He was surprised. “But I thought you were going with me.”

  “This is man business. Go.” She spanked him forward. “I'll visit with Mother.”

  Man business. Neris liked that. He marched along the path. It led to a larger chamber, a palatial throne room. There sat the impressive figure of the sea god Nereus. “Welcome, son!” he boomed. “You're a fine little man!”

  “Hello, Father,” he said with excruciating politeness. For it could be no other. “Why'd you generate me? Why with a mortal woman?”

  “It was fun fucking a skittish mortal woman like your mother, but there was a reason: the welfare of our community.”

  He was getting straight to business, man style. Neris liked that. “How so, Father?”

  “There is a problem. The portents indicate that only a half-mortal man can solve it.”

  “I must be that man.”

  “You will be, son. The problem is pollution. The ships and sewers of the mortals are constantly dumping garbage water into the sea, and the fossil fuel industry constantly pollutes air earth and sea, and this is fouling our once-pristine water. This has to stop before our health is eroded. As it is, we can't go far from our refuge before encountering a bad environment.”

  “I noticed, Father.”

  “It is your mission, son, to abate that pollution. To stop the mortal shit from messing up immortal realms.”

  “I am pleased to have a mission. How should I accomplish it?”

  “Oh, I'm sure you'll figure out something, son, in due course.”

  That wasn't much help, but evidently Nereus wasn't yet ready to tell him. If it could be awkward pushing a nereid, he understood it could be downright dangerous to push a god, so he let that go for the present. Anyway, he had another interest. “Nerine won't teach me to sing. She says it's for you to decide.”

  The god laughed uproariously. “I'll bet you want that. You're thinking harem already! Chip off the old block. All in good time, lad. Ask me again when you're a man. Now begone, and don't return until you have a plan to make our waters clear again.”

  Neris might have been inclined to argue, but realized that this was not a proper occasion. He had gained as much as he could at this juncture, and didn't want to get smacked down. “I will try, Father.”

  Nereus dismissed him with a watery wave.

  He turned about and went back the way he had come. He was excited. He had a mission! Now he knew why he had been generated. It wasn't just an incidental tryst.

  Nerine was waiting for him. “Now you know,” she said.

  “Now I know,” he agreed thoughtfully. But he wished his father had been a bit more specific on how. Maybe it related to the singing.

  They exited the castle and swam through the murk, soon reaching their familiar shore. Then they returned home to Mother Doris, she of the skittish mortal fuck. But Neris had the wit not to mention that aspect. There were things mortal women were not equipped to understand.

  “Father said it's pollution,” Neris explained to Doris and Nerine. “My mission is to stop it, so it won't mess up our sea home.”

  “That's a worthy mission,” Doris agreed, seeming relieved.

  “But I don't know how to do it.”

  “You'll have to go to school and learn all about it. Then you'll know how to stop it.”

  “Okay.”

  “It will have to be a special school,” Nerine said. “One that doesn't mind how young he is.”

  “That's liable to be expensive.”

  “Talk to the financial adviser at the bank. Use the charm to tell him what to invest in.”

  “I'll use the charm,” Doris said with a faint smile.

  Neris knew why. The adviser was a divorced man who found her appealing, and was cautiously letting her know. The only thing he had against her was Neris, who treated him with open contempt. But now he realized that the man could be useful. “Tell him that if your investments work out, you'll send me away to boarding school for years.”

  Doris jumped. “The bracelet just kissed me,” she said.

  “That means it's the right strategy,” Nerine said.

  “But I wouldn't send my child away for any such pedestrian reason.”

  “The man is halfway handsome, and he's rich,” Nerine said. “And he's sweet on you. What's wrong with pedestrian?”

  Doris looked at him. “Neris, do you actually want to be sent away?”

  “Yes.” Then seeing her hurt expression, he amended it; he was still learning diplomacy. “I mean, I love being with you, mom, but I really really want to get moving on my mission, and if that school can set me up for it, I'd better do it. I hope you won't be lonely without me and Nerine.” For of course Nerine would stay with him; that was her mission.

  Doris almost visibly considered having time alone with a handsome rich interested man while she was still young enough to have sex appeal. The only sex she had had was the virtual rape by Nereus. Neris knew about sex; Nerine had answered all his questions candidly and showed him the places. “We'll proceed cautiously.” That meant it was on.

  The bank adviser was Crosby, a generally sensible man. Guided by the amulet and Crosby's careful advice, Doris made a chancy investment. In two weeks a remarkable turnaround came for that company, and the money tripled. They sold it immediately, and in another week its bubble collapsed.

  “You seem to have a magic touch,” the investor said, amazed.

  “Just lucky.” Doris didn't say lucky charm.

  It was the kind of luck the man appreciated. If he wondered about it, he had the wit not to challenge it or to remark on it elsewhere. If Doris had a secret, it was safe with him.

  Other surprising investments followed, and within a year not only did Doris have a personal estate the size of her untouched original “painting” stake, she was engaged to marry Crosby.

  Neris and Nerine went to the school, which was virtually unknown by its own choice but quite secure and progressive. It was the kind of institution that the children of politicians, mobsters, and obscurely retired former foreign dictators attended, and discretion was its middle name. Neris, now six, started with fifth grade classes and had no trouble. He didn't even need to use much magic, apart from Nerine's watchful invisible presence; he looked as old as his classmates, and was twice as smart. He was also totally dedicated to learning. Within a year he quietly progressed to seventh grade classes.

  His roommate was a twelve year old boy, Kelsey Landis, the son of a foreign operative of considerable power and with shady connections. Kelsey took after his father, unsurprisingly, being sharp and dishonest, and was lightning-quick to fathom the realities beneath appearances. It took him about two days to realize how different Neris was.

  “Kid, you look ten, but you're way younger. You're smart and lucky, and there's something odd about you. Nobody wants to room with me, but you asked for me. What's your angle?”

  Neris had of course done his homework here. His mother's amulet had indicated that this was his most compatible roommate despite not likely a friend. “I have a feeling that we can be useful to each other, especially when rules interfere.”

  That was a significant point, because Kelsey had almost open contempt for rules. “You don't like rules?”

  “Not the inconvenient ones.”

  “Aren't you afraid I'll beat you up and make you my slave?” This was not a threat but an honest question.

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  There would have to be some show of strength before Kelsey accepted him as an equal. “Hit me.”

  The boy didn't hesitate. He punched Neris in the side of the head. “Oww!” For naturally the blow had missed and connected with the wall, bruising his knuckles.

  “But if I hit you, I won't miss,” Neris said calmly. “Care to try it again?”

  Now there was grudging respect. “I think I don't want you for an enemy.”

  “Then we'll get along.”

  Kelsey hesitated, then spoke. “You speak my language, kid. Will you tell me how you do it?”

  “I can tell you, but it won't help you. It's magic illusion. I'm never quite where I seem to be, when it counts.”

  “So I can't learn it.”

  “You can't learn it. But you can keep the secret; I don't want it generally known.”

  Here was an angle. “What'll you give me to keep the secret?”

  He was ready to bargain. “A picture of a girl.”

  Kelsey laughed derisively. “A damn picture? It's gotta be more'n that.”

  “Here is a sample.” Neris snapped his fingers, and Nerine appeared, splendidly nude as always. She smiled at Kelsey and blew him a kiss before fading. She looked like a sixteen year old nymph, which actually she was, in her milieu.

  “Wow!” His admiration was unfeigned. “More magic?”

  “Yes. Her name is Nerine. Any time you want to see her, whisper her name. But if you ever seek to do me harm, you will never see her again.”

  “Got it.” Then he whispered the name. Nerine appeared again. This time she stepped close enough so that he could touch her. His hand passed through her body, proving that she was an illusion. She faded. “She really is magic,” Kelsey said, awed. “Does she pose?”

  “If she is pleased with you. She is my companion, and how you treat me governs how she feels about you.” He snapped his fingers again. This time Nerine appeared on the bed, her legs invitingly spread toward them.

  “Kid, I'm going to be your best friend!” And he was, at least in actions.

  Neris met an eighth grade girl who was similarly dedicated. Her name was Rosie Scenario Smith, and she hated it for the mischief it caused her, and was largely isolated from her classmates. She had retreated into her studies and prospered intellectually, for she was smart. But lonely. They sized each other up immediately. Then Neris made an off the record deal with his roommate, who was glad to cooperate. At night the boy switched places with Rosie, going to share with his own girlfriend. Again, Nerine facilitated it, always watching and warning him if there were any threat of discovery.

  “I don't know who your imaginary friend is,” Rosie said. “But I like her.”

  Neris considered, then confided part of the truth: “She's invisible but really not imaginary. She's always been with me. Her name is Nerine. You can meet her if you really want to.”

  “I want to.”

  So Nerine became visible to Rosie and remained that way. “I never believed in magic,” Rosie said. “Before.”

  Thereafter Nerine advised Rosie too, when she was about to foul up, and Rosie really appreciated the help. The two were soon friends.

  Neris and Rosie were alone together every night. He was eight and she thirteen, and neither was interested in romance. In fact she was a declared lesbian, something that made her toxic as a potential girl's roommate, until the deal with Kelsey made a sudden friend.

  “They think we're sleeping together,” Rosie said.

  “We are.”

  “I mean sexually.”

  “Oh.”

  “It's unusual for a boy and a girl to sleep together without having sex. But there's something about you that makes me want to be touchingly close to you. I can relax best, sleep best, when I'm with you.”

  “It's my half godhead,” he said candidly. “There's an aura that makes me attractive.”

  “Yes. I hope you don't mind.”

  “I don't mind. I trust you, and sort of like the company. You understand me. Very few others do.”

  “Any time you get a real girlfriend and want me out, just say so. I won't take offense. I do understand you.”

  “Maybe when I'm older.”

  Neris and Rosie snuck out together to go to a town library where they had cards under assumed identities. If the librarians were suspicious they suppressed it, because the two were perfectly behaved and expressively appreciative of any help the librarians gave. In short, excellent young patrons.

  In a year, both advanced two years. The school approved. The administration was savvy about handling motivated students, and cooperated as long as they did not make any obvious trouble. It was a tacit deal that helped both parties.

  When Neris was nine and Rosie fourteen, they began to get interested in sex. Rosie was fully developed, actually quite shapely, but had no experience. She had no interest in boys as such, but did want to know what it was all about, just in case. Neris was still shy of puberty but his interest was freshening. “Is it okay if I feel you?”

  “As long as Nerine's watching,” she agreed. “She can warn us if we start to go too far.” She trusted Nerine to support a woman's case, as long as it did not harm Neris.

  They shared the bed nude and he felt every part of her body. It was not the match of what Nerine showed constantly, but it was living and warm and real, and it made him react. But Nerine shook her head no: it would not be smart for him to take it further in that direction. She was not at all moralistic about sex, but was guiding him to stay within the bounds he had asked her to, so that Rosie would not be turned off and they would not get in trouble later.

  Then he gave Rosie her turn, and she researched him similarly, especially his stiffened member. She did not want it in her, but she wanted to be familiar with its nature. With his permission she caressed it evocatively with hand and mouth until it performed, producing its token bit of fluid. “Marvelous!” she whispered. Then they kissed each other, and that was pleasant despite their differing orientations; they were friends in a way that the boys were not. And slept, satisfied for now. It had been an exploration, not sex or romance.

  The odd thing was that they seemed to have more respect for each other after keeping the limits than they would have otherwise. It was a matter of mutual trust. Rosie understood that he would never try to trick her or force her sexually.

  Rosie's intellectual passion was botany; she was fascinated by unusual plants, and assiduously researched them. Neris' interest was pollution, especially water, especially the sea. In due course this attracted the attention of their science teacher, Hedva Sclere, who lent them each rare books on their subjects and encouraged them. She was actually a biological chemist, specializing in marine life, but unable to find a job in her specialty, had accepted the position of teaching natural science. She was good at it, but more to the point was her unfeigned interest in the welfare of her students, and even more relevant was her discretion. When she caught Rosie absent from her room at night she had not reported her but questioned her privately, and learned of the roommate exchange. Then not only had she let it be, as it was plain that they were both serious students, she had on occasion given them nocturnal rides in her car when they needed to research at more distant libraries. They both liked her very well. In fact Neris soon had a boyish crush on her, though she was older than his mother and quite ordinary in appearance.

  Rosie knew, of course. “But you know she's not going to come to your bed.”

  “I know. I'd be embarrassed to even tell her how I feel.”

  “Yes. I once had a crush on a female teacher. That's how I knew I was lesbian. Naturally I didn't tell her.”

  She truly understood, and would not hassle him about it. “Thanks.”

  “I could maybe pretend to be her, in the dark, if you wanted, you know, sex.”

  He was surprised. “But you're lesbian!”

  “Yes. But I'm also your friend. I'd do for you what I wouldn't for any other boy. Faking it. I don't want you to be frustrated.”

  It was a tempting offer, but he soon rejected it. “I'd know it wasn't her, and that it was not good for you. I don't want to spoil our friendship by taking such advantage of it. But thanks, Rosie.”

  “You're welcome,” she said, relieved.

  Nevertheless, his crush on his teacher continued. He dreamed of her coming to his bed, saying that she liked him and wanted to give him something special. The dream never got into sex; he was not that foolish, even when asleep. But it contributed to his devotion to the subject, because that pleased her and enabled him to be closer to her, physically, longer.

  Finally Hedva asked Neris why he was so serious about such an obscure subject as sea water pollution. Of course he was not about to confess his crush, but he did have solid reason to study the subject.

  He glanced at Rosie, then at Nerine, who surprisingly nodded. She felt that this teacher could be trusted with this. Since Nerine had checked this with Doris and the lucky charm during a home visit, as she checked everything, this was persuasive.

  “If I answer you truthfully, you will have trouble believing me,” he said. “And if I prove it, you may doubt your sanity.

  Hedva smiled. “Try me.”

  “I am not an ordinary boy. I am half mortal, half god. My father is Nereus, god of the sea.”

  “I am familiar with the mythology,” Hedva said. “But my understanding is that Nerius had fifty daughters, the nereids, no sons.”

  “Until he sired one with a mortal woman. That's not in the mythology because it is too recent: about ten years ago.”

  “I can accept this in theory, and that you may believe that you are such a boy, but I have to say that I regard it as delusion. That does not mean that I think you are crazy, merely that you have a fond illusion about the identity of your unknown father.”

  “Do you want me to prove it?” He truly wanted to impress her, and not just because of his crush.

  “Yes, if you can.”

  “One of my half sisters, a nereid, is supervising me during my upbringing and education. She is Nerine, and she is here.”

  “I do not see her. Do you, Rosie?”

  “Yes,” Rosie said. “And I think now you do too.” And Nerine made herself visible to the woman in her nude splendor.

  Hedva studied her. “I am impressed. May I touch you, Nerine?”

  Nerine smiled. “You can try.”

  Hedva reached across and touched her shoulder with her hand. Her hand passed through the shoulder without resistance. “A hologram!”

  “More like a ghost,” Rosie said. “She's real, just not material, unless she makes a special effort.”

  “Make that effort.”

  Nerine concentrated and solidified. Hedva touched her again, and this time made physical contact. “Thank you. You may fade out now.”