JaNay B. Kelley

The clouds threatened to rain just like it did before the dance yesterday. Aliyah didn’t mind though. Even rain wouldn’t keep her away from seeing her sister again. At least, she hoped Sage’s return was the reason for another call. Her hunch had been right. Arlen introduced her older sister. Her auburn hair was neatly…

Arlen hesitantly swam into the throne room. What did the king want this time? He wasn’t sure if being summoned twice in one week was a good thing or a bad thing.  “Arlen, just the man I wanted to see.” King Evan greeted him with a broad smile. He wasn’t in trouble then… but why…

The helm was cold to the touch. Most things were cold in a shipwreck. Aliyah felt around the wheel. Nothing. “Hey, Allie! I think I found something.” Carlson swam to the broken wall for more natural light. Arlen appeared from the outside of the ship.  “Guys, I saw a rare fish! Oh, hey. Nice ring…

Aliyah’s hair didn’t float all around her face in the morning. It wasn’t a dream, she really was on land! Rita’s clock still ticked in the otherwise quiet room. The light from her window suggested it had been morning for a while. She must have needed the extra sleep.  Aliyah pulled back the sheets and…

Arlen ran a hand through his dark brown hair and moaned at the ceiling. He hadn’t slept a wink.  Aliyah was gone. Why did that bother him so much? Shouldn’t he be happy for her? He even made a point to tell her he wanted her to be happy. And he did. So why was…

Aliyah army-crawled up on shore in the darkness of the morning. Sand somehow managed to seep into her wetsuit top again, the coarse pebbles irritating her skin. This should be far enough.  She reached for the potion inside her pocket. Water crept up onto her tail like a blanket, almost begging her to stay. She…

Aliyah swam up to the mother’s small eye. She rubbed next to the barnacle on the whale’s face. She wanted to show the gentle giant that she was a friend. Special care was needed if you wanted to swim with baby whales. Arlen and Carlson were already drifting alongside the mother’s calf. Aliyah lingered next…

The room was dark when she woke up. Aliyah often woke up before dawn to go exploring, but now it was becoming a daily occurrence. Connie stirred in her sleep, but this 14 year-old wouldn’t be getting up for a couple more hours. Sage surprisingly was already up.  “You’re up early,” Aliyah whispered. Sage chuckled,…

Sharp pain sprung from her side but Aliyah pushed through it. Just moments before Aliyah was singing above the waves shielded by a rocky fortress. She knew she was close enough to the shore to be within earshot, but she had glanced back to make sure no one was there before practicing her solo. Imagine…