Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist by Liz Kessler

Every spring equinox since I've known about it, I've hoped and wished. 'Tonight? This is the year? How do you know? The secrecy, the magic!' 'I don't believe it,' Aaron said again and again. And the full moon - it's at midnight!' Aaron's eyes widened. 'Just as it's been for the rest of my family, every generation.' 'Aaron, we can change it,' I said. 'My legs stick together and my toes flap about a bit, but that's all.' He looked at me wistfully. 'I can't even do that properly,' he said. Aaron stared as my tail melted away and my legs re-formed. Whatever happened from here onward, we would succeed or fail together. As I reached up to grab his hand, it was as though we were shaking on a deal. His hands were webbed too, his fingers joined at the knuckle by the thinnest waferlike stretches of skin.

He held it out palm up, fingers outstretched. This time he didn't snatch his hand away. 'Come on, let me help you out of the pool,' he said. He noticed me looking and shyly held out a hand. It was almost like the way I felt with Shona. It was the silence between two people who know they understand each other without even using words. The brief silence that fell between us wasn't awkward. More like me at the moment than ever, as he wasn't quite a semi-mer either. Like me, he was stuck between the two worlds, neither fully one thing nor another. He was descended from Aurora, which meant the curse affected him too. Aaron took a step nearer the pool, and that's when I noticed something. 'I was hoping you'd come back.' 'I said I would.' I smiled back, almost surprised at how pleased I was to seehim. 'I've been hanging around here since you left,' he said, softly closing the door behind him. His smile was the brightest thing on him.

'Emily!' It was Aaron! He was still dressed all in black, and his hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail his face shone pale and clear in the semidarkness of the cellar. That was unthinkable! I'd just have to be careful - and quick. Or to keep a closer eye on me and stop me from going out tonight. The last thing I wanted was for her to worry about me, on top of everything else. Thankfully, she'd become so absorbed in her dowsing that she wouldn't notice anything for a while. Shona was going to stay behind and fend Millie off if she came looking for us. We'd agreed I had to go straight back to the castle and tell Aaron the news about tonight. 'See you soon.' 'You're sure you don't want me to come with you?' 'I'm sure,' I said. 'And good luck.' 'You too,' I said with a hopeful smile. Be careful,' Shona whispered as she waved me off from the porthole.

Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist by Liz Kessler