~Zinniah~

The day was typical for the most part. Amorelli and I were in the fields, planting and harvesting crops. It seemed like a regular day. We did our part just the same as we do every day. Then lunch came around. We ate. Then we went back to the fields. Then dinner came around. And we ate again.

Then twenty minutes later at 8:00, we went to the lounge. The lounge is where the field slaves go to relax for the day. There are games and books in the room. It's not required that you go here after dinner, but most people do it anyways.

Amorelli and I were by the book section. Over the years she had taught herself to read and write, so I asked her for help when I first came here. And every day for the past couple of years we had not missed one session.

"Okay Zinniah, this time it's going to be a harder piece. By a person named Shakespeare. You ready?"

"Yes, I am."

I took a look at this old book, and read the title.

"The Tragedy of Macbeth. Huh. Weird name."

"This was made in the year 1606. The people back then used olden English, whereas the things you've read with me over the years were modern English. This will be harder to read, mostly because it'll be hard for you to comprehend it."

"Okay."

I started reading and every time I didn't know what happened she'd reread the section with me and go over it. Amorelli is such a great teacher. She'd make a great mother someday.

"Amorelli, I don't understand!"

"Alright, which part are you stuck on?"

"This part, 'When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won.' Amorelli, what does this mean?"

"Okay, so those are the three witches talking to one another. They are planning on when they should meet and converse once again. One of the witches asks if it shall be in thunder, lightning, or rain. So no matter the weather, they were going to meet. The other witch is pretty much saying when the deed is done, and when the battle is either lost or won. There's a big battle towards the end of this book, but don't let this part fool you. There is a lot of death in this book. But anyways, overall, the witches are planning on meeting after the deed is done, and the battle is lost or won."

"But what does that mean? What battle? Who dies?"

Amorelli laughs at my questions.

"You'll find out in due time Zinniah. Just keep reading."

"Oh alright..."

I kept reading, and by the time I got to the end of the book, it was nine-thirty.

*You are being warned now. If you plan on reading Macbeth and haven't yet, do not read this next part. So do not blame me if you skip this and read along. This warning is only for the next three lines, so you don't have to skip too much. Proceed.*

"Wow. So, Lady Macbeth killed herself because she went insane, And Macbeth was killed by Macduff?"

"Yes. I told you there was a lot of death in this story."

"Yeah, but I didn't think there would be that much death."

"Well, expect the unexpected. Come on, it's almost curfew. Let's get back to the cabin."

"Awe, alright."

Amorelli and I made our way back to the cabin but I stopped her before we walked to the porch.

"Amorelli, don't forget about Maya."

"Oh don't worry. I haven't. It's been on my mind all day."

"Okay... I wonder what she's going to tell us about this place."

"Yeah, I do too."

We went inside and talked about random things for a while. But while we were waiting, Amorelli got out paper and a pencil and had me write for a bit. She was teaching me this writing style called cursive. It looked beautiful when she did it.

"Amorelli this is too hard!"

"Zinniah, no it's not. Granted I've been doing this for years, and I learned from one of the guards when I was being raised here. Here, let me show you again."

She once again drew a letter, she says at called a capital 'Z'. She's trying to teach me how to write my name. I know how to print it, just not cursive.

"Okay, I'm going to spell your whole name okay? Watch carefully."

She, for the seventh time, drew my name. I watched how she wrote all the letters. After she was done it just looked so beautiful.

"Okay, do you want to try now?"

"Alright..."

I started writing 'Z'.

"Good job! One letter down six more to go."

I giggled and continued writing until I had spelled my full name.

"Zinniah you did it! It's a bit sloppy in some areas, but you did it!"

I compared my writing to hers and did agree that it was sloppy but this is the first time that I've gotten it right in cursive.

"Yay!" I clapped and giggled with Amorelli, then we heard the bell.

We looked at the time and saw it was almost 11:30.

"Come on, we should get ready."

"Okay."

We dressed in something dark so that no one would see us. Once we were done we heard a light knock on the door. I went over to it to confirm it was Maya, and it was. I opened the door for her, and she slightly smiled at us.

---

~Amorelli~

"Maya."

"Zinniah, Amorelli. Come on let's go, we don't have much time."

"Right behind you." I grabbed the keys to our little cabin and locked up quietly once we all were out the door. We then started to follow Maya down this narrow path into a small shrubby area. She then pushes away vines, and there stood a little cave entrance. Zinniah gave me a look, but I just held her hand. I knew she got scared easily, so I already knew what I had to do. Maya let us in first and then she allowed the vines to fall back into place. She then went ahead of us and turned on a flashlight.

"Maya how much farther?"

"Were here."

She once again pulls vines away, and shown to us is a little meadow with flowers and moonlight shining in through the trees. Zinniah and I gasped at the scenery and walked out. It was so beautiful here.

"Alright let's begin. I'm going to tell you who you are and where you came from."

"Okay."

"Zinniah, will you please come forward a bit?"

"Oh, okay." Zinniah walked forward and trembled slightly.

"Zinniah it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Okay..."

"Now, where to begin... what do you want to know first?"

"Where am I from?"

---

~Zinniah~

"Where am I from?"

"You are from the Amazon."

"The Amazon?"

"The Amazon is a rainforest located in South America." Amorelli chimes in.

"Yes. Correct. I'm assuming you want to know who your parents are?"

"Yes, please."

"Your parent's names are Lilac and Zander Waters. Your mother loves flowers so she named you after one; Zinniah."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Where are they now?"

"They should still be somewhere in the Amazon. They were the king and queen of the Amazon, and before you ask yes that makes you a princess. But they could have moved locations. I'm not sure."

"Oh. I see..."

"Zinniah, it's okay. There's still something you should know about yourself and every other slave here."

"What's that?"

"Every slave here is either a supernatural being or has magical powers. A supernatural being, for example, would be a werewolf or a vampire. Things like that. Every slave here is a part of a long line of royalty."

"What?" Amorelli chimes in.

"Yes. I will get to you in a minute Amorelli."

"Alright."

"Now, back to you Zinniah. You have the power to shapeshift into anything that is considered living. Trees, flower bushes, small animals, large animals, even little weeds on the ground. You can also let lines of royalty see the things you have seen in the past. You can't show them the future, however. You can show them what you have seen in the past, and that's about it."

"Seriously? Can I do it now?"

"I'm afraid not... There is a magical barrier around this place that prevents anyone who enters to be able to use their powers or abilities. Once you girls escape, then you can use your abilities."

"Awe..."

"Hey, it'll be okay. I promise."

"Okay."

"Alright. Amorelli?"

~Amorelli~

"Yes?"

"Please come forward." I moved forward a bit as Zinniah moved back.

"Okay, what do you want to know first?"

"I want to know where I came from."

"Alright. Your parent's names are Arianna and Lynus Agnelli. King and Queen of the seas."

"Wait... You mean to tell me that-"

"Yes. You are a mermaid. Missing Princess of the seas. You do have siblings, unlike Zinniah-"

"Awe man!" I giggled slightly but resumed my posture.

"How many siblings do I have?"

"You have three brothers and a sister. Right now she should be about eight years old. Your brothers are triplets so they are all nineteen years old."

"So I'm the middle child?"

"Yes, but the firstborn daughter. There is something major that deals with you though."

"Which is?"

"If you do not go into the water by your eighteenth birthday, you will no longer be able to turn into a mermaid."

"I can turn into a mermaid once I leave though right?"

"Yes. But you have until your birthday, exactly midnight to go into saltwater."

"And I can't do that here because of the barrier..."

"Correct."

"Oh..."

"You also have powers."

"And what are they?"

"Well, it's more like a rumor..."

"Please tell me anyways."

"They say that the first-born female of the King and Queen of the seas can control the seas and oceans, including anyone and anything living in it. Water and sea life in general."

"You're shitting me."

"I'm not. You have a great gift Amorelli. Don't ruin it by not going into the water once you leave. Oh, and before I forget, your sister's name is Mariana, and your brother's names are Sebastian, Marcus, and Lyle."

"Oh. That's good to know."

"Guys! It's 11:55!" Zinniah screams.

"Quickly, back to the cabin!" Maya says in a rush and the next thing I know we're running back to the cabin. We reach in exactly four minutes, wave goodbye to Maya and go inside. That wave was an unheard promise to meet up again the next night.

"I can't believe this..." Zinniah says quietly.

"Me either... This is a lot to take in. And to think, we're going to have to go through the same thing tomorrow night. Except it's going to be a different topic."

"Yeah. That's also going to be a lot. I wonder what we'll talk about tomorrow night."

"Yeah." It was quiet for a moment after I said that. Zinniah and I laid in our beds, wandering in our own thoughts. Thinking about recent events.

"But can you believe it?! Me! A shapeshifter! Eep!" Zinniah says happily as she jumps up and down on her bed with joy. All I can do is giggle.

"I know! And me! A mermaid!" I said just as happily and Zinniah and I giggled like crazy.

"This is so exciting... I can't wait to get out of here now. I want to know what I can really do. I want to transform into everything!"

"Okay, cool it, tiger. Remember, we're still here. We're still slaves. We have to take this one day at a time. Let's get some sleep. Or else we'll never get up in time in the morning."

"Alright. Goodnight my little mermaid."

"Goodnight, my little flower."

We both giggled and fell asleep.