Once upon a time, in a city near the sea, lived a young girl who was very poor. Her name was Edith, and she lived with her parents and her grandmother in a hut on the beach. Her father was a fisherman, but he only had a small boat and never caught much. Her mother would sell the catch of the day, sometimes she traded it for some fresh vegetables, but that was only if she was lucky enough. Edith's grandmother, Adelaide, took care of her, the only child after all her siblings had died. Adelaide used to tell Edith fairytales and stories of all kind, through her words, Edith learnt about magical lands and brave princes. And she also learnt to hate her life.
Edith would wake up in the morning disappointed she was still living in that shack, with no nice clothes, and no prince to take her to the ball. After she had done her chores, she would go to the beach and brood over her disgrace. She used to pick up shells, the only beautiful thing in her life. Her collection included shells of all shapes and colors, but she would find something new from time to time. One day, after a storm, she found a very large, turquoise shell, it was shinny, and polished. Edith ran her fingers through the silky surface, the edges were sharp, however. She put it in the pocket of her dress and went back home, where her grandmother was waiting for her. That night, she slept with the shell under her pillow. Edith was sure it was magical, and that thought helped her fall asleep. A noise inside her room woke her up, the moon shone through the window, and the sky was still dark. Edith sat up and looked around, she could see her grandmother sleeping a few feet away. But there was something else. And then she saw it, at the feet of her bed there was a boy. And just like that they were both on the beach, outside the hut, and he was holding the shell.
-You are the one who found this?
He was tall, and looked a couple of years older than Edith, not a man, but neither a boy. His hair was dark green, and his eyes, dark blue. He was very pale, with skin like moonlight. And he was naked.
-Yes.- Edith admitted shyly.
-My name is Kai, I'm the prince of the sea, and that shell is mine. It's a very valuable possession and to thank you for retrieving it, I'd like to invite you to visit my palace.
-Now?
-Why not?- Kai shrugged his shoulders and held his hand.
Edith took his hand and immediately found herself underwater. In front of her a forest of algae hid some marble columns.
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