I guess Vonderam could just be a god-like entity that created the mermaids to carry out his will. I don't see the Alteil merfolk as sea fey at all. They seemed to be minding there own business until Galdirea cursed them.
I don't think our mermaids can take human form whenever they want. Except for Emana, all the mermaids had to be given human form by Vonderam. Though I suppose he could transform them so that they could go on land fir the sake of reproduction.
As I said above, Emana didn't need Vonderam to grant her human form, so did someone else do or does Emana possess some of the abilities of her father?





