How to be a Mermaid (The Cotton Candy Quintet #1)(40)

I grasped it and nodded. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

I practically ran to the entrance, where a burly security guard who I guessed was Jerry took the note, glanced at it, then at me, and let me in. I ran past the tourists who were snapping photos at the aquarium tunnel entrance, ignoring the fish voices that spoke to me through the glass as I passed.

After the tunnel, I emerged into the foyer where I’d conducted my meet and greet two days before. Christine was storming out there to meet me. I could tell from her expression that she was pissed. Rightfully so, but I didn’t have time to stop and talk to her.

“Tara!” she demanded, nearly shouting. “Where the hell have you been? We’ve been worried sick about you!”

I held up the hand that wasn’t holding the satchel. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

“Try me.”

“I don’t have time. Trust me.”

I started jogging again, heading towards the dolphin tanks.

“What? Tara, WAIT!” Christine yelled after me.

I ignored her, continuing my jog. I passed by Jordyn and Alaina, who were heading out to the foyer after Christine.

“Tara!” Jordyn exclaimed. “Where were you?”

I shook my head as I sped by. “No time to explain. I’m sorry!”

Then, the worst of it, I had to bypass Neptune who also looked like he was as angry as Christine, if not more so.

“No time, Neptune. Please trust me,” I pleaded.

I increased my speed, sprinting down the hallways. The Houston Aquarium was massive, and I hadn’t realized how big it was until I had to run down the hallways. I didn’t dare turn back, to acknowledge them would probably delay me more, or they could keep me from ever reaching Kai’s pool, which I couldn’t allow to happen.

I finally got to the dolphin tanks. My appearance set the other dolphins off in the big pool.

“Whoa, she’s back dude!”

“Couldn’t leave us alone?”

“You came to see me, right?”

“Hey fellas,” I said, grinning at them as I continued walking to the quarantine pool, careful not to slip and fall. “I’m here to see Kai,” I said, although if they wanted to leave at some point, I knew that I would help them.

“Awww...”

I glanced up, knowing that Christine, Neptune, and possibly some security guards weren’t far behind.

“Do me a favor,” I said to them, “would you distract the other humans that are following me? Splash them, do something to keep them from getting to me. I need to talk to Kai, this is very important.”

I turned away from them as the three of them clicked their happiness to oblige. At least that was taken care of.

Kai’s back was to me as I knelt by the pool. Based on his position, his demeanor hadn’t improved at all. In fact, it had gotten worse.

I gently splashed some water at the edge of his pool, trying to draw his attention.

“Hey Kai,” I said. “I’m back.”

The dolphin calf looked back at me, and the despite the fact that he was a dolphin, surprise registered on his features. He looked thinner than yesterday, and his color was greener too.

His childish voice came to me, weak but happy. He surfaced and I stroked his beak. “You came back! I thought you would have stayed in the ocean.”

“You know I couldn’t forget you, buddy. Not when you were so sad. You know who’s also sad? Your mommy and daddy.”

His eyes widened. “You met Momma and Daddy? How are they?”

“Not good,” I admitted. “They miss you. They want you back, and they’re ready to tear everything apart to get to you.”

I heard commotion across the pools; we were about to have company.

“That’s why I’m here,” I told him quickly. I pulled out my kelp-wrapped package “I’m going to set you free.”

“How?” he asked, his voice no more than a whisper. “You’re not Finn.”

“I’m Finn’s helper. If you eat this,” I said, waving the seaweed wrap, “you’ll be able to jump farther and swim faster than any dolphin out there. Even your daddy. You’ll be able to fly.”

Kai giggled at the thought, which made my heart melt.

I glanced up as my pursuers finally emerged into the afternoon light. Christine and Neptune entered, flanked by security guards. And—oh, no—Mr. Stevens, the aquarium president was there too, wearing his expensive suit and looking at me like I was the scum of the universe.

He was definitely going to think that once I freed his new baby dolphin.

“Tara!” Neptune shouted. “What are you doing?”

I didn’t have time to answer him. Luckily, the other dolphins came to my defense. One gave a huge splash with his tail fluke, drenching Mr. Stevens. More splashes came and the dolphins were jumping and going crazy, threatening the humans, though I knew it wasn’t going to distract them long.

“Listen, Kai, you need to eat this. And then you need to gain as much speed as possible and jump over that fence.” I pointed to the fence where I’d fallen over the edge two nights ago.

Kai followed the direction that I indicated, then looked back at me. “I can’t make that…”

“With this, you can,” I said, holding up the potion. “Please, Kai. It’s the only way you’ll be set free.”