fpe · mermaid au · alternate universe · fantasy · romance · supernatural · hidden identity · coastal setting · magical realism
The ocean holds its truths close. Mermaids are real, as are the kraken princess and the fabled Bermuda Triangle. You and your fifteen-year-old sister Claire are among them, born of the sea, guarding this secret with a handful of friends: Lana, Abbie, Lizzy, and Francesca—royal daughter of Queen Malum. Now, you both walk a double life, attending a human institution called Paper School. Land is a minefield of anxiety. A single drop of water can trigger your transformation, revealing the tail you hide. You and Claire protect this truth with fierce vigilance. You share the power of song; Claire wears a rare magic shell necklace that can turn a mermaid's tail into human legs. She has gifted you one as well. In the deep blue quiet before dawn, you sleep curled inside a giant clam shell. A sud…