Class with Isabelle was really, dare I say, interesting. Did I really just say that? This princess stuff is getting to my head. I had to remember the names of every delegate and what they looked like. My head was in pain by the time I left the room. Tanner asked me how class was and all I could do was glare.

"I guess it didn't go well?" I didn't answer his question and tried to walk away before he grabbed my elbow. I look behind me, expecting him to do something, but all he does is stare. "What?" I breathe my words as I wait. I'm tired of waiting. Why won't he just do some- My thoughts disappear. He kissed me, and I wasn't expecting him to. Of course I wasn't expecting him to. All I was expecting was him to say something, to ask me what I thought about being a princess or even a queen. Or how we are going to be a married couple in two weeks. I barely know him, how can I marry him.

"Alana. Sorry, I-"

He was trying to make me feel better, how thoughtful of him.

"Do you think, after the ball, we could go like on a date. If I'm marrying you in two weeks. I'd like to know that I know the person I am marrying." He smiles and nods, I smile too, but he replies, "How about we have it right now?"

"Now?" He nods again, "Where would this date be?"

"I have the perfect place, come on." He grabs my hand and pulls me through the hallway and up several stairs before we get to an empty room, lit by candles. Did he plan this?I turn to Tanner as he shuts the door behind us.

"What's all this?" He smiles at me and motions for me to sit down and I do. 

"I know how much you like quiet rooms so I thought this would be a good spot to start." I was starting to tear up and I didn't know what to say. What was there to say? "So, I thought we could do truth or truth."

"Truth or truth?" I giggle, "It's truth or dare."

"I didn't want to do the dare part."

"But it's so much fun."

He sighs, giving in,"Fine. Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Favorite movie?" He asks.

"Titanic." I answer immediately.

"Of course you would pick that movie." He shakes his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, laughing.

"I now know you're a hopeless romantic." I playfully hit his arm and he rubs it like he's hurt. "It's your turn."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth." He doesn't even blink.

"Do you think I can do this?"

"Do what?" He asks,

"Be a princess, let alone a queen."

"I've seen how you handled the Baumans, you're gonna be a really good queen. And with your experience with the humans, you have more knowledge than any of us." I feel my face go red, "Apart from the fact that you're a beautiful, intelligent, and caring princess. I don't think Waverly wouldn't want anyone else. Or me for that matter." He whispers that last part and I make eye contact with him. 

He leans in and I don't know what to do so I ruin the moment. "It's your turn."

"Dare." He says, and he didn't even ask if I wanted truth. "I dare you, to dance with me."

"Aren't you supposed to ask first?" But I stand anyways, brushing off my dress of the floor dirt.

He smiles and takes my hand and raises it to where it's just at his ear and his other hand is at my back and mine at his.

"Okay, do you know two step?" I shake my head, "Okay, so take to do steps to the right and then one step back." We walk back and forth as we go around in a circle, but I accidentally step on his toes countless of times and soon I actually get decent at this dance.

"We should probably get back, we need to get ready for the party." I say, breaking apart from the dance position.

"Yeah, we should." He walks in front of me and opens the door, letting me pass through before him. He walks me to my room, like a gentleman, and I enter my room then close the door behind me. Three maids were busy making a dress they look up and his their heads, a curtsy when they aren't standing.

"That's beautiful." I say admiring the dress they are making.

"Thank you princess." One of them says as they continue working.

"Your welcome." I say as silence creeps through the room. They finish the dress a moment later and they help me into it, not that I can't dress myself, but this is how princesses do this, right? It's kind of weird though, having strangers dress me.

The dress had an inch strap, and a long piece of fabric for the skirt and barely touched the tops of my feet. The top was like my dress before but with lace and mall pearls along the neckline. The dress was beautiful and a dark navy blue. It fit me perfectly. We swim into the bathroom, and they have me sit in front of a mirror. One of them does my hair, while another does my make-up and another goes off to paint my nails. This is really weird. Having someone do this for me.

How are you doing? Getting beautified? Tanner's voice rings in my head and I try to ignore him, but the urge to be close to him and talk to him overwhelms me. How will I ever be able to control my feelings for him. If you could even call them that. This Amour thing is getting out of hand.

I'm okay, I reply, Just everything is weird.

I know, His voice had a hint of solemn in it, but you'll get used to it after a while.

I hope so.

After they were done prepping me, I noticed my hair isn't wet and that my clothes aren't either. What is this? The color in my nails didn't change or rub off. Or that the curls in my hair didn't mess up. It was like I wasn't under water and just on land only I was underwater.

Why am I not wet?

What? Tanner asked, there was laughter in his tone.

My clothes, my hair, they aren't wet.

Oh that, He wasn't laughing anymore, It's a special thing we use that keeps us and everything we wear, dry even when we are underwater or on land.

Cool!

I waited an hour or so in silence, my leg was bouncing up and down and I didn't know what to do. When someone knocked on the door I was relieved, one of my maids, Crysta, opened the door and it was Thea with Thomas. Thea was wearing an emerald green dress that sort of looked like an Asian dress with a gold and jade stone crown on her head. Thomas wore what looked like a suit and a gold crown also, but the stones we're rubies. 

Isabelle told me that the different kingdom's had different stones that represented them. Pearl was Waverly, Atlantica, where Tanner and his family ruled, are ruby. The Emerald Kingdom in the eastern waters are Jade. And the ancient kingdom or Crystal are the diamonds, but that kingdom hasn't been alive in years.

Thomas looked uncomfortable standing next to Thea, and Thea looked like she didn't want to be here. Maybe she was in my boat, where she has mixed feelings of being queen, or even marrying a complete stranger. Maybe there is someone here who understands. I leave the room with Thea and Thomas and we swim towards the ballroom, but just like in the dining room, we dry off in a small compartment room before entering the dance floor. Someone announces Thea's and Thomas's names but then I suddenly realize I'm left alone. Alone to face a bunch of strangers that expect me to be this perfect little princess, and soon, their queen.

I let out a shaky breath before walking towards the double doors, I was about to grab the handle before someone grabbed my other hand, sending sparks through my skin. I look behind me, seeing Tanner, he smiles and offers his arm. I thread my arm through his and He whispers in my ear, "You didn't think you'd do this without me Ala."

"I thought I had to do this alone." I say in the same tone just before the guards open the doors on the other side.

Never. He said in my head, You will never be alone, I will make sure of that.

I feel my heart flutter and my stomach doing 180's. My feelings for Tanner are so out of whack I don't know what to believe. I don't even know if I can marry him in two weeks let alone we a queen by then. And I know Sage is probably freaking out that I just want missing and left all of my stuff behind. Including my phone, she must think I've been kidnapped or something. But right now, I can't worry, I need to worry about that later. Its a party, your supposed to have fun. So I need to put all of this away and enjoy my time here.

*

I lost count of how many people I've either talked to or dances with. I was getting tired and I knew Tanner knew that but we still had another two outs until the party ended. I was entertaining the idea to walk asleep in one of the chairs towards the back. Guards lined every inch of the room, looking at everything and everyone. I wonder if that gets boring, being alert 24/7.

One of them walks towards me, his expression filled with concern. "Your highness." I look up, dizzy from the need of sleep, how can everyone still be dancing and full of life right now. Its nearly three in the morning. When I don't answer he asks his question anyway, "Would you like me to escort you to your room?"

I plainly nod and he pulls me to my feet, my head still spinning, I'm afraid I could fall asleep standing up. He takes me out of the room quietly and we move in silence towards my room. We part ways when we get to my room. I silently fling the door open and swim inside. If anything, all I want is sleep. I pull the covers off the bed and lay down on the comfortable, and as soon as I close my eyes, the dizziness stops and I fall asleep.

I wake up and flail my arms everywhere and claw at the water as I'm pulled from my dreamless sleep. Why am I up? I was still wearing the dress from last night so I decide to change into another dress, what I wore when I first came under water. 

I make my way into the bathroom and grab a brush and begin to comb my nest of hair. After yanking out half of my hair, I go back to my room and notice there is something that looks like a door that I haven't seen before. I pull on one side and it doesn't move, then I pull on the other side and it easily flings open. I have just stumbled across a dark tunnel, and all I wanted to do, was explore.

I swim inside, my eyes begin to adjust to the darkness but it is still hard to see. I place my hands on the tunnel walls to find smooth stone. Is this some sort of escape tunnel? Then I hear something, voices, and one of them I recognize. Adrian? What is my brother- wait I mean- what is he doing here? He isn't supposed to be underwater. He's human, or is he? I'm so confused. 

*

I fumble around the stone wall to find some sort of secret hatch, then something moves into the wall and reveals a door. It opens and standing before me, is my father, the king, and Adrian, holding a knife. What has gotten into him.

"Adrian?" My voice cracks and he doesn't even look up.

"I see you found out what you are."

"What, how are you here? Why are you doing this?" He looks at me, his eyes are cold and don't have any love in them. Who is this person? This is not Adrian.

"Can you seriously be this stupid?" His tone was harsh.

Where are you? It was Tanner, and his voice was full of worry.

"You aren't my brother." My voice shakes.

"Of course I'm not your brother," He said, "I can't believe I'm even related to you." 

"If you're not my brother then, who are you?" I ask, trying to process it all.

"He's your-" My father began to cough up blood, and I was too in shock to do anything.

"My work here is done. You will see me again, Alana." He started to back away and then he vanished.

Alana! Tanner's voice was urgent, Where are you?

I don't know, my voice is still shaking, My brother killed my father.

You don't have a brother. Your father was the last one in your family.

What?

I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. Then I fell and I kept falling until I hit the cold dark stone of the tunnel.

*

All I can see is darkness. I couldn't open my eyes, I couldn't do anything. My ears began to ring and I wondered where I was. Someone was saying something in a low tone but my ears were ringing to much I couldn't hear what they were saying. Why can't I do anything? What's going on.

Alana, wake up. Tanner sounded like he was desperate, someone grabbed my hand and I could only guess it was Tanner.

I can't. I sounded weak, and I just want to open my eyes and be able to do something. But right now I can barely comprehend what has happened to me in less than three months. Even the fact that I got my leg back and my brother isn't really my brother. But he said he's my relative. Is he lying?

I laird there is silence waiting, then, I opened my eyes. The darkness was flooded with light and I cringed. I was still holding Tanner's hand and years rimmed his eyes. Was he crying?

Are you okay?

I'm fine. Are you okay?

Yes. How did I get here?

He looked around the room and then said "I brought you, but since your father is dead, you have to have your coronation."

What! When? I don't think I can do this. Too much stuff has been happening to me at such a fast rate. And I find myself beginning to cry.

"Hey, hey." He's trying to sooth me, but it isn't going to work. "You're going to be okay. You can do this." He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight as I'm balling my eyes out. Maybe I can marry Tanner. He at least loves me, but can I ever love him back the same way he does to me?

I can't do this Tanner! I lost my leg three months ago, then I met you and then I got my leg back and now I'm stuck as this magical mermaid princess. And I have this weird connection with you and I know I should just get rid of my feelings and do what is right, but that's the thing what I expect isn't the reality, and I can't figure out my feelings on all of this, and... 

I couldn't say it, I couldn't tell him I didn't know how I felt about him and that I don't know if I can ever marry him.

I'm right here. I will always be right here for you.

I tried to smile, but I was too overwhelmed to do it. I couldn't handle any of this. It is all too much. I didn't want to ask when I have to become queen, I was still trying to figure out everything else. I hoped it isn't going to be tomorrow. If it is, I might scream.

I have to go, I'll come visit soon.

Okay.

I was left in the infirmary room alone. It was quiet, so quiet I could hear my heartbeat. I sit up, wanting to get out of here, do something other than lay in a bed in the quiet hospital room. I fling my legs over the side and jump down, the sound echoes off the walls and I cringe. Hopefully no-one heard that. My feet slap the concrete as I walk and I go to open the door, but before I can I press my ear to the door. Making sure no-one is on the other side. But I hear snaps of conversation, something I think I wasn't meant to hear.

Things like how my kingdom was in the middle of a war and how Tanner was keeping it away from me so that I wouldn't be to overwhelmed. To late, I already am. He's kept this from me. This is my kingdom, I should know if there is a war or not. A war, millions of my people are dying. Would this have anything to do with Adrian, or the king who wants my crown. Wait a minute. If Adrian killed my dad, then that leaves him one step closer to getting to me. But he can't unless Tanner is there. I have to save Tanner, or else he is Adrian's next victim. Unless, Adrian doesn't know about Tanner being my Amour. And the only way to confirm that Tanner is my Amour is to marry him. But how can I be queen alone?

What am I going to do?

*

Tanner came a few minutes after and I didn't know what to do, so I decided to ignore him. Granted, this isn't the best idea but I can't let Adrian hurt him, I mean, he's my best friend.

Did I do something wrong?

No, you didn't but ignoring you seems to be the best route at the moment. But I couldn't tell him I couldn't marry him because I was afraid he'll get hurt, but this is probably hurting him more.

I can't marry you. I finally say it. But now he's going to hate me, and I will be alone.

I know you need space, but I don't know why you are ignoring me.

"It's for your own good Tanner. I'm trying to protect you. Don't you see, the king wants my crown and the only thing stopping him from getting it is you." I cover my mouth when I realize I said too much.

"Well, he's going,to have to put up a fight because I would die for you." No matter how overwhelmed I am right now, I couldn't help but laugh.

That was the cheesiest line ever. But I knew he was being serious, but I don't know how I felt towards Tanner. Of course every act he made, every word that came out of his mouth makes my heart fill with joy and love. My thoughts are too wrapped up in the now to ever consider I can love him. Maybe it's the fact that I'm afraid he'll hurt me like my fake father, or the fact that this is all an act in order for him to get my kingdom. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and he really does love me. Maybe I can love him back and we'll get one of those fairy tale endings, but this is real life. That doesn't happen every day.

"Why are you laughing at me?" He asked, puzzled.

"That was the cheesiest line ever."

"But it's true," He said, but then he got serious again, "I would never leave you Alana. And you shouldn't worry. You can do this, even if you can't I'll be there to pick up the pieces."

"Thanks Tanner." I whisper, not knowing what else to say.

"Your coronation or before our wedding." He comments, trying to get the conversation moving. "Do you think you can marry me, not because of duty or what has happened to you. Or what your brain is telling you. But if you follow what your heart tells you, would you marry me."

I didn't think twice before the word slipped from my mouth, yes.