"I'm sorry mom," I said in the throne room the next day. Mom sat atop her throne, she cracked a small smile.

"It's okay," she said. "It's just a lot to take in. I forgive you."

I forgive you. Those three words, so simple, yet they sent chills up my spine.

"I actually have some people I want you to meet," mom said. "It's the rest of your family."

There's more?

"Matthew! Pacific! Pearl! Mom!" Pale called. "I want Ash to meet you all!"

I heard the door to the dining hall open with a creak. "I finally get to meet your son? I'm so excited!" A mermaid called as she slipped through the door. Her tail was bright pink and her long, slick brown hair tumbled down her back.

"This is Amphrie, my step mom," Pale said as the mermaid swam up to me.

"Wow Pale!" Amphrie called. "He looks so much like you!"

"Well I don't know about-"

"I already met Ash, but I had no idea he was your son!" Another voice called from the other side of the room. It was Matthew.

He swam up to me and ruffled my hair. "I can't believe I was the one who found you. Well, I'm happy to have you as a nephew-"

Nephew. I've never been a nephew before.

Another mermaid entered the room. Her yellow tail sparkled. "Hi I'm Pearl," the mermaid said as she swam towards Pale.

"This is my friend Pearl," Pale said. "She's also Matthew's wife...strangely enough."

Pearl waved at me, a beaming smile flashed across her face.

"Now all that leaves is-"

"Great what now?" Someone groaned from the top of the stairs. I glanced up and there stood a teenage mermaid, blonde hair thrown up in a bun with a seashell in it. She had a bright purple fishtail that seemed much smaller than Pale's.

"I want you to meet your brother," Pale called to the girl.

The girl rolled her eyes and trudged down the stairs. When she got down, she turned and faced me. "My name is Pacific, I'm 17 years old and I did not sign up for a baby brother-"

"Your didn't sign up for me-"

"Just leave me alone," Pacific scoffed as she stormed out of the room.

"I think I'm gonna go check on her," Matthew said as he swam out the room.

"Me too," Amphrie and Pearl said as they raced out of the room behind Matthew.

"Queen Paleren!" A shrill voice chimed from the throne room entrance.

Pale sighed. "Here we go again."

"What do you want Luke?" Pale groaned. "Just leave me alone."

"I just have a couple of things to say-"

"Leave," Pale commanded. "Now."

I watched as Luke hung his head low and turned around to walk away. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for him, after all, he's just trying to make a difference.

"Hey mom," I asked. "Why don't I talk to him? Maybe I'll get him to stop bothering you."

Pale sighed. "Fine, just don't take too long."

I swam out the door into the streets and saw Luke gloomily swimming past merpeople as if he were in a daze.

"Hey Luke!" I called, swimming up to him.

He glanced at me, but just turned away. "What do you want?" He moped.

"Do you want to hang out? At my place?" I asked. He actually doesn't seem like a bad guy.

"You mean the palace?" He asked. "I don't think the queen wants me there."

"Yeah I know," I said. "That's why I'll sneak you through my window."

"You can do that?"

I shrugged. "Sure, why not?" I said. "So what do you say?"

Luke looked up at me, there was a new sparkle in his eyes. He seemed...happy.

"Sure," he said.