bet she needs a friend.” My father’s eyes are beseeching. With a sigh, I nod. “That’s my girl,” he says, and my mother squeezes my hand.
    Great. Now I’ll have to be nice to her. My parents don’t ask very much of me, like ever. They saved me from a life in a warzone, they created an entire Foundation to secure my future, they spend a small fortune sending me to a school I really like, and they don’t limit my shopping budget. “Don’t date humans” is one of their only strict rules. Now that they’ve asked me to be friends with Melusine, I don’t have much of a choice. They deserve that much from me. Plus, maybe if I’m nice to her, I can convince her seeing Clay’s a bad idea.
     
     

     
     
    The twins and I get to school early, and when I enter the main hallway, Melusine