Our destination was not within walking distance, certainly not while wearing formal attire. We climbed into Niko's jeep, and no one spoke as we bounced along the winding road. The girls exchanged worried looks, but I ignored them, choosing to focus on the landscape. In a few hours, this view would be gone from me forever, and I wanted to savor every sweep of emerald and purple.

When we passed the turn off for the beach where I met Lorelei for the first time, I tensed. Surely, the party wouldn't be held here. I couldn't imagine Tara signing off on that. But we kept driving, heading toward another bit of Island I'd never seen before.

"Okay, Isla you need to wait to put your mask on. We want as many people as possible to know who you are."

I nodded. This part of the plan suited me fine. The mask was clutched in my hand- the sharps ends of shells biting into the tender skin of my palm. Pain was welcome. It meant I was alive.

The girls guided me down a path with patches of long, gold grasses quivering in the breeze. The stems grew less numerous as the land sloped toward the sea. Off to our left, a cliff rose up, green moss painting the gray. The water was calmer here, its hue a vibrant, clear aquamarine.

"This way," Niko said pointing at the cliff.

I didn't realize until then that the cliff was not in the sea. There was a strip of beach that wound around its front, and when we followed the trail around, I gasped. It was another sea cave- the entire center of the cliff was hollowed out, and in the fading light, I could make out smaller tunnels in the back. Like the other cave, silver and gold glittered in the rock.

The entrance had a high lip of stone along the bottom, which kept the water out. It wouldn't do much at high tide or during a storm, but for now it kept most of the floor dry. Plenty of room for dancing teenagers. But in the very center was a large pool, its water constantly disturbed by the waterfall pouring through the hole at the top of the cave. The spray around it spread a fine mist across the room, and something about the scent called to me- begged me to dive into its depths.

Dragging my gaze from the pool, I looked at the rest of the decor. Someone had wedged hundred of candles into the walls. Their flames flashed and twinkled, making the walls shimmer. In corners, beaded curtains were hung. For now they were pulled back, exposing the cushions that were scattered about the ground behind them, creating perfect nooks for talking and... other things. Long tables draped in gold and copper groaned beneath the weight of food piled on their surfaces, and a popular dance song pulsed behind the hum of conversations.

"Y'all this is amazing."

Tara shrugged like it was nothing, but her grin said otherwise. Niko clapped. Her modesty was nonexistent.

"All I had to tell people was that it was for your birthday party, and they gave stuff away. They're either trying to assuage some serious guilt or are just happy you're not trying to run off. Either way, it helped get stuff done."

Her words tarnished some of the magic. Lips pressed tightly together, I secured the mask over my face. Surely, enough people had witnessed my arrival. Unlike in class, they all stared openly. Everyone knew what was happening tonight, and I could feel the excitement in the room. I wondered what they would think if they knew they were celebrating my death more than my birth.

"Where's Kieran?" I asked.

"He said he's running a few minutes behind."

"Oh, well let's go ahead and get something to eat, then."

"Isla?"

"Leslie, hey."

The pale girl offered a twitch of her lips that looked more like a grimace than a smile. She appeared uncomfortable in her gown- a dreamy mermaid style with a standing lace collar that went up to her ears- but I'd never seen her look so lovely. The seafoam color brought out hints of pink in her skin. The pearl mask she'd chosen did little more than hide her eyes.

Tara and Niko eyed her warily, but I shooed them away. Despite knowing she'd tried to help me, they couldn't help but to still think of her as the weird girl.

"You look beautiful," I said.

"As do you." She tilted her head to the side as she looked me over. "Like a queen."

"Maybe in another life."

"I'm sorry we weren't able to rescue you, and I'm sorry about my Aunt Molly. Mother had always told me we owed your family a great debt, but she didn't tell me what it was until a few days ago."

"Leslie, you tried. That's more than most people here."

"Still... I want to give you something." She grabbed my arm and walked me over to one of the curtained alcoves. Something smooth and warm was pressed into my hand. "That day in the store, one of the potions called to you."

A tiny vial rested on my palm. Its contents glowed in the dusk. I ran my finger along the glass, and it followed my touch.

"What does it do?"

"I can't say for sure. It's an old potion. One Mother brewed many years ago after waking from a dream. She said it would come alive for the person who needed it. You'll know when to use it."

"Well, that's cryptic."

She laughed. It was a strange sound coming from her, and there was a harsh quality to it. But it wasn't unpleasant.

"Magic usually is."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." She turned to leave and then stopped. "Whatever you're planning tonight, I'm in. Just let me know if you need help."

She walked away without waiting for a response. Would she help me? With my plan, not the one my friends had come up with? I might need help, and something told me Leslie would honor my decision. The potion went into my dress, its heat offering a strange sense of comfort.

The party was in full swing now. The last bits of pink were gone from the sky, and the moon was full and bright above the placid ocean. I could not have dreamed of a more perfect night.

People paired off as a slow song started to play. Some disappeared into the alcoves but most took to the dance floor, their bodies entwined as they moved to the music. I waded through the crowd, unaware of my destination until I stopped at the edge of the pool. The mist was cool against my skin, and an overpowering sense of rejuvenation washed over me.

A thought struck me, and I dipped my finger into the water before sticking it in my mouth. It was just like the pool above my room- far saltier than the ocean. They had to be the same, but how did the water get from here to my house?

Someone touched my arm. It was soft, but it startled me. With a shriek, I spun around, tripping on the hem of my dress, but strong hands caught me before I fell into the pool.

"Why are you always trying to drown?"

I glared up at the masked boy. If my heart hadn't recognized him, the smirk on his lips would've been a dead give away. "Maybe the better question is why are you always involved in my near drownings?"

"Oh no," he whispered, drawing me into his arms and onto the dance floor, "you only get to blame me for one of those."

"One and a half. If I'd gone into the pool, it would've been your fault."

"I'll give you that. Isla... you look breathtaking."

I melted into him. "Thank you. You're very handsome yourself."

He lowered his head and kissed me. Normally, PDA wasn't my style, but with time slipping away, I would take whatever he offered. I went up on my toes to deepen the kiss and was rewarded with a groan as Kieran pulled away.

Hazel eyes heavy with lust, he pressed his forehead against mine. "I could get addicted to that."

As much as I didn't want to change the mood, his words struck a cord inside of me, churning up guilt. He would just have to understand that this was for the best. One day, he would be grateful for tonight. I repeated the thought. One day.

"Kieran, there's something odd about the pool."

"It's the Pool of Metamorphosis."

"Um, come again?"

The music picked up, and he twirled me across the floor, the shimmering edges of my gown flaring up to my thighs. When he brought me back to his chest, I was breathless and laughing. He dipped and twirled me twice more before answering my question.

"When we first settled the Island, Merrow would bring their children here on their seventeenth birthday. The pool has healing properties, and it makes their first shift much easier."

"Easier how? I've seen shifts before, and they're quick."

"Not the first one. The magic in our blood ignites when we turn seventeen, and it breaks our bodies and makes them new again. It's why the curse has killed so many. It's like your body is one fire, and you can't put it out. There's no relief. Most die from the shock of it all."

"Kieran... and you survived that."

When he looked at me, his jaw was tight and his eyes were flashing. "I decided I would die before giving Lorelei another victory. Even at its worst, I never wanted to call for her. I thought I survived because my hatred of her gave me strength. Now, I think I survived to be here for you."

I couldn't say anything. Any attempt at speaking would turn to tears, and he would know then what I planned. So I kissed him again.

"Hey, get a room," Niko shouted from nearby. Tara giggled.

Rolling his eyes, Kieran said, "you know, after your fall, I thought you'd discovered this place. You showed up at school without injuries."

"No, this is my first time here," I admitted, "but there's this room in my house-"

"Isla?" he pressed, concern washing across his expression when I didn't continue speaking again.

"Sorry," I said, turning my attention back to him. The person I spied moved back into the shadows, and I knew the time was coming. The beginning of the end. "I completely forgot what I was going to say."

"You were talking about a room in your house."

"Alright, listen up everyone!" Tara's voice echoed in the cavern. "It's time to sing to the birthday girl."

"Oh gosh."

I covered my face even though it was hidden behind a mask. A huge cake was carried out, lit sparklers blazing from the top. Kieran whooped and dragged me forward. When we reached the cake, he put his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear, "Make a wish."

I bit my lip and looked into the faces of my friends. I shook my head. "I've got everything I want."

Then I blew out the candles.