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[Bridgette's POV]
Blue...
A never ending scene of blue.
This is all I've ever known.
I flicked my tail watching bubbles flow up... to the surface.
The surface. A mysterious place for people of the sea. A taboo never to be ventured. Venturing would only spell calamity to whoever dares break this unspoken rule.
But...
As I spend another day in this world, full of never ending shades of blue, I wonder...
Does it truly spell eternal damnation to whoever ventures past this invisible barrier? What if... What if there is a whole new world out there. A world... beyond our wildest dreams.
I swam around in confusion. My gaze never leaving the light shining through the surface.
Would it shine brighter out there...?
I bit my lip as I twiddled my thumbs. I find myself slowly swimming towards the surface.
A different scene...
I found more of my strength, powered by my curiosity, I started speeding up.
Would it also be blue? Or an entirely different color?
I felt my mouth slowly curve into a smile as I've placed my arms to my side to speed up furthermore.
A different point of view...
I felt my right hand reach up to the light. Perhaps to attempt to catch it. To breach the barrier, created by my ancestors, by the older generation of our people, by the rules that aged with time.
I'm almost there!
"Bridgette!"
The sound of my name broke my trance instantly. I floated along the water. Sullenly looking at the surface.
Just out of reach once more ...
"Bridge! Come on! You said you would join me in watching the school of fishes passing through the palace!"
I blinked. As I did so the darkness that engulfed me seemed to be breached by light. I blinked once again. And this time I saw a world filled with various shades of colors. Only one thing crossed my mind.
It wasn't blue. It was breathtaking.
"Bridge!! I swear to Poseidon if you are- What are you doing...?"
"Hey Court... If I did something crazy what would you do...?" I asked almost whispering. Truly meaning it when I said the sight, a simple glimpse of the taboo above, took the air out of my lungs.
"What... Oh no. I don't like that look on your face Bridge..." the mocha skinned merteen says crossing her arms over her chest as she eyes me warily.
"Just... think about it Court! Aren't you tired of all the monotony when it comes to our lives?" I told her a grin etching on my features still not straying my gaze from the wonderful glimpse of the world above.
She gasped appalled at the idea as a hand made its way to her mouth.
"Why I'd never! The very notion of what you are implying is the reason why a lot of our kind have gone missing Bridge!" she stated, thinking she'll knock some sense into my head.
But it was the most fascinating thing I've ever seen.
"Court come on! Do you really have proof that those who ventured out there faced the so-called cruel fates they talk about? Why! The only proof we have of these "consequences" are from the ancient folks in our kingdom!" I stated to my friend exasperated by her uptight nature.
"It was not only stated by them but also by the books found in our libraries Bridge! The books speak of terrible creatures who have once hunted our kind for their selfish needs and you as the next ruler of this kingdom should know to trust in our written as well as spoken history," she sniffed as I heard her slowly drift towards me.
"Well I-"
But...
"I'm tired Court. Can't you see? This. Look around you. All we have around us. Its a never-ending blue that seems to now fill up the back of my eyelids whenever I close my eyes. And I'm tired of it Court..."
My friend's gaze softened as she placed a hand on my shoulder to make me face her.
"Bridge... Is this about the fact that you'll need to produce an heir before you take the throne...?" she told me softly. Understanding and pity slowly reflecting in those onyx pools.
"No... Court. Its the fact that I won't have a say in WHO will be the father of my offspring..." I whispered.
My form crumpling alongside my face. I hugged myself trying to provide comfort to the cold ultimatum my father gave me.
It all felt so... wrong. I thought I knew my father, I thought he loved me dearly. But this condition he gave me.
It felt so wrong.