I looked away and down at the pile of green seaweed that had been placed in front of me. Did they seriously expect me to eat that? It looked like algae.
“What the heck is this?” I asked in disgust.
“It’s a lot better than it looks. It’s very healthy for us and it will help your hair grow.” Mom said and realized she’d made a derogatory remark. “I’m sorry, Morgandy, but most of the mermaids have long hair. It was just a slip up.”
When I didn’t say anything, she pushed her seaweed around with a fork.
“Really, just try it?”
I poked at the green thing on my plate. Most likely, if I tried it, I’d barf. Looking up, I saw the three Dartmoth’s still staring at me, but now their father was, as well. I looked back at my plate. Here goes nothing. I wound the stuff around my fork and shoved it into my mouth. I heard someone laugh.
It tasted like pure salt and I nearly gagged. Forcing myself to swallow, tears welled up in my eyes.
Tammer laughed. “It does take getting used to.”
I stood up and Mom looked worried.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” I hastily scanned the restaurant for the bathroom sign.
“It’s down that hallway,” Tammer pointed, stifling a grin.
“Thanks,” I said as sarcastically as I could and made a break for the hallway. It was unfairly long. After making a left turn there was more hallway. After another left turn, I found the ladies bathroom.
Standing over the toilet, I poised myself to throw up. Nothing happened, and after a few minutes of unease, I was able to leave the safety of the toilet and sit down on a pretty chair in the corner. I’d be fine as long as I didn’t have to eat any more seaweed.
So far, I wasn’t making a very good mermaid. Shouldn’t I just be able to eat anything and everything Mom and Tammer did? I was a mermaid, after all. I stood and washed my hands. Although most of this so far had been fairly easy to adapt to, I had a feeling this was probably going to be the hardest thing I’d ever had to do.
I started to make my way back to the dining room area. As I turned the first corner, I bumped straight into a very hard chest.
“Sorry!” I said and looked up into Akin’s face.
“Well, hello,” he said and something about the way he said it gave me a chill.
“Hi,” I said quickly and moved to go around him. He stepped in front of me.
“You’re a newbie. Where are you from?” He asked.
I looked up at him and frowned. “I’m sorry?”
“Yes, you already said that. I said, you’re a newbie. So, where are you from?”
I didn’t know what to say. “Idaho?” I stammered and tried to go around him. Again, he blocked my way.
“Idaho,” he nodded. “So you’re a Halfling then.”
“Would you please let me pass?” I asked, growing angry. He didn’t move.
“A Halfling from Idaho – you’re Elan’s then?”
What in the world was wrong with this guy? I put my hands on my hips and squared off with him. “Yes, Elan’s my mother, Tammer’s my stepfather and you, Akin, are in my way. Move.”
Quick as lightning, he grabbed my waist and pushed me back against the wall. His whole body was pressed into mine and he moved his hands up my sides.
“Stop it!” I cried and tried to push him off, but he didn’t budge. He bent down and pushed his face into my neck, smelling me.
“Oh, you are a firecracker!” He said nastily and pushed himself harder against me. I could barely breathe. “I enjoy a challenge.” His hands were just under my arms and his thumbs pushed out and rubbed down the sides of my breasts. When I started to scream, he covered my mouth with his hand and pushed his face millimeters away from mine.
“What does he see in a Halfling?” He asked and quickly released me. I fell to the floor. When I looked up, he was gone.
I didn’t know what to do. Normally, I am very strong, almost brazen at times, but this had taken me completely by surprise. My hands were shaking. I was angry. What was wrong with me? I needed to stop being a baby and go out there and confront the Dartmoth’s.
Standing, I tried to compose myself. I was resolved to confront Akin whether we were in a restaurant or not. My breathing quickened and I felt on the verge of having a panic attack. This made me even angrier with myself. I was supposed to be strong!
Striding back into the restaurant, I stopped in my tracks when I saw the Dartmoth’s table was empty. I scanned the restaurant, but it was obvious they had already left. I stood in the middle of the table’s feeling out of place and sick. My mom and Tammer were chatting away, and suddenly Tammer looked straight at me. His smile fell from his face and he stood abruptly.