Chapter One: In My Heart

"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see you." I say, crossing my arms, leaning against the doorframe causally. "But right now, I'm kinda busy." My boyfriend, Jack, sighs. He's been in Canada for the last 3 weeks, and was probably hoping for me to jump at him with joy. Instead, I shut my door in his face. I walk down my long, dark hallway and into my domed living room. On the laminated floor, painted in chicken blood, is a closed pentagram. Contained within this pentagram is Amadeus the Archdemon, standing tall in his humanoid form, his suited arms crossed loosely.

"So where were we, father?" I smile.

My name is Seeker Quicksilver, and I'm the daughter of an Archdemon and Archangel.

The said Archangel mother of mine huffs in the opposite corner to Amadeus. For 2 creatures who once copulated to form me, you would of thought that they would at least look at each other. But they absolutely hate each other...which makes our mandated family meetings, once a month, very hard. You know when your life is crazy when you have to summon your own parents.

"So you're still with that Jack?" Amadeus's nose wrinkles in disgust.  "There are plenty good demons out there, Seeker."

"Or Angels, Seeker." My mother interjects. I sigh. Both my parents agree on only one thing: either I embrace my Demon half completely, or my Angel half instead of juggling them both, while trying to maintain a Mortal life. I sit on the floor, crossing my ankles, my laces on my shoes undone.

"Mom, Dad, I'm not dumping Jack!" I exclaim. "I actually like him!"

"Just don't marry him." My father mutters. "I don't want to give you away to a Mortal."

"You wouldn't be able to walk her down the aisle, Amadeus. Not unless we cast a Summoning Pentagram around the whole church...which wouldn't work since you're a filthy hell creature!" My mother shoots at him. I roll my eyes: here they go again, clashing. But I suppose it'll be strange if they didn't argue. I mean, I am bring the 2 most polar opposite species together in one really small room.

"Guys, I'm not going to marry Jack." I tell them quickly, halting any further disagreements. "Anyway, it's my birthday next week, remember?"

My 16th birthday. For normal teenager, that means a sweet sixteenth party. A time of fun, boys, drunkenness and sex. For me, it means a decision: Demon or Angel. Which destiny do I want to take. Who do I want to follow: Lucifer or the big guy up there. What colour wings do I want (gold for Hell, silver for Heaven). All these choices, and only 7 days to choose a future that I will follow for the rest of my life. And since I'm almost immortal...I'm going to suffer that choice for a long, long time. No pressure!

"Yes, your birthday..." My father muses. Out of my parents, Amadeus is the most relaxed. To be honest, I'm not sure he even cares what I pick.

My mother's long, white feathers ruffle. I know she expects me to choice her side, but I really have no idea.

"I think it's time to call it a night." I announce. Before either of them can protest, I draw my faded red converse through the chicken blood pentagram, dispelling my father. My mother takes the hint and leaves swiftly, shimmering back up to Heaven.

I collapse on my worn, battered sofa. Summoning my parents draws on my life force: where else is the power going to come from? But as my eyes drift shut, all I can think about is my birthday. In my heart, I know that I'll choose the right choice, but I don't know what that is right now. What would you do, if you were forced to choose your destiny at 16?

But more importantly, what will I do?

What will I do?

Chapter Two: Mortal? I Wish.

I'm awoken by the sharp, shrill sound of my doorbell.
"Ow." I mutter, getting up from the sofa. I must have fell asleep on the couch last night, since I awoke with my face smashed into one of my cushion, a small patch of drool staining the cover. I turn the cushion over hastily before stalking over to the door and opening it up, not bothering to check who it is through the peep hole. Because let's face it: if anyone had come to kill me, would they knock first?

Standing in the doorway is Ariella, her thick red hair curling around her waist, shells adorning her flawlessly pale neck and wrists. She twirls a lock of her hair around a finger.
"Hey, Seeker. You got a moment?" She asks, a faint frown line creasing her otherwise perfect forehead. Silently, I step back to let her in. Ariella's like me, in the way of not being mortal. She's not a demon or angel though, although she will have to make a choice on her 16th birthday in 2 months. Whether to stay on land or join the water community with most of her family. Either way, Ariella's always going to be beautiful for the rest of her very long life. Because Ariella's a mermaid.

She sits down heavily on the sofa, her back resting on the cushion I slept on. Her enchanting blue green eyes are swirling in turmoil. Mermaids are born in the ocean with a tail, but when they turn 5, they can change their tails into legs. Then, they're taken to live half on land, half on water, staying with a land born relative when they're on land, until they have to decide. Tail or legs. Fish or mortal. Ocean or land.
Ariella has it harder than any other mermaid, because she's the princess of her kingdom. So if she chooses to desert her ocean life, she'll be leaving the kingdom in the lurch without a heir. But Ariella really loves being mortal.
"What's up?" I ask, sitting in the chair opposite her, pulling my legs up onto the seat.

She takes a deep breath.
"Seeker, I don't know what to do." She says simply. "I want to do my duty and there's nothing that can compare to being in the ocean, hearing everything, but there's also nothing that can compare to the land." Ariella's words flow out of her cherry red lips like a current of water. "And I know its not fair to he complaining: at least I have a few more months. You have 7 days, right?" She adds quickly. I nod, glancing at the calendar on the wall. Today's July 20th. My birthdays on the 27th.
"Ariella, you'll know when the time's right." I assure her. "And remember: you only have to stick with your choice for 100 years. They you can switch back." That's the good thing about mermaids. They can change their destiny. I can't. My choice is permanent. Carved in stone. My choice stays with me forever.

"Thanks, Seeker. I think I just needed to talk." Arielle smiles. "Anyway, how are you? Is Jack back?"
"Yeah, he's back." My voice lacks the enthusiasm it usually has when I talk about Jack. "But he came round last night."
Arielle whistles, a sound that drops like a deflated balloon.
"During your 'family time'?" She shakes her head, laughing softly. "So, did you blow him off?"
"He's going to break up with me, I swear. The amount of times I've cancelled on him because of some supernatural emergency."
"But hey: to be mortal, eh?" Ariella grins, showing pearly white teeth.
"Yeah." I say distantly, my eyes fixed upon the calendar. Fixed upon the square space assigned to the 27th. Fixed on the only words written there.
'My 16th Birthday'.