The Royal Symphony took place in a large theater built into the side of the Undersea Queen's grand palace. With its large arching roof, I was reminded of the underside of a sea-shell, especially with the ridges formed by the rows of golden benches lined with jade-green silken cushions. Lanterns with glowing pearls at their core lined the rows and the ceiling, flooding the place with light. 

What was most impressive was the orchestra stage. Mermaids flitted this way and that as they tuned their instruments and flipped through their books, the last minute preparations before the symphony officially began. Over them loomed a stained class window with many circles in the design, calling to mind astrological charts from medieval books. It glowed a pale blue with the moonlight that had managed to transcend thousands of leagues of water. 

I wasn't sitting with the majority on the ground, however. I was in one of the boxes around the top, with the Grecian white pillars and more veils to conceal us somewhat from the eyes of the crowd. The front was seafoam green with the ivory design of seahorses in the crest, with an open viewing. Talu and I sat in front of the railing, almost completely alone except for two guards posted at the back exit. 

"Where's your mother?" I asked, glancing around.

"She's in a different box, as is my grandmother, the Queen Dowager." Talu held his head high as he stared ahead. "It minimizes security risks."

I bit my lip. "Are there often security risks?" 

"No." He sounded uncertain, however. "But with the rise in Fathoms and some of the. . . rumors, it's best that we stay prepared."

Before I could ask about what rumors, he took my hand into his. 

"But don't worry, that's why we're together." He smiled again. "We'll ensure that you're protected, as the Princess of the Twilight Tides."

I managed to smile back, in spite of the thousands of fireworks launching in my brain. A boy was holding my hand! Not any boy but a prince! And he was smiling and I was wrong about him and—

My thoughts were cut off by the theater lights going down, and the orchestra and choir sounding their starting note. 

A spotlight appeared around a figure at the center-front of the stage. He carried a golden baton and wore a violet shimmering tunic with his voluminous sleeves contained by golden bands around his wrist. He wore a slim tiara around his brow and over dark hair that reminded me of Talu, and his features were similar to those of the Undersea Queen—regal, cold, and ethereal. 

"My uncle, Lord Kuhlebron," Talu whispered into my ear. "The Royal Conductor—one of the highest honors in the Undersea."

Lord Kuhlebron smiled up at the crowd as all went quiet. "I, the Royal Conductor of the Undersea Symphony, welcome all of you to celebrate the Full Moon as our ancestors, the sea-dragons, once did. 

He paused for emphasis. "Tonight is not just any full moon, however."

Talu gently urged me to move, and we rose just in time for our box to light up. 

"As the guest of our Crown Prince Tiberius is the mythic Princess of the Twilight Tides, returned to us in our time of need!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd as all faces turned skyward, just to catch a glimpse of me. Among them I couldn't see Lumi or Jewel—just the eyes of thousands of strangers.

That's when it hit me, what my title meant, the strange powers I apparently now possessed. 

It meant something to these people, the legend. I was some kind of hope, a savior for a world I didn't even know.

Talu started to wave at them, so I waved too—not nearly as elegantly. But based on the cheering I think they liked it.

The box dimmed when Lord Kuhlebron decided that had gone on long enough, and as the crowd died down he spoke again.

"We hope she will enjoy our presentation tonight, as will all of you." He surveyed the crowd again, and for a second, his smile went cold. "Now, without further ado, let us celebrate the moon!"
All the lights went out entirely, except for small dim lanterns on the stage and the blue light of the moon coming in through the stained glass. The effect was radiant, dazzling. I gasped.

"It hasn't even started yet," Talu whispered, with the amusement of knowing what was to come.

It started quiet, with light and airy notes. The threads of iridescence began to appear in the air, as the singers joined in, just as what had happened with Evie. As their voices grew in number, vivid phantoms leapt from the glowing sound-waves.

And what happened then was the most beautiful thing I'd ever experienced. 

Light and music alike danced in the darkness, as a saga unfolded. Not one I entirely understood, but moved me to tears all the same. It was masterful, from what I could tell as someone who had only ever played the recorder in elementary school. I'd never thought myself the orchestra and choir type, but that was changing before my very eyes.

These performers were pouring out their soul, their story, their people and their nation's story. And it was at least partially in my honor!

The music dipped and varied in its nuances, changing and flowing together as smooth as the water's flow, as the light changed from shape to shape to match the story that they were telling, the story of the symphony. As they did, the color of the stained glass behind them changed, red with the more angry parts, a deep cerulean with sorrow, a light green in joy and pink in the ethereal-sounding.

It was all building, a finale beginning as we sat there, tensing for that grandeur. 

And then as the music reached its crescendo—

The stained glass window turned a sickly green and shattered, sending ripples of green into the magic as the song turned to screams. Through the window emerged a beautiful lady with glowing green eyes, a long dress with a train of writhing shadows —a Fathom. 

I'd never seen one under light, with her glowing eyes and ethereally beautiful face. She was more horrifying and beautiful than I'd ever imagined. Parts of her I couldn't fully put together—it was as if my mind was shielding me from the full terrifying picture.

But I was the Princess of the Twilight Tides—I needed to fight it.

I didn't want to. I felt as if my soul had ejected from my body, every movement far away. But I pushed off of my chair all the same, numb as I swam forward.

"Mika!"

Talu's shout was a thousand miles away.

As a flood of mermaids swam for the exits, they parted for me as I swam toward the monster. I tried to get close—but one of her shadows grabbed me and slammed me against the floor, against one of the hastily-abandoned instruments. My head pounded and my vision went dark.

Get up—get up—

I propped myself up just as I saw her drifting closer. Now that her face was closer, there was something almost familiar about it. 

What do I do what do I do—

I thrust my hand out, and the primeval choir within my heart answered with a hurried note and a flash of pink. 

Shrill, dissonant notes like screams made the palace rumble, sent dust into the water. 

I tried to summon it again—but it didn't work. I had no idea how any of this worked, beyond a song in my heart and the feeling of desperation. Which wasn't exactly helpful.

I was supposed to be able to vanquish them, to save the Undersea!

Instead of dissolving or flinching back, the Fathom reached for my throat with hand and began to squeeze.

Spots danced over my vision as my throat burned, as something new burned within and then—

A flash of pink light overtook all else.

I crashed into broken instruments and book-holders. I collapsed onto the stage, as more spots danced over my vision. I could feel something warm around my hair, my throat and chest still burned. I didn't want to look, to see if it was still there.

This is it.

I felt a hand on my arm.

"Talu?" I was wondering if maybe I hit my head harder than I thought. He had to get out of here, he needed to leave. He was the heir, after all, and if anything happened to him—

"It's alright now, the room's clear." He pulled at my arm. "We need to get you out of here—"

"You shouldn't be here." I frowned. "It's going to kill you—"

He shook his head. "You got it. But you're hurt—"

"I'm fine." I tried to pull myself free, only to find everything going hazy. Before I could protest and lie further, he'd swept me up off of my feet—or I guess, tail.

"Your Grace, we need to go—"

"I've got her don't worry—"

"Where's the Undersea Queen—"

All the panicked voices faded to darkness and the unnerving quiet.