Lily and the Coral Orb

-Chapter 1-

She lived in the mysterious blue waters that surrounded England. She was the myth of so many humans, both young and old. She was the idol of witches and wizards who knew of her existence.

Her name was Water. She was one of five elemental princesses, hence her name. She was a mermaid, and her mother and father were the king and queen of the sea.

The princesses were not part of any age-old prophecy, though many acted as they were. The ministry of magic needed to give some hope to a seemingly hopeless situation. The threat of Lord Voldemort constantly hovered around the magic world, and the thought of protectors was rather comforting.

Her father had told her tales of her crowning day for as long as she could remember. Water's dreams were filled with the stories. Water so longed to venture to the surface to find her future 'sisters'. She became so obsessed with the idea, that it was much like torture. Her mother did not approve of her foolish dreams. Queen Persephone despised the surface, though Water did not know why. For that reason, and that reason alone, Water was not allowed to see the world until her twenty-first birthday.

Water felt there could be no greater, more painful longing than the one she had. The sun above felt so tempting, and the earth seemed so free. Yet glances at it were all Water was allowed -- and labored ones, at that. The crystal waters were like a prison to the poor princess. After years of torture, Water finally decided she had had enough.

Water had been certain that she could find a way to become a human. Though she would walk the earth on her twenty-first birthday no matter what, the wait was too much to bear. Even if it was a difficult spell, as she expected, Water was sure she could perform it correctly. Her powers were great, and her resolve was strong.

But weeks of searching through book after book proved useless. Soon, weeks turned into months, and months into a year. Still nothing...

Perhaps the answer could not be found in a book. But if not in a book... where?

Water's grandmother was an aged mermaid who possessed much knowledge of spells, even illegal ones, which Water now suspected this one to be. She lived far from the palace grounds, preferring to live a simple life rather than a busy one. She made a living mostly by selling potions and talismans and telling fortunes.

Water had only been to her grandmother's house a few times when she was younger. She got the feeling that her mother disliked the woman. Nevertheless, Water found a map of the outer cities and easily, but not at all quickly, found the house.

Water explained everything to her grandmother. She did not say a word, but led her granddaughter to a dark room filled with old scrolls. She pulled out a particularly ancient one and handed it to Water.

Now, Water burst through the surface to see the same sight that blessed her eyes that first day. The trees at the edge of the forest still looked the same, smelled the same as her first time on land. It had taken nearly two years to complete the truly difficult potion. It was a full year later, and Water now looked back on that day as a mistake. Her favorite mistake...

Water took in the sights from afar before moving closer. The wind blew through the trees creating a false calming effect. She rested her head on the soft ground upon which she had taken her very first steps. Underwater, it was not possible to cry, and merpeople never felt the need to. Maybe the earth was what brought tears. Perhaps that was why Water's mother hated it so.

Tears flowed down Water's cheeks, wetting the already moist dirt. Her stomach clenched as they came out with more fervor. Her breath came in gasps; she was such a noisy crier. But something startled her to a stop. A flash of red... It was a sight she knew well by now. She felt her stomach fill with butterflies despite herself.

He couldn't see her like this. She wouldn't let him. She would have to be strong... or he'd tear her apart. Water lifted her head, brushing some mud from her blonde strands.

"I know you're here, Drew," Water said, trying to hide the childish giddy feeling threatening to take her over.

A tall man with dark red hair emerged from the bushes. His bright green eyes sparkled as usual, making Water want nothing more than to throw herself in his arms.

"Hello... Pearl," Drew said, harshly crossing his arms over his chest.

His cold tone broke Water's heart along with the beautifully cruel, elated feeling she had gotten. She had needed to be free of it, though. She would never be able to leave otherwise.

"W-where's Lily?" Water asked, her voice trembling with heartbreak.

"Forgot her for a moment, didn't you?" Drew asked, smiling wickedly.

His words and heartless tone made Water ashamed to have been caught up in that childish infatuation. She almost could not bear to take the child from his arms when he offered it to her from the baby carriage in the bushes. Lily had her father's red hair and green eyes, but she possessed none of her own physical features, it seemed. This would be Water's last time with her child. Tomorrow was her crowning day and she was more upset than happy. Odd how things worked out that way...

Drew came from a family highly associated with dark magic. He was already married with a son almost six years older than Lily. Neither Drew nor Water wanted a life of darkness for their child, so they searched out a muggle family to place her in. There, she could live a safe, happy life. She could get married and raise a family without having her children become the next dark heir. And she would not have to accede to Water's throne, either. No, Lily would live and die in a life unhampered by magic.

"The Evans family will be expecting their child soon," Drew said, staring up at the stars.

Their child. Lily would belong to another. She would seek solace in another's arms. Lily would never know her true mother, her true destiny. But it had to be.

"Tonight," Water said with certainty.

"Now," Drew breathed, still entranced by the bright moon.

Drew loved Lily. Water knew this well. He loved Lily far more than any other being on the planet... including her.

Drew looked down at her and said again, "Now."

"Yes," Water answered, weakly.

She removed her locket from her own neck and placed it gently around Lily's.

"You will always be my daughter Lily," Water said, fighting tears. "No matter what anyone else tells you."

"Enough of that," Drew mumbled, taking Lily from her.

He looked ready to cry himself, although Water knew he never would. It brought on a period of deep silence between the former lovers during which Lily fell into slumber.

"She'll never remember us," Water whispered. "I'll never see her grow up."

"It doesn't matter if we see her grow up," Drew said. "Only that she does."

Water hated those words mainly because they were true. Lily would live a good life... a better life, not knowing.

"Goodbye then... Pearl," Drew said, turning.

"I love you," Water said, surprising even herself.

Drew looked back to give a curt nod before heading into the distance.

Water never saw them again.