A tall, beautiful mermaid walked through the doorway. Her body was clothed in rich purple robes, tinted with gold. On her earlobes were dangling the purest pearls, studded with diamonds; on her ankles and wrists were bangles of gold. They twinkled sweetly as she swept gracefully across the soft seaweed floor. Rilla hurried to assist the stranger to a seat.

“Meet my mother, the Queen.”

Elise felt herself rise to greet the Queen of the Ocean. Her Highness waved away her formalities.

“You may be seated. We have more important matters to discuss.” She spoke in a low, toned voice.

“You were brought here for a very great reason. Most probably something you would have never imagined.” Her slight emphasis on imagination made Elise wonder.

The Queen continued. “For some years now, the Merfolk Kingdom has been terrorized by the Evil Power. Kidnapping our children, attacking our forces, capturing our citizens…” her voice trailed off. She leapt up, brandishing her fist, her eyes blazing. “HOW DARE THEY! Taking our people. Taking MY people!”

She looked back at Elise, then realised she was standing up. Sitting back down, she leant in close to Elise’s face. “The prophesy."

***

The Queen of the Sea led them up a stairs, leading up to the tower. Up and up and up they went, climbing higher and higher till they reached a wooden door. No palace fineries had been spent on this entrance. The Queen drew from her bosom a rustic key, and slid it into the lock. The door creaked open slowly, as if it was pulling a great weight. Old bookcases lined the walls, stuffed with books and papers. An ancient book lay on the table and the Queen hurried to it.

“This,” she said, breathing hard, “Is the Prophesy.” Her finger resting on a picture.

“That’s me!” Elise cried.

“Indeed is,” said the Queen. “The Chosen One.”

“But why, why is it me? I have nothing to do with you, or your kingdom.”

“That’s what you think. It’s all in your destiny.”

Here we go with the destiny thing again.

“The Evil Power is gathering their forces while we speak. We know not what kind of an enemy, but we do know this: There is a sea dragon.” As the queen uttered these words, a sort of sigh seemed to echo through the room. Rilla shivered. Then it was gone.

“So, uh….who is behind all this ‘Evil Power’?”

“Shh!” The Queen flapped around her garment. “You must not mention His name! Only bad will come of it!”

“But do you know who it is?”

The Queen looked around her, drawing Elise and Rilla into a tight circle. “Nope.”

“NO?!” Elise shouted.

“Shh!” Now Rilla and the Queen waved their hands in her face.

“So,” Elise said, “What are you expecting me to do, supposedly the Chosen One, against an Evil Power, who you don’t even know is?”

Again the Queen of the Sea turned to the Prophesy. Another picture came clear as she spoke. “You shall slay the dragon.”

****

“WHAT?!”

“Yes, slay the sea dragon.”

“Okay, so what--you just expect me to go out and slay a sea dragon?”

The Queen looked a little disturbed. “Well, urm….you might need a little training first.”

“And don’t forget the other five,” Rilla piped.

“Honey, I’m afraid you’ll never be able to go. Your father would never agree.”

“What other five?”

“It says in the Prophesy, that five others shall go to slay the dragon with Chosen One. After a few months of training, they shall be chosen.” The Queen looked at Elise keenly.

“Now you have choice,” said the Queen of the Sea, “To either stay here and help the Underwater World out of its dilemma, or go back to your own world and refuse your chosen destiny. Which shall it be?”

****

Outside the Tasser’s house, there were two police cars. Inside, Bruce was beside himself with grief; “My wife, now my daughter, my only one” he sobbed from time to time.

Meanwhile, Officer Popsicle was questioning Blake.

“What’s ‘er name?”

“Elise Tasser.”

“Right. And wot relation to her are you?”

“Boyfriend.”

“That’s not a relation, idiot.” The british officer flicked a speck of dust of his suit.
”Where’s ‘er mum?”

Blake shifted uncomfortably. “Well, er….she disappeared about 13 years ago…too.”

“Wot, you tryin’ ta tell me that they both disappeared into thin ‘har? You can’t expect me to believe that nonsense, surely.”

“Well sir, it’s true. She told me all about her ‘journey’, then I didn't believe her, then she’s gone off again to mermaid land—”

“Wait a second there, lad—what are you going on about ‘mermaid world’? I think we better take you and this o’l nutcase—” he gestured at Bruce—“downtown to do some questioning—pro’er questioning with pro’er answers. Jim, would you mind lending a hand?”

They took the‘nutcase’ and Blake away in the vehicle. “Mermaid world….indeed,” muttered British Officer Popsicle.

***

The Head of the Police Department slammed the ruler down on the bench.

“Impossible! No one can disappear into thin air,” he thundered.

“Well, that’s wot I tried to tell the lad, but oh no. Gone to mermaid world, he says.”

The attention of which the Head had placed on Officer Popsicle shifted to Blake.

“Mermaid world, is it, boy? What proof have you got?”

Blake felt humiliated. “Nothing much, only that she—”

“This is the girl called Elise, I presume?”

“Y-yes. Anyway. I had gone to the park with Elise this morning. She had told me the night before that she had wanted to talk about something important. At the park she told me all about this place she had gone; mermaid world. I didn't believe her. Later, about 3:00pm, she called, wanting to arrange a time for dinner. Then that’s when it happened. She started making these noises as if she was in pain. I asked her to tell me what was going on; she said “I think I’m getting transported.” And then the phone got dropped.”

“Go on,” the Head said.

“I drove over to the house, and she was….gone.”

“What to you mean, gone?”

“We couldn't find her anywhere in the house.”

“Where was she last?”

“According to Bruce, she was in her room, talking to me.”

“Right. And was there anything unusual in the her room?”

“The phone batteries were scattered on the floor; the sheets were all sprawled on the floor….”

“Sargent Adam, could you please search the house for any evidence of a struggle, as what this boy seems to have described.”

“Meanwhile, Officer Popsicle could you please take them and get back round information. Thankyou, all dismissed.”

After everyone had left, the Head of the Police Department paced to and fro.

“Mermaid world…..mermaid world?”