A fire-engine red circus wagon weaving through the streets of New York is not a common site for most. The paint was slowly chipping and the golden crown was now faded and mute. The words “Murray Circus” were painted across the top in white lettering, and a soft white detailing was recessed around a sunken, 3x5, glass aquarium. A crimson retractable shade was pulled down over the glass and secured by an s-hook at the bottom, concealing the contents of the wagon. The Buick Roadmaster hauling the suspicious mechanism was only slightly more appropriate for the situation, its pale blue body and wooden side panels a stark contrast to the black luxury cars and yellow taxis that entrapped the vehicle. Inside, a living mystery…

Moana drifted silently in the darkness, allowing the occasional pothole to jostle her like a Styrofoam flake in a snow globe. Upon her request her father had pulled the shade that hung just outside of her tank, making it so she could not see even to the familiar chipping red paint of her wagon. This shade was usually reserved to night travel, but this morning Moana appreciated the privacy from the city crowd’s prying eye.

They had been traveling for hours, stopping only once for a quick bathroom break. The road had become monotonous, knocks of asphalt identical to the one just before over, and over, and over again. Moana slept during this time... Or at least had tried. Her dreams had been haunting, filled with rejection and distant minds. She wanted so badly for her fellow mutants to accept and welcome her. All Moana knew about mutants she had heard stories told by visitors of the show.

A rather large ‘clunk’ shook Moana into the side of her tank. “Ow,” she mouthed, lightly massaging her squished bicep. The shifts and bumps of the road came less predictably now, and she assumed they were deep within the city.

Suddenly a blaring car horn pierced through the serenity of Moana’s aquatic home. Instinct sent her flitting tail into action, practically throwing her into the darkest depths of tank. Her suspicions now confirmed, Moana filled her gills with water in an effort to calm her fluttering heart and then stole to the corner of her ‘window-to-the-world’, attempting to peer out. She pressed her forehead and palms against the cold glass, shifting and squinting her eyes, challenging her orbs to peer around the shade and into the bright realm beyond.

Alas, the shade was still fully in place, eliminating any ogling in as well as out. Moana knew that they were close, something about the dips in the road just felt like home. Her mind went immediately to her family in the station wagon ahead. How she would miss them… Her body drifted backward into the center of her tank and delicate hands reached up to twirl her auburn locks. She only hoped that someday her presence would be once again safe in their lives, but now it was just too risky.

All at once the forward momentum of the wagon halted, hurling Moana and her water forward. They had arrived.

Moana swam back and forth in her small tank, listening anxiously as her father unhitched the wagon. The solid sound of metal on metal chain, followed by a clunk against the earth told her she was loose.

Immediately she rushed to the front edge of the wagon, placing her right hand softly to the glass. With downcast eyes her free hand touched her heart and she sighed. Moana and her family had already said their goodbyes, and she expected now for them to simply leave. Or at least that was the plan…

Out of the corner of her eye Moana caught site of a pudgy little hand pressed against the corner of her tank-window. Moana fluttered over, pressing her own hand over the child’s.

“I’ll see you, Abby,” she mouthed, smiling delicately “You keep Erik safe okay?” The hand disappeared, an engine roared, and finally, Moana was alone.

The metallic glint of the blade caught Aubrey's attention as it twirled in the air, flipping back down to land with the handle in Aphos' hand. He immediately tossed it back up. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Every time the knife came down, Aubrey winced, even though he knew it couldn't hurt him. Or anyone else for that matter, save for Aphos or Aelau. The blade belonged to a spiritual being: it could interact with the spirits just fine, but it had about the same effect on reality as Aphos himself.

Still, it wasn't comfortable watching someone play with a knife as if it were a harmless toy. 'Well, that's sort of what it is to him, isn't it?' Aubrey thought. 'A toy.'

"What are you lookin' at?" Aphos challenged when he noticed Aubrey's gaze.

Aubrey blinked, "Uh...nothing. Nothing at all." He quickly dropped his eyes, settling instead on the ground in front of him as he walked.

"That's what I thought."

"Oh, you're so tough, aren't you? Big, bad Aphos," Aelau laughed, her eyes daring him to respond.

Aphos' blue eyes glared at her with an animal-like ferocity. "You're just jealous because you're a weak little girl with no muscle on your fragile little bones."

"Who needs muscle when you've got brains?" Aelau countered, a taunting smirk on her face.

"Who, you?" Aphos retorted.

"Certainly not you," she giggled.

Aphos' face grew red with anger. He never had taken well to being mocked (though he should have been used to it from her), and Aelau was always better at this game. Aubrey rolled his eyes but kept walking. What a blessing that no one else could see the spirits. That would just be embarrassing.

In any case, their quarrel wasn't important. The only thing relevant to Aubrey at that moment was getting to the Mansion. Clearly, and Aphos and Aelau would be proof...the boy needed help.

Something shiny flew past his face, centimeters from shearing off his nose. Aubrey froze, almost falling over at the abrupt stop as his mind realized what had happened. The knife. Upon recognizing the object as Aphos' blade, almost all the initial shock was eliminated. It was no surprise Aphos had thrown it. And he'd be willing to do it again in a heartbeat.

Aubrey turned toward Aelau, who stood on the other side of him, obviously the blade's target. She was standing with her ever-present smile, holding the knife by the blade between two fingers, inches in front of her face. For a moment, Aubrey was kind of impressed that she had caught it in mid-flight as it had raced toward her, and then he realized something like that was probably child's play for her. Not even that.

With a sigh, Aubrey made his feet move again, not wanting to be between them any longer. He walked along before the two started arguing again. 'Well, at least they're messing with each other, and not me.' After a few minutes, the spirits' bickering turned into a too familiar drone as they followed Aubrey.

He rounded a corner and found his gaze falling upon a building he instantly knew was the Mansion. He cleared his throat. "Would you guys behave now? We're here," he said.

"You think you can just tell me what to do?" Aphos growled.

"No, uh...I didn't mean it that...I just meant--"

"Yeah, I know what you meant. Say it to my face!"

Aubrey sighed. It seemed every little thing set the angry spirit into a fit. "I just meant that we're here. It'd help if you just kept to yourselves for awhile and didn't make such a commotion, because I can't talk to you. Someone would think me crazy for talking to nothing. So, please?," he gulped, feeling like an ant under the scrutiny of Aphos' gaze as he glared down at him.

"What do I care if someone thinks you're insane? You know what, I think you are too! You're just a kid, and you have the nerve to talk to me like that? I oughta--"

"Aphos, shut up. You're being ridiculous," Aelau said coolly, looking at him as if he were a small child. Then she turned to Aubrey, her tone noticeably brighting. But Aubrey knew better: she was being just as serious with him. "No promises, dear." He sighed once more. That was Aelau's way of saying 'You know we aren't going to back off, sorry.' Well, he hadn't really expected their cooperation.

"Never hurts to try," he mumbled to himself. Aubrey glanced at Aphos, who was yet again red in the face and shooting poison darts from his eyes. Maybe he'd spoken too soon.

With that, he turned and continued on to the property, taking everything in. The place was massive, though he supposed that made sense. Looking around to see if he was alone in the front yard, Aubrey noticed a peculiar sort of cart resting on the grass. It looked like an old circus wagon, with its wooden spoked wheels, the lettering, and, well...everything about it.

"Open that cover, there, Aubrey. See what's inside," Aelau prompted. Aubrey noticed the coverings pulled down over each side of the wagon, but wasn't sure that he wanted to open them. He didn't know what was inside, nor did he know who this belonged to.

"I don't know, Aelau, it's not really my business," he replied, his eyes still scanning the wagon.

"Oh, just do it. No one is around, who cares?"

Aubrey considered, then decided not to start arguing with the spirit. She was generally nicer when she spoke to him, but she could be just as fierce as Aphos. With a last look around, Aubrey stepped up to the side of the wagon and found the bottom of the closest covering, and raised it.

He stumbled back. He wasn't sure what he thought he was going to find, but this was definitely not it. 'Is she a...mermaid?' "I'm sorry! I didn't know someone was in there," he hurried to get the words out as fast as he possibly could. Aelau was laughing behind him, apparently amused by his behavior.

"Aubrey, move over. Let one of us introduce everyone," Aelau said, her tone more forceful than it had been all day as she moved closer to him. Aphos came to stand on his other side, the same hungry look in his eyes as in Aelau's. The corner of Aubrey's mouth twitched as he tried to refrain from responding. He shook his head lightly, determined to hold the spirits back.

"Um...hi," he said instead, offering a meek smile. "I'm Aubrey."

Anxiety spilled immediately into Moana’s veins. Heart racing, head throbbing, stomach turning nervousness gripped her like a Plecostomus to the side of her tank. She swam to and fro, fretfully twisting her carroty locks around her fingers.

Moana had then realized that this plan was very poorly thought out. She wondered why her family had so willfully gone through with it. It was simple, but in its simplicity laid its flaws. Drive there, no problem. Get into the school grounds.

“H’m,” Moana paused momentarily, pondering how her father was able to get past the looming brick and cast iron gate that once had been described to her by a visitor. Perhaps her brother really was a strong man…

Erik stood erect, his dark hair billowing in the wind. His rippling muscles pulled and stretched beneath his unbuttoned, torn shirt. The arms and legs of his clothing had been shredded, and it appeared as though the rest of his too-tight jeans shorts were about to accept the same fate. Erik reached onto the gate, took it gingerly in his hands, and proceeded to crush the hinges and remove the door without much effort. He then began to work out his deltoids with the gate.
Moana shook her head. She had been staring into the darkness and twirling her hair. She smiled.

“Look what the nerves have done,” she thought to herself, “I’ve gone silly!” She reached behind her and tightened the strap on her bikini top.
Moana’s mother had given her a new top just before the trip. It was the color of an orange and purple sunset, and adorned only by a small pink polo pony on the bottom of the left cup. She knew it must have been pricey, and promised her mom she would take care not to catch it on the outsides of her tank accidentally. The thought of new supplies suddenly made Moana’s gills to go pale.

“The foam!” small bubbles escaped her lips as her exclaimed. Moana’s father had recently installed insulation between her tank and the wagon along with adding a second plate of glass. Originally this was planned to be a safety feature, but soon after installment they discovered it also doubled as a sound barrier.
Now knowing there was no hope for communication Moana sank to the bottom of her enclosure. Poorly thought-out indeed…

Suddenly Moana was blinded. She swam sporadically out of fear, and ended by flying face-first into the red edge of her tank. Slowly she sank to the bottom of her tank were she lay on her back momentarily, rubbing her eyes through both lids in an attempt to focus.
Stealthily she peeked her eyes over the bottom of her window to the world, gripping the bottom edge as she rose. Almost immediately she met the eyes of a boy peering in.

"Um...hi," she read his softly smiling lips, "I'm Aubrey."
A smile flashed instantly to Moana’s face, followed by all of the blood in her body. She blushed so thoroughly she imagined the water around her cheeks sizzle.

“Hi, I’m Moana. I’m new. Are you new too? Not to say you look new, sorry. Can you help me? I’m interested in enrolling. I’m a mermaid. I’m Moana by the way.” She rambled, scattering the bubbles with her flailing arms as she talked enthusiastically to the mute double paned glass.

"Aubrey," Aelau said, drawing out his name in warning, like a mother wringing the truth from her son. Her expression was kind, at least for Aelau, but Aubrey was not fooled. Even if he didn't know her, didn't recognize her behavior, her harsh green eyes said everything. It wasn't good.

He tried not to look at her, for two reasons. The first was for that very reason: her eyes would be burning with an intense determination, backed by a vicious threat. If he looked, the malevolence within her would be overwhelming. He'd be so caught up in it, suffocating, his guard would be disabled and he'd be vulnerable. Not that he was all that strong against her, anyway.

The second reason was simply because of the being in front of him. The mermaid. If Aubrey turned to Aelau, maybe spoke to her, this girl would only see him looking off in the distance and talking to some imaginary friend. Previous experience told him that such a situation wasn't always great for first impressions.

Suddenly Aubrey's vision was filled with the other spirit's face. His eyes widened and he stepped back in surprise. Aphos glared at him with an angry ferocity, but it was an emotion much more plain that Aelau's. Aphos was a more simple beast. "Kid, get outta my way. I'll drag you out if I have to," he seemed to consider this for a moment. "Actually, I'll do that anyway. Because I can." He moved closer to Aubrey, who in return backed up a step further. Oh, man.

Aubrey waved his hands at them, wishing them away, trying to be as subtle as possible. He looked back to the mermaid, who seemed like she was trying to say something. Her arms waved spastically around her, and bubbles exploded in a storm as her mouth moved. But he couldn't hear her saying anything.

"I can't...hear you, I'm sorry," he said, then realized that was probably dumb. If he couldn't hear her, then she probably couldn't hear him. Plus, he wasn't sure if she was actually even talking. Oh, well.

"Aubrey, you're being rude. You don't think you can get away without introducing us, do you? If you won't, then I will," Aelau said sternly, her tone laced with irritation. It didn't matter if she treated him like her favorite pet; she'd get mad at him as quick as she would anyone else.

"Will you guys leave me alone?" Aubrey blurted, speaking before even realizing he was doing so. Quickly he pursed his lips, hoping it would go unnoticed. In his head, he was screaming at his stupidity. Outside, Aphos was screaming. Something about being a disrespectful little punk and having the nerve to talk back. Whatever.

Aelau glared, but said nothing more. Aphos was ranting, but not closing in on him anymore. For now, they halted their advancements on him. He knew it wouldn't last, but he was not complaining. He just hoped he hadn't screwed up too badly.

Moana’s rapid-fire speech trailed off relatively quickly. The boy was not responding, in fact, he appeared nervous, even afraid. Her eyebrows furrowed into a confused and worried expression. Was he in some type of danger? She did not know. If he was how could she help him? There was no way she would be able to maintain human form for even a few moments after the drive.

Slowly Moana allowed herself to drift upward, shifted only by the constant fluttering her gills. It had always bothered her that the various tanks in which she was held had so little water that even the rush of cool, life giving breath transferred enough energy to shake the water around her. Of course she had never complained…

Unexpectedly the boy outside her tank stepped back with a shocked and startled expression on his face. Moana instantly flitted backward, smoothing her iridescent arm-fins against her wrists. “Oh no,” she thought, “I’ve frightened him…” She had seen that face appear on many of young visitors of the show. Sometimes they cried and curled into their parents’ legs, but other times she would reach out and touch the glass, hoping to show she meant no harm. Cautiously Moana reached out, pressing only the tips of her fingers on the glass and letting the rest of her body tilt backwards. Her face shifted to an apologetic frown. Alas, the boy paid no mind, swishing his hands in an annoyed gesture.

"I can't...hear you, I'm sorry," she could read the boy’s lips.

All at once Moana brought her palm rushing to her forehead in a gesture of shame and embarrassment. “The glass!” Again she had forgotten. Her earlier speech had fallen on deaf panes of glass, leaving her once more to feel a burning sensation on her cheeks.

“H’mm,” Moana allowed a few bubbles to escape her nostrils as her mind worked over this new found conflict-or rather-newly rediscovered conflict. She needed to break the audio-proofing of the tank so that they could communicate. Her finger tapped her temple as she thought.

When Moana was transported from holding tank to home her father would use a hatch on the roof to access her, then carefully-and quickly-transfer her to the next tank (this included the rather sketchy attempt to descend the back ladder of the wagon holding a mermaid.) The hatch was about 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep and slightly elevated from the water to resist rot. Moana had never opened it herself; however there was a handle on her side in case of emergency.

Glancing briefly at the boy, just in time to see him speak to someone out of her view, she swam to the meniscus of her reservoir. Blindly she reached into the abyss, feeling desperately for a break in the rough wood to reveal a cold metal device. At last she located the handle, wrapped both hand around its middle, and yanked the thing clean off.

Once over her initial surprise, Moana looked down to see what went wrong. Chunks of rust and paint slowly drifted, settling finally on her clean tank-floor. The thing was decayed, rusted beyond usefulness, and sad. Moana swam down in defeat and laid it to rest near the front of the chamber. Now things would be more difficult. She looked up and again made contact with the boy’s curiously hued orbs, she had not noticed before but she knew the gawking could be saved for a follow up conversation.

Moana’s motions were sporadic; she would swim up to the top of the window, throw her arms above her, and make a face like she was having troubles in the privy. She would then swim back to the boy, point, and mouth “You,” point up then, “open?” She repeated this several times until pausing to float with her iridescent tail trailing in front of her and motioning to the back of the wagon, hoping to say “That way is the ladder.”

Aubrey sighed in relief when the girl didn't react to his outburst. Though the reason why she didn't eluded him, he was grateful. "Let's not try it again," he thought.

He noticed the mermaid swimming to the top of the tank. She reached for something, but he couldn't see what. She pulled at whatever she was holding, but the resistance didn't last. From where he stood, Aubrey couldn't tell what was now in the girl's hand, but judging by the look on her face, he figured it wasn't supposed to be in her hand. His brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

As she sank down to lay the object on the floor of the tank, Aubrey caught a better glimpse of it. "A...handle?" Maybe. He wasn't completely sure. He looked back at the mermaid and met her eyes. Suddenly, she exploded in a wave of furious motions, swimming about, waving her arms. He blinked, trying to decipher the message she was trying to convey.

She pointed at him, moved her mouth like she was saying something, then pointed to the top of the tank, and said something again. He couldn't understand the words, but he realized there was something up there that she wanted him to get to. He nodded, but wasn't sure how to reach whatever it was. "Guess she thought of that already," he thought as she began to motion to the other side of the tank.

Deciding he understood what she was saying, he walked around the wagon. There he found a small ladder, its joints laced with small specks of rust. He looked back at the girl to make sure this was what he was supposed to do, then started climbing. Slowly at first, unsure of the ladder's sturdiness, but soon deciding it was stable enough.

Aubrey reached the top of the wagon and set his eyes on his objective. Or at least, what he figured was the objective. There wasn't really much else up here besides the little hatch. He positioned himself next to it and grabbed hold of the handle. With some effort, Aubrey pulled open the thick door, surprised at its weight. The thing didn't look half as heavy as it was. He let the door thump back on the wagon, leaving the hatch open as he took a step back.

"Hi, again," he said.

Moana floated in suspense of the boy’s response. She knew that there was a chance she would have to spend the night in the wagon if he didn’t understand, and she watched his face carefully as the cool water drifted in and out of her crimson gills.

He started to the back of the wagon cautiously, but Moana gleamed at the progress. He continued forward and she thrust herself at the glass, pressing her forehead and hands against the barrier. Her tail flitted feverishly behind her, squishing her eyebrows and palms flat.

The familiar creaking of the loose ladder sent Moana’s heart into a flurry, flushing her fills a deeper red as they flitted the water into her body. She threw herself back, suddenly extremely concerned about her appearance. Her hands pulled quickly at her locks in a useless attempt to gather and smooth the drifting tresses. Her pointer fingers were dragged underneath her lashes to check for loose eye seepage and she pinched at her cheeks.

Just as she reached back to tighten and straighten the tie on her swim suit all fretting was ceased. “Who is this man?” Moana blinked, suddenly realizing a stranger was about to open her tank. She had no idea who he could have been, nor did she know who he might have been speaking to before.

Moana bit her lip. What other choice did she have? She was trapped, he was her only hope. She had to trust him. Her dainty fingers pulled the strings of her suit tight, and she slowly dragged the water into her body. There was a quiet scrapping as the boy unlatched the hatch and initially drew it to him.

The mermaid pushed herself to the meniscus of her home, ginger hair encompassing her pale but flushed face. Her forehead first broke the tension as Moana slowly emerged, closing her lids and gently parting her pink lips. Water slid down her porcelain face as she drank in her first breath of stale air. A light tingling sensation began at her ribcage, rushing up into her throat. The tingles pulled Moana into the memories of the Richmond aquarium and the sweet cleaner fish’s healing nibbles. Another breath, other rush of tickles transforming her fish-like body into something more human.

Slowly Moana opened her eyes, a second opaque cloud just following the fleshy lid as she exposed her emerald orbs to the brightness of the day.

"Hi, again," said the boy.
Moana smiled up at him, “Hello.”

[/center]

Aubrey crouched down next to the opening as the mermaid surfaced. He offered a shy smile, unsure of what he should say.

"I'm Aubrey," he began, after a pause. "Nice to, uh, meet you."

"You never were good at meeting new people, were you?" Aelau said, suddenly crouched next to him. Aubrey jumped in surprise, then instantly wished he hadn't. He struggled to keep from turning and glaring at the spirit.

"She's right. What made you think you could come all the way to this school by yourself? You don't know a soul here!" Aphos laughed from behind him.

Aubrey closed his eyes and bit his tongue. "Oh, but I have you two, don't I? I don't ever have to worry about being alone with you here, faithfully by my side," he thought bitterly. After a moment he opened his eyes again, trying to focus on the person he was talking to and attempting to block the spirits out.

"I take it you're new here," he said, trying for small talk. He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do. He had to stick around, because leaving her alone, stuck in the tank, was a horribly outlandish idea. But he didn't want it to be awkward. "I am too," he continued with a smile.

"Now he's trying to prove me wrong," Aelau said, smirking wickedly.

"And trying to ignore us. What a brat," Aphos huffed angrily.

Aubrey pursed his lips, doing everything within his power to keep from answering. Now they were goating him simply to make him blurt out. He was determined not to let that happen. The spirits won way too often.

Pushing them to the back of his thoughts, his two-toned eyes focused on the mermaid as he waited for her answer, a light smile gracing his face.

Moana blinked once more, fully clearing her water-lids from her view as she tilted her head back to look at the boy. Her arms slowly cycled beside her to keep herself afloat.

He was a handsome boy; rich, smooth black hair, muscular, though not ripping through his clothing as Moana had imagined her brother just before. And his eyes. Peering up at him now she could fully appreciate that one was blue and one was green and their difference wasn’t slight-the blue eye was blue and the green eye was green. Moana also took a quick note of the tattoos on his arms. She would have to ask what they meant in a later conversation.

"I'm Aubrey," he began, despite Moana’s rude gawking, "Nice to, uh, meet you."

Suddenly Aubrey jumped, sending Moana’s heart aflutter. Was there something around? Or someone he feared? Moana glanced at each side of her tank and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Surely he wouldn’t have taken the time with her if they were in any real danger.

As she looked back up at him he closed his eyes, making a pained expression. Moana felt the need to touch him, comfort him, but she did not know what was wrong. “Maybe he has a fish allergey!” she thought, “Are people who are allergic to fish allergic to me??”
Moana had no idea, though she now had the very strong urge to sniff her arm and see if she smelt anything like a smelt or other fish.

"I take it you're new here," said the boy. "I am too," he continued, smiling at her.
Moana smiled back and blushed once again, this time feeling the air around her cheeks heat slightly. He was even more handsome when he smiled.

“I’m Moana,” she managed once the initial shock passed, “Thanks for rescuing me.” She smiled, attempting to be as outwardly friendly as she could manage. She was so glad to have someone here with her, going through the same acceptance policyand awkwardness. “I am also new,” she explained proudly, wanting to reach out and hug him for being able to understand.

It coughed, it wheezed, but it also drove.

Sebastian's white Buick cornered about as well as a docked boat. Despite the fact that driving in New York terrified her and despite the fact that she had driven a total of perhaps 5 times in her life, Ghost had a driver's license. It had been a pre-req for her aggressive driving course at the police academy. Also, the X-jet had much better turning radius than this Buick. She really had been spoiled in her vehicular experiences.

White haired and white knuckled, the air elemental drove in first gear at all times. She wasn't comfortable using the clutch either. Especially while her eyes were glued to the sidewalks, subway entrances and crosswalks. Her son was missing and she was hell bent on finding him.

Only, there were an awful lot of cars in the way. And they all seemed to be getting angrier and angrier. When they waved at her, sometimes they didn't even use all their fingers.

It was no use. A four nothing kid that didn't want to be found had far too many places to hide. With a heavy heart and heralded by honking horns, Ghost made her way back to the Mansion going no faster than 35mph. At that speed, it was impossible not to notice the large and colorful tank on wheels that sat out front. And even harder to miss the boy climbing on top. To an aching mother's heart he looked like a grown up Jude.

The car grated to a stop, sputtered and died next to the tank. She had only tapped the brake, but apparently she had forgotten the clutch. Well, if she wa sstopped anyway, Ghost leaned over to the passenger side and wheeled down the manual window. "Excuse me this is a..." Now that she was next to the tank's glass side Ghost saw what... or who was inside. "Mermaid." Well, that was something you didn't get to see everyday.

"Hello up there!" Ghost scrambled to get her seatbelt off and get out of the car. She was white, head to toe from her snow colored hair to her pale toes peeking out of her sandals. The only pops of color were the clothes that hung loosely on her practically curve-less body, her favorite ruffled yellow skirt and a grey shirt with the tiniest blue stripes running around it. "Are you trying to get into the Mansion?"

The boy could have passed for human from what Ghost could tell, but it was pretty hard to hide a mermaid. "My name is Ghost. Well, my name is Maya, but people call me Ghost." She felt the need to clarify. And since there didn't seem to be anything pulling the mermaid's tank... "Need a lift?"

"I'm Moana," she said with a smile, which Aubrey returned. "Thanks for rescuing me."

"Anytime," he replied. He was glad he'd stuck around, and glad that he wasn't the only one there. "I suppose you wouldn't know where to go from here, then," Aubrey said, shrugging. "Me either."

"Of course you don't, dear," Aelau cooed, enjoying herself at Aubrey's expense.

"Idiot," Aphos grumbled. "You're so unprepared, it's not even funny."

"Nothing is funny to you."

"Especially not you, you little weasel!" Aphos yelled at her, his face reddening. This only prompted a giggle from Aelau, and an exasperated sigh from Aubrey. All he was trying to do was have a normal conversation with someone, but his two companions were not willing to comply. Instead, they were in each other's faces, bickering like a married couple. Okay, maybe that wasn't entirely true. Aphos was the only one getting angry. But Aelau wasn't exactly being pleasant, either. Who could blame a guy for getting a little irked after someone sticks their tongue out at him like a little kid? Sure, he got a little more than "irked", but still.

"We've got company," Aelau said suddenly, the teasing gone from her voice. Now there was a hopeful excitement that only made Aubrey nervous. He didn't really want to fight with her or Aphos right now. As irritating as they were, he'd prefer they argued with each other a thousand hours straight rather than challenge him for even a fraction of a second. He tried to keep calm as Aelau's excitement grew. The last thing he needed was another reason for either of the spirits to want to take control. Because he'd probably lose. As usual.

He looked up to see a white Buick approaching. Aubrey didn't know who was in the car, but he hoped it was someone who could help. The vehicle pulled up next to the tank and stopped. The driver, a white-haired woman, leaned over and rolled down the passenger window. She said something, but Aubrey couldn't quite hear what it was. A moment later, however, she got out of the car.

"Are you trying to get into the Mansion?"

Aubrey smiled, relieved. "Yeah, actually...we are. We're both new, so we aren't really sure where to go."

"Correction: You aren't really sure of anything. You're just a dumb kid."

"You'd know all about dumb, wouldn't you, Aphos?"

"Yeah I would, because I'm stuck with you two!"

Aubrey pursed his lips, though still tried to remain smiling. How blessed he was that no one else could hear the spirits. That would just be embarrassing.

"My name is Ghost. Well, my name is Maya, but people call me Ghost."

"I'm Aubrey. Glad to meet you."

"Yeah, now maybe he won't be so lost," Aphos hissed, suddenly standing next to Ghost.

"Aphos, you know--"

"Don't talk to me!"

"Honey, you'd be just as lost as Aubrey. You've never been much good at directions," she said, her tone as if she were talking to a young child who's feelings might get hurt. With a shrug, she continued, "Must be a guy thing."

"You little--!"

Aubrey sighed. "You wouldn't happen to have any Ibuprofen or anything, would you?" he asked, looking at Ghost but not really speaking to anyone in particular. "Nevermind, it's not worth it. I'll never get rid of this headache."

The idea of a nice soggy hug had not quite passed when the boy replied, “Anytime, I suppose you wouldn't know where to go from here, then?”
Moana shook her head and looked up at him apologetically,
"Me either." Aubrey said with a shrug.

Moana floated for a moment considering their options. Surely at some point someone would either A: Leave the mansion, or B: Return to their school. Though, even if that was to happen she wasn’t sure if they could be any help to speak of. ”Perhaps the school is full of Ricardo’s!” Memories became afloat in Moana’s mind’s eye as she shuddered at the thought...

Moana drifted happily on her back, home once more in her tent. Tonight had been a successful evening with costumers wandering through in a non-stop thread of family’s, elderly couples, and curious hipsters. One child, seeing her collection of costume jewelry sprawled about the bottom of her tank, had even offered her his favorite necklace. A smile kissed Moana’s pink lips at the thought, but she was soon pulled away from her joy by the sound of rustling tent flaps. She turned and swam downward, looking around the room for her guest, but finding nothing, had decided it was time for bed.
Moana woke up that evening to the glare of a flashlight on her tank and the eerie outline it provided for a fully-tattooed face. Ricardo was the man’s name, and he offered to take her away from her family. He explained how her loved ones were evolutionarily obsolete, and ‘mutants’ like ‘us’ were the future. Moana had refused to go with him, but he cursed her, announcing that she would regret this, and that someday he would be back...

Returning from her mind more solemn then before, Moana again looked up toward the boy, the motion causing a few of her kinky locks to momentarily becoming twisted in the top tie of her swimsuit and sending a sharp pain into her scalp. She rubbed the back of her neck while observing that Aubrey’s face was once again distracted, and annoyed, as if his mind was in new world full of people and objects Moana had never experienced. Her brow furrowed slightly, half of wondering how to help and half of jealousy. Perhaps he had his own Ricardo experience he was now inwardly replaying.

Moana heard a voice from somewhere beside them and saw Aubrey’s head turn toward it. "Are you trying to get into the Mansion?"
Moana’s heart skipped a beat as she sunk slightly, then, hurriedly flipping the tip of her tail, thrust herself toward the ledge of the hatch. She reached out, fully revealing her glistening fins, and grabbed onto the corner opposite of where Aubrey kneeled, finally pulling herself to rest on one elbow and forearm, leaving the other arm free to wave if it seemed appropriate. Which, for Moana, it did.

"Yeah, actually...we are. We're both new, so we aren't really sure where to go." Aubrey, beside her.

"My name is Ghost. Well, my name is Maya, but people call me Ghost. Need a lift?"
"I'm Aubrey. Glad to meet you." ”Ghost! What a wonderful name! Or Maya, that’s pretty too!” Moana’s excitement could hardly be contained as she looked down on the fragile, though beautiful, creature that was their rescuer. She was very pale and slight, and had short, flaxen hair to match, though Moana felt that this woman was much stronger then she looked.

“I’m Moana, but you can call me whatever! And yes, a lift would be extremely helpful, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble!” Moana called with a smile and a blush, fighting the urge to throw herself out of the tank.
"You wouldn't happen to have any Ibuprofen or anything, would you?" asked Aubrey, "Never mind, it's not worth it. I'll never get rid of this headache." So that was his problem…

Ghost smiled to the mermaid. "Do you need to remain in your tank? I've only met one other mermaid and she was the kind who sometimes had legs... or maybe it was that she usually had legs and only sometimes had a flipper." The air elemental assessed the cart and decided that if Moana was comfortable with having or using legs, then she probably would have gone the last little bit of distance past the Mansion gate.

Oh, how impolite of her! Ghost moved a bit closer and stretched up on her tippy toes in order to offer her hand up to both the mermaid who peeked over the top of her traveling car, Moana, and the boy, who on closer inspection looked not too much younger than herself. (Also, his nose was all wrong for a grown up Jude. Silly of her to think it might have been him.)

"Aubrey? Was it? Could you help me down here? I'm afraid I don't have any medicine on me. My husband is a healer so I usually just pay him a visit." She thought that by his tone, Aubrey might have been making a joke, but it was better to be safe than sorry. "The Mansion has a healer too. If you need him, his name is DocProf. I can show you where the infirmary is."

As for the help she needed down on the ground, Ghost looked at the hitch to Moana's cart. She was pretty sure the old Buick had something they could attach that to, but water is very heavy. "Can you drive a stick? I'm afraid to hook the rolly tank up to my car without giving it a little push to keep it from ripping off my axel." That would require ghosting for the extra wind power, but this was the Mansion. If these kids couldn't handle a little blatant mutant power usage than they wouldn't be comfortable living here.

Aubrey began to regret his previous statement as apparently, it had offended his companions. Or at least, it had offended Aphos. Aelau didn't give him any hint as to what she was thinking. Aphos, however, was making his thoughts very clear as he stormed around, yelling at Aubrey. The boy tried to ignore him, but that was easier said than done.

Ghost offered her hand, and Aubrey shook it as she spoke. "Aubrey? Was it? Could you help me down here? I'm afraid I don't have any medicine on me. My husband is a healer so I usually just pay him a visit. The Mansion has a healer too. If you need him, his name is DocProf. I can show you where the infirmary is."

"Thanks, but I don't think an infirmary or a healer is quite what I need," he replied. Then, with a glance at Aphos, continued, "Yet." He paused. "I think I just need help learning how to control my powers, which is why I came here. They're a bit unruly. Not to mention rude, obnoxious, pushy, violent, and probably psychotic." He began climbing down so he could help Ghost with whatever she had needed help with, and made sure to avoid going anywhere near either of the spirits. Aphos was telling Aelau that they should "punish him for having the nerve to say such things" but she didn't really care. She was just smirking. Both made him nervous.

"Can you drive a stick? I'm afraid to hook the rolly tank up to my car without giving it a little push to keep it from ripping off my axle."

"Yeah, no problem."

Moana smiled back shyly at Ghost, suddenly beside herself with nervousness. Her stomach was aflutter, and her arms began to tremble ever so slightly under the feather-weight of her body.

"Do you need to remain in your tank? I've only met one other mermaid and she was the kind who sometimes had legs... or maybe it was that she usually had legs and only sometimes had a flipper."
Another mermaid?? Moana did not know whether to dive down into her tank and swim in such tight little circles that the water would splash the good three feet of space to Aubrey and soak his dark locks so deep that they glued themselves to his face, or to thrust herself out of the tank and embrace Ghost, probably bringing enough water with her to stick the woman’s short, snowy hair to her forehead.

Moana finally settled on whirling her tail so quickly that her scales blurred into an iridescent haze as she grasped Ghost’s hand with both of her shining moist ones, careful to only squeeze it enough to show her excitement. She had remembered not everyone appreciated being doused with cold tank water.

“I’m afraid I’m a mermaid of the opposite inclination. It’s a terrible hassle, I’m so sorry, but I promise I’m working on it...”
Moana apologized with a blush, calming herself enough to listen to the conversation between her new friends. Biting her lip softly she made a small wish for Aubrey to do whatever he needed to fix his struggles. Also, she wished she knew what was going on.

"Can you drive a stick? I'm afraid to hook the rolly tank up to my car without giving it a little push to keep it from ripping off my axel."
"Yeah, no problem."
A push? Moana, now alone on the top of her tank, was ready to see how this would play out.