The others dived after me, and we powered through the water. I noticed that I was much faster than the others, and paused and looked back. They were moving confidently, but I saw that their tail flukes were much smaller than mine, and that the transition between their tails and their torsos was far more defined. I supposed it was the difference between a true mermaid and magically transformed humans – well, at least, not mermaids. I flicked my tail and glided deeper, the others following. We glided around reefs of coral, wove between shoals of glittering fish, and played chase among beds of twisting seaweed. I leaned my elbows on to edge of a coral and looked out through the water. The others floated up beside me and followed my gaze. Something golden-yellow, something shimmering, marred the silvery horizon.
“What’s that?” asked Prim.
“Let’s go find out!” grinned Ali, and launched herself over the coral, closely pursued by Sami and Prim. Cass hesitated, then chased her best friend. I grinned at Natalie, and we swam off in a group, leaving a long trail of bubbles.
We swam on, deeper into the water, following the source of the misty golden glow. I turned a delicate loop in the water, laughing as Cass attempted the manoeuvre and disappeared, headfirst, into a bed of seaweed. I helped her out and we continued along our way.
The golden glow slowly grew as we approached, until it solidified into a truly breath-taking sight.
Building of pearly-white stone, with glittering coral roofs, surrounded a glowing castle. Merpeople swam between the buildings, pausing to greet each other before swimming on. Some carried shopping bags, others were trailing pet fish on leashes, and I even spotted one riding in a dolphin-drawn cart. I heard five gasps beside me and one soft whistle. The others were clearly stunned.