Title: The Flying Mermaid
Series: The Volcano Chronicles, Book 1.5
Author: Eule Grey
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 09/19/2023
Heat Level: 1 – No Sex
Pairing: No Romance
Length: 20000
Genre: Fantasy, mystical, sea lore, coming of age, artists, action/adventure, great escape, air balloon, wartime, refugees, oppression, tyranny, racism, family drama, female friendship, beloved pet
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Description
“Craw city has always been magical, at least to Luce. No boring war could ever make her love her seaside home any less. There’s the beach, where she and Adu can mess around and cause trouble, as well as the ancient songs they love to sing. Legends state that a vengeful mermaid named Sea Mother will protect the children from war. Why worry about politics and fighting? Nobody would risk the wrath of an angry sea serpent. Would they?
So why are groups of people fleeing the city, and why do Luce’s parents disappear every day to partake in mystery war work? What exactly are they doing, and why doesn’t Luce’s artist mother invite her along?
One day, Luce spies something that rocks her beliefs and changes everything. Her faith in the sea, and all she holds dear, will be sorely tested. But love is fierce, and so are sea goddesses.
This YA novella can be read as part of The Volcano Chronicles or as a stand-alone.”
The Flying Mermaid
Eule Grey © 2023
All Rights Reserved
I was born near Craw Beach and grew up alongside seals, crabs, and turtles. Every creature that lived within the waters was my friend, including those that resided within our songs and legends.
The first time I saw a mermaid? I was thirteen, as I said. In a filthy mood and dying of a broken heart. Dying, I tell you.
Ten years ago, the fighting in the city became intolerable. Ma woke us in the middle of the night with the order to leave our home in Craw central. Right that instant. Leave now!
I didn’t go easily. Would you? I was in the mood for a fight. “No way. What about saying goodbye to my friends?”
Ma disregarded my question without a thought. “No.”
It seemed to me she didn’t care, and it incensed me. “Can I leave our new address with Adu?”
“No,” she said.
“Can I fetch my books?”
“Get in the car. It’s time to leave,” Ma said.
That’s how it was. Unfair and unreasonable.
Never one to do as told, I locked my bedroom door and swore at everyone. “Go away. Get lost.”
It took Da, Granma, and Granda to talk me down from my tower of anger and entice me outside.
I stomped to the car, carrying a bag filled with my most treasured possessions but without my friends from the sea.
Everyone suffered from my bitter complaints. When Da offered me a drink, I refused.
“From a cow’s breast. Disgusting.”
Though, I grudgingly agreed to eat pastries for Granma’s sake. Truthfully, I was tired and worried. When the engine started, I soon fell asleep with my head on Da’s shoulder.
We woke to greyness and a spindly house moulded from wind and sea spray. I looked around in dismay and thought about running away.
“Where are we? I want to go home. Immediately,” I said.
Ma spoke as fast as a flowing river. Much like I did when in trouble and ordered to the head teacher’s room. “Just outside Craw. It won’t be forever. You can get to the sea through the garden gate. It’ll be all right.”
The house was a fright. A fright, I tell you! Spidery and awful. The absolute worst thing—no Adu. I looked around the empty, whitewashed rooms and realised I’d expected to find her there waiting for me. Since babies, we’ve never been apart.
“I miss her already! What do you expect me to do? How can I have a fulfilled life without Adu? I’ll die from the lack of her company. What girl can exist without her best friend?” I said often. Especially when Ma was listening.
My mother ignored me.
Da laughed and took me down the broken path that led to the beach. “Come, come, Miss Doom. See the rock pools and seals? Notice one peeping up? He’s come to say hello. And over there—beautiful sand flowers. You can bring paints and a canvas. It’s not so bad.”
“But why? Why are we here?” I said. “The trouble is miles away. Craw’s not at war. Not exactly.” Much of Mainland was at war, kindled by ancient jealousies and power-crazed leaders. The world changed when the Ansar and Skarle volcanoes blew, and refugees from two islands sought a place to live. Not every country treated them with compassion.
Ma said people grew greedy and hateful. Forgot our ancient lore that insisted on togetherness and connectivity.
War raged across Mainland. We Crawians liked to think we were made of better stuff. Steps were taken to suppress fighting. Dividing walls kept us apart, soldiers positioned at every street corner. Times were hard, no doubt, but I firmly believed it would be sorted soon. Sea Mother would see to it, just as the ballad foretold.
“Da?”
My father held my hand very tightly as if he also needed convincing. “Things are changing. It’s not safe in the city anymore, and it’s going to get worse. The Fern leader has seized control.”
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Eule Grey has settled, for now, in the north UK. She’s worked in education, justice, youth work, and even tried her hand at butter-spreading in a sandwich factory. Sadly, she wasn’t much good at any of them!
She writes novels, novellas, poetry, and a messy combination of all three. Nothing about Eule is tidy but she rocks a boogie on a Saturday night!
For now, Eule is she/her or they/them. Eule has not yet arrived at a pronoun that feels right.
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