Mermaid Quest: The Myth-Quest Chronicles, #3

By Honey Roman and River Roman

Marianna Carolina Diane Smith's ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when she stumbles into a realm of enchanting misadventures, becoming entwined with the enigmatic and elusive Vanna Kal'Marvam. From summer camp pranks to a cliffside confrontation, their fates take a treacherous plunge.

 

Transformed into a mermaid by a desperate Wizard, Marianna dives into a race against time. With the help of her friend, Chuck the Narwhal, she travels a mesmerizing underwater realm, conquering riddles, mazes, and resisting the enchanting call of sirens to retrieve a mystical amulet.

 

As Marianna's choices grow harder, she learns the value of true friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Will she save herself or extend a helping hand to her troubled rival? The answer lies in the moonlit tide, where destiny awaits.

 

Prepare for an extraordinary adventure packed with allies, challenges, and profound lessons. This spellbinding tale will captivate young readers, teaching them the essence of bravery, kindness, and embracing their true selves.

 

Discover the allure of Marianna's odyssey—a world brimming with magic and the power of choice. Get ready to be enchanted!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brass Rag Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223213420

Book preview

Tetherball and Pancakes

Marianna Carolina Diane Smith rolled over in bed and groaned. School had only been back in session for two weeks, and she was already wishing for summer.

Camp was so much fun. Archery, canoeing, night tag, all the fun stuff. Even after the drama with one of the new campers, she couldn’t wait to go back.

She threw off the covers and sat up. Plus, three of the new friends she’d made there, Frankie, June and July, were in her class at school this year. Marianna jumped out of bed to get dressed. She was going to meet them for tether ball before classes started and she didn’t want to be late.

She hurried downstairs with HollyAnne, her younger sister, right behind her.

I hope mom made pancakes, HollyAnne said.

She only makes those on the weekend, Marianna said.

Sure, but she might make an exception.

Angelina, Marianna’s older sister, came out of her room. Maybe she will if we ask, she said.

Pancakes take too long. I don’t want to be late. Marianna jumped down the last two steps. She was already getting a bowl and cereal from the cupboard when the other two girls entered the kitchen.

Angelina said. Can we have pancakes today?

Marianna scowled at her. We can’t. It will make us late.

Will not, HollyAnne said.

Will so, Marianna retorted. We have cereal on school days. Not pancakes.

Mom looked at the three girls, then checked her watch. You all are up earlier than usual. I think we have time for pancakes.

I don’t want pancakes, Marianna said.

Mom’s eyebrows rose. That’s fine. You don’t have to have them.

Marianna grumped her way to the table, thumping the bowl down next to the cereal box.

Easy on the dishes, Marianna, Mom said mildly. She reached into the cupboard and pulled out a mixing bowl and a box. Are you sure you don’t want one? she asked, holding up the pancake mix.

Marianna sighed. She really did like pancakes better than cereal. OK, but I don’t want to be late for school. I’m meeting Frankie and the J’s for tether ball practice. We’re going to win the tournament this year, no matter what.

I’m guessing Vanna Kal’Marvam would have something to say about that, Angelina said.

Marianna hmphed. Vanna can say what she wants. It won’t win her the tournament.

Maybe not, but I saw her and Reesa practicing the other day, HollyAnne put in. They were pretty good.

Marianna shrugged. We’re practicing, too. Besides, she doesn’t deserve to win.

Mom gave her a look. Holding a grudge keeps your hands too full for blessings, she said.

Marianna’s eyes widened. I’m not holding a grudge. She is. You should hear the mean stuff she says about me just because I wouldn’t lie for her at camp. She still blames me because she got sent home on the second day. But if she hadn’t trapped Frankie in the equipment locker, none of it would have happened.

I know. And she needs to take responsibility for what she did instead of blaming you. I just don’t want you being part of the problem instead of the solution.

Mom was always saying stuff like that. Wise sounding things that make Marianna feel squirmy inside, like she was doing something wrong.

I’m not the problem, Marianna grumbled.

Glad to hear it. Mom set a pancake down in front of her and picked up the cereal box and bowl. Eat. We don’t want to be late.

Angelina and HollyAnne were already half done, and Marianna hurried to catch up. The pancake tasted soft and sweet on her tongue. Maybe today would be as good as she hoped, after all.

A Wet Prank

Marianna arrived at school to find all of her fellow students milling around on the front lawn instead of playing on the playground or going inside. A teacher stood at the front doors keeping everyone out, a giant orange warning cone on either side of her.

Marianna caught sight of Frankie and ran to join her. What’s going on? she asked breathlessly. Why is no one going inside?

It’s flooded, Frankie replied.

The hall?

The whole school, though I heard someone say the auditorium isn’t.

How did that happen? Marianna asked.

Frankie shrugged. I don’t know, but it is a LOT of water. Look. She turned her foot sideways to show that her shoes and the hem of her pants were soaked through. I was going to drop my stuff off in Ms. Jenkin’s room before heading to the tether ball rings. I didn’t even make it to our class before they told us to go back outside.

All right everyone. The teacher who’d been guarding the door lifted a bullhorn to her lips. Please follow me around the school to the auditorium. We will explain everything there.

The kids lined up and followed dutifully, all speculating about the flood and who had made it happen.

I’ll bet Vanna did it, Frankie said, her eyes squinched in a frown.

Shh, Frankie. You can’t just accuse someone with no evidence, Marianna said.

I’m not accusing. I’m speculating.

Marianna laughed. What’s speculating?

When you make a guess about what’s happening. My mom does it all the time.

Sure, but based on what? Even guesses have to have a reason.

Frankie leveled a serious look at her. Based on what she did at camp, and the threats she’s been whispering about you. She does what she wants, and I heard her bragging at lunch about how she had a big plan she was going to pull off so she didn’t have to take the state test this week.

Okay, Marianna replied, slowly drawing the word out. But that doesn’t mean she flooded the school.

Sure it doesn’t. Vanna brushed past them, purple and green streaked blond hair swinging behind her. But it doesn’t mean I didn’t, either. You two just keep your gossip to yourself. Bad things happen to people who tattle and spread rumors. She smirked at them and walked into the auditorium.

See? I told you she did it, Frankie said as they found seats.

She’s just showing off, Marianna replied.

You heard her. She all but admitted it. I don’t—

Ladies and gentlemen, if I can have your attention? Mr. Overstreet, the new principal since Ms. Zebaro retired, adjusted the microphone on the podium. As you may have noticed, there has been an incident at our school. One that will take some time to clean up. Therefore, we’ve held all the buses, and parents are being notified that school is canceled for the next week while we make repairs.

An excited murmur spread through the room. Marianna waited. From the look on Mr. Overstreet’s face, he wasn’t done yet.

In the meantime... He paused a moment to let the noise die down. The police have been called, and an investigation into the cause of this incident is being conducted. Anyone with information to share may call the school. He paused, but there was only a shocked silence. This was not an accident, and the person responsible will face serious consequences.

Mr. Overstreet told them to wait in the auditorium until their bus number was called. Everyone was going home. A robo-call had already gone out to let parents know.

It was an hour before Marianna and her sisters got back on their bus, and another hour before they walked in her front door.

Since she worked from home, Mom was already there. Now they just had to figure out what to do with the unexpected vacation.

Mom? Marianna came into the kitchen to help with dinner. Frankie thinks Vanna pranked the school.

Mom gave her a sidelong look.